Author Archives: Charles Oliver

This report from Motorcycle Ride Week was published in Old Bike Issue No. 90 and was made by Robert Elliot of the Veteran & Vintage MCCSA. Click on the cover photo to read the article.

17 Starters presented at Civic Park which can only be described as a carnival atmosphere. Yes, the Bay to Birdwood was in progress, it seemed that we would be a portion of the cavalcade for a brief period.

The participants were;

• Ed Lowrey on his 1975 BMW 900
• Tom Robson on a Kawasaki W650
• Allan Vaisham on a 1970 Honda 450
• Graham Riley on 2016 Indian Scout 1200
• Burnie Burton on a 1995 Suzuki 600 Bandit
• Wayne Williams on Yamaha 650 Cruiser
• Wayne Lawson on a 2016 Triumph T120
• Merilyn Braunsthal on her 2019 Kawasaki 650 Ninja
• Bob Braunsthal on a Yamaha XS650
• Campbell Blaney on a Triumph 750 T140E
• Alan Kernich on a more reliable Triumph 750 T140V
• Ray Hill on a 1974 BMW R90/6
• Charles Oliver on a Triumph 675 Street Triple R
• New member Peter Perry on a 2010 BMW R1200R
• David Saint on a 1974 900 R90S
• Neville Gray on a Bridgestone 350 GTO

We set off about 10am, I was on my Tenere 700 we were part of the pageant for longer than I thought as Vintage tin moves very sluggishly up hills. I was in first gear searching for a lower gear! This enabled the trailing riders to make up ground prior to turning off from the procession. Our first break was to be in Williamstown travelling via Snake Gully and Humbug scrub. I slowed up on numerous occasions to help avoid people from drifting from the route, I saw numerous headlights grouping behind me in my mirrors. “Good job” I thought, as I pulled up in Williamstown with a steady stream of participants pulling up in the car park.

Then there was a pause of riders for several minutes. It became apparent as tail end Charlie approached from a different direction, there was a problem. He educated me that his bike wouldn’t start due to operator’s error and “cleverly” took a different route????? So the all the corner markers waited tolerantly until it was apparent something was wrong!

I was pleasantly surprised that so many riders are bringing along their own refreshments with so many Thermos’. This empowers us to stop anywhere and have munchies and drinks, as my second planned stop was Barossa Sculpture Park had no catering. Most were refreshed, the unprepared were restless. Only one lost rider here, found at Angaston.

Scenic lookout at Barossa Valley Sculpture Park.

We ventured off towards Angaston were I thought it was a good idea to give everyone some U-turn practice. Over shooting one turn, and wrong turn at a T-junction, truth be known, I need a GPS. Finally in Angaston for lunch, the shaded park in the main street provided an agreeable location, close to cafes and toilets. After discussing the world’s problems (me being one of them) we set off on the return leg. Some departed at the lunch stop their own way. Thanks to all participants, this was an entertaining and eventful day.

Next club monthly ride will be on November the 1^st  to Waitpinga. We will meet at the Caltex servo at O’Halloran Hill for a 10.00am departure. Due to the Covid situation I have socially distanced myself from cafes and bakeries, I am not emotionally devoted to them. So I’m giving everyone advance notice, as there’s only a toilet at this destination no catering present. Please bring your own refreshments and or lunch. Perhaps even consider bringing a chair as this is the type of “Point of Interest” destination lunch stop I’ve been enjoying during the peak of the pandemic, which I truly appreciate. Nevertheless I plan to do a café stop for Brunch.

This ride is going to be in excess of 200km, my notion is doing longer runs when less extreme weather conditions usually found in Spring and Autumn are expected. I’m also working on a pillion friendly civil ride, so older riders and smaller capacity bikes and the like are better accommodated, as some members find the moped runs TOO slow and monthly rides too perplexing for a variety of reason.

Hope to see a good turnout,

Louis Peilschmidt, Club Captain.

Participants:

• Wayne Williams on 2000 Kawasawi Versys 650
• Bernie Burton on1995 Suziki Bandit
• Graham Riley on 2016 Indian Scout
• Alan Kernich on 1976 Triumph T160 Trident
• John Banks on 1981 Triumph T140E
• Charles Oliver on 1967 Triumph T120R
• David Saint on 1974 BMW R90S
• Matt Randell on 1973 BMW R90/6
• Louis Peilschmidt 1992 BMW R100GS
• Mark ? Yamaha XFZ 1000

It was an overcast and moist start to this abbreviated ride. Welcome to 2 new club members who attended. Alan’s “new” Trident required a push start in the morning to become mobile. Slow and nervous headway was made, due to the slippery roads covered in moss and debris and my dicey front tyre proved to be an impairment in the drizzling conditions of the day.

 It was soon after our short coffee stop in Lobethal when I realised at Gumeracha that nobody was behind me. I waited, then I retraced my path to find my companions had stopped to support a malfunctioning unit, yep the Trident again (not Alan). Repairs were made to the electrics and we set off. Time disappeared due to this interruption so wisely I amended portion of the scenic journey so it wouldn’t interfere with lunch time.

No more than 2 kms of progress, I found I was no longer leading a group. Back tracking again to a small assembly, I called tail end Charlie, yes it was the dreaded Trident again! Signifying Alan could retreat home, as it was relatively nearby for him, I was assured all was well and will be travelling again shortly. The repair pit crew decided to overtake the second patiently waiting group, so now the ride leader was demoted mid pack. The two groups met up in Palmer for a well-earned lunch.

After lunch, some members wanted to proceed the direct route home, including tail end Wayne. I proposed that Alan resume duties as the ride Leader and I become tail end Charlie. I assumed that more breakdowns were looming, so nobody would have to backtrack. I gave him route instructions to Mount Pleasant, which was pointless as another stoppage was encountered at Palmer before we could set off. During repairs the Trident stater was engaged, the bike was in gear and sprang forward almost falling onto Charles’ Triumph.

It became vital for a fuel stop at Mount Pleasant for the Trident. I followed the group, but we became disjointed around Mount Pleasant. Rain was now falling, I made an executive deduction to terminate the ride, I was glad to get home out of the cold! I heard later the petrol station was closed at the time in Mount Pleasant, of course it was. I’m convinced that Trident translates to 3 breakdowns! I hope you all enjoyed your ride to Palmer

I’m keen for recommendations for upcoming monthly ride destinations and formats, bearing in mind that rides are 2 to 3 months scheduled in advance and advertised in our club calendar. Ride duration of about 200 kms seems standard, personally I’m happy to do longer rides or shorter when it’s scorching. Also I think it’s practical in the summer months for southern ride destinations. To utilise normally cooler conditions encountered, but avoided in winter for similar reasons. I know and love riding in the Southern regions, but central and Northern is sketchy. Can someone assist me with Northern ride destinations that’s familiar with the region? Perhaps even lead a ride one month and  give me a break?

As the newly appointed club captain I’m still trying to find my “mojo” so bear with me for a while. Aside from leading club rides there’s no other apparent “job description”. I don’t expect to keep every Tom, Dick, and Harry satisfied all the time with destinations and format nominated. But I would like to mix things up a little, so I’m am not just leading another a predictable café outing. What I hope to bring to this position is variety, after all variety is the spice of life! If you want predictability (Groundhog Day) I’m certainly the wrong person for this position, I am content to vacate anytime for a “café junkie” ride leader.

Next weekend ride will be to Angaston on Sunday September 27^th, we will be meeting at Civic Park Nth East Rd, Modbury – opposite the Tea Tree Plaza – at 9:30am for a 10am start. All makes and models of bikes are welcome. This is the last of the predetermined ride destinations from the outgoing club captain.   

Louis Peilschmidt, Club Captain

 louispeilschmidt@gmail.com