Prsidents Report - 2008
Words from the President
Hi Everyone
Welcome to 2009!!! What a great year we had in 2008 with some very successful events. For example the GAR – I heard from some regular GAR participants that it was one of the best GAR’s ever. We traversed through some new country that incorporated the fantastic trails of Guerella Park near Kenilworth. The heat brought a few good men to their knees but they soldiered on to tell some funny stories around camp. We also had the honour of Australian Off Road Champion AJ Roberts riding with us to get some navigational training up his sleeve for who knows what race lies ahead for him (???).
Yamaha Sprint Round 1 - 2008.
It seems to be getting more and more difficult to organise the legislation requirements for the GAR each year. There are many different government departments to go through and truth be told I received the final go ahead (as in the permit) the Friday before the GAR. That is too much stress for our organisers and this was the reason for the lack of pre-advertising. Anyway all went well in the end and I really would like to thank our Vice-Secretary Mike Hoare for his part in the 2008 GAR. Mike organised the paperwork from his hospital bed in Brisbane and then continued to contribute when he got out even though he couldn’t attend the actual ride to bask in his achievements. Alan Holme as usual deserves a major thankyou along with his trustee companion and dedicated GAR worker Jo Holme. Alan thanked Brett Marsh at the GAR for his contribution and I want to thank him as well on behalf of the club – Brett lives quite a distance from the GAR tracks and yet helped to map them out at every opportunity and then of course sweep the whole weekend. There are of course our regular volunteers from the club that turned up on the weekends before and then sweep the GAR – So a GREAT BIG THANKYOU to you lot too.
Champions in the Club!!!
2008 saw some awesome racing from our Gympie club members. Congratulations to Wayne Winston for his Australian OffRoad Championship Title in the Over 35’s, Andrew Brook took out Qld Enduro Champion for the over 35’s, Jacqui Beattie won the Women’s Enduro Qld Championship and Christy Ferguson took out third in that, Scott Hoare took out the Clubman under 200 Qld Championship. As for our juniors – Holy Cow they are super fast and really making their mark – Guy Parkinson, Kasey Winston, Cody Winston, the Bateman children and sorry if I have missed you but we are really getting a good line up on the enduro podiums. Of course Nick Beattie was picked to represent Australia’s Junior Development Team at the International Six Day Enduro held in Greece last year and his results were very impressive.
MX champs – well I have to say that I don’t have much to do with the MX racing scene but I am keen to find someone who is so that they can keep me informed about our club members doing well.
Desert Riders
Last year some of our club members took on the Desert adventure of a lifetime. Alan Holme, Tony Woodgate, Mike Hoare and Mark Haldaine met up with some friends from Bundy I think to head on over to WA and take on the Canning Stock Route and Simpson Desert and lots of Deserty things that they did. Congratulations to these fellas – unfortunately they don’t hand out trophies to commemorate their victories but they bloody well should. I guess these fellas must sit back at times and get a great big smile on their face knowing the adventure they went on will give them memories of a lifetime. If you are interested in checking out their adventure then visit this website http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379786
Coming up
We are running a training day for the juniors on the 14th of January (that’s a Wednesday) at the Cedar Pocket track. This is for any juniors wanting to renew their licence or upgrade it and also any kids wanting to do the kickstart program. Get in quick so we can confirm the times etc.
End of Year Club Break Up
Even though it’s the beginning of the year it is basically our club break-up weekend on the 17th and 18th of January at the Cedar Pocket track. Saturday starting from 12.00pm to whenever it will be a MX practice day and camping is available and then the Sunday we thought we would have a trailride around the property. It is closed to club members only so make sure your membership is up to date.
Membership 2009
We are all up for renewing our membership as at the 31st December, 2008. You can either download a membership form from the website or drop into Motorcycle Country and fill one out there but remember you have to have cash or cheque to pay for it there.
First Trailride for 2009
At this stage we have tentatively booked in the date 29th March 2009 and it will be held in the Widgee area. New ground for the club members of the past 10years but apparently we ran races and other events there years ago.
Enduro Racing
Our club will be hosting the first round of the Suzuki Enduro X on a Saturday and a Honda Pony Express on the Sunday of the same weekend in February. This is yet to be confirmed so look out for those dates.
New Committee Members
Well not new really just a shuffle. We officially have Christy Ferguson as our trusted Treasurer with Frank Kraan as Vice Treasurer, Andrew Brook is now Secretary with Mike Hoare as Vice and me, Jacqui Beattie as your President and Alan Holme as the Vice President.
I have a little helper for the membership renewals and newsletter distribution etc – young Sarah Brook is going to be sending you your membership cards etc. Thankyou Sarah.
Send in your photos
Are you bored with looking at the same photo on the webpage as I am? Well then send in your photos to me but try to reduce them first please.
A Poem
That’s right you read it right – below is a great little poem written by one of our club members – Don Buchanan. I thought it was quite clever and captured the essence of how lucky we are to be involved in such a great sport!
The day dawned bright and clear, I rose before the sun,
After I put on the kettle, I yawned and scratched me bum,
Jesse made us some brekky, he knocks stuff up in a blink,
We scoffed it down and burped a bit and threw our plates in the sink.
We took the ute to town, there was some shopping to do,
A pig to bake, some gas, some ice, and of course our favourite brew.
We were havin’ a bike ride, expectin some mates along with their gals,
What a weekend it would be, my wife, my kids, my pals.
Jodie turned up at 8 o’clock, her eyelids round her shoes,
Her shift just finished at 6, so she jumped in our bed for a snooze.
Mark and Kelly drove in next, to see ‘em was a thrill,
Kelly was manning a camera, stationed on KTM hill.
The ride took off at 1 o’clock, 28 bikes in all,
Everyone keen to roost mountains, no one expecting a fall.
We returned to the fort at5, showing white teeth thru a dusty grin,
Someone warmed up a shower, and 3 blokes jumped straight in.
The evenings events were relaxing, viewing videoed parts of the ride,
Chewing on pork and roast pumpkin, with chocolate cake on the side.
At the bonfire I’ll always remember, looking at embers ablaze,
Of bikes and mates and famly, yep! One of my happiest days.
Don Buchanan
That’s all for now folks.
Keep riding and stay upright.
Jacqui Beattie
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Gympie Motorcycle Club
PO Box 550
GYMPIE QLD 4570
