Classics Fork and Girder run 2019

A couple of weekends ago saw the annual Fork and Girder and  ride run by the Manawatu Classic Motor Cycle Club. After the monthly club meeting we had a leisurely ride to Colyton, down Valley road and then left to our final destination of The Ashhurst Tavern. It certainly was a leisurely run and gave one plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, but neat seeing these older and smaller bikes on the road doing the business.
It is an interesting sign of the times that this run has now been extended to also encouraging bikes under 250ccs and over forty years old. Technology moves on at a pace and this definition will soon be encompassing some motorcycles that can do 100mph plus. Think LC Yamahas, RG Suzukis etc. For those of us who have a keen interest in 60s,70s and 80s it is certainly an area of interest. After all for most of us we usually started out our motorcycling on such bikes so there is always some interest in rekindling some of those wonderful feeling of speed and adventure when we first hopped on our AC50s and Yamaha RD50s let alone those who began on some of the British Empires finest such as Bantams and Tiger Cubs. The girder forks is also harking back to former times when life seemed a lot simpler and straight forward when motorcycles were widely used as essential transport by so many. It has been interesting to see how other vintage Japanese groups have put at least one run aside each year for smaller bikes. Here is one from some fellowVJMC brethren in Ireland last year

The runs are called Tiddler Rides with preferred bike sizes being under 250cc for most but some in the States insist on 200cc's or less and over forty years old. Some even insist any bikes that don't meet the specs don't go on the run! Next pub night we could have a chat about it.

Motofest 2019

A big thank you to PC and Rich for this report and photos from the Motofest meeting at Hampton Downes a couple of weekends ago. The lads had a great time checking out all the rather exotic machinery on the track and on display. Paul and Alan de Lautour were also in attendance with Alan riding his XR14 RG500. Unfortunately it only made it through a couple of practice sessions before number three cylinder did a nasty.

Here is PCs report.  

Kim (TZR), Rich (On his new DL650) and myself (DL1000) headed up to Hampton Downs on the Friday very much looking forward to a couple of days of motorcycle racing that included a good share of classic stuff.

We headed up via the Parapara’s, Raetihi for morning tea/early lunch, then continuing North through National Park, Taumarunui and turning off at Otorohanga towards Ngaruawahia, taking in and advantage of all those good roads. Our final destination being the Ngaruawahia Hilton!

Fuel consumption was interesting for the 3 bikes when we topped up in Te Kuiti, some had already topped up prior! The big DL taking 13 litres, the 650 15 litres, that should improve as it runs in, and the TZR 16 litres in total for the distance travelled which is not bad for a 2-stroke!

The motel in Ngaruawahia, though an older establishment has been done up so very clean and tidy and reasonably priced at $100 each for separate rooms for us all for 3 nights! To add the R.S.A. Is right across the road so we were well looked after as far as refreshments and food went!

Hampton Downs is just 30 odd K’s up the road so an easy run up and back.

The weather was perfect, though it could be said too good as it was pretty hot watching the racing.

Paul and Allan Del Lautour we there, Alan running his RG500 that unfortunately nipped up a piston in a qualifying run.

The racing over the 2 days was awesome with some very close and exciting races in the formula 300 and Gixxer 150 classes with races within races and being able to throw a tea towel over groups. Often the lead bike coming onto the home straight was not the 1st bike over the line!

As far as the classics go, well it goes without saying, the sounds and smells alone just made it with one class being for 2-strokes only!

We decided to stay on after the racing on Saturday and attend the dinner and interviews with “The Legends” that were attending. This was well worth it at $46 and went on until 10pm.

This is a weekend that is well worth attending and recommended, a lot of fun and a good time in good company.

I grabbed a couple of photo, preferring to keep to the point and only take ones of bikes (classic 2-strokes) and not the attendees. Take note of the carbs on some of those bikes, you wouldn’t want to lose your step walking past them when they were running as you could be sucked in never to be seen again!

Big K has the numbers!

Last weekend was a busy time for the troops as some made there way up north to Hampden Downs for the Motofest, others were wandering around the South Island dodging fires and those of us who remained decided on a nice quiet ride over the Pahiatua Track to ride the Rongomai loop. The turnout was nearly a full Kawasaki affair with the XJ flying a lonely flag for Yamaha. Bruce decided to bring out his 1989  Kawasaki KR-1 for a spin and it was a nice generational contrast to Sir Als H2. The four of us set out from our usual starting off place outside Manawatu Motorcycles and headed eastwards to the track and after despatching a few SUVs Sir Al opened up the mighty H2 and we made our way up and over the hill. Bruce couldn't help himself as he got the KR1 on the pipe and disappeared off into the distance as he made the most of the excellent road conditions. Since the closure of the Manawatu Gorge road the Saddle Road and Pahiatua Track have received a lot of attention. The surface on the track road is the best I have seen it in years. It is absolutely brilliant for bend swinging when you have a clear road. The four of us certainly did and we all had big smiles when we pulled up to our first stop at Mangamaire.
The next part of our ride was just as 'sedate', but with a little more caution as we were very aware of  the intensive farming country we were going through with its fair share of animal movements, planned and unplanned! Mangaone road is always a great ride with its lovely mix of bends and following Sir Al on his H2 he was certainly pushing her along and making the most of the H2s generous ground clearance and power. Bruce was doing the same, but even more so as he made the most of the KR1s extra years of two stroke and chassis development. All to soon we arrived in Pahiatua just in time for the opening of The Black Stump Cafe.
 We were still smiling after our last lot of bend swinging as we supped our tea and coffees. Some of the conversation was around the great two stroke developments that happened between H2 and the KR1. If only those developments had carried on goodness knows where we would be today. KTMs development of its 300cc enduro bike certainly gives us some hope for a positive two stroke future for motorcycles. After having a good yarn we were soon on our way back over the track. With Ian on the W650 setting the pace at the front this time, we certainly didn't complete the last part of our ride in a quiet manner. When we reached the bottom of the track at Aokautere I think the smiles had become a permanent part of our faces. I hope those who went elsewhere over the weekend ended up with there share of smiles. I am sure mine is still there!

Andrews Garage

Over at the Blue Haze web site I have just put up a fresh post about a younger two stroke enthusiast who has been busy putting together a Yamaha RX125 that he acquired at the 'right price'. Rather than restore to original he is turning it into a great little urban cafe racer. Its great to see a younger generation with the skills necessary to keep heritage technology viable and then also adding some new skills to the mix. Its a pity some of the older bikes have crept up in value; taking them out of reach of the younger enthusiasts. I am sure Andrews' current effort won't be his last and I look forward to seeing the bike in its final form. Pop over and have a look at why he has spent so much time in his garage.