Manawatu Classic Motorcycle Clubs 30th Anniversary Rally

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

The Manawatu Classic Motorcycle Club celebrated there 30th Anniversary this weekend with a rally at Camp Rangi Woods in the Pohongina Valley. A wide range of bikes were represented from the 1920s thru to the seventies. Most were British with Triumph definitely the best represented. Our Blue Haze group showed its support with Dione on his X7, Alan on the A7 and myself on the KH turning up for the bike line up and judging at 9:00am. An excellent range of machines with some very interesting 2 smokers amongst them. The Planeta and Bantam went really well on the run following the lineup. We left the camp at 10:30 and followed a route taking in Cheltnham, Feilding and stopping in Ashurst for lunch then over the road to Laurie Gudsell's Aviation Museum. Nothing like hearing an Allison V12 in someones front yard!
A huge thank you to Dave Robinson and his crew for the huge effort they put in.
I will put more videos and photos of the day up as time allows.

250s Only!

From Blue Haze run 22/11/09

From Blue Haze run 22/11/09

Dione, Alan and I decided on a short run down to the Route 66 Diner in Foxton. This is a great place to stop for a quick bite, beer or cup of tea. We made our way via Taikorea and came back via Linton. a nice short run and a good excuse to get the bikes out after three lousy weekends of poor weather. Dione was testing his fairing on the X7. After swapping bikes it was definitely nice to be out of the wind and would be brilliant on a long trip. Riding Alans Suzuki TS250 was a pleasant surprise. Really scoots up to 100ks with ease. on our return we shot around to Alans place to check out the latest upgrades. Looking good for the Manawatu Vintage Motorcycle Club Rally on the 28th of November.

Ride to Halcombe

From Blue Haze run 26/07/09

From Blue Haze run 26/07/09

Here are some photos of a run we did on a glorious winters day in July to Halcombe. Some members were down with the usual winter ailments but it was good to see Steve on the run on his low mileage H2a. Paul came along on his H2a with Dione on the mighty KR250 and myself on the KH250. It was great run with a coffee stop in Feilding on the way home.

Blue Haze/VJMC Ekatahuna Run 01/11/09

From Blue Haze/VJMC Ekatahuna Run 01/11/09

From Blue Haze/VJMC Ekatahuna Run 01/11/09

Alan fronted up today with his Kawasaki A7 Avenger and was keen to see how it would go on a run. No sign of the gremlins from last week so Alan, Kim, Dione and myself departed Palmerston North and headed over the Pahiatua track. A quick stop at the top to enjoy the view and down the other side to the Mangamaire turnoff. Just before Ekatahuna we stopped at picnic area and played musical motorcycles. Really enjoyed Alans A7. Very surprised with the amount of power it has and definetly the next best sound a two stroke triple! After a cup of tea and an excellent Mince and cheese pie at Ekatahunas only cafe, we decided to take a back road to Pahiatua. The Mangaone Valley road is a gem and really suits our style of bikes with some short straits and lovely sets of flowing corners. After a quick stop in Pahiatua we headed back over the track. Managed to hit reserve at the bottom of the track with Alan doing the same on the A7. Luckily unlike Alan my reserve works and Alan was left in Aokautere waiting for his wife to deliver some petrol. The strong westerly had knocked the fuel economy down to 33mpg! The worst number all year. Still not as bad as the KH400 I used to have that I managed to get down to 19mpg.

Blue Haze run 06/09/09

From Blue Haze run 06/09/09

From Blue Haze run 06/09/09

From Blue Haze run 06/09/09

From Blue Haze run 06/09/09

Another beautiful day in the Manawatu saw the Blue Haze club do a short run through the Manawatu Gorge and back over te Pahiatua track with two stops along the way. The first was to Steves to check out a Kawasaki A7 Avenger he was selling. It was in great nick with most of the restoration work completed by Steve to a very high standard. It didn't take Alan long to make the decision to purchase the bike; especially with a number of Blue Haze members indicating an interest in purchasing it if Alan didn't! Our second stop was the Brown Owl cafe at the Balance Bridge. A good chance to discuss the important things in life; 60s, 70s and 80s bikes!
Great to see Dione riding his Suzuki X7. A great little bike. Paul turned up on his immaculate Kawasaki H1a Mach III that absolutely glistened in the sun. Kim on his trusty H2, Alan on his TS250 and myself on my KH250.

Blue Haze/VJMC Hunterville Run

From Hunterville 25/10/09

From Hunterville 25/10/09

From Hunterville 25/10/09

From Hunterville 25/10/09

Had an interesting 160km run today up to Hunterville via some back block roads from Marton. We waited in vain for Alan to turn up on his recently acquired  Kawasaki 350 A7 Avenger. He finally arrived on the mighty TS 250 all hot and sweaty due to the A7 not cooperating and giving him a 'push me home' work out. After a quick run through Halcombe via Mt Stewart and Marton we enjoyed  some great 360 degree views across the Rangitikei region at the top of Cutler Road. Travelled over some gravel roads much to the consternation of Dione who was concerned over  stone chips on his plastics. Should have bought his X7. Seventies bikes have no problems with gravel roads! Had a great stop off in Hunterville at the Second hand shop. An amazing collection of 50s, 60s and 70s cars and the odd bike as well. A neat Yamaha Chappy and Puch moped. The cafe across from the public park and toilet served an excellent coffee and reasonably priced food. After topping up with gas we had a great run back via Vinegar Hill. Was having to ring the neck off the poor little KH250 up some of the hills, but managed to keep the KR250 and H2 in sight. At least I had some company with Alan on his TS. We then went back to my place via Colyton and Hiwinui to share the sound of the mighty GT550! Alans TS250 started making some ominous noises from the transmission area once we got back to Palmy. At least Alans got Labour Day to sort both his bikes out!

From a Yamaha CS3 to a Suzuki RG500

From Blue Haze run 16/11/09

From Blue Haze run 16/11/09

From Blue Haze run 16/11/09

Here are some photos from a run we did in November last year. Ross Charlton and Murray Smith on a couple of Yamaha 350s and Jenny Mollar on her Suzuki RG500 came up from Wellington and joined us. Our run went out to Mt Biggs and across to Tokomaru for a coffee at the Horse Shoe Bend cafe. The RG500 was quite a contrast to Nigel Wales little Yamaha CS3.Unfortunetly it didn't get to far out of town before one of the exhaust flanges loosened off and it had to be taken home! Paul turned up with his immaculate Kawasaki H1b, Kim was on his H2 and myself on my Yamaha XJ750. Another great wander around the Manawatu countryside.