SGB
Race Dog
The Alfie Cox Racing KZN team for RR2008 is considerably bigger this year than it was in 2007. 42 this year vs 16 last year. This ride seems to be quite popular, must be the Eastern Cape scenery..... ;D
We decided that a warm-up ride was in order, just to make sure that the bikes and riders are all in a good state of mechanical repair. We found some accommodation at Sodwana, and an old friend, Dallie Terblanche, a famous quad racer and farmer in Pongola area still remembers the Trans-Tongaland race route. That, combined with some Sodwana / Sibiya sand, we thought should do the warm-up thing. Easy enough from an organizing perspective, and with some local knowledge and recce riding by Chicco and friends from Richardsbay, the ride was on.
We left Durbs early morning on Saturday 30 Aug, and hightailed to Bell in Richardsbay where everyone gathered, some with trailers (those 100 hp scramblers on the tar are not too comfy I am told....) and some sommer came on the bikes.
The group was quite big, 27 riders in total. I invited my good friend Roger (Ryder Motorrad) along as well - he has a little drawback from a brand perspective but we forgive him for that, he fits in quite nicely otherwise..... ;D
We made good progress, except for Rod Gray, he announced at the first stop: "Norman had to turn back" Why Rod, I asked. "I rode over him" What! Rode OVER him? "Yes, he crashed right in front of me in the track and I had to go over his bike and him - he is a bit sore but OK" The 60+ boys are thougher than we think....
We took a nice gravel road from Mthubathuba, past the Pongola dam, and stopped again to refuel at Hluhluwe.
From here, off to Mkhuze, where Dallie was already waiting. I did not take pics along the next stretch, but a great mountain pass with some rocks and ruts and stuff - nice ride.
Then we arrived at a river, and Dallie on his 950 SE, announces that we will go along the river. "How far Dallie?" "Until you see the ocean, or maybe we can get out before - lets go and see how we go." "Sure Dallie". It turned out to be very pleasant riding once you get settled in. But the big machines do dictate a little more "paying attention" in these conditions. We all had our little moments, well most of us. And some were cheating, I mean a 690 is just not fair compared to the big machines. Dean, on a 990 claims that he came off 22 times. I am not so sure I can lift my 990 22 times..... Sweat (and some blood
) was donated in large volumes, let's leave it at that.....
After several km's, we find some water, and regroup.
Not all of us found the conditions funny, but some still had a sense of humor. Lekker snaaks ne?
From here we followed some sandy tracks behind tour guide Dallie, sandy but not the stuff that eats front wheels, all good fun and great riding.
We arrived at Mbazwana quite early, and in a relaxed mood. We then decide to go and check out lake Sibiya - and find the straw (sand) that nearly broke the camel's back. Serious stuff here and there.....
It was here where I found out that those farm boys from Colenso also have a warped sense of humor..... I have an appointment in Lesotho with them.....
This was heavy riding, but over in good time, and we all survived, some only just..... Made a stop at "Jan maak 'n Jol" pub for a few cold ones, well deserved to some of us.
Slept over at the Sodwana Lodge - dinner was good and the pub did not work too hard - the boys were kind of tired and sleep sounded like a better idea.
The next morning at breakfast, the general consensus was that sand should best be avoided.....
Found a nice track along Muzi pans, and that little bit of sand, just for good measure and to keep us awake.
Stop to check out why Goldie did not want to brake any more.....
Because the disc was a little distorted, why?
Pads not so good any more. Quite bad - removed the pads and disconnected the back brake, front only for you. Julle wil mos nie luister nie.....
From here we took a pleasant and dusty ride through the Phinda game reserve. The ranger escorted us in convoy, he was worried that some lions may have an apetite for orange..... You do not need to be faster than a lion, just faster than your buddy is good enough. Tall order considering this bunch of hooligans. :-\
Back at Hluhluwe, the group split. Some went on the tar, and the rest of us took dirt tracks via forests, etc - nice ride back to Richardsbay. With the odd challenge here and there. Roger was now on a GSA which his chief of sales brought up early on Sunday AM. He thought that we are only going to see good roads as per the breakfast agreement..... The good thing is that he agreed afterwards that riding an HP2 is also cheating..... :bueller:
Did we warm up? The ride certainly did justice to the title, we are red hot and ready for the RR! See you there?
Thanks to Dallie and Chicco for the help with the routes and recce. And to Alfie, Richard and Rod from Alfie Cox Racing for the opportunity. And everyone who joined, I predict some serious fun at the RR - this is an excellent bunch to ride with. Never a dull moment, but somehow we all got through once again. Well done boys!
We decided that a warm-up ride was in order, just to make sure that the bikes and riders are all in a good state of mechanical repair. We found some accommodation at Sodwana, and an old friend, Dallie Terblanche, a famous quad racer and farmer in Pongola area still remembers the Trans-Tongaland race route. That, combined with some Sodwana / Sibiya sand, we thought should do the warm-up thing. Easy enough from an organizing perspective, and with some local knowledge and recce riding by Chicco and friends from Richardsbay, the ride was on.
We left Durbs early morning on Saturday 30 Aug, and hightailed to Bell in Richardsbay where everyone gathered, some with trailers (those 100 hp scramblers on the tar are not too comfy I am told....) and some sommer came on the bikes.
The group was quite big, 27 riders in total. I invited my good friend Roger (Ryder Motorrad) along as well - he has a little drawback from a brand perspective but we forgive him for that, he fits in quite nicely otherwise..... ;D
We made good progress, except for Rod Gray, he announced at the first stop: "Norman had to turn back" Why Rod, I asked. "I rode over him" What! Rode OVER him? "Yes, he crashed right in front of me in the track and I had to go over his bike and him - he is a bit sore but OK" The 60+ boys are thougher than we think....
We took a nice gravel road from Mthubathuba, past the Pongola dam, and stopped again to refuel at Hluhluwe.
From here, off to Mkhuze, where Dallie was already waiting. I did not take pics along the next stretch, but a great mountain pass with some rocks and ruts and stuff - nice ride.
Then we arrived at a river, and Dallie on his 950 SE, announces that we will go along the river. "How far Dallie?" "Until you see the ocean, or maybe we can get out before - lets go and see how we go." "Sure Dallie". It turned out to be very pleasant riding once you get settled in. But the big machines do dictate a little more "paying attention" in these conditions. We all had our little moments, well most of us. And some were cheating, I mean a 690 is just not fair compared to the big machines. Dean, on a 990 claims that he came off 22 times. I am not so sure I can lift my 990 22 times..... Sweat (and some blood
) was donated in large volumes, let's leave it at that.....
After several km's, we find some water, and regroup.
Not all of us found the conditions funny, but some still had a sense of humor. Lekker snaaks ne?
From here we followed some sandy tracks behind tour guide Dallie, sandy but not the stuff that eats front wheels, all good fun and great riding.
We arrived at Mbazwana quite early, and in a relaxed mood. We then decide to go and check out lake Sibiya - and find the straw (sand) that nearly broke the camel's back. Serious stuff here and there.....
It was here where I found out that those farm boys from Colenso also have a warped sense of humor..... I have an appointment in Lesotho with them.....
This was heavy riding, but over in good time, and we all survived, some only just..... Made a stop at "Jan maak 'n Jol" pub for a few cold ones, well deserved to some of us.
Slept over at the Sodwana Lodge - dinner was good and the pub did not work too hard - the boys were kind of tired and sleep sounded like a better idea.
The next morning at breakfast, the general consensus was that sand should best be avoided.....
Found a nice track along Muzi pans, and that little bit of sand, just for good measure and to keep us awake.
Stop to check out why Goldie did not want to brake any more.....
Because the disc was a little distorted, why?
Pads not so good any more. Quite bad - removed the pads and disconnected the back brake, front only for you. Julle wil mos nie luister nie.....
From here we took a pleasant and dusty ride through the Phinda game reserve. The ranger escorted us in convoy, he was worried that some lions may have an apetite for orange..... You do not need to be faster than a lion, just faster than your buddy is good enough. Tall order considering this bunch of hooligans. :-\
Back at Hluhluwe, the group split. Some went on the tar, and the rest of us took dirt tracks via forests, etc - nice ride back to Richardsbay. With the odd challenge here and there. Roger was now on a GSA which his chief of sales brought up early on Sunday AM. He thought that we are only going to see good roads as per the breakfast agreement..... The good thing is that he agreed afterwards that riding an HP2 is also cheating..... :bueller:
Did we warm up? The ride certainly did justice to the title, we are red hot and ready for the RR! See you there?
Thanks to Dallie and Chicco for the help with the routes and recce. And to Alfie, Richard and Rod from Alfie Cox Racing for the opportunity. And everyone who joined, I predict some serious fun at the RR - this is an excellent bunch to ride with. Never a dull moment, but somehow we all got through once again. Well done boys!
