2007 Grand Challenge - Tips

[NZsarge]

Ermm that was a fun ride. As I headed out of Dargaville heading North, it was around 7:30 and just enough sunlight left to see the weather fronts moving in, with the rain / wind... (I think they need a name for rain flying sideways, rain falls straight)

Yeah, did'nt envy you guy out there , well done and hope y'all made it home safe.

[Plugz 4 Lugz]

Glad to see you got back ok in that crap weather we slept through!!!! How did the earplugs go for you? Cheers Sue

Ermm that was a fun ride. As I headed out of Dargaville heading North, it was around 7:30 and just enough sunlight left to see the weather fronts moving in, with the rain / wind... (I think they need a name for rain flying sideways, rain falls straight)

[Beemer]

Andy was certainly happy to get home and sleep in his own bed last night. Not fun to be riding in strong winds and rain for most of the trip.

Is the guy he ferried to a hotel after he crashed okay? Think he (or his mate) was riding a Blackbird and he may have dislocated his collarbone. Andy took him on the back of his bike then took his mate back to collect the bike.

Glad to have him home again, that's for sure!

[nadroj]

Andy was certainly happy to get home and sleep in his own bed last night. Not fun to be riding in strong winds and rain for most of the trip.

Is the guy he ferried to a hotel after he crashed okay? Think he (or his mate) was riding a Blackbird and he may have dislocated his collarbone. Andy took him on the back of his bike then took his mate back to collect the bike.

Glad to have him home again, that's for sure!

He's just rung me on his way back from Opononi to pick up his gear he left in Turangi onhis way thru New Plymouth to Stratford. He has a broken collarbone & bruised hip from the high side. His description was he was following other riders going down the hill to Opononi when the bike in front of him braked in the middle of a corner & he locked the rear of the ST1100 on some loose stuff before it gripped again & highsided him. He asked me to pass on thanks to Andy & others who helped especially his brother in law Robin Halse (on the blackbird) who sacrificed his GNC to stay with him.

[banditrider]

He's just rung me on his way back from Opononi to pick up his gear he left in Turangi onhis way thru New Plymouth to Stratford. He has a broken collarbone & bruised hip from the high side. His description was he was following other riders going down the hill to Opononi when the bike in front of him braked in the middle of a corner & he locked the rear of the ST1100 on some loose stuff before it gripped again & highsided him. He asked me to pass on thanks to Andy & others who helped especially his brother in law Robin Halse (on the blackbird) who sacrificed his GNC to stay with him.

Glad to here he's ok and got home ok. We passed you guys and you waved us on but it gave us something to think about as we kept going. Hope he's all healed and ready in time for the next one.

[Blue Bandito]

Gald to have done another one. Weather was rubbish so congrats to all finishers.

Those that haven't done a GC don't understand why we do it and they never will. Until they do one for themselves. It's no different to people that run marathons or do Iron Man events. I think they are mad, but I'm sure they have their reasons.

A big thanks to all the Rustys for another well organised and run event.

I'll be back next year.

[Beemer]

He's just rung me on his way back from Opononi to pick up his gear he left in Turangi on his way thru New Plymouth to Stratford. He has a broken collarbone & bruised hip from the high side. His description was he was following other riders going down the hill to Opononi when the bike in front of him braked in the middle of a corner & he locked the rear of the ST1100 on some loose stuff before it gripped again & highsided him. He asked me to pass on thanks to Andy & others who helped especially his brother in law Robin Halse (on the blackbird) who sacrificed his GNC to stay with him.

Pleased to hear his injuries are only painful and not life-threatening. Not fun to crash under any circumstances but at least he did have someone with him and others prepared to help. Hope his bike isn't too badly damaged either!

[Warr]

Was one of those rides for sure.
I've hung my wet weather gear up for a long time. I have NO desire to be on 2 wheels on any wet roads for quite some time. Completed in a respectable 19hrs 35 min. The sense of achievement will come in time. Was more like survival at all cost at times. The weather was horrendous - notable was been blown literally sideways south of Wellsford on SH 16. The wind was V strong. And then on a home bit of road lay the bike down doing ~60kph, there was nothing to grip to - yes the road was wet. And then the grueling 65k's out and back to Ohura on a slippery goat track.
But Lee's words still echo in my mind. It is a Challenge.

And top marks to any other first-timers. It only gets easier !! TA being in that category .. and he says he will do it again! So cant have been that bad. And it was useful to have someone to help lift the trusty VFR up off the deck, so I could carry on to complete.

Here is a pic of my bit of road and there is no grip in the centre either. Pic courtesy of TA

[Blackbird]

One word Warren: RESPECT

[nadroj]

I didn't do the ride myself (back problems still) but attended my second GNC this year. I did take many pics of before & after plus got a few going up the hill at Tokaanu just after the start. Pics are available free to any competitor but rather than posting heaps of pics, a bike description would be easier for me to identify your bike & post or e-mail the pic to you. Some of you way want to pay me a bribe to not post your pic - especially the Hitchers & Zapf.

Cheers for the good wishes for Alan's recovery. He is meant to be delivering me his bike tonight on his way home so I may sneak some damage pics (him & bike).

And well done KoroJ for completing the 500km extension - yes 2100km in less than 24hrs

[tri boy]

I tip my hat to all who did this ride.
To attack a long distance ride in such rotten conditions through the night is something that I would prefer not to do.

awesome effort.

[banditrider]

Map of the ride here.

[KoroJ]

I tip my hat to all who did this ride.
To attack a long distance ride in such rotten conditions through the night is something that I would prefer not to do.

awesome effort.

Conditions were great when we started!!

[Taz]

I had a ball the whole way round. Finished in 19 hours. I was on the black R1100GS (clicked over 100,000kms on the auckland motorway on the way north) riding with Cary on the XT600. got to Te Kuiti at 7:30am and stopped for breakfast. Highway 22 in the dark and rain at 5:30am was fun too. And unlike some we did the entire route including SH10 way up the top and SH16 from wellsford. For those of you who opted to not do these -- shame!
Andy.

[puddy]

Have just finished tidying up my crap from this year's GC.
I rode down on Friday afternoon with XGNR.
The weather was threatening when we started the GC, then turned to pissing rain for most of us at about Auckland for a couple/few hours. It did improve a bit, but was quite windy, and heavy showers were at times very frequent. Still, it could always be worse. And was probably offset a bit by a relatively route. For the first timers, when you get to do a fine one it will be a piece of cake! Many thanks to Lee and all the other Rusties, as always, a great event. How many clubs do you know where the members organise and support events that most of them can't ride in, and people like myself, who aren't members can do the events? Good time had by most people. Rode home via Rotorua with XGNR and Zapf. Yeah, sorry Zapf about the late/heavy braking and sudden turn toward Matamata. Guess I need GPS too ( or you and XGNR could get K7s! ).