Wheels Day at Papatoetoe East Primary (attn Bykey)

[Gremlin]

Announcing a Wheels Day at Papatoetoe East Primary School (maps attached). It will take place next Friday, 10 June at 0930 (sorry, I know its a weekday).

I mentioned it in passing a month or so ago, and for those that could possibly make it, now its happening.

The Idea
Mum is doing an transportation topic, and this the big event for the kids. The aim is to make it reasonably educational, while letting the kids see machinery up close that normally they might not see.

11 or so "stations" (probably related to classes) would be set up, and each class would go to a station for a period of time and look at the stuff. I think Dad has organised a Bobcat (probably stationary though) and the Placemakers pace car to come, and some other things from water and maybe air.

How you can help
By turning up on your favourite motorcycle to show the kiddies how cool and fun they are. Obviously its a work day, so many can't make it, but perhaps those that are drunk at midday could stop in first... Bykey Cop also said that he might be able come to show the kids a cop bike.

Type of bike is not an issue, ideally we would have sportsbikes, cruisers and dirt to show the kids the differences. My bike will probably have a completely off colour top fairing, but I'm still proud of her.

The Plan
If you could arrive aim to arrive at about 0915 for a 0930 start. The kids will be inside and the outside area will be free for setting up. I think it is aimed to finish at 1100, or 1130, I'll double check that.

Other details
Wheelies and stoppies will be pretty much out of the question due to space and kids everywhere, but if you do them on the road before and after and away from any cops then I know nothing.
We are hoping to have an educational slant, ie. If I hadn't learnt to read and write, then I would not be able to get a license etc, safety gear etc
I would also like to keep an eye on numbers, we don't want 100's turning up, but if worst comes to the worst if a cop can make it, then he'll do one station with the police bike, and I'll do another. Please post/pm saying what you'll bring as well
If the day is wet, you can phone the school on 09 278 5446 to see if its cancelled or not

And perhaps I'll be able to finally meet some of you. Questions welcome. Anybody??? Helloooo :yes:

UPDATES: (2/6)
- It will finish just before 1100 (kids morning tea)
- the school will be laying on morning tea for those that are able to come
- Mum has said it would be great if a dirt bike was able to come

[Da Bird]

I am doing a day shift that day anyway so will just check with the boss and see if I can come.

BC.

[Gremlin]

I'll ask my mum tonight, but I think she said she was going to do the ambo separately...

[Will]

Do you want me to ask some Ulyssians?

Some of them are retired and I could ask for some who live in the area to attend.

[Gremlin]

I've added a couple of updates to the bottom of the first post. Finishes just before 1100, morning tea provided about then.

Mum has also asked if there are any dirt bikes that could come. For some reason she seems to specially want one of them (maybe coz they are not common on the roads).

SpeedMedic
- An ambo bike would be really cool, I've never even seen one
- Mum said she will be doing emergency services (ambulance fire etc) separately possibly in a couple of weeks, so for the moment no, but perhaps later.
- I was guessing on the ambo bike, but it does seem like grey boundaries are being crossed. Do the bikes come as emergency or with the bikes. I'll guess bikes, because the kids will be able to see the differences between bikes.
- You could come on your bike?? :yes:

Will
That would be great. They would probably also be good with the kids. Would it be possible to have an idea of the numbers coming?? Just don't want to be surprised by 100 turning up... :no:

[Will]

Club Night coming up on Monday so i will have numbers after that. Shouldn't be too many because I will just ask those living in the area who would like to help.

[Will]

There will be at least one Ulyssian there to help out.

Have a great day.

[Gremlin]

Hi guys,

Just a bit of an update with the wheels day. From the weather forecasts we are all go. Speedmedic, Bykey Cop, has there been a result from the ambo bike/cop bike??

Also, below are some of the key points about the day, also attached as a word file if you want to print it out. At the moment, it looks like it is gareth, some from the Ulysses (one maybe John Wright, who phoned the school today) and me.

Extra Info:
- Short 5-10 min talk about the bike

- A motorcycle is bigger than a kid and you cannot outrun it.
- Bikers have to wear a helmet.
- You need a license to ride a motorcycle, and you have to pass a test to get a license, and that means you have to be able to read and write.
- What you use the motorbike for.
- It has two wheels.

- Kids aged 5-8. Groups will be between 20-30 kids.
- It will be finished at 1050.
- For some of the kids, it will be a case of having never been near a motorcycle.
- Answer any questions the kids might have.

Morning tea after that.

[Da Bird]

I will be there, barring any last minute emergency that I get tied up with (always a risk of that).

BC.

[R6_kid]

im there for sure, you still keen for pukekohe afterwards?

[Gremlin]

im there for sure, you still keen for pukekohe afterwards?
I was until today, when I ended up buying a few motorbike related things... as you do...

I'll double check my finances, but I might not be able to afford the $80. I also have an exam on Saturday. If I can't race (I mean ride - but I'll think that 100 or whatever is racing) around puke, I might come and take pics instead... Tell you on Friday.

Thanks BC - nobody do anything stupid on Friday, I don't want the nice cop to be held up. I even renewed my wof today (it was due after Friday anyway, but know I know the bike is good and safe).

Thanks Speedmedic for simply trying. If a bike can make it, it will be much appreciated.

[Gremlin]

Mum, the school, and I just wanted to say a big thank-you to all those that could make it. The kids were absolutely rapped with the bikes and the whole morning in general.

So to:
Martin (Bykey Cop)
Gareth (gareth_d)
John Wright

also, Will for mentioning the day to the Ulyssians, and Speedmedic for trying to get the ambo bike (I might PM you in the future about an emergency services day)

thanks a lot guys. I know you all have things to do, so to come out and spend some time saying a bit about biking, answering questions etc. was really great. Green rep to you (as small as it is) for the effort.

Maybe we might have created some new bikers, who knows??

[R6_kid]

I think every single kid in that school was saying goodbye as i left!

Story of the day goes to bykey cop:
Kid: Do you know my brother (insert name)?
Bykey cop: Umm no, should I?
kid: yeah he's on home detention.
Bykey cop: What for?
kid: Coz he gave some guy a hiding

[Jeremy]

Damn, knew that I should have read this earlier as I could have come along if you needed an extra bike.

Did you get a dirt bike in the end? Also did John Wright turn up in his goldwing?

[FROSTY]

Ill ditto that--Im sorry dude--Ida been in like flynn with my racevan and ol mella yella for you
Puters been on the blink

[R6_kid]

was actually pretty good. Would been nicer to have some good condition/race bikes there. I had to pass the halfdone zxr250 off as a 'race' bike.

Were basically just telling them about all the safety gear, i little bit about safe riding, and getting them to tell their parents to keep an eye out. Lots of questions asked about wheelies and tricks etc (soooo tempting, but with a cop standing next to you... :nono: )

[Gremlin]

yeah, the day was great. Apparently when my mum first raised the idea most of the staff thought it couldn't be done, or it would be no good. We proved them wrong!

Also, apparently the senior school was dying to have something like that, but is up to them to get their shit together.

We didn't manage to get a dirt bike, and John Wright wasn't there on a goldwing?? He brought a brand new cruiser, still very shiny. I might be able to get some pics that might have him in it, apparently Nigel (who brought the Placemakers Pace Car) took some photos.

I believe it will be happening again, probably next year, and we hope that it will only become better. As with gareth, it was very hard not to say things like no hands, speeding etc. but helmets, looking out for us etc. was more err... "educational"

Gareth and I also felt a little out of place next to a huuuge cop bike, and a shiny cruiser. It was also very hard to try and get the kids attention whenever the Martin (BC) let rip on the horn or siren!!!!

But the kids absolutely loved it.... :niceone:

[Gremlin]

yeah yeah, I am an evil old-thread-bringer-upper... :whocares:

Sent to my Dad, from the placemakers guy who brought the placemakers shadow car.

You can see me in the 3rd shot at the back in a white t-shirt teaching the kids about bicycles. The ZZR also has a staring role in the last shot behind John's bike and the pillar.

Once again, thanks to those that made the day such a hit.

[Waylander]

Yea mate let us know if something like this is gonna go down next year. I'll try and bring my beast up and whatever other bikes I have at the time.

[Gremlin]

From Hamilton??? Blardy Hell, you would deserve a big mention for a supreme effort for that.

I dunno if it will run next year (the transportation topic doesn't always run every year), but when it does, I will post it again.

Apparently all the teachers and the principal was surprised by the quality. They thought it would be a spouse showing their car etc. but instead we had a cop bike, other bikes, shadow car, pilot, boat :rofl:

Thanks to you guys, we showed them :yes:

[Waylander]

From Hamilton??? Blardy Hell, you would deserve a big mention for a supreme effort for that.

I dunno if it will run next year (the transportation topic doesn't always run every year), but when it does, I will post it again.

Apparently all the teachers and the principal was surprised by the quality. They thought it would be a spouse showing their car etc. but instead we had a cop bike, other bikes, shadow car, pilot, boat :rofl:

Thanks to you guys, we showed them :yes:

Heh you forget I'm the kind of biker that if I have even the slightest reason to ride I will. Plus as I was reading a few of the posts I missed aswell as the attachment thingo I started thinking about something you hinted at. It's a good way to teach future and current drivers biker awareness on the road. Show them that we're not all crazy dumb arses out to show off, aswell as show young futur bikers the importance of safty gear. And if it gets popular at one school, how long before others want to do something similar.

[Gremlin]

True, if it takes off, we may have to become the KB tour, with a professional set up :rofl: Mission statement etc.

but yeah, a lot of kids aren't exposed to bikes etc. and I'm sure we've all had kids waving at us, oogling us, nice to show them the equipment up close, let them sit on them etc.

The one thing my mother forgot was the local rags... Next time we might try to get them. Oh, speaking of rags, we (those that were there) all got a mention in the weekly newsletter.

Might see if I can get a copy, gareth and I were mentioned skipping exams etc :whistle:

[Waylander]

True, if it takes off, we may have to become the KB tour, with a professional set up :rofl: Mission statement etc.

but yeah, a lot of kids aren't exposed to bikes etc. and I'm sure we've all had kids waving at us, oogling us, nice to show them the equipment up close, let them sit on them etc.

The one thing my mother forgot was the local rags... Next time we might try to get them. Oh, speaking of rags, we (those that were there) all got a mention in the weekly newsletter.

Might see if I can get a copy, gareth and I were mentioned skipping exams etc :whistle:

Might try inviting Big Dave and his crew out sometime. I hear tell he has a few connections in the magazine world lol.

[Gremlin]

Might try inviting Big Dave and his crew out sometime. I hear tell he has a few connections in the magazine world lol.
Now that is a bloody good idea. Must remember it for the next time round...

[Sparky Bills]

This sounds like a good idea.
Good luck.

[eliot-ness]

Great public relatiions job you guys. Good to see some positive work on bikers behalf.
Should give us a much needed image boost with teachers, kids and parents.