2005 Southern Cross Ride [Archive]

Blackbird

12th December 2004, 08:48

Ok, who is on for a nice wee scenic ride then? :eek:

Entries are open for Lee Hurley’s 8th Southern Cross ride next May. Anyone fancy doing it other than me? Instructions are about as simple as they get…… present yourself at Stirling Point, Bluff on Sunday May 8th and start between mid day and 1pm. Three days later (11 May), check in between mid day and 1pm at Cape Reinga, then push off and head for East Cape, checking in between (wait for it!) mid-day and 1pm on the 12th. Then a gentle canter over to Cape Egmont to check in (surprise, surprise!) between mid day and 1pm the following day. This is the finish of the ride!

Could be a whole heap of fun and before anyone says you need a big blaster to do it, one of the successful entrants last time rode a Suzuki RG50 – mind you, I don’t think he slept a lot!

Entry forms are available on www.rustynuts.co.nz

Hitcher

12th December 2004, 12:42

Mrs H and I would love to do it, but I am out of annual leave. Bugger!

I guess there's always 2007...

mangell6

12th December 2004, 20:10

Sigh! I guess I will have to attempt this as I have already arranged for time off. :D

Will be a fun time, 750Y has been in training . . . . .

Groins_NZ

12th December 2004, 20:54

Sounds like fun - what kind of numbers usually do this ride? Cripes, I'd have to ride over 1000k just to get to the starting point!

G.

matthewt

12th December 2004, 22:06

Sounds like fun - what kind of numbers usually do this ride? Cripes, I'd have to ride over 1000k just to get to the starting point!

G.

A big ride to get there (or back) is the norm. In 2003 there were 90+ riders.

750Y

13th December 2004, 05:46

hmmm... tick tick tick

Blackbird

13th December 2004, 06:19

Will be good to see you there Mike. Must admit that I'm quite apprehensive as the pain must be a bit more enduring than the 24 hour rides! I'm like Groins, it's a long haul to the start line but only 3 hours or so from the finish!

Cheers

Geoff

Lee Rusty

15th January 2005, 00:22

If you missed the RNMC Big 5 O then this is the next of our runs.

This is your chance to take part in the longest run in Australasia. 6300 km from where you live back to home.

Remember the Rusty's are holding an open Club Nite on the Saturday 7th of May in the the Club rooms (Eagle Tavern Bluff) run starts midday Sunday 8th.

There is no entry fee to the Club Nite but if you want a Club nite badge drop us a line - we will have them for sale on the nite only and will hold preordered ones to be collected. ($10 each).

Jantar

19th January 2005, 06:34

My leave request has just gone in, so it looks like I'm committed to being there. This will be my fist rea; endurance ride since the days of the "Shell 500" rallys back in the mid 1970s. Any advice from those who have completed this event in the past would be much appreciated.

So far, from what I can deduce, it looks like a full service and a new set of tyres immediately prior to the event, followed by a new rear tyre immediately after. An open ferry ticket and cash for 320 litres of fuel and 7 days food. Anything else?

Lee Rusty

19th January 2005, 13:06

at www.rustynuts.co.nz look up ride reviews and you will find plenty of articles from people who have done the ride in the past.

Jantar

6th February 2005, 21:16

I've checked the roster and my leave has been confirmed. I also met a guy at the Vincent rally who did the last one, and when I asked him if he's doing it again his grin told me all I need to know. So I'm doing it.

Entry form will be in the mail and ferry booking made on Wednesday. It sounds like a nice scenic wee trip. :wari:

Groins_NZ

9th February 2005, 21:15

Although I'm keen to do this, from preliminary figures its looking quite costly. Anybody here done this before and knows approximately how much it'll cost all up - including tyres, petrol, food, accommodation and the ferry. Have I missed anything out?

matthewt

9th February 2005, 22:31

Blackbird

10th February 2005, 06:30

On that basis, it should cost around $1500 all up, less if you stay with friends.

I'm budgeting on basically stuffing a set of new tyres on the ride.

Geoff

Groins_NZ

10th February 2005, 09:40

I've already done some calculations but was wanting to get an idea of other approximates as I haven't planned such a ride before.

Coincidently, I also figured around $1500-$2000

Thanks for your replies

mangell6

10th February 2005, 19:55

So being rather brash and bold, there is accommodation in Wellington, Tokoroa, Christchurch, Alexandra, Mt Maunganui (must tell mum). That would lessen the costs. Just need accommodation north of Whangarei, like Kaitaia, and possibly in Bluff/Invercargill if one is to go to the "Club night". So we have a team . . . . .

Blackbird

11th February 2005, 06:26

Morning Mike - indeed we do. Tokoroa will be my stopoff on the evenings of the 9th and 12th if all goes to plan. Room for 3 others if required.

Would you believe that I booked the ferries last night, crossing south on the 5th on the Aratere. Listening to this morning's news, I'm not sure what to do now. Think I might wait until next week before thinking about changing.

Cheers

Geoff

Jantar

12th February 2005, 06:45

Our place is available for anyone wishing to stop off on the way south to Bluff. We have a spare room with a double bed, but also a couple of camp stretchers we can soon put up. Then there's 10 acres of paddocks for tents.

My plans for each night are:
7th - Cabin at Bluff Camping ground.
8th - Tent in a roadside stop area somewhere between Waipara and Kaikoura.
9th - 1:30 pm ferry crossing then on to Wanganui (Any KBers with accomadation?)
10th - Kaitaia or further north. Probably tent again.
11th - Whakatane area, Probably tent again.
12th - Whakamaru Tokoroa area. Any room at your place Blackbird?
13th - Somewhere close to the finish point.

I haven't booked the return trip yet. I will still have another week off work so I may head back up to the Waikato, or else return home via Nelson and the West Coast.

I've budgeted for around $2000 in fuel, tyres food etc.

Krusti

12th February 2005, 07:43

If anyone needs a bed,Okoroire ( between Mamaku'sand Matamata) couple available. Just let us know.

Blackbird

13th February 2005, 16:09

Yep, 12th will be fine.

Geoff

Lee Rusty

2nd April 2005, 22:10

of this years Southern Cross Road Rally.
There are now over 70 entrants - if you want to come get your entries in to RNMC - Dont leave it to the last moment, it just makes lots of work for the organisers.

We look forward to seeing you in Bluff for the Rusty Nuts M/C Club nite on Saturday nite 7th of May. The SCRR starts at midday on 8th May.

DOnt forget also the 19th Grand Challenge 1000 miles in 24 hours. to be held 15th and 16th October. Start and finish in Turangi.

more details and entry forms from www.rustynuts.co.nz

Lee Rusty

22nd April 2005, 21:40

Rusty Nuts M/c are looking at beating the previous record of starters in the Southern Cross Road Rally. The number to beat is 98 entrants and we are nearing 90 with a couple of weeks to go for entries to be recieved.

With approx 6300km for riders from home back to home we are looking at serious mileage here.

The last two weeks are the usual time of a last minute rush of entrants as those who have to wait until the last few weeks to see if they can get time off etc - particually those who are self employed.

We look forward to seeing those KB people who can attend.

If you are still thinking about it - get into it.

LR

Blackbird

25th April 2005, 13:31

Have a word with the weather gods Lee and see if you can arrange some decent stuff eh?? :ride:
Geoff

Legolas

26th April 2005, 18:34

I really do admire and envy all you guys that are doing this ride.
The planning alone must be a nightmare.

I had a passing notion of doing the four points ride in the UK but not actually done anything about it yet. One day perhaps.

I wish you all the very best of luck and hope the weather Gods smile on you.

Safe journey. Steve.

Blackbird

26th April 2005, 20:13

Hi Steve me ol' mate

Thanks for the good wishes - we're gonna need them if this weekend's weather has been anything to go by - snow in parts of the north and south islands, exactly where we will be next week travelling down to the start point. Let's hope that it's an isolated incident!

Cheers :drinknsin

Geoff

RiderInBlack

26th April 2005, 20:38

Blackbird

26th April 2005, 22:06

Really nice of you RIB and thanks so much for all the trouble. I haven't talked to the guys yet about routes up north but sort of figured that we'd probably stay on SH1 all the way up. Weather excepting, it's not too bad a run from Tokoroa. We're staying at Houhora overnight and from memory, it's less than 700 km - probably the easiest daily run we've got. Is going through the Bay of Islands on SH 10 significantly longer than the Mangamukas?

We did a 1000 miler up that way in 1999 (I think), leaving Turangi at about 3.45 pm and arriving in Kaitaia smack on midnight including an out of the way checkpoint and an hour lost in Auckland whilst a riding partner changed his front wheel bearings in Auckland :whistle: We went through the Bay of Islands on that occasion.

I'm heading south on the 4th and meeting up with Mangell6 at Bluff.

Cheers

Geoff

Jantar

27th April 2005, 06:22

Mangakahia is still got a fair bit of road works on it so you might have to stay on SH1 through Whangarei. I will try a ride the roads up around here this Sun and post a run down on their condition here. Please post which roads you are planning to use and I will try a check those out. See attached map for area that I would cover. I might get kean and go as far as Kaitaia but will what I feel like doing come the weekend. I an riding to AK Friday evening and returning Sat so could check SH1 & SH16 as well:msn-wink:

Many thanks for the update RIB. Unless you advise any different next week I intend to follow the route you suggested to me for the Northland area. I also have another couple of alternative Southland routes that I'll suggest to Blackbird and Mangell6 when we all meet up in Bluff.

RiderInBlack

27th April 2005, 09:34

Is going through the Bay of Islands on SH 10 significantly longer than the Mangamukas?
GeoffTime wise it most definitely is. I would recommend going via Mangamuka if time is an issue. Via BOI (SH 10) You have more little townships to go through. There are also more patrol cars normal that way (SH 10) than through the Mangamukas (SH 1).

RiderInBlack

30th April 2005, 21:48

Mangakahia is still got a fair bit of road works on it so you might have to stay on SH1 through Whangarei. I will try a ride the roads up around here this Sun and post a run down on their condition here. Please post which roads you are planning to use and I will try a check those out. See attached map for area that I would cover. I might get kean and go as far as Kaitaia but will what I feel like doing come the weekend. I an riding to AK Friday evening and returning Sat so could check SH1 & SH16 as well:msn-wink: Have return from AK via SH1 and Mangakahia Rd click on this link for a update on the raod conditions http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=226623&postcount=123. Hope to ride the rest of Mangakahia Rd from home to Kaikohe and back the Whg via SH1. Will write a report on time and distances taken for both routes, and post it here.

RiderInBlack

1st May 2005, 22:27

OK, Off SH1 and onto RIB's Route North (Loop Rd-Otaika Valley Rd-Mangakahia Rd-SH14-Lake Omapere) and then back onto SH1:
Distance - 59.1miles (approx 95Km).
Time taken with top speed of 70-75MPH - 1hr 3mins with 3 main bits of roadworks (see Mangakahia Update (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=227268&postcount=124)).

SH1 from where RIB's Route North starts to where it rejoins:
Distance - 57.1miles (approx 92Km).
Time taken with top speed of 70-75MPH - 1hr with 1 minior bit of roadworks (see 125 (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=227273&postcount=125)) and watch close for patrol cars.

Distance between recommend fueling points:
Wellsford to Awanui (8km N of Kaitaia) via RIB's Route - Approx 252Km
Wellsford to Awanui via SH1 - Approx 249Km
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9860&stc=1

scumdog

1st May 2005, 23:45

Many thanks for the update RIB. Unless you advise any different next week I intend to follow the route you suggested to me for the Northland area. I also have another couple of alternative Southland routes that I'll suggest to Blackbird and Mangell6 when we all meet up in Bluff.

In the poo? Balclutha is a good spot for help if you're down South (see Jantar)

Any possibility a person could do it on a H-D 1200S? or is the riding comfort nd small fuel tank too much of a handicap??

Comments (Malcolm?)

Jantar

2nd May 2005, 06:33

In the poo? Balclutha is a good spot for help if you're down South (see Jantar)

Any possibility a person could do it on a H-D 1200S? or is the riding comfort nd small fuel tank too much of a handicap??

Comments (Malcolm?)

Your H-D would do it just fine. I'm planning on 240 - 300 km between fuel stops, but I did a very similar ride on my RE5 back in 1975 with only 140 km between fuel stops. You would just need to be aware of where the 24 hr hour stations are for any night time riding, and always fill up before sparesly populated areas like the Kaikoura coast.

Jantar

2nd May 2005, 10:07

An update on the long range weather forecast for Otago/Southland later this week and early next week. Looks like we'll have great weather for the trip.

Day - % chance of rain - Range in mm
Thursday - 10% - 0
Friday - 70% - 1-3
Saturday - 30% - 1-3
Sunday - 30% - 1-3
Monday - 30% - 1-3
Tuesday - 80% - 5-10
Wednesday - 30% - 1-3

Blackbird

2nd May 2005, 17:11

On behalf of us all, thank you so much for the trouble you've gone to :niceone: . We should be doing it in daylight so we'll hold of making any decisions until we see what the weather is like.

Safe riding.

Geoff

RiderInBlack

2nd May 2005, 18:00

On behalf of us all, thank you so much for the trouble you've gone to :niceone: . We should be doing it in daylight so we'll hold of making any secisions until we see what the weather is like.

Safe riding.

GeoffPlan to meet Jantar @ the Loop Rd turn-off on SH1 4pm on Tuesday 10/05/05 and ride through with him (ether route depending in conditions:msn-wink: ) to at least where RIB's Route rejoins SH1, just because I can:devil2: (love working for me).

Kickaha

2nd May 2005, 18:15

In the poo? Balclutha is a good spot for help if you're down South (see Jantar)

Any possibility a person could do it on a H-D 1200S? or is the riding comfort nd small fuel tank too much of a handicap??

Comments (Malcolm?)

The year I did it there was a guy on a 1000cc sportster with the small fuel tank and he managed alright,I think he said he was only doing 120-130km to a tank and my Darmah was about 170km and I thought that was bad

Lee Rusty

4th May 2005, 20:35

with an even 100 riders includes a few pillions.

Approx 630,000km to go - Offs are not permited

Club nite in Eagle Tavern Bluff has an unknown muster until the nite.

idb

4th May 2005, 22:09

with an even 100 riders includes a few pillions.

Approx 630,000km to go - Offs are not permited

Club nite in Eagle Tavern Bluff has an unknown muster until the nite.
Hey, have a great trip guys - I love long rides and this sounds like no end of fun.

Lee Rusty

4th May 2005, 22:42

down to our club nite in Bluff on Saturday and introduce yourself

THe Eagle will be buzzing

idb

4th May 2005, 22:55

down to our club nite in Bluff on Saturday and introduce yourself

THe Eagle will be buzzing
I'm committed I'm afraid, getting the glad-rags on and going to the Arrowtown Autumn Festival Ball.
Bluff pubs are hoot at any time but with all you lot down there it will really go off.
Cheers