2007 Grand Challenge - Tips

**TerminalAddict** · 15th October 2007, 19:46

My Report
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=58986
19.5 hours .. .choice !!!!

Anthrax .. you guys with freaking crazy through the Ohura section .. well done !!!!!
Obviously trusted your tyres more than I trusted mine

**puddy** · 15th October 2007, 19:57

Also, hats off to the four who completed the extension (don't let it go to your head Ian! If it does, then get ya Missus to open a bottle of Speights......it'll bring down the swelling! ) Seriously, well done! The penny dropped, after reading the previous two pages, saw that Hitcher and Mrs H and others whose faces I know but names I don't were there.......small world. Who else did it this year, or has done it in past years? Mr and Mrs 'Goldwing 1800'? ( congrats on ya tenth.........both have something else to polish when Mum's not around ). Be there again next year. Hope to see the usual suspects and a few new ones. And cheers to Stu and Felix!

**Taz** · 15th October 2007, 20:18

PIC1 - Not a very good pic but this is the check at dargaville.
PIC2 - Lined up for the start
PIC3 & 4 - A little road we found on the way home.

**xgnr** · 15th October 2007, 20:59

Back home now and reflecting on my first GC.

First of all a huge thanks to those that gave me help and encouragement in the months beforehand. Blackbird, Puddy and Zapf in particular

The run itself was a bit of a blur. Some parts that stand out were

1. Coming around a corner (Te Aroha) and seeing a rider on a grass verge rolling around in pain and his bike through a fence.. expecting the worst but TG he is ok but in hospital under observation. His helmet was well stuffed and he is very lucky. Unwinding the the bike from a live electric fence was an interesting and slightly shocking experience!

2. Following a rider after the bin for a number of K's only to have him pull over and question why I (we.. 2 others) were following him as he was a local and just running in his new bike...doh (yes Puddy, my GPS was telling me that I was off route). hmmm added a few Ks to the trip.

3. Riding from Paeroa to Dargaville in the dark with torrential rain and scary wind gusts by myself was not fun.

4. My phobia of riding on wet shiny bits is over due to exposure therapy.

5. Cow shit in the rain is extremely slippery when you hit it at 110km. Bit like wet shiny bits but worse.

6. Second Bin was a HD in front of our little group at 2.00am or so lost it on a tight RH corner in the Waipoua Forest. Comments that I recall once we picked it up and dusted the rider down. "The wife is going to be really pissed off about this".... " I was having a real good time till I fell off"

7. Almost running out of gas before the last check point... Thanks Nigel (had spare Gas for the Metric Harley)and Puddy. Brain was not computing re distance through Ohura to Taumaranui.

8. You have to have good lights... My "death ray" lights worked a treat. Just don't leave them on for long without the engine running (as I did today on the way home)

8. Bikers are good people and fun to be with.

Especial thanks to the Rusty crew for a fantastic event.

Puddy, Nigel and Zapf for their good company during the event. Now considering Chatto Creek

Cheers to all involved

Stu

**nadroj** · 15th October 2007, 21:00

Originally Posted by puddy

Also, hats off to the four who completed the extension (don't let it go to your head Ian! If it does, then get ya Missus to open a bottle of Speights......it'll bring down the swelling! ) Seriously, well done! The penny dropped, after reading the previous two pages, saw that Hitcher and Mrs H and others whose faces I know but names I don't were there.......small world. Who else did it this year, or has done it in past years? Mr and Mrs 'Goldwing 1800'? ( congrats on ya tenth.........both have something else to polish when Mum's not around ). Be there again next year. Hope to see the usual suspects and a few new ones. And cheers to Stu and Felix!

Is this you?

**smoky** · 15th October 2007, 21:44

Well done guys

**smoky** · 15th October 2007, 21:47

Originally Posted by Anthrax

PIC3 & 4 - A little road we found on the way home.

Is that the back road over the divi to Raglan?

**Taz** · 15th October 2007, 21:49

Originally Posted by smoky

Is that the back road over the divi to Raglan?

Called old mountain road and does head raglan way.

**TerminalAddict** · 15th October 2007, 21:53

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Called old mountain road and does head raglan way.

tis on my back door step.

A road I used to frequent is cars :P

haven't done it on the hornet tho'
Did you cross over to sh22 up to Waingaro?

**Warr** · 15th October 2007, 21:55

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Called old mountain road and does head raglan way.

Went over there on a Wednesday night ride when no-one else turned up!! Strangely you never meet much traffic on it!!

**Tonka** · 15th October 2007, 23:14

Originally Posted by 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! ).

Hey Puddy, well done mate on GC number...how many is it now for you? I think Barbender was really keen to do the challenge this year but work commitments put an end to that. One day I'll tag in on a challenge but need to get some serious endurance riding in to do what you all do...year after year.

I still cant believe you get around on the K7 for that long, awesome bro.

Ride on dude!
Tonka (Barbenders bro)

PS: My congrats to all who participated in this years GC (and the oragnisers). Respect!!

**Taz** · 16th October 2007, 07:06

Originally Posted by TerminalAddict

tis on my back door step.

A road I used to frequent is cars :P

haven't done it on the hornet tho'
Did you cross over to sh22 up to Waingaro?

Yes came back up SH22. Was a bit dryer this time.

**Cary** · 16th October 2007, 09:53

Originally Posted by xgnr

My phobia of riding on wet shiny bits is over due to exposure therapy.Stu

Mine to

Can't say I was to thrilled at the start thinking it was gonna be raining for the entire ride but soon came right & loved the twisties, although after 17 odd hrs of riding that last lot was hard work!

**Taz** · 16th October 2007, 10:28

Originally Posted by Cary

Mine to

Can't say I was to thrilled at the start thinking it was gonna be raining for the entire ride but soon came right & loved the twisties, although after 17 odd hrs of riding that last lot was hard work!

Was a bit concerned for you in the beginning..... You didn't seem to be enjoying the rain as much as I was?? WHATS WRONG WITH YOU??!!!.....

**Cary** · 16th October 2007, 11:14

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Was a bit concerned for you in the beginning..... You didn't seem to be enjoying the rain as much as I was?? WHATS WRONG WITH YOU??!!!.....

I would say a lot of it was the memory of riding in the rain/dark with my old helmet, once i found the Shoei didn't fog up & rain didn't blur the inside it was all good.

That & I think I was worried about your Beemer & if it was going to drop more oil......