Ride to Manfeild - The 4Bs ride.

[bull]

This morning at 0915hrs, BuckbuckNo1, Biggles1, Bazza57 and I all met up at Rimutex. Gassed up the bikes and then we were off. Planned route was Rimutakas, SH2 to Masterton, Eketahuna then vear off to go Mangamaire then Pahiatua Track then up to Fielding and Manfield track.

Here was me on the Hyosung 250 surrounded by the Honda VFR 800, Honda Hornet 900 and the Mighty Yamaha FJ1300. I felt like i was going to be in chase mode all the way but good ole BB#1 offered to chaperone me, hes great that guy.

So off we go, Rimutakas were in great nick and the ride was lovely up and down, got trapped behind three slow cars heading down the Featherston side but Bazza and Biggles had waited at Featherston for us. We then cruised along SH2 to Masterton, then from Masterton out via Mount Bruce to Eketahuna. Had an interesting ride out this road, the big bikes easily pulled out and overtook the Milk tanker but i knew my bike lacked in the ponies so had to wait for a decent straight, it finally came and out i went and began to try and find the two ahead of BB#1 and I.

As we headed along a nice straight bit of road we had a few oncoming vehicles but otherwise was pretty light, noted a good/bad moment, oncoming SUV towing Horse float, car behind pulls out and passes then pulls back in, we get closer.... then the SUV behind the horse float decides he also wants to pull out and go - think he didnt see the two bikes heading his way. End result is myself at the far left of road, SUV to my right heading opposite direction and immediately to his right the SUV with Trailer, good wide road though thank goodness. Arrive at Eketahuna and have high-fives with BB#1 to celebrate our survival during that moment.

Next was over the Pahiatua Track and out to Fielding, got to see a few military vehicles as we headed up the Pahiatua Track, in fact i went into passing lane to pass car at the first left hand tunr going up the hill and as i rounded was face to face with one of our expensive LAV units, tipped in a bit more and got through no problem.

When we got to Fielding we were split up from Biggles and Baza so BB#1 and I had to find our way to the Track, both had never been there.

Found the track 184 km from Rimutex and as my first ever time to a Race Track i was stoked by the whole event, nothing more enjoyable than riding to a bike race and then watching it and riding home, had i taken the car it wouldnt have been the same.

Ride home was a bit boring, stopped in Levin to catch up with my Grandma and then got caught in traffic from Just out of Otaki all the way to Paekakariki. Had some fool in his big rig decide that i was invisible and nearly rear ended me, bad enough to the point where he had to put his truck to the left of me and i had allready left a gap in front of me to allow a little extra forward space for when he approached. Got sick of him and decided id pass the car in front of me and let them battle it out. Also attracted another winner on the Paekakariki Hill (inlet side) downhill, this muppet in Legacy station Wagon decided to go fast slow, fast slow - then they caught a Transpower ute and tailgated him then eased back so i went to pass the wagon and then they thought it would be funny to accelerate to block me coming in - this led to me passing both ute and wagon and having a good spirited ride away from them both.

Got home safe and sound, so cheers for the ride today guys, thanks Biggles for the great guide and for waiting for us, Bazza for not sharing your Hot Chips with me (hehehe) and BB#1 for the great company once more, and sticking with me speed wise.

Cant wait for another decently long ride like that.

[Grub]

Hey we didn't know you guys made it, what time did you get to the track and how long did you stay?

[bull]

Well we got there about 12ish - the racers were having lunch, went and saw Quasi and then settled down to watch the 125s, the supersports, motards and the first few laps of the Superbikes.

Saw Nasty doing a fantastic job with the big red flag. BB got some photos of her i believe.

left around 3ish.

[biggles1]

Good write up Bull,I had an excellent day and we were really lucky with the weather.I reckon another good long ride is necessary soon.Thanks to all for your great company.

[Terminated]

Thanks Biggles1, Bazza57, and Bull, for a good days ride and the time spent at Manfield. I will be able to find it straight away when I return there on Wednesday, looking forward to some laps.

Was a good ride up:
The oncoming traffic incident Bull mentions highlights the potential dangers, down the road behind Bull and I was a campervan, and I think that the SUV must 'have only seen' the campervan and not us. Being Tail End Charlie and keeping 1001,1002,1003, separation was most important. Had the SUV paniced - hit the anchors then things could have got real ugly. Well done Bull he was vigilant and kept the safest line possible. By the time the SUV passed me I immediately said to myself 'that man [Bull] deserves a high-five'. Given the close proximity of the oncoming SUV it was for me,a case of 'heads up look directly to where you want to go. And, there was no pit feeling in the stomach, focus and action, all kicked in, it was a very real event.

The ride up took 3hrs while the return ride through Sanson and down SH1 and over Paekakariki Hill to just over 2hrs, and would have been less except for the lengthy traffic delay into Otaki.

Charlie Bravo Nine Zero Zero, has hit 3500km in the first four weeks, and I was very, very, pleased with the bike on the ride with Biggles1, Bazza57, and Bull.

Pic1: Nasty walking with the red flag.
Pic2: Nasty climbing over the barrier wall.
Pic3: Men in Black [L to R Bull, Biggles1, Bazza57]
Pic4: BuckBuckNo1 spoiling what could have been a good pic - 'blown motor'

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Terminated]

Here are some more pictures.