Te Manawa, Tequila, n dog turds.

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 16:12

For about two months, a motley grew of Hawkes Bay mates had been waiting for me to get my scrawney arse over there, and to ride to the Te Manawa bike display at Palmy.
This weekend seemed like the weather gods were reasonably happy, so after a few calls thurs night, it was set in stone.
The Red Devil Racing team had their display on at Tamahere near Cambridge, and I was gutted that I would miss it, but such is life.

Friday lunch time saw me fly out the workshop door, and home to get changed, and on the road. First little issue of the day, was the Daytona's starter relay deciding to fail just when I was fully kitted up, and the sun was high.
Not wishing to bump start a 200kg triple all weekend, I decided to arm myself with a pair of long nose pliers, and bridge the contacts each time I wanted to get rolling. It might be a bit harsh on the pliers tips, but bump starting is so last century.

On the road, and humming towards Taupo. The weather was holding and I was in my "happy place", as the triple purred beneath me.
A quick fill up at Taupo, and on towards Napier. As the altitude climbed, and the bike purred past Tarawera, the sky took on a dark concrete appearance, and my decision to put on the Prexport two piece rain suit earlier seemed well founded.

Down it came.
Damn, every time I try to pass this section of winding, climbing, slippery seal, it pisses down. Add the poor state of the surface in places, and transits cute little habit of leaving loose chip over recent repairs (but removing the warning signs before the final sweep) had a certain tri boys chocolate star fish tightening in millisecond moments.

By 5.30pm I had reached Hastings, and settled into a wee drop of something nice at Johny's abode, and talk of the ride on Sat, and general dribble flowed into the witching hour.

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 16:24

The alarm on my phone beeped into life at 6.45 in the am, (a horrid time of the day, and one that I shall never get used to). I am a very slow wakerup er er, so several coffee's and a big feed is a necessity prior to a days ride.
Duly filled up, I wandered outside to unlock the garage that housed the Trumpy, and Johnys Guzzi.
Gaaaah!, FUCKING Dog TURD!!, squashed between the toes! Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Not the way I wanted the my first touch of terra firma to deliver to me.
Can't blame anyone, or anything for the morning surprise cept a dopey Triumph rider who doesn't look where he plants his 10 1/2's.

Several blasts of the garden hose, and 1/2a roll of paper towels later, the stench of "Barker's Egg" had been removed, and a sprinkle of Talc was applied just for security.

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 16:31

Duly kitted up, and out of Hastings we rode to meet up with whoever else was going to show at the War monument near Roys Hill Rd.
Only Steve, (another demented Guzzi pilot) showed, so after both Guzzi riders giving me shit while my unorthodox starting system was shown to them, we tootled down a slightly damp hwy50 towards Dannyvegas, home of Vikings, and other things that I know nothing about.

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 16:42

Woodville was the first stop for pies, coffee, and a laugh about the guy throwing his guts up, on the side of the hwy, while his mate was filming it as the chunks flowed forth.
All three bikes were behaving themselves mechanically. (very rare for Guzzi's and Triumph's), so we decided to pop up to the Apiti wind farm, and watch 70mtr turbines do their thing. Quite impressive, and the engineering drivvle flowed freely from the threesome, as our eyes became mesmorised by the circulating blade tips.

Down off the hill we rolled, and into the suicide capital (couldn't resist that J Clese line) of NZ. Actually, I quite like Palmy, great speedway teams, and young Massey filly's strolling the square is some of it's charms.

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 16:51

Three hours were soaked up by the resplendent display that is Te Manawa's bike homage. Do not miss this, as having all these pieces of Kiwi bike history in one place is exceptional, and the display is as professional as I've ever seen. Unlike my attempt on the race bike simulator. Besides my wicked wheelstand off the start grid, and my simulated crash into the barrier at the first corner at Monza, the rest of my riding prowess involved bouncing from kitty litter, to fence, and back to the opposing kitty litter, until time was mercifully up for my moment of GP glory. Simulators are for show offs, and those that have no self respect.

**paturoa** · 15th March 2009, 16:53

Feckin nice bikes.

But wtf - have a look at the mirror reflection of the bike in the 2nd photo (Paul Smart Duc) of your first post - huh - differrent bike??????

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 17:00

Time for a quick beer at the legends bar of the Railway Hotel, and through the gorge to pick up fuel at Woodville for the ride home.

The lure of a second beer at Dannevirk was too strong, and then back over hwy 50 to Johnny's, or so I thought.

Who would of thought that the Hawkes Bay had a gem of a classic bike club hidden amongst pine trees just down the road from a rather secure looking prison on quiet country road. I will endeavor to travel back to this club house, and sign myself up as an Waikato social member.
Some local KBers will undoubtedly know all about this place.

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 17:16

Johnny's place was finally reached as the sun was getting low, and a dvd, a splash of something delightful, and nourishment finished the day perfectly, and the scratch sack was invaded as witches arose again.

Morning of today had us picking up Johnny's other Guzzi (he has it bad) from a mutual friend, then it was farewells, and fuel up, as the Napier Taupo called again.This time it only had the lightest of drizzle, (even more treacherous through to Tarawera), I'm getting rather peeved with this section of seal. Next time, I'll take the scrambler, and take gentle annie for a long overdue revisit.

Into, and out of Taupo, (no offence, Tauporites, but I see no point in parking next to a lake, and watch international tourists waddle through your town.
Approximately twenty km's out of Taupo on Hwy1, a diversion was inplace for all nth n sth bound traffic. I can only assume it was a nasty fatality, fingers crossed for those involved.

The silver lining to such a situation was a sedate ride through some previously untraveled roads by my good self.

Toke, Tirau, and Cambridge drifted past, yes, I could of ridden a dozen different back roads to Fogtown, but sometimes an easy ride home is all I wish, and going by the number of bikes on 1, I wasn't the only rider with this approach.
Home again, pat the dog, and coffee.
We lucky few.

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 17:18

10 char char char..........

**merv** · 15th March 2009, 17:41

Yeah its a great exhibition - you saw the other pics on this thread eh http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=85796

**tri boy** · 15th March 2009, 18:17

Have now mate.

(I'm gunna win the new Kawasaki trail bike that is up for taking).
The mouse skewered beneath the ice tyre almost made me wet myself. Those crazy curators.