Woodstock Rally 2007

**dangerous** · 28th January 2007, 15:45

1) The site
2) the tank
3) the car
4)my choice for bike of the rally

**T.W.R** · 28th January 2007, 16:59

Great time people

as per usual a awesome bunch to be with

.

After a late start on Saturday & the hills looking a bit dubious weather wise I rocked up towards Arthur's, passing Lemans & SDU on their new MGs

leaving them to tinker along at their own pace.
The roadworks were interesting, Porter's pass in heavy fog & fresh seal wasn't the fun in usually is. Arthur's to Otira wasn't much better. Though both sections of road were much better coming home today.

Got passed by some crazy Ginga waving his arm like helicopter just out of Hoki ( was that to make the Guz go faster D ??) and melted into the motley crew that were following along.

The rally was a goodie, bloody hot to start with (tents were like instant ovens) but ended up a awesome night (pics will tell the story). Rain at 4am was a concern but by the time activity got rolling again things didn't look to bad.
As the Latee' set

headed into Hoki for brekkie, I shot the gap & headed for the hills nursing a slightly furry head for a nice dry uneventful ride home.

Though for some reason I managed to attract Triumphs both on the way over & heading home

2 rocket3s (one each way) & a speedtriple (heading over), the Rockets were just bloody big nuisences but the Speedtrip was good company

Pics

1) camp KB
2) Tank with issues
3) MrSensible disputing man boobs
4) Kbs indulging in refreshments

**T.W.R** · 28th January 2007, 17:09

Rogues gallery

1) Dangerous with instability issues

2) MyGSXF with her bit of fluff

3) MrSensible

4) A Strawberry

Lemans

**T.W.R** · 28th January 2007, 17:17

Now here's our man of style

1) Soberish

2) Not so sober

3) Watering a hog :slap:
4) Caught & contained

**T.W.R** · 28th January 2007, 17:35

Bikes of the rally

1) GSX1100 shoehorned into a GSXR chassis (by the condition of the tyres it worked too)
2) Tidy MHR900
3) Mint Laverda Jota 120
4) Drednaught that got in the road on the way over

**T.W.R** · 28th January 2007, 17:44

last couple of pics

1) Idb's Darmah

2) Latenight Kbs (Free2b,MyGSXF,Silage,FlyingDutchman, & friends)
3) Teaser from the 2 chick titty show

**Suzi Q** · 28th January 2007, 18:42

Well, Woodstock has done it again - fantastic weather and a great rally - for the 3rd year in a row! One thing that I missed this year and last was the lamb shanks - first one I went to 2 years ago had fantastic lamb shanks with mint sauce, but sadly haven't seen them since.
No one ahs mentioned the fireworks yet, so i will - glorious display, I LOVE FIREWORkS and these ones were pretty good.
The ride over was good, though i couldn't seem to get in the groove properly, but at least the weather and the company were great even if my riding wasn't. Coming home was a different storey - after a fab brekkie in Hoki, I ended up following Gav for a while - I was in the groove, keeping up and feeling good - which is surprising considering how little sleep I ahd! Thank GOD I didn't ahve a hangover! then we got to the road works, I slowed down more than Gav and lost him. What a bugger thse first roadworks were, just enought to put you out of step, then up past the Viaduct we had horrible shingle, I am getting more used to shingle, but I am happier when there is a tyre track to follow, I couldn't find one and got a bit freaked, then nearly ran chick n charge off the road 'cause for some reason she came up beside me just as I decided to get away from the middle of the road! Luckily she could read what i was going to do and got out of my way - sorry about that! The downhill into Arthurs was a nightmare as I was too freaked to ride with any semblance of dignity and knowledge of what I was supposed to be doing! Quick stop and got myself together and off we went, following Thunder this time and going werll untill Porters Pass. So what did we have, my 3 least favourite things all in one go - wind, shingle and down hill! I coped remarkably well, the wind got me a little but i didn't panic and am a little proud of myself - of course the car behind me was hating every second of the 300-40kms an hour I was going!!!! yes I ride like a Nana!
We got home OK, I am a little sunkissed and had a great weekend. early to bed tonight and back to work tomorrow - roll on the March Hare!

here are some of my photos:
1 - 1953 James
2 - Band Area
3 - Bar Area
4 - Smallest Erection
5 - Tank Firing
6 - Taz on a Trumpy

**Suzi Q** · 28th January 2007, 18:45

1 more picture

Brekkie line up at Hoki

**far queue** · 28th January 2007, 19:32

Great pics and write ups guys. Looks like you had great weather and a great time. Cheers.

**Ghost_Bullet** · 28th January 2007, 20:36

Well well well, great ride, people and rally. Don’t have something gone bad around this lot though… it is not quickly forgotten, Rashika russhin over to check my pannier… now why the hell would she think it be loose!!!!!!!
I realy did enjoy the ride, and looking at my bike I think it did to(bags were stuck rock solid to!!!), as the K’s get up the fuel economy is improving, 48.5mpg, which is pretty good up till now I have been only managing around mid to low 40’s.
Nice to get to Reefton to fill the belly, and smell the air of the home town, six fingers and all.
The ride from there to Grey was sweet, though that other Guzz rider, trying to pass/drag on the inside, I was forced to sucome due to the oncoming Big Bucket digger(I find the idea of bucket racing appealing but deff’ not big bucket), and well I did not need the win!!! Lol
The site was awesome…the atmosphere was great, weather was just a bonus.
CONGRATS to the Sensible couple on 23yrs…

and great to have that feed at the Woodstock to celebrate (yummy bait). I was at the table with T.W.R and Lemans, Lemans was talking

some kinda “hsilgne” It has been a while since I have had cramp in me cheeks from smiling so hard,

I still don’t know what shite come from his mouth, but bloody funny. All was explained when he was found under a tree not far from the pub

(thats his finger not mine, you shall see), (vid clip to follow).

mmm the tank, I think I missed somthing there.
Hellboy's man hug-lurvin was a worry???
I enjoyed the night fully, apart from some burger I ordered that was not a burger… just two bits of bread with whatever I ordered inside…those fireworks… when they began I thought they were the boombox from The Warehouse, I coulda almost done better smackin a couple of stones together…. But then they did improve pretty smartly, and a good show indeeeed.

Lying down to sleep was guurd, waking up was bard. Breaky was gurd, and trip home was nice, even with the stony bits. Sittin at the back or behind someone was not cool, on a couple of the better stretches I had three stones flicked up from someone’s tire, they got one knee, one hand and one right in the middle of me visor (Got me thinking about a headlight protector now)

Goin across the road rail bridge just outa Hoki, sum fella behind gave the juice (not one of us) poped the wheeeel with partner on back, screamed past, dropped wheel, and instantly got a whollap on the head and a smack on the shoulder… I guess that was a telling off!!!

ENJOYED THE ENTIRE WEEKEND, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE M-HARE.

:spudwave:

**MyGSXF:Me** · 28th January 2007, 21:04

A great weekend to top off a great week!!

The ride over Arthurs on Friday was rather damp, foggy & a tad too much gravel oriented for my liking...

but the cheeky bloody keas at the observation point above the Viaduct made for a very amusing stopover!!

Had 4 of the little shytes on my bike at one point!! Things greatly improved in the weather department nearing Kumara, & got to the site just in time for the sun to dissappear for the night..

The site was rather packed for a Fri nite, so scored a good corner pozzy to set up camp. Met up with FREE2B.. excellent to meet ya Glenys, & a couple of my Plains mates & proceeded to have a thoroughly enjoyable evening!!!

Sat saw the head in slightly worse for wear condition

& the sumwhat 'communal' shower was an interesting affair.. The day (& head) required a quiet cruise round the site checking out the bikes, & tents.. (shopping for a new one, as waking up to a shockingly BRIGHT yellow one isn't a good look the morning after the night before.. I now know how Gizmo feels when he recoils in horror from the .. "bright light.. bright light..

)

Then a leisurely cruise down to Hari Hari for lunch is in order, whereupon the irrefutable look that can only be our beloved SD & CB, pull up to join us for a pint. Back to the site to find that numbers had increased greatly, & the ChCh rabble had arrived. Great putting more faces to names too!

A very enjoyable evening was had catching up with many a familiar face, watching the fireworks display, the non-event that which was the 'tank wars'

& dancing till 3am.. also thus being the very last KB'r to eventually hit the sack at 4.30am!!!

& go to sleep listening to the rain pattering on the tent!! XLNT!!!

Sunday dawned with the weather threatening to close in, & the big decision of which way to go home.. thus ensuring the LEAST amount of water accumulation.. chose to go up the coast, as it had been many a year since I travelled that way on a bike. Waved fairthewell to my Plains mates at Greymouth, & cruised on up to Punakaiki to play 'tourist' for a while. The blowholes weren't up to much, but the scenery was worth the stopover anyway! 1pm ish saw breakfast in Westport, & the fuel topup at the garage saw the wetweather gear unveiled! Rain hit not far out of Westport, & hung round through to The Owen River Pub area, where the roads were then 99% dry from there to home.

Got home to a VERY happy 4 year old

& just in time for the rain to really set in!!!

All in all.. an awesome trip away, & a great way to end the school holidays, in time for 'normality' to set in again...

Here's some piccys...

1) Rockfall shelter in Arthurs Pass
2,3,4) keas

**MyGSXF:Me** · 28th January 2007, 21:14

some more...

1) Viaduct in Arthurs Pass
2,3) Fireworks
4) FREE2B.. our new Southern member with her bike, to add to our wall of fame!!

**gav** · 28th January 2007, 21:15

Well, what a weekend! First time I've been to this rally but had heard how good it was. Left on time at 9.00am Saturday morning, weather overcast, but warm enough. Good cruise, hit a bit of rain around around Culverden we where we regrouped then carried on through the Lewis, roads OK, traffic not to bad apart from a milk tanker and two cars towing friggin sail boats in convoy. Fueled up at Springs Junction and then a short blat to Reefton, first thing I noticed was "Dawsons Saloon" as the name of the bar, Dangerous insisted it was the first time he noticed even though they'd stopped there last year. By now the sun was out and it was certainly warming up. After a great lunch we carried on, including a detour through Greymouth township

. I was starting to figure out there was a secret code in place, whenever Dangerous pulled over to check on progress and play tail end charlie it really meant pin that throttle! Seemed every time he stopped the group would try out some top end runs, even the girls were getting into the spirit of things as I sat behind chic'n'charge and watched my speedo climb to 180ish and she was still in front, nice!
When we eventually reached the rally site, was suprised how small the paddock seemed, apparently they had charged the setup from previous years, by closing off a lower area, but using a bigger area up further for the bands and bar. We just sorta cruised through the main gate, saw their looked to be a shortage of decent areas so just made camp KB right where we were.
Gotta say this rally seems to be pretty organised, there was a decent ablutions block that still had flushing toilets the following morning, at least half a dozen different caterers on site who provided a good range of food at reasonable prices, and the bar prices of $10 for a half dozen beer was pretty reasonable too. Had a band that started about 4.00 in the afternoon and overall a pretty good atmosphere. The tank display was talked up but turned into a bit of a fizzer. The fireworks display that was put on was bloody impressive, god knows how much that little lot cost!
The weather forecast for Sunday promised thunder, hail, and all sorts of crap, so when I first heard the rain start about 4.15ish on Sunday morning it didnt seem a good sign. Luckily it didnt seem to come to too much, and after getting up 6.30 it seemed we might have struck it lucky.
Of more concern was that everyone we spoke to who had come over the Arthurs Pass warned us about the diabolical road conditions , some even suggesting that we should go home the way we came, ie via the Lewis Pass.
Think Dangerous muttered something about "character building" so over Arthurs Pass it was then...after we had a great feed in Hoki.
First time I'd ridden that road, and its a great ride, just the thought about these dreaded roadworks were always in the back of my mind.
After a while I'd tagged onto the back of a TL1000S, saw SuziQ coming along and as she mentioned it was a nice comfortable pace, and I was quite content to follow someone else as a warning for the dreaded road works. Eventually the warning road sign came up and the 2 bikes in front ducked straight off to park up at a pub! Bugger... oh well just carried on and didnt seem to bad, the VFR two up and loaded to the gunnels is a bit of a handful but seemd to cope alright. More was come though at the top of the Viaduc, now this was different, real think chunky pea gravel and big solid stones etc.
I'd just caught this guy on trike thingy towing a trailer and he waved me pass, just as I pulled out we hit this stuff, managed to brake just enough and get back in behind him. Then had the dilemma, do I keep my dark, bug splattered visor down and try and pick out the best "line" or lift my visor and get dusted out? Seeing as I would need to lift one hand off the bar to lift visor just sort of ploughed on through. Wasnt that bad to be honest

The next testing section where we had a couple of kms of newly sealed road with thickish pea gravel on a twisting downhill section with numerous hair pins etc and a strong wind howling through the hills. Ended up just leaving the bike in second gear and using engine braking to help, I'm sure Mr Honda had a great idea in mind when he fitted the DCS combined braking system to the VFR, but when I was using that rear pedal during our descent, none actually sprang to mind.

Think we eventually regrouped in Springfield where those that needed to could fuel up. By now it was tempting just to get home as it was probably only about 40 minutes away, I quick wave and I cruised off on my own. A nice car flashed his lights at me just out of Sheffield, hmmm, must be cop around here....argghh, fark, he's behind the wheel of the car that just flashed his lights! Quick speedo check, 120km, you got to be joking, back it off to 110, which with the tail wind NorWester blowing was not that easy, after checking my mirrors for abit, decide he must have bigger fish to fry than me!
No other dramas invloved and get home no worries!
Thanks to all the guys and girls I rode with and good effort everyone in keeping it rubberside down in at times some trying situations. Good to meet a few new faces too!
So whens the next one? March Hare is it?