2007 WestPac Helicopter Run

[paveho]

...just lost my wheels and found the ground on the way home though

Hey DD, sorry to hear about this. Hope it's not too serious.

[sunhuntin]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAA!!

CAN WE DO IT AGAIN?? that was so much fun! thought my face was gonna crack from grinning the whole time. lol. it was a huge buzz seeing all the people on the bridges, specially the old people where we finished. would have been the highlight of their day, im sure!
the variety of bikes was so cool....tracked down two royal enfields, two bsa and a chromed out 66 beemer. so cool....wish they hadnt been jammed among other bikes. the shots i got arent great cos i couldnt get to them.
i heard the chopper took off to a bike accident in waihi...any more details of that?

huge thanks to the organisers...cant imagine how much planning goes into it! heres hoping it continues for many more years. will be back hopefully for next years.

disco....you rock man! thanks for showing me what lanesplitting is. somewhat hair-raising, but very exciting too! think that was one of the best bits. thanks also for taking me....head south for the cemetary circuit races, and ill buy you a beer [or whatever you drink. lol]

indy...i was expecting a tom cruise look a like. i got several chance shots of you, and one of you in a video i took.

special thanks to mr and mrs wickedone....their generosity was amazing! [hey jacs....can you post me down a pony? lol] darren...got to the airport in heaps of time...the damn flight was delayed an hour! ARGH! hope you had a swift drive home.
i dont often feel comfortable with people i dont know, and usually avoid eating the whole time. but i was instantly comfortable with these two, and the same for mrs and mrs placidfemme. << you two are toooo cute! hehehe.
great to meet you all.

i think i met mr and mrs mahaman, but cant remember who else. ah, yes, crashe. hey...i tried the no-hands thing, and got it for a little while. i eased the throttle right off to avoid the dropping revs. lol. *wuss*

i got about 100 shots, which ill load slowly onto photobucket [its being a bitch right now] but have a few ill attach. first up is an over the shoulder pot shot of indy...cos hes been bugging me allll day! LOL.

[Indiana_Jones]

Thanks sun!

-Indy

[Maha]

indy...i was expecting a tom cruise look a like.

i think i met mr and mrs mahaman,

I thought he was better looking than TC..........well not me, someone else did.....
Yes it was us...at the BP.....we caught up with shyte loads of KBer's....was an awesome day.....
Glad you had a cool day Ms sunhuntin, and made it home ok.....

[crashe]

ah, yes, crashe. hey...i tried the no-hands thing, and got it for a little while. i eased the throttle right off to avoid the dropping revs. lol. *wuss*

Mate, only lift your hands up a little off the handlebars... for a second or two.... until you get the feel of it. Then start to lift them higher a litle bit more.... and so on and so on....

But always be prepared to grab them in a hurry, should the need arise.

You need to be one with the bike to do it as long as I can do it.

MDU isnt keen on me doing it....

[Indiana_Jones]

I thought he was better looking than TC..........well not me, someone else did.....

Details lol

-Indy

[Kittyhawk]

Was a good day. I found myself wondering around in my own little world. Checking out bikes. Many different sorts and riders to match.

Some had jackets on completly covered in badges which looked quite cool.

Was interesting as it was my first time and of course good to catch up with familar faces once again and have a good old yarn about bikes etc.!!

Next event to catch up with everyone will be the Paeroa Street Races. !!

[SixPackBack]

Moment of the day was Placidfemme pointing out the long line of 'hard core' Harley riders buying ice cream and latte's.......guess it goes with the tassles

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Mate, only lift your hands up a little off the handlebars... for a second or two.... until you get the feel of it. Then start to lift them higher a litle bit more.... and so on and so on....

But always be prepared to grab them in a hurry, should the need arise.

You need to be one with the bike to do it as long as I can do it.

MDU isnt keen on me doing it....

Well there is a time and a place for this type of behaviour.

[Edbear]

I was at the intersection of Queen and Wellesley in the Ambo, watching all the bikes go through, saw about maybe a third or half when we got a job and had to swing a U'ey up Queen. But what I saw was cool.

Saw you there, Speedie! Gave the thumbs up, I think. You looked as though you were wishing you were with us, but be assured we all appreciate the job you do!Saw Mayor Hubbard, too. He seemed to be enjoying it so hopefully will put his weight behind continuing the ride.

[ManDownUnder]

Well there is a time and a place for this type of behaviour.

Sitting on the glacier in hell just after the big freeze?

[placidfemme]

Moment of the day was Placidfemme pointing out the long line of 'hard core' Harley riders buying ice cream and latte's.......guess it goes with the tassles

lol yeah... I get shit for showing up at a bar and having coke or orange juice, thought it was really funny seeing all these "rough" looking HD rider waiting for latte's and icecream... crazy...

The Charity Run was great, the first time I've been to one, and wow... so many bikes, all makes and models. Only part of the ride that sucked was some nana in her white car trying to turn onto the Onewa Off ramp (first two lanes were closed for the bikers to ride on)... I didn't see her at all until she cut right infront of me... and shot off onto the next lane...

It was great to catch up with most of you again

MDU: Sorry if I was rude, I didn't realise that was you talking to me until I saw you on your bike

*is really bad at remembering faces*

[placidfemme]

Some Pics.....

[placidfemme]

i dont often feel comfortable with people i dont know, and usually avoid eating the whole time. but i was instantly comfortable with these two, and the same for mrs and mrs placidfemme. << you two are toooo cute! hehehe.
great to meet you all.

It was good to meet you too... lol and I wanted to take a little horsey home too... don't think Sam would have been to happy if I'd put Harvey (?? the new little one) on the back of the bike instead of her lol

[Jimmy B]

Didnt manage to see any of you Guys but hey too many people you know, next time maybe. Anyway heres my take on the weekend:

Saturday was too hot to do much, cleaned my bike in preparation for the Sunday ride and sifted around for most of the arvo. I used my bicycle pump to pump up my Bike tyres, seemed to work but the valve got so hot that it popped the connector hose. I glued it back with some epoxy last night and hopefully that will do the trick, otherwise will get a better pump, maybe spend as much as $15.00 rather than the existing $5 job. Still it did ok and way better than faffing around at the gas station.

Sunday was really cool. The Guys came around to our place to pick Richard and I up. Sounded really good when they turned up and I am sure the neighbours raised the curtains a bit to see what was going on. There was a BMW R or K1200, Bluebird, SV1000, 900 Superlight, Softail Custom and Me on the X. The ride was a bit different than I expected. The pace down the motorway was really quite quick considering the 40kph that I was expecting. I had my jacket half unzipped because it was hot, started doubting the wisdom of my decision once I hit 120kph for extended bursts and I was unable to get the thing done up. The pace slowed in the predictable spots ie Tiptop , Penrose and Spaghetti through Queen. Every one seemed well behaved and no close calls for me.

It was a real blast seeing the huge number supporters. I really really enjoyed giving it a crack through Fanshaw street at the bottom of town, I was following Ricky on his 900 superlight and had been separated by a coupe of bikes through Queen street, Fanshaw street was all but vacant so caught him pretty smartly...we were just about to rejoin the motorway and a fire engine came through the last intersection by Vic Park...anchors on then away.

Had quite a laugh because Ricky has taken his Micro cans off in preparation for sale, he has a beard, when we took off I saw his beard rolling down the road, like it had just jumped off his face. Then it happened again but I saw it better, in fact it was some of the baffle fibre getting kicked out of his can under acceleration, quite comical really.

Richard said that he narrowly missed being hit by a small soft pack that came off a Guys Harley on the motorway and more interestingly a Sporty (old and rough) kick itself into gear while the owner stood helplessly by. It launched itself into the fence or ditch at the bloodstock centre. Mental note, do not stand in front of unattended idling Harleys!!!

Glad to hear that every one had a great time, I for one will be doing it again...if we get the chance