Ulysses Club

of New Zealand

Rotorua Branch

Rotorua Ramblings…… OCTOBER 2014 issue 17

The Branch Committee met earlier in the month and started to organise our annual Rally at Okataina for the weekend of 19-21 June next year. Unfortunately this will probably be our last Rally at Okataina as the venue will return to the owners of the land. Andrea has offered to do the advertising in the Ulyssian in the December issue and take care of the registrations. Our Christmas function was also on our agenda and further details will be discussed at our monthly Branch meeting on the 2 November. At this meeting I will also table a short report of the topics discussed at the Coordinators meeting. We have been fortunate in receiving 3 applications for membership to our Branch and hope to welcome these new members to our Club’s activities once membership has been approved by Natcom. On a sad note, 5 members of our Branch travelled to Whakatane for the funeral of Pete Read, a long time member of Ulysses and Past Coordinator of that Branch. It was great to see so many different Branches attending Pete’s funeral and about 80 motorbikes supporting his family and the Whakatane Branch with their presence. We have been invited to a friendly get-together by Peter Hobdell and his Band “Mid Life Crisis” on Saturday 1st November— remember the M.L.C. band last Okataina Rally? Please refer to Tony’s e-mail of the 25 October for all details. Hope to see many of you there, Cheers and ride safe.

Peter van #8136 People ask me, “Pete, do you have a girlfriend?

Yeah, her names Honda, and she lives in the garage!”

To open Branch website, click onto: www.ulyssesrotorua.org.nz

EDITORIAL CO ORDINATOR’S COMMENTS

Next Branch

Meeting

Sunday 02 November

2014 at

7.00pm

Hi all, Now that the temperatures are getting warmer, and the weather more settled, we as members of the Rotorua Branch of Ulysses should now be joining our fellow members in more of the activi-ties that committee members put on for us. If you are not able to ride in some of the organised rides, pleases suggest to the Runs Coordinator rides that members would enjoy. I’m sure the thoughts are with the family of the 10 year old girl who was hit by a motorcyclist at Rotoma and died last Sunday evening. An accident like this certainly reminds us to be so aware at all times of others who do things at times which are so completely out of our control. VTNZ are offering nationwide, 15% off the normal WoF price for Ulysses Club Members only if we identify ourselves as Club Members on arrival and show our Club Membership Card. This offer applies to WoF inspections for cars, trailers and motorcycles. Cheers,

Tony B. #2436

2013-2014 Rotorua Branch Committee Co-ordinator: Peter van der Maat 349 3021 pemaint@xtra.co.nz 027 224 5100

Secretary: Bruce Quedley 347 8659 bruce@quedley.com 021 616 736

Treasurer: Hartley Gray 348 0555 hartleyandteri@gmail.com 027 229 6407

Newsletter: Tony Baker 345 7607 tbaker@wave.co.nz 022 345 7607

Committee: Bruce Roe, Graeme van Praagh, Mal (Axle) Bain, Jan Matthews, plus the above.

LAKESIDE CAFÉ & CRAFTS On the Lakefront, Memorial Drive, Rotorua. “Where we meet every Saturday morning at 10:30am”

Our hosts: Colin & Norma Craig

FRIENDS OF M.L.C. (aka Mid Life Crisis)

The Band: “Mid Life Crisis”, invite Ulyssians , friends and partners to a Saturday Afternoon of Friendship, BBQ and music (Blues, Country & Classic Rock) at their Scott Street Headquar-ters. Where: Alpha Displays Building (off Sala St, Rotorua). When: Saturday 1st November from 3:00pm until late! What to bring: BYO for a BBQ, salads and drinks. M.L.C. will supply the venue, BBQ and music. The M.L.C. band is Pete Hobdell, Kerryn, Alan, Ronnie. Paul and Barry.

ROAST DUCK EVENT Fri., Sat. & Sun. 5th ,6th , & 7th December

To be held at River Park Event Centre, 797 Pourerere Rd, Waipawa

Mid Life Crisis Band

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A “DOG PERSON” TO TRULY APPRECIATE THIS STORY

I pulled into the crowded parking lot at the local shopping centre and rolled down the car windows to make sure my Labrador Retriever pup had fresh air. She was stretched full-out on the back seat and I wanted to impress upon her that she must remain there. I walked to the kerb backward, pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically, “Now you stay. Do you hear me?” “Stay! Stay!”

The driver of a nearby car, a pretty young blonde, gave me a strange look and said, “Why don’t you just put the handbrake on ?”

I see Flash’s Suzuki 1400 has been cloned – it worked OK with sheep, now motorbikes. While on the subject of Flash and Axle, I watched from the cover of the main entrance to the Soundshell, when the Old Folks Show was on, during a break in the weather, as Flash wiped his seat and dried it to ride away in comfort, leaving Mal to mount on to a wet one! How is that for helping your fellow rider! I hear the idea of having a speaker for every second meeting may have come to an end. Pity, I was getting some good gossip from the member presentations! See Sandy Taylor, the good other half of our ex-coordinator, received a “Thumbs Up” in the Daily Post for her good customer service at Harvey Normans Bedding Dept. Get hold of the November issue of Bike Riders Monthly to read up on how the powers-that-be can manipulate statistics to mean what they want them to mean. It just goes to show!!

I am advised that the jeweller in Robinson Ave (Holden’s Bay, half way down on the right) has a hand

made Death’s Head ring (with diamond eyes, no less) for sale. I don’t know the price, find out yourself if

you are interested.

Get along to the Mid Life Crisis do on Saturday, you can all relate to that theme, have a blast, and be

disgraceful. I will report everything in our next issue!

I hear your old mate Neil Lithgow may be joining you all for coffee this Saturday. Y'all better be there ! This month, 10 years ago, I recall you were all at Miranda Hot Pools for an overnight stay - about time you checked that venue out again. Chriss Taylor was your Coordinator, where is he now ?

NOAH THINGERTOO SAYS :-

ROAST DUCK EVENT (ex Cold Duck Rally) Fri., Sat. & Sun. 5th ,6th , & 7th December

To be held at River Park Event Centre, 797 Pourerere Rd, Waipawa Further enquiries, phone Jim Bolton 021 1169733

SOMETHING FOR JAN TO SKITE ABOUT! Jan Matthews and her daughter Cameron attended the Driver Directions programme at the Taupo MotorSport Park on Mon-day 29th September. Cameron learnt that it is a good idea to use your indicators when exiting a parallel park, that ABS brakes make a terrible shuddering noise when the brake pedal is “floored” when doing 100kph, and the feeling one gets when “over the limit” - this time wearing beer-vision gog-gles. Then came the questionnaire for the parents. As Jan had just passed her motorcycle licence, the road code questionnaire was just a formality. Would you believe “our very own Jan Matthews answered every question correctly with 20 out of 20 questions correct” —100% pass.

HOW TO TURN AN ORDINARY DAY INTO A BEAUTIFUL ONE!

Three trikes and three bikes left our favourite haunt, the Lakeside Café, around 10.30, after wishing Mal & Linda good riding on the airport runway (they will tell you!). Our group was made up of three couples (Christine & Bruce, Marlene & Tony, and Lynn & Peter), and three singles (Bob, Jack & me). We headed to Whakatane by way of Paengaroa and down the coast through Matata, just to be different, it was a good ride at a decent but lawful pace, but I did miss a possible hoon through the Rotoma’s ! We rode the back way in to Whakatane (yes, there is one) and had glorious lunch at Baxter’s on the Strand. Bob’s bike only has a small tank, so he filled up on the way out of Whakatane, and we headed this time back through Galatea, and over the dam. Because Bob himself also only has a small tank, we stopped at the con-veniences at Lake Aniwhenua. That is such a beautiful spot. Icecream stop at Kopuriki, where we found out that Marlene’s diet consists of only eating half of an icecream and throwing the other half away. From there, we had a peaceful, and lawful ride home on the Murupara highway. The alternatives to this day would have only been gardening, or painting, or some other such mundane activ-ity. Much better to spend it on your bike with like-minded people also escaping from their 4 walls and having a bit of fun!

FLASH

#1272

Finally we have some good weather for our ride to One Tree Point, which is about ½ hour from Whangarei. Christine and I picked up Jack Butterworth at the Mamaku turn-off at 10.00am as arranged. We had also arranged to meet Johan and Paul from Taupo in Cambridge, but we were held up by massive road works at the new Tirau roundabout . Because we were now late arriving in Cambridge, Johan and Paul thought we had gone on ahead so they had already left!! A text on Bruce’s phone said they would meet us at Bombay for lunch. We then had more hold-ups on the way and didn’t get to Bombay until 12:45—once again we missed them! Next phone call from them was that they were at the Puhoi Pub! Back onto the motorway where the traffic flow wasn’t too bad for a while —but then it slowed down to 10 kms/hour for miles and miles! We finally got out of the traffic once over the harbour bridge and filled-up at B.P. before the toll road (300 km and only 18 litres. ie 6 litres/100km). Not too bad for two-up and fully loaded? Christine and I arrived at the rally site at 4.00pm—6½ hours later when it should have taken only 5 hours! The rally was excellent—good food, good company, good band and good weather. What else would two keen trike riders want? (maybe 2 wheels again, Ed). On Sunday morning, Jack and Christine and I left the site at 9.00am travelling back to Rotorua via H/W 27 with a stop for fuel and lunch. Arriving home by 2.00pm. On behalf of Christine and Jack, “It was a great weekend”.

Bruce Roe #375

Pete Read #5405 RIP Peter John Read, 25th July 1946—17th October 2014.

It is with sadness that Whakatane Ulyssian, Pete Read, passed away on Friday 17th October after a long illness. Pete was very passionate about his riding with the Ulysses

Club and he will be missed. Pete’s Service was in the Church of St George & St John, Domain Road, Whakatane, followed by his burial in the New Lawn Memorial Section of

Hillcrest Cemetery. Refreshments and a time to reflect on Pete’s very active and event—filled life was held at the Whakatane RSA after the burial.

TURANGI LUNCHEON—9th November 2014

Turangi is a new Branch and this is the first luncheon that they have been able to put on, thanks to raffles and the Sheriff. Where: At beautiful Stump Bay on the edge of Lake Taupo, which is off State Highway 1 just 4kms north of Turangi and 4kms south of Motuoapa (signs will be erected to show you the location). Cost: $10.00, which will buy you a BBQ meal and a hot drink. Just remember to bring with you a knife and fork. We hope to have cold drinks available on the day. Turangi is looking forward to us attending. For ca-tering purposes could we please let Turangi know before the end of October that we are coming, Simply TXT to 027 440 7999.

Big Excitement in the Bain’s Home! One of my long time loves is motorbikes & finally on Sunday 26 October after overcoming quite a bit of fear I passed my ‘Motorcycle Basic Handling Skills Test’ with much excitement & Mal cheering me on & taking photos of cause. This is the first step in 4 to my full motorbike licence. This is done in a car park on private property using cones and half tennis balls and it is an extremely tight course and done at slow speed only having to get up to 20 kms once, so that you could do an emergency stop. This has to be completed before you sit your theory unlike a car, which is 3 part as you have a fully licensed driver the side of you, on a bike you are on your own after the Learners (theory) just you and your ‘L’ plate and a LAMS approved bike. The basic handling skills consist of: Basic turn & stop, figure of eight & park, linking figure of eight, increasing speed & emergency stop. They are assessed against relevant assessment items:

Looking in the correct direction & head checks Signalling correctly and cancelling the signal Lateral position of the bike Appropriate speed Parking observations & movement

With the first stage done it is off to purchase a Motorcycle Road Code for my Learners Licence stage 2, yes, it is different to the normal car one with a section just for bikes and the test is an extra 10 questions relating to bikes and as soon as I feel I am ready I can go and sit the my learners taking my newly acquired certificate with me. After successfully achieving my ‘Learners Licence’ I then can either wait for 6 months or with no time limit after completing Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) by a CBTA assessor pass my Restricted Licence stage 3. To do stage 4 my full licence, I can either hold my restricted for at least 18 months or after 12 months do another CBTA. If you use a CBTA assessor, they will give you a certificate stating you passed so you can then apply for your licence. This is the NZTA’s preferred way of learning and passing stages 3 & 4 as you learn safer and better skills from the start, this was introduced on 1 March of this year. I love being on the back of a bike, but riding one is something I have always wanted to do and thanks to Mal and his encouragement, I achieved stage one, 3 to go a step closer to my goal, Yahoo!! Linda Bain (aka “Valentino”) #8687

DATE DESTINATION MEET TIME IN-CHARGE

Sat 1st Nov. M.L.C. Band (Saturday Afternoon of Friendship”

Scott St. (off Sala St) 3pm> Pete Hobdell

Sun. 2 Nov. Branch Meeting St John 7 pm Peter van der

5—7 Nov. Cold Kiwi Rally Horopito.

8 -9 Nov. 2014 Waikato Branch Pureora Forest Rally See Ulyssian Page 38

Sun. 9 Nov Turangi Ulysses Lunch Lakeside 10am Mal Bain

Sun. 9 Nov. Whakatane Branch. “Mountain to the Sea”.

Lake Rotoma Boat Ramp

9am Mal Bain

Sun. 9 Nov. Turangi Branch. Stump Bay, 4 kms

north of Turangi

5—7 Dec. 2014 Auckland Rally. Motu Moana Camp,

Blockhouse Bay, Auckland

See Ulyssian page 38

Watch this space

for the date!

Rotorua Branch Christmas Social

26 Dec 2014—

27 April 2015.

Waikato Branch,

“The Northern Odyssey 2015”.

20—22 Feb.

2015

Whanganui’s, “Almost Back to Basics”

Summer Rally. See Ulyssian page 40.

Rotorua Branch Runs List