1. travel
2. tourist destinations
3. africa

DECEMBER 2014 | Volume 19/4
quarterly newsletter of bmw motorcycle club, pretoria, south africa
www.bmwclubs.co.za
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
1
club INFO
Thank you to all the contributors who made this issue possible! Thanks for allowing us to use your photographs!
Visit our website www.bmwclubs.co.za and register on the forum.
Send your email address to [email protected] to ensure you receive our weekly Club correspondence:
The Triple R - Reminders, Rides & Requests
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
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Chairman
Sias Wagenaar Vice Chairman,
Webmaster & Publications Daleen Dudley Secretary
Karin Botha
Treasurer
Hendrik Pelser S Captain
Hein van Rensburg GS Captain
Alwyn Engelbrecht Regalia
Elmarie Bierman Wellness & Bramley Karin Botha
Clubhouse & Events John Reynolds Membership Dani du Preez Clubs Africa Reps
Sias Wagenaar Dani du Preez [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
VISION & MISSION
Our Vision: Shared riding pleasure
Our Mission: To foster fellowship through safe, supportive and
responsible riding and enjoyment of BMW motorcycles, in a
courteous manner.
www.bmwclubs.co.za
EDITOR:
SPOKE & PISTON
Daleen Dudley
[email protected]
Cell: 083 386 8281
IMPORTANT
Non-Club members are welcome to attend Club riding events as guests.
They are, however, required to sign an indemnity form before participating.
The form can be down-loaded from the website. The Club has an official
policy regarding the use and financial compensation of support vehicles on
official overnight Club trips.
Spoke & Piston also appears on our website. Please send articles, pictures,
comments, etc. to [email protected]
INDEMNITY: Although reasonable care has been taken to ensure the
correctness of all material contained herein, the publisher cannot be held
liable for any inaccuracies that may occur or damage/loss sustained as a
result of advice given.
UPCOMINGEVENTS
SUNDAY RIDES
OTHER EVENTS
2
11 January
8 February
8 March
S to Cullinan, GS to Magaliesburg
S to Sun City, GS to Klein Kariba, GS Newbie
S to Dullstroom, GS to Secunda
15 February
21-22 March
S & GS Valentine’s Ride to Ludwig’s Roses
S & GS overnighter to Wakkerstroom
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
FROM THE CHAIR
Looking back at this year, one thought comes to my
mind… what an amazing year this turned out to be!
The early bird renewals opened in October for existing
members and took us in two months to over 330
members!
We were presented with so many opportunities, rides
and events, I really trust you enjoyed these and joined
us in as many as you could, as this was our main goal
ensuring all had the best time one could ask for. Thank
You, as all of this was only possible with you, our club
members’ continued support and participation in all we
did.
We unfortunately had to say farewell to some of our
friends and they will be sadly missed. Our thoughts
continue to be with their loved ones.
We as a committee wish to thank every one of our
members, friends and sponsors for your support and
dedication to our Club, for your participation in our
many events, rides and opportunities. The main committee and the rides committee worked
hard in setting all of our rides and events up, managing
the affairs of our club and ensuring all is as planned.
They really love what they are doing and this makes it
so more special. It indeed is an enormous privilege to
be part of these teams. Thank you for your support,
going the extra mile and making all of this happen!
Please enjoy this last edition of our Spoke and Piston
for this year!
Our Rides calendar is out and published for 2015, we
trust you will with us continue to discover new routes
to these places, keep on making new friends and keep
on making this the best club it can be!
This was also a year of many highlights, a year of many
rides, events and opportunities. All which were well
supported by our members. We certainly are blessed
to live and be able to do all of this in a country known
to be a destination of choice in the international biking
arena.
I want to wish you all a blessed festive period, may
you experience lots of fun, laughter and joy with many
more amazing biking kilometres and all the best in
2015!
Safe riding!
Sias
We continue to gain new members and our
membership grew and closed on 572 members in
October and this is the highest to date in our existence.
REGALIA
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New T-shirts
Club shirts
Long sleeve shirts
Fleece jacket
Pit shirt
Short sleeve golf shirt
T-shirts (grey)
Caps
Life Caps Mugs
SIAS WAGENAAR
Regalia is available for sale at every club night.
R200
R150 (S to XL), R160 (2XL & 3XL)
R190
R220
R250
R150
R90
R100
R50
R200
R50
new ls
arrivaach
e
The new T-shirts
have arrived. They
are available in blue
and in pink with
a V-neck for the
ladies.
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
3
club RIDES
OCTOBER
GS | Tswaing Crater
36 bikes and 10 pillions joined us for the October GS ride to the
Tswaing Crater. We have followed nice gravel high ways spiced
up with sandy patches, to the east of Pretoria and followed the
route north to Hammaskraal area.
On arrival at the crater, Pieter and his team was ready with
tasty boerewors rolls and cold drinks.
We had no major incidents and everyone enjoyed the ride,
lunch and visit to the crater.
Some facts on the Crater: Some 220 000 years ago a blazing
stony meteorite the size of half a football field slammed
into the earth’s crust. The impact formed a crater, 1.4km in
diameter and 200m deep. This crater, formerly known as the
Pretoria Saltpan (or Zoutpan), is situated 40km northwest of
Pretoria. It is one of the best-preserved terrestrial meteorite
impact craters anywhere in the world.
It was a real pleasure to plan and lead this ride with the
cooperation of other club members.
- Willem Nordeje
S | beestekraal
Beestekraal is always a favourite ride and for many reasons.
Before I elaborate on this, allow me to share some history of
this destination with you.
“Beestekraal Station Restaurant was the initiative of Bennie
Hattingh. The old Station building had been used in the past by
people selling vegetables and passing one day Bennie thought
that it would be a nice place for people to get together and eat
a hot dog. Well it turned into far more than that. They worked
on and off for a year on the decoration.
Opening day happened in October 2005. Bennie being in the
Timber industry made most of the seating and also built the
deck in front. The Station just grew up all by itself, each thing
happening at the right time.
The Station Master from 1949 arrived one day and told them
that the tar road wasn’t there in his time and leopards would
hunt down Impala in front of the station building. Farmers
would arrive on ox drawn carts to fetch and drop off goods.
He was there for 6 months before he saw the first female.”
-Bennie and Lynette Hattingh
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Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
32 riders and pillions joined us on this ride, a third of them
rode with us for the first time and we must congratulate them,
they did very well, no incidents! We left BP Centurion and a
beautiful day (in more than one sense) greeted us. We did
a little bit of highway, followed the N14 to Krugersdorp and
then followed the R511 to the Hartbeespoortdam, stopped
at the dam wall – waiting for the robot and half of our group
was then cut off from the rest, as the robot did not like them.
Always an amazing experience to ride over the dam wall and
that early in the morning even better, very little other traffic!
We stopped at the Engen at Damdoryn for a leg stretch and
some more coffee. This is where the conversations that started
earlier that morning, just continued. This was an amazing
group of riders and pillions and they all were in great spirits.
Our sweep for the day was Abe, who totally out of place, rode
at the back. This is not a familiar place to find Abe in a group,
but he did this with distinction, ensuring all were well looked
after. Sue was visiting their kids when Abe joined me for the
recce the previous week, thus finding himself in this position.
We took the long way to Beestekraal and rode up to Mooinooi,
where we then turned onto the R556 to Sun City on fantastic
tar roads. When we turned off towards Beestekraal, Johann
could not resist the temptation to do some faster riding, these
roads are really beckoning to be ridden. Needless to say Sue
followed and Marie just could not let them do this on their
own. I think Marius just smiled when he saw Marie could not
resist the temptation…
We however kept our steady pace and then stopped to
regroup a few kilometres from our destination. We now
had a short distance to complete and arrived at the Station
Restaurant as a group, but alas, no sign of Johann or Sue. They
arrived a little later after riding towards Thabazimbi, having
missed the turn off, truth was, they enjoyed that bit of road,
they just kept going!
We had an amazing breakfast, lots to see and I ended up with
a bag of ”mielie meel” Emilia decided we must have in my topbox! But, the best still to be told, this group made friends and
when we eventually left in our different groups, it was with a
great feeling of many new friends met and made.
- Sias Wagenaar
NOVEMBER
GS & S | POKER RUN
On the first beautiful summer’s morning in November, 60 club
members participated in the Poker Run in an easterly direction
from Pretoria. The five cards to build your poker hand were
picked up at 5 different venues.
The points were connected with beautiful, dust free gravel
roads. And the tar was also washed clean from the previous
evening’s rain, thus the carbon were burned off in the
engines…
The 5 points were:
Again we had fun as club and a lekker kuier at the Bronberg
Lodge Restaurant and the event was a huge success. A Special
Thank You to the Rides Committee for their valuable inputs.
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BP Centurion
Airfield
Red Star Raceway
The Lemon Tree
Bronberg Lodge Restaurant
- Alwyn Engelbrecht
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
5
DECEMBER
S & GS | redstar raceway
At a point during the second part of this year, the discussions
were centred on making every ride count and ensuring this
will be a draw card for our members in every sense in that
each remaining ride will be something they would really look
forward to.
We have now out of past experience learned that a picnic at
year end just did not warrant it anymore and that we had to
find alternatives for the December ride.
December is synonymous to joy, celebrations and festivity
and from this it was decided to do a combined S and GS
ride to Redstar Raceway celebrating a year of many amazing
rides and events, but also giving our members something
quite special as their last club ride of the year. This is exactly
what we did and after consultations with the Redstar and
cafeteria owners, all just fell into place. We now had a ride
for December of note and placed this on the calendar as our
surprise ride of the year.
Morning of 7 December and contrary to some weather
forecasts, a beautiful sunshine day awaited us. We just could
not have asked for anything better and a sense of excitement
was in the air at BP Centurion before the two groups
departed. 38 Riders and their pillions thereafter departed
in the two groups, Alwyn leading the GS group with John
sweeping. The S group left shortly thereafter with me leading
this group and Sue doing the sweep duties. Not certain all
saw this, but this was our first ride wearing our new bibs and
Sue had the pink one on, whilst the guys all had their blue
ones on. I think they look fantastic and high time we got rid of
the old ones.
The GS guys had a dirt highway waiting for them, but the
rain did leave some mud just to make it a bit more fun.
Notwithstanding that they lost one half of the group, all
eventually arrived safely at Redstar at about 09h30.
In the meantime the S group took the R50 towards Delmas,
then followed the R25 towards Bronkhorstspruit, around
Bronkhorstbay and then onto the R42 towards Redstar
Raceway. I must comment this section is pure bliss and one
asking to be ridden. We arrived at the racetrack with the GS
guys.
Let us take one step back as we look at this facility with the
owner, Jacques van Wyngaatdt. This was a dream Jacques and
his family had been nurturing for some time and after a lot
of thought and planning, this piece of land was bought and
developed. This motorcycle purpose build track of 4km was
build and has 13 turns and 5 straights! What makes it unique
is that it is designed to ride clockwise and also anti clockwise.
The newly built offices and training centre was where
we were then received, we signed the indemnities and
were briefed before getting on the track. Nice to hear the
commentator calling on Class D, the BMW Club to report for
this session.
That is when the real fun started! Some of our riders
immediately took to the track, found their lines and rode it to
the full, whilst others gathered their confidence as they got
more acquainted with the track itself. The Redstar instructors
were amazing, riding in between our riders, showing us the
correct lines to follow and getting us up to speed (I must
add our speed…) All to soon this ended with the instructors
beckoning us to pit, but certainly a very special day in the lives
of all who attended and participated.
The day had more to offer and getting to the cafeteria, Marius
Steyn once again spoiled us to a breakfast/brunch of note.
Here we literally camped out, had a great time with many
friends and much later departed in smaller groups back
home.
Thank you Jacques, Marius, Charlotte and the Redstar
team, you really went out of your way to make this such a
memorable day in our lives. The comments on our forum
confirmed this was one amazing day in our riding calendar!
We certainly need to go back …soon!
- Sias Wagenaar
6
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
BRAMLEY
christmas party
karin botha
for bramley children’s home
It is the 5th Christmas Party that the BMW Club of Pretoria
hosted for Bramley Children’s Home. This year we managed to
arrange the function centered around a new adventure activity
– bumboarding at Avalanche – an exciting adventure where
kids bumboard down a 65m snow-like slope.
Avalanche is situated at the Cedar Square Centre in Fourways,
Johannesburg, thus an ideal location for not being too far for
all to travel and all activities on a the same premises.to tree The activities started at 10:00 and although the kids arrived
a bit late, they had a wonderful time. Approximately 27
members from the club also joined in the fun, arriving either
by bike or vehicle.
The kids enjoyed 2 hours on the slope, having a rest and a cool
drink in between. At about 12 o’clock, Santa arrived with a bag
full of presents. Presents were handed out by Santa and his elf
and a pizza buffet was enjoyed by all.
I wish to thank all who have contributed towards making this
event possible – whether by donating, helping or just being
there.
Also, I would like to thank Avalanche for their friendliness and
help.
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
7
bavarian
motorcycles
2015 BMW gs eco
Spirits were high at Bavarian Motorcycles in the early hours of
September 11th as the BMW GS ECO 2014 kicked-off. All the
GS riders from team Bavarian Motorcycles were getting ready
to start their journey to Maselspoort Resort in Bloemfontein.
The popular BMW Clubs Africa event is limited to a total of
600 entrants, of which 203 were from Bavarian Motorcycles;
185 GS bikes and 18 pillions.
This year’s destination was the Maselspoort Resort, situated
on the banks of the Modder River. The resort also served as
the main venue for all the GS ECO activities and boasted a
large marquee tent for afternoon and evening activities as
well as accommodation in for form of a tent town.
Bavarian Motorcycles team outside the dealership on the morning of the BMW GS ECO departures
keeping a girl in school
In celebration of Women’s Month, Bavarian Motorcycles
teamed up with the Catholic Women’s League (Lynnwood)
a second time round for the 2014 Keeping a Girl in School
Fundraiser.
This year Bavarian Motorcycles did it in style, with a High Tea
event at Rosemary Hill function venue. Ladies were spoiled
with dainty treats, both savoury and sweet, and glorious
exotic teas. All the attendees had fun with hats while being
entertained by Clint Cunningham from Clint & Co.
for another year!
awareness around this unknown problem. Products from the
fundraiser will help keep girls in school and assist them in
having a fair chance without any unnecessary worries about
being absent from school. The team decided to make use of a
product called Dignity Dreams. This is packaged with durable,
re-washable product – a single pack, if maintained properly,
can last from two to five years.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this initiative - We
look forward to 2015!
This year’s event was again a great success, with all the ladies
having fun while drawing attention to this issue and creating
Attendees who supported the 2014 Keeping a
Girl in School Fundraiser at Rosemary Hill
Sharon Smith from Bavarian Motorcycles with
Zodwa Dibe from the Boitshepo Catholic School (left)
and 5FM’s DJ Fresh (right) at a product hand-over in
Hammanskraal
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Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
BMW MOtorrad days 2014
This year celebrated the 14th BMW Motorrad Days –aAnd just
like the brand it represents, this event seems to get better
and more popular. The three-day event is a must for all BMW
Motorrad enthusiasts the world over, including Bavarian
Motorcycles.
Every BMW Motorrad Days is a truly amazing cultural
celebration of life. People with a shared passion and a way
of life come together from every corner of the world to
celebrate BMW Motorrad. We can’t wait for 2015!
The team from Bavarian Motorcycles were among the
40,000 visitors who joined in the fun and excitement of this
year’s BMW Motorrad Days, held in the beautiful GarmischPartenkirchen, Germany. Among them were a few familiar
faces from the BMW Motorrad community, enjoying the
whole host of activities and events on offer.
Celebs at this year’s event included Michael Dunlop, winner
of Isle of Man Senior, Superbike and Superstock TT races and
the North West 200 on the S 1000 RR. Globetrotter, Jolandie
Rust, and national president of the Christian Motorcyclists
Association, Rene Changuion, also visited from South Africa.
Six-time motorcycle land-speed record holder and BMW
S 1000 RR rider, Valerie Thompson, visited from the USA.
Appearing for the first time ever at BMW Motorrad Days was
stunt supremo Mattie Griffin, whose show was not to be
missed.
Sharon and Roger from Bavarian Motorcycles with The
Management Team from BMW Motorrad South Africa and
members of the BMW Motorrad Dealer Network attended the
BMW Motorrad Days 2014 event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
9
CLUB
EVENTS
hazyview
year end function
After the success of the yearend function last year we decided
to return to Hazyview and Hotel Numbi as there were still
many wonderful roads to ride in the area! About 100 club
members gathered again at Hotel Numbi in Hazyview for our
club’s year end function and once again Hotel Numbi went all
out to spoil us and make it another unforgettable event! The
accommodation and food were superb and Willem arranged
some great entertainment for both nights. Thanks again
Willem and team for making this such a memorable event.
daleen dudley
We of course didn’t go only for the food, but mainly for the
great biking roads in the area. Thomas Böhm from Sabie
River Valley Academy once again assisted with the route
planning and took a group out on some great gravel roads.
Everyone else made small groups or went on their own to
explore the beautiful scenery and take their bikes for some
fantastic riding.
Some feedback from our memebers:
Thanks to everyone who made this wonderful weekend happen and to everyone who took part. What a privilege to share
this with with such wonderful people. Old friendships strengthened and new ones made.
- Dries
What a weekend!!! From the start to the finish it was pure bliss. I huge thank you to all our hard working committee
for a super YEF at an amazing location. The accommodation was amazing as well as the food at the venue which was
responsible for me adding a bit around the waist
- Bruce
Wow! Wat ‘n lekker naweek was dit nie. Goed georganiseerd, lekker verblyf en ja....uitstekende geleenthede om roetes
en passe te ry om van te droom. Heelwat massa opgetel a.g.v. reuse ontbyt en springbok dinee...met nagereg wat ons
monde nounog laat water!
– Pierre
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Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
The weekend was made even more special by all our
sponsors who generously donated prizes for our prize giving
during the gala dinner on Saturday night. A big thank you to
all the sponsors, in alphabetical order:
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4Zyl Promotions
Bavarian Motorcycles
BMW Motorrad Riding Academy
DelaPlast
Hotel Numbi
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Offroad Touring and Equipment & GIVI
Picola Foods
Sabie Valley Coffee
Sabie River Valley Academy & Windmill Cottages
Thank you to everyone who assisted to make this another
memorable event and a big thank you to everyone who
attended and contributed to make it so special! I hope we will
see you all again next year and everyone else who could not
make it this year. Until next year!
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
11
MERRY
CHRISTMAS!
Christmas is the time of year when
loved ones gather together. It is a
special time of being thankful for all
of the many blessings in our lives. The
committee wishes all or members
a wonderful time with friends and
family and a season filled with love and
laughter. We are looking forward to
share many new riding adventures in
2015!
JOY&SORROW
CONGRATULATIONS!
Danie Peach and Suria Nel got married on 6 December. Tony
Op’tHof married Orpha on 17 October. Congratulations to
both couples! We wish you a lifetime together filled with love,
laughter and happiness.
condolences
Pine Pienaar had a fatal heart attack
and passed away on 21 November. Our
sincerest condolences to Bets, family and
friends. May you find peace and comfort
in this difficult time.
OTHEREVENTS
TOYRUN
2014
deon pRommel
A couple of Club members, Pauli, Shawn, Zanda & Johan Gray, myself, met at GPS4Africa for a
quick coffee then proceeded to the meeting point at the Irene Village Mall.
As we arrived, we were directed through the McDonalds Drive thru.
This was to break the world record of 1000 bikes riding through the
Drive Thru.Proceeds all went to the Toy Run Charity Trust. Each person
was given a McDonalds bag with a cold drink, McMuffen and a puzzle
for the kids. We all then proceeded to the parking lot to await the
official start of the Toy Run procession to Benoni Northerns Sports
grounds.
The group ride was, as always, very special to be a part of. It was very
well controlled with Marshalls blocking all onramps to the highway.
Spectators were everywhere waving and watching all the bikers go by.
Children everywhere watched in amazement as we rode by. There was
a wonderful positive vibe.
When we arrived at the venue, we handed over the Toys, walked
around the various stalls then sat on the lawns to listen to the live
music. It was a great day for a great cause.
12
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
MEMBER
RIDES
FOUR
CORNERS
Doing the Four Corners challenge has been a “Bucket List” item of mine for many years. I finally decided to take
the plunge on the spur of the moment in November this year. The intention was to complete the challenge in
the allocated twenty one days and take a leisurely ride around our beautiful country. However, due to business
demands, I decided to cut that time frame down to approximately fourteen days- still easily doable without
breaking my back.
TONY OP’T HOF
I left for Kakamas on Friday the 14th of November at 05h00,
planning to make this the longest leg of my trip, thinking
that I would still be fresh and infused with enthusiasm which
I wanted to take advantage of. The road was quiet and the
more I rode, the more I enjoyed the trip. I soon realized that
afternoon that I would be in Kakamas by 15h00 and decided
that Springbok is not much further. I decided to press on
(Seeing that I had nothing better to do) to Springbok. After
a delightful stay at Kleinplasie guesthouse that evening,
I saddled up for Alexander Bay early the next morning. I
travelled via Port Nolloth to Alexander Bay as my furthest
Western point. I must say, the vast expanse during the drive
was breath-taking. Even quaint Port Nolloth was filled with
character. However, I warn those who don’t know – Alexander
Bay is most disappointing!
Following the completion of the Western corner, I travelled
down to Somerset West and spent a leisurely evening at
the Lord Charles as a bit of a spoil for my now rather numb
backside! Early Sunday morning the 16th of November, I
left the comforts of the Lord Charles and headed for Cape
Agulhas which I reached by mid-morning. After a hearty
brunch at Bredasdorp I headed for the Oudtshoorn and
the beloved Route 62. This road is recommended to those
who have and have not yet travelled it. The scenery is awe
inspiring! After a quick refreshment stop at Ronnie’s Sex shop
(famed by bikers both locally and internationally) I headed for
Colesberg where I rested my weary bones for the evening at
the Colesberg Hotel. Very old and dated, yet clean, reasonably
priced and friendly staff. The Karoo lamb curry was to die for!
I would easily return to enjoy seconds!
On the 17th of November, I left Colesberg and headed
for home in Pretoria arriving home at about 15h00 that
afternoon. I spent Tuesday the 18th at home cleaning gear,
checking my metal steed and having a rest. On Wednesday
the 19th of November, top box only, I left for Pontdrift at
about 05h00. The ride thus far, apart from road works was
pothole free. However, I think that all the potholes in the
country were collected and deposited on the roads on this
leg. The road was not good at all! Especially the last 150 km
or so. Pontdrift was reached before lunch time and after
turning around and having a juicy T-bone in Alldays, I set off
for home.
Again, I spent one day at home to relax. Friday the 21st
was the big push to Kosi Bay. I left again at about 05h00,
reaching Kosi Bay by late morning. After reaching the border
post, I noticed on my GPS that the border post is not the
furthermost Eastern corner on the map I turned back and
followed a gravel road to Utshwayelo Lodge and Camp which
according to the Zumo, was the furthermost accessible
Eastern point of our country. I then proceeded to Piet Retief
where I planned to overnight. However, again, I reached
Piet Retief by mid-afternoon and decided that there was
enough daylight to eat up a few more kilometres closer to
home. Before I knew it, I was driving down my driveway at
19h00 that evening, My rider challenge completed in a total
of six days riding time and eight days in total. A trip that I
recommend to every adventure biker with the exception of
the time frame. What would I do if I did it again? Exactly the
same with the exception that I would savour the trip over the
full 21 days to really appreciate my surroundings.
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
13
PA & SEUN
kobus combrinck
Verlede jaar Oktober het ek die trotste eienaar van my
800GS Adv geword, nadat ek lank gewik en weeg en opsies
opgeweeg het, met die bedoeling om bietjie vlerke te sprei en
iets te doen wat sinvol en nuuts is saam my vrou, benewens
die dolle gejaag van die elke dag se bestaan. Ons het saam
na die nuutjie en avonture uitgesien. Ek het dadelik die
aanbevole kursusse by BMW Academy, Zwartkops gedoen en
soos ‘n tipiese weekend warrior stadigaan die buitewyke van
Gauteng begin verken.
My vrou is in Januarie skielik oorlede
en het die vooruitsig en doel van die
aanskaf van die motorfiets summier
verander en het ek self byna nerens
met die motorfiets gery nie.
Franco, my seun, wie toe ‘n super bike
gehad het, het per geleentheid gevra
om ‘n draaitjie met my motorfiets te
ry, wat hy terdee geniet het en dit het
ook sommer ‘n instelling begin word.
Inteendeel, op ‘n dag so in Junie merk hy op dat dit darem
baie nice sou wees as ons dieselfde fietse kon hê en die
wereld saam kon gaan verken. Hy voeg toe heel entoesiasties
by dat ons bv baie van die plekke kan gaan besoek waavan
hy al die staproetes gedoen het. Dit is mos ideaal as ‘n
vertrekpunt en soms kan mens ook die twee kombineer.
So gesê en so gedaan, het Wouter van Motorrad vir ons ‘n
wedersyds sinvolle transaksie aangebied en so kry Franco
by einde Augustus sy 800Adv motorfiets. Daarmee saam
sluit ons in September by die klub aan en doen mee aan
die maandelikse klub ride outs, beide as totale groentjies in
hierdie nuwe milieu.
14
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
SANI PASS
In Oktober merk Franco heel nonchalant op dat dit tyd is om
‘n avontuur aan te pak soos hy voorheen genoem het en vir
‘n eerste, dat sy voorstel Sani pas is. Dit het my effe onkant
gevang, want dit wat ek gelees of gehoor het van sodanige
trip, is dat dit benewens met ‘n 4X4, soveel te meer nog
met ‘n motorfiets, iets is wat nie ligtelik aangepak word nie.
Nietemin, het ek vooraf gecommit en was duidelik in vir ‘n
ding.
So breek die dag aan, en is ons Vrydag
28 November vroeg uit Pretoria,
opweg na Natal. Die besluite van wat
ons saam behoort te neem met die
beperkte pakplek wat ‘n nuutjie is,
is vergemaklik deur opmerkings van
lede op die Klub se webblad en ander
avonuur motorfiets forums gelees.
Ons ry so tot op Howick op die N3
terwille van tyd en van daar die R617
na Underberg. Dit is ‘n baie mooi en
rustige roete en omgewing wat mens kon waardeer, met
die mooi berge en heuwels, as inwyding vir dit wat voorgele
het. Vanuit Underberg is ons na Sani Valley Lodge net buite
Himeville waar ons in ‘n pragtige houthuis en weereens baie
mooi omgewing kon uitspan vir die volgende dag na die Sani
pas.
Saterdag so 07:30 vertrek ons daar op ‘n baie glibberige
modderpaadjie na die milde reën van die nag, stukkie teerpad
en toe die grondpad met baie poele en gate, tot by die RSA
grenspos. Hier doen ons die nodige en kon duidelik sien wat
bedoel is met die pragtige omgewing en indrukwekkendheid
van die berge, wat nie eers op die beste fotos tot sy reg kom
nie.
Franco neem die voortou en gee die pas aan en gou is ek baie
dankbaar oor die kursusse en as nuwe lede, die tot op hede
beperkte blootstelling aan die klub se outrides. Hiersonder
weet ek darem regtig nie of die dinge sou uitwerk nie. Die
roete is uitdagend, soms intimiderend maar heelwat dele
baie gemaklik en kry mens genoeg kans om rond te kyk en
alles behoorlik in te neem.
Wat dinge bietjie gekompliseer het was dat daar ‘n wedloop,
Sani Challenge of iets, aan die gang was en ons het aan die
drawwers voorrang gegee, wat beteken het dat ons soms
op byna onmoontlike plekke moes stilhou en weer wegtrek,
veral op die laaste deel van die pas. Eindelik was ons bo en
die belewenis is om dit sag te stel, eenvoudig amazing. Ons
geniet ontbyt buite op die deck van die Sani Mountain Lodge
en kon die uitsig behoorlik ineem en waardeer, asook ons
besondere samesyn.
Sodoende het die wedlopers darem goeie voorsprong gekry
en het ons nadat ons eers so ‘n ent in Lesotho in is, die
uitdaging van die terugtog aangepak. Dit was nou weer ‘n
ander ervaring en sommer gou het die teorie en praktyk van
avontuurfiets ry mekaar gevind om dit minstens moontlik
te maak om sonder voorval terug by die grenspos bietjie te
ontspan en gedagtes te wissel. “Staan op, Kyk op en Maak
oop….” Het ek myself male sonder tal herinner wanneer die
asempies bietjie vining begin raak het.
Moet erken daar was so ‘n lammigheidjie in die kniee van
die opwinding. Ons het gelate geklets en gelag, want nie net
die veilige op- en terugrit nie, maar meer as dit, die voorreg
dat ons as Pa en Seun dit saam kon meemaak, was iets
besonders. Veral en soveel temeer glo ek ook die feit van
ons traumatise verlies aan die begin van die jaar en daarmee
gepaardgaande ons onderlinge bewustheid en waardering
van mekaar en verhoudings.
Die namiddag ontspan ons lekker by ons huisie en vroeg
vroeg Sondag neem ons die pad met ‘n kinkel terug, naamlik
Lotheni Road, via Nottingham Road na Mooirivier. Die roete
is sowat 80km kronkelende grondpad, met alles van klipperig,
sinkplaatpad, gate en slote, skerp draaie, beeste in die pad,
mis en alles denkbaar wat so iets onvergeetlik maak. Dit is
nou benewens die pragtige berge, passe, heuwels en valleie.
So kom ons toe op Mooirivier aan, eet ontbyt en vandaar
rustig terug met die N3. So geniet ons die motorfietse weer
op ‘n ander wyse. Die oop pad is sommer ‘n plesier, selfs
waar ons die spoedgrens so effe aangepas het. Dit was baie
duidelik dat die keuse mbt ons fietse, vir ons doeleindes,
ongeewenaard is. Aanvanklik was die groot en swaar fietse,
veral van die teerpad af, agv ons klein posture intimiderend,
maar na hierdie tipe avontuur verruil ons dit vir geen ander
motorfietse nie. Die vermoëens en al die eienskappe van
hierdie motorfietse maak mens trots en dankbaar en noem
graag ook die gemoedsrus van die back up van BMW en die
klub, sou daar iewers iets verkeerd gegaan het.
Hierdie eerste groot uitstappie op die motorfietse, veral as Pa
en Seun sal my ewig bybly met dankbaarheid en in erkenning
teenoor ons Skepper vir die voorregte en pragtige natuur wat
mens so maklik van vergeet of miskyk. Die motorfietse gee
mens ‘n totale ander persepsie en ervaring van dinge waar al
die sintuie saam deel is van die totale ervaring.
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
15
bmw clubs
africa
DID YOU KNOW?
There are ± 700
officially recognised
BMW clubs in the
world.
Our Club, BMW
Motorcycle Club
Pretoria, is one
of the 10 BMW
Motorcycle Clubs in
Southern Africa.
These clubs
have more than
200,000 members
worldwide.
Four of these were founded in the last 2 years:
2012: BMW MCC Inland (Bloemfontein & Kimberley)
BMW MCC Border (East London)
2013: BMW MCC Garden Route (George)
2014: BMW MCC Lowveld (Nelspruit)
BMW Motorcycle Clubs
Club Central
Pretoria
Durban
Cape Town
Eastern Cape
Namibia
Inland
Border
Spoke & Piston | BMW Motorcycle Club | Pretoria, South Africa
BMW MCC
Jacaranda is in the
process of affiliation
and will be part
of the BMW Club
family in 2015.
BMW Car Clubs
Garden Route
Lowveld
Jacaranda (in the
process of affiliation)
SHARED RIDING PLEASURE
16
There are currently 14 BMW Clubs (with
±3200 members) affiliated with BMW
Clubs Africa, the umbrella organisation
for all BMW Clubs in Southern Africa.
Three of these are BMW Car Clubs.
Gauteng
KwaZulu Natal
Cape Town