The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Bikes, Pictures, Stories & more => Introductions, Stories, Meetings & Pictures => Topic started by: orabanda on 10.12. 2019 02:38
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A few days ago, three members of this forum rode together in "Orabandon 2019".
You might like to see the Cream of The Crop: Gavin (standing behind his A10), Peter in Aus at his left, and myself wearing the WA VMCC shirt.
We did 230 fun filled miles, despite the heat (41C on Friday, followed by 40C on Saturday).
Stay tuned for the report!
Richard
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Hi Richard, U beat me to it, I did post one but it has disappeared into siber space??? thanks for inviting me I rely enjoyed the ride. I think it was a bit hotter than 41C on Friday, in my car it was showing 45C out side at 5PM
Peter
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Looking forward to pictures and story.
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40 plus and you blokes are out there riding, I salute you!!
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I feel a hint of envy... Have been putting up with either -7, freezing fog or hissing rain and gales in the last week. Quite scenic here at home though. And yes, I was out on the bike in this shortly after.
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As will become evident, months of planning went into a highly organized weekend ride from Kalgoorlie to 3 outlying centres. 16 bikes arrived after a day of either being trailered, or 2 days of riding, to cover upto 800km to get there. Unless you happened to be a local. Richard Argus (Orabanda) organized the entire event and also provided his workshop as a base for the ride, endless assistance to other riders n bikes, and a support team who provided food, cold drinks n cooling scarves, picnic facilities and much more, as will be seen in the photo coverage.
Temperatures for the event were a mild Aussie 40c – 45c so sometimes the ride was what I always imagined a mobile sauna would be like. Well-aged bikes and riders acquitted themselves amazingly. Never have so many icy poles been more appreciated n rapidly consumed at each stop by the travelling pack of old boys.
What follows will I hope will fit the forum posting boundaries, and yet not be in too many instalments.
Thursday
Setting out, just 600km behind the wheel today.
Old Boys inspecting old bikes at Richard’s workshop.
Support ute prepared by the Cudini family, son Tim Pictured.
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continuing Thursday...
Ken Marshall was a major bike seller / repairer for many years in Kal. Photos are of his home shed that we visited.
2 old boys n 2 old bikes. Hope you enjoy the rustic (but very feisty) Scott Squirrel.
Sunset in Kal.
Flanagan’s Hotel. A very welcome watering hole.
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Great images. Happy days!
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Friday on my mind.
Following our intrepid leader, we visit Mt Charlotte, overlooking Kalgoorlie. The visit was extended by someone who spent so much time helping others his own bike was a tad neglected before the run. It responded well to a roadside “tweak” of the carby n cables. We think Richard responded just as well to advice from “Peter in Aus”. Richard’s devoted wife of 39 years, Melissa, is impersonating Mary Poppins.
The Mt Charlotte Reservoir is the feeder to Kalgoorlie of water pumped from Mundaring weir, about 560km west. This Massive project was completed in 1903 under the supervision of C Y O’Connor and holds a powerful place in our State’s history. Initially it pumped 1.26m gallons a day and now supplies 9m gallons daily.
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Go West young man:
We head 50 mile north west of Kal though an area littered with working gold mines to Richard’s stamping ground, the former city of Ora Banda where about 2000 miners worked the area in the early 1900’s after 2 prospectors came up with 1000oz in a month. The population is now about 5 !! (once Richard left)
The remains of a famous pub still draws visitors to the area where tales of a former Publican (Retired Detective Superintendent) and a bikie eerily shot dead and a revenge killing, can be heard being whispered among the breezes in the trees.
Photo’s reveal the Aussie desire for shade, water, respite from 43c riding and an amazing history of the area from one who knows it well.
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Former Days
We paused at the Ora Banda cemetery, photos speak for themselves, the last shot is a tribute to the mateship surrounding a Norton which after the cemetery decided to give up the ghost. (A new rotor and stator plate will see it rise to its former glory again)
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A very welcome watering hole.
The return trip was punctuated with a lingering “pause” at the Broad Arrow tavern, 24 mile north of Kalgoorlie. Yep, once again shade is the premium parking place.
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The richest gold deposit in the world.
Back in central Kalgoorlie we were treated to the clearest overview of the golden mile one could ever want to hear. Former mine manager, John Meneghini, who oversaw the melding of 2 huge mining companies into one in the late 70’s was with us the entire run. John gave us the most comprehensive overview of the resultant super pit one could ever imagine. The pit is 3km long 1km wide and currently 800m deep. The main ore body twists down and runs in a south easterly direction. (If you have a shovel…) About 15million tonnes of earth is removed from the pit annually and 58 million oz of gold has been retrieved since Paddy Hannan found his first 100oz in back in 1893.
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Most of the team found their way to another historic Kalgoorlie bike venue, Bob Pinner’s private collection, which I know nothing about. Unkind readers may assume I got lost, and they would be correct.
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Saturday, always a great day to ride,
We prepare to join the annual Kalgoorlie toy run. It’s a charity event run with the help of the Salvo’s, the police, local service clubs and local bike enthusiasts to collect toys donated by bike riders for underprivileged kids for Christmas.
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Bikes and characters of all backgrounds assemble in the park. Following the cops, the postie bikes, known as the largest bike group across the world, lead the parade, followed by the vintage bikes (code for our crew) followed by about another 350 bikes.
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Our intrepid leader shows the way, and readers may be as surprised as anyone else to see that the squirrel could be street legal. (This is Kalgoorlie)
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Having regrouped and replenished back at Richard’s workshop, we head south west of Kalgoorlie 25 miles to Coolgardie. It’s another pleasant sun searing 43c day and bikes and riders do remarkably well. We arrive at the lions lookout in Coolgardie, to be refreshed by the excellent support crew once again. Home baked sweet biscuits and freshly brewed tea and coffee again proving popular despite the heat. Plenty of flavoured ice treats hit the spot as well. A Coolgardie local Tim Moore gave an excellent background to Coolgardie, its gold rush days, and other events. Like the speakers of the 2 previous days he made the local area come alive with fascinating facts behind its rich history.
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These shots show how sparce “city of Coolgardie” is now. It was once home to 35,000.
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We lunch at the Denver City hotel and saddle up smartly as the fire truck responds to a call. Refuelled we head south west to Kambalda 47 warmish miles down the track.
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A much needed rest stop. Cold water never more welcome.
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Red Hill is the lookout across lake Lefroy in Kambalda. Here lies on of the worlds richest nickel deposits, (so keep replating your bikes fellas). Note the bowed heads, and the 3 amigo’s still going strong. Forum members must salute our senior mate “Peter in Aus” who completed the event in fine style. Also note the changing Mood of the lake in the photos. Dry Salt lake of course for those hoping for water!
We return the 36 miles North to Kalgoorlie. Richard’s workshop has never looked so good !
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And then, sooner that it began, its all done. All that remains are fabulous memories, a deep desire to get into the next time this event is run, and an even deeper thankyou to Orabanda and his team for putting together such as massive event. He’s the kind of bloke who does things like this for others to his own neglect. A highly admirable “fault” for want of a better word. Thanks Richard.
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Gavin,
BRAVO; well put together!!
I have been so busy since the event, have not had the time to put in all the work you have done.
To all forum members; you are all welcome to attend next year if you can make it (or get to Perth for starters).
there are probably two spare bikes we could russel up if necessary.
However, to Musky I have an invitation.
If you can get to Perth next year, I have a bike (or two) for you; we will look after the rest.
Richard.
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Yes Thanks Gavin, well done *wink2*
And thanks to Richard and his wife for all the hard work he put in to make the ride one of the best rides I have been on *beer*
Peter
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Great fun
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Former Days
We paused at the Ora Banda cemetery, photos speak for themselves, the last shot is a tribute to the mateship surrounding a Norton which after the cemetery decided to give up the ghost. (A new rotor and stator plate will see it rise to its former glory again)
Died of "Old Age" at 72. I'm in trouble.
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Trying to figure out the clothing law. Are you required to wear a heavy long-sleeve jacket? If so, no wonder the focus is on the heat. Kind'a kills evapoative cooling.
Richard L.
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As far as i know clothing law is down to a helmet. (But some of us are a lil shy so we kit up a bit moreso.) however seriously, when you look at the riders my guess is that the average age would be 60 plus a fair bit. so yep we tend toward the full jacket, plus Kevalar dacks, boots, gloves etc. mainly to protect us from snake bite if we have an off... but drifting back more seriously again, Jackets are surprisingly cool, when the winter layer is removed. Besides, the sun and windburn on bare arms / shoulders would be horrific over several hours in our summer climate. add to this the joy of road train traffic (imagine a semi with 3 trailers either coming at you or overaking you at 110km, which can generate a massive wind vortex) and road surfaces that, should one be unfortunate enough to have a spill, are akin to stopping your belt sander by turning it upside down n sitting on it in your shorts... n yep, we tend to dress to survive. hope that helps.