Bron's Funeral Arrangements
To all that knew Bron from Daytona.
Maria, Bron's wife, would love as many riders to join in this ride.
Casual dress, including leathers- as Bron would have wanted.
Funeral arrangements are as follows
Saturday 27/10/07 10am at Kembla Grange Hanson and Cole.
There will be a ride, following the memorial cermony, to scatter his ashes at scarborough and Maddens Plain. Knuckles, Johny D and Gary will be leading this ride. Maria and family in cars followed by riders and cars.
All riders are encouraged to join in this ride to celebrate Bron's life!
Maria and family appreciates all the warm thoughts.
PS.: Meet at Daytona (Bellambi Lane)Japs, Harleys and Razors!! ( the push type ) Sat morning at 9:00am to ride together as a group. All are welcome. Bron would have liked all his mates from all corners to come together.
The Snow Mobile...
These blokes we saw at the snow line petrol station had filled up the ute with snow to take it home to a BBQ. One way of picking up your esky ice...
R.I.P. Bron!
Bron was killed in his car on the way to the island. It was a tragic accident caused by an oncoming truck who lost its dogtrailer, which must have headed straight at Bron's car, leaving him no chance of escape.
I was told shortly before I left the Island on Saturday afternoon. The news truly took its toll on the group. Most of us knew Bron from the fabulous work he'd done on our bikes.
I am so glad the kids are physically unharmed. It was terrible to ride through Narooma, wondering where it could have happened, looking for the actual spot to maybe pay my respects. Later I found out that it was at Tilba-Tilba.
Bron was a wonderful man, who gave everybody the time of the day.
Even the night before, I overheard the guys in the group talking about him and how much they valued his workmanship and praising its quality.
My thoughts are with his family, especially his wife, who he absolutely adored and spoke very highly of and their kids, he loved so much.
A very sad loss to our whole community.
R.I.P. Bron!
A part of me is still there...
The return trip was a little lonely, but pleasant.
"I did it my way!"
My gear (apart from my favourite, lucky ducati jumper) was packed and the sound of my 4in1 Yoshi pipe roared through the suburban streets of Inverloch just after 3:30 on a windy and crisp Saturday afternoon. Time to start the long journey home.
At the first round-about I saw the police car coming towards me; a timely reminder that Victoria's speed limit is only at 100km/hr. There wasn't another police car or highway patrol in sight until I got to Corrimal, on the Sunday, where I was surprised to see that unmarked, metallic blue, late model (was it a Holden?) car with its black cube menacingly strutting out from the roof line. I was doing just fine.
I was exhausted, but happy and proud of myself when I got off the bike and made my way up the stairs to plonk that saddle sore behind of mine onto the soft leather couch in front of the TV. Seven more laps to go and Casey Stoner was winning. The man handed me a Heinecken and the girl made me a sandwich. I was in heaven!
Once the race was done and the show over, I was able to tell the story...
The guys, the roads, the weather, the fun, the accommodation, the new people I met, the bugs, the snakes, the rain, the fog, the snow, the twisties, the atmosphere, the things I learned about myself and my riding, the bike, the friendship, the towns, the Black Spurrrrr, the cameraderie.
Full story later, here is a selection of the 218 photos so far...
Tent City's Supporter's World
Mick
Spotted my bike parked opposite the track
At Brown Mountain
Cooma
Khancoban
Bugged!
Beechworth
Ready to Race
Tucked in for the Night
Baz fixed the problem
Zippa's Briefing
Phil- ready to meet that road
DaBoyz
Fan Club
71
Clever. Just stay sober!
BMW Club (Vic)
Club Green
Pillion Track-Ride
'Car'park
Snow mobile
Unfortunately my holidays finished on the eve of the race, so I had decided to go along for the ride down through the mountains, to soak up the trackside atmosphere on Friday and Saturday and check out the action in Cowes. Then it was time to make my way back, whilst the others were able to extend their trip and intended to play tourist down there. There was talk of the Great Ocean Road and Wilson's Prom... I look forward to hear their stories soon.
PI - one more sleep!
I have not packed a thing!
I've thought about it, but that means nothing...
There is the wet weather gear and the camera with plenty of (but never enough) memory, there is the battery recharger, the mobile phone charger, the ipod charger, the ipod and MY songlist (not the girl's!!!!).
There is the thermal set of undergear, the windbreaker neck warmer, the kidney belt, those freshly Dubbin'ned gloves and boots. Socks and underwear in plastic bags. A couple of T-Shirts, two jumpers, a pair of Jeans.... ooooh I hope my Draggins arrive in time for take off.
Chocolate! ....for energy, of cause!
(Allthough of late there should be plenty of energy stored around my mid-section!)
Some stuff resembling a first aid kit, moisturiser and lippy.
Done!
Ahh well, I guess I could add the chain lube
PI - four more sleeps!
The trip, thanks to Steve Zippa's thoughtful, meticulous planning, will be as follows:
Day 1
Day 2
Day3
PI - five more sleeps!
Purchasing the tickets to the island is a bit of an unfortunate process.
Ticketek did state that tickets to an event in another city must be picked up by Friday before the event…hey, that’s for next Friday’s event, hmmm!?
I decided to take myself (and my money) off to the Gong’s ticketek, where I had the friendliest reception for a change…
I still have to go to Sydney though, as they are unable to print out the correct lable/icon on the ticket. What a shame…
It was time to pick up my new Ventura Imola seat bag and whilst in the general area, I took a quick look at the ZX10…had a little sit on it and felt right at home.
Ooooooh my!
What am I doing to myself!
<<:::D::R::E::A::M:::><:::O::N:::>>!!!
My baby is with Steve to get it ready for the Island. I am just waiting for the call…
Looks like a new set of sprockets and chain is needed...fair enough, but I wont get it back until Monday...
Chris Vermeulen
Meeting Chris Vermeulen today at Parramatta, I got a sense of how these top riders are being used to crank over the publicity machine for their sponsors. Meeting the young man was sensational! He struck me as an unassuming, well spoken and polite young man, who was totally in the moment with everyone he met. He humbly apologised to me for being 15 minutes late because of a plane delay.
This was a first time for me. I'd never gone out of my way to meet a race identity before in my life. Lining up, we were about 5th in line, I marvelled at the variety of things people brought to get signed. There was even a young man holding a tripple panel set of photographs, featuring the Australian rider. And of cause there was the merchandising tent right next to the tour truck in which Chris appeared to be right at home. There was a fair bit of paraphenalia on the walls surrounding the Le Mans winner, but I had very little time to check that out.
When it was my turn Chris shook my hand firmly and looked me straight in the eye when I wished him all the very best of luck on the Island and of cause he shared my hope to get that podium finish. An all Australian finish! He signed my helmet beautifully. Watching his steady hand drawing circles and straights with such precision, finishing it with that key number 71, was just like watching an artist at work. An artist of the circuits of the world.
There was not a moment of awkwardness in our interaction, except when I asked him (in my best teacher voice) wether the pen he used was waterproof. 'Yes, it's permanent...'
My buddy Phil, who is just about the most knowledgeable person I know in the bike world, had picked me up from MaxPower( my trusted mechanic) where I had to leave my bike behind to get it serviced before going to the Island mid next week. The drive was very pleasant without any sign of the dreaded Sydney traffic. Phil is a teacher, but in his spare time he is also a race commentator. He remembers calling Chris Vermeulen's first race and whilst Chris did not remember him, he clearly remembered that race and was glad to have met him today.
It'd be nice to get Stoner's signature on the other side of the helmet.
Can't wait to see them push the boundaries...safely, I hope!
SPENCER
Friends of ours have the prettiest little place on the river, just a few kilometers east and across from Wiseman's Ferry. The man and I got invited to do the footy final long weekend at their place and being such beautiful spring weather we decided to take the bike.
It was just a magical ride until... just past Road Warrior's ...a suicidal wasp or bee decided to splatt itself right in the centre of my nose, planting the last heroic effort dying wasps are famous for, a mighty sore sting right there, where it is most noticable.
The burning sensation demanded much of my attention and for the first and probably last time I was glad that the speedlimit around those parts was set at a mere 60 km/h.
Spencer is such an idyllic place. Very Australian and worth a picnic day. Apparently Jock, the ex president of the Comancheros MC has the water delivery nailed up there. No water: no dwelling. Local gossip tells the story that a few unruly local youth decided to tyrannise the neighbourhood. They had a boat and Jock a crowbar. They gave in...
What a beauiful ride it was! Traffic was minimal and we had such a good run all the way there and back the next day.
It is always a novelty getting on a ferry and of cause we met another bike rider on a Bonneville. Talk about faux pas! I asked him if he had restored it himself and the bike was an 07 model... the retro thing gets me every time!
...and Happy Birthday Hudson!
