Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Hi Ann,

Please put my name down.  Thanks.

Once again, the objective of a day at the track, is not about racing around the track.

A day at the track has so many advantages over street riding including the lack of Traffic Police, Oncoming traffic, diesel spills, debris and stray / wild animals / people. Plus a track day gives you the confidence to perform one of the most sought after motorcycling experiences, cornering, choosing lines in corners, powering out of corners, gaining confidence in your bike's leaning abilities, learning how your tyres cope (or don't), braking, riding posture, plus many more little things. Knowing that you have plenty of soft grassy run off , and that an ambulance with trained paramedics is only a few seconds away lets you ride close to your maximum ability.

Track days in general are a huge amount of fun for both novice and expert alike. You can gain confidence and learn a lot about bike control & riding techniques within a fairly short space of time with expert tuition and guidance on hand, all in a safe environment.

So, even if you've been on the track before - you may find you're looking down in corners, instead of out; lost some confidence after a period of not riding.

If you're a novice, this is the perfect opportunity to get some more kms under the belt in a safe environment.

If you've been before, maybe many times, you may want to join the advanced group and reaffirm your excellent riding skills. 

Don't miss out on this excellent chance to improve your skills and have alot of fun on your motorcycle.

We need at least 35 folks for this to work and not cost the club a bucket of money.

Hi folks

It's almost the end of the month - ie payday - please could those who have not yet paid, make payment ASAP? Alternatively you can pay at the club meeting tomorrow night. 

Thanks so much!

Annie

Hi

A friendly reminder for all those who haven't paid yet - please pay ASAP.

Please check the lists to see whether you're correctly listed

Come on BMW riders!

Hey Anne,

I have to pull out. I will only get my new bike next week and need to run it in first before going on the track. We will come and support though.

If you haven't got plans yet, we can accomodate a few more folks. So don't miss the opportunity to gain confidence and learn a lot about bike control & riding techniques under expert tuition and guidance, all in a safe environment.

DATE:  Sunday 18 March 2012

Venue:   Killarney Motor Racing Circuit, Potsdam Road, Tableview/Rural Milnerton,    33°49′24″S 18°31′40″E

See map attached

Circuit: 3.267 Km, Tarmac Surface

Direction: Clockwise, one way

Tel Nos:  Anne Connell – coordinator – 082 421 0003

Start Time:  08h00 – registrations, bike scrutineering and grouping – please do not be late J 

Our lecture will start punctually at 08h30 – everyone has to attend this lecture, even if you’ve heard it many times before

Finish Time:  13h30

 What you need:

1.  Your own motorcycle (2 wheels) of any make/model and size in a roadworthy condition eg tyres, brakes etc. 
2.  Your motorcycle to be fully fuelled – there is a fuel station close by along Potsdam/Koeberg Road, should you run out of fuel.  Tyres to be inflated to ideal pressure for your bike.
3.  Wear:  Full-faced helmet with visor, riding gloves (not fingerless/half-finger), boots, riding jacket and pants.  You may or may not have some of these items yet – but it will be good to save up and purchase them as you go along.
4.  If you have top-boxes or luggage on your bike, these will have to be removed, unless for some reason it is bolted to the frame.
5.  Mirrors will be taped with duct-tape during scrutineering to avoid glass on the track, and also for the exercise purposes… we provide the tape.
6.  Remember to put on sunblock.  The sun will definitely be out there in full force.
7.  There is a canteen with refreshments and nibbles/hotdogs/hamburgers – cash only, for your account.
8.  Spectators welcome, but must not get in the way of the pit-lane, bikes or marshals.

Our instructors for the morning:

1.  Chris Hamman
2.  John Carr
3.  Neil Terry
4.  Peter O’Hanlon
5.  Andy Connell
6.  Neil Berry
7.  Renier van Tonder
8.  Donovan Klue

Registrations:  Warren & Natalie Ellwood, Anne Connell.

A huge thanks to all of our instructors for giving up their valuable time to assist us!

During your “intervals”, please feel free to ask your instructors anything questions you may have.  They are there to assist and offer constructive criticism and guidance.  Groups will be out on the track for 20 min sessions.  This may seem a short time, but believe me, it is a long time when you are out there concentrating and focusing!

The agenda for the morning will be as laid out below, subject to change, depending on sizes & levels of the different groups on the day 

The aim of the morning will be to improve your riding skills, cornering, lines in corners, and most of all, your own confidence and confidence in your motorbike.  NB it is not a race.

We split into 3 groups – B/L = novice/slow/ladies,  M = intermediate,  F = advanced.

Killarney Map

Well done to all who participated in this fantastic event.  We were 46 riders in 3 separate groups and 9 instructors altogether - a whopping total of 55 bikes!!

I want to especially thank all our patient instructors for all their hard work on the track, and for the 1000s of little hints and tips to help us become better riders.  For the most part, it looked as though they were also having a ball!

They were: John Carr (Donford), Chris Hamman (Hamman), Neil Terry (BMWMCC), Peter O'Hanlon (BMWMCC), Neil Berry (Donford), Rynier van Tonder (Hamman), Andy Connell (BMWMCC), Donnovan Klue (Donford), Ian Gallard (BMWMCC).  A big round of applause to you all!

Tirelessly running the registrations and putting up our lovely BMWMCC gazebo were Warren and Natalie Ellwood.

Then - most of all THANK YOU to all the participants who made it possible!  I hope you learnt a lot - especially those of you who still don't trust your bike's abilities ....

We hope to have a few more track events, and hope that Killarney organisers will give us 1 or 2 more days this year.

We were treated to stunning weather as well.

Megan Versfeld - our photographer - spent hours at the bends and took 100s of photos.  We will let you know where/when/how to get hold of them shortly!  Thank you Megan!

Just a quick word of thanks to echo Annie's sentiments.  Thank you to all who put in so much work to organise yet another great event for us club members. Thanks to Annie and everyone else...I had a great day.

Thanks to everyone involved with the organising and coaching, for a great day at Killarney.  It was awesome to ride on a track for the first time.

Anne - I have a few photos. May I load them here or do I send them to you?

Derick

Yes, please load them here, and please also mail them to me (full resolution).

Megan, our photograper, is busy sorting her several 100 photos out, and will be compiling a CD.  CDs will be available at minimal cost at our next club meeting 27 March.  Watch this space!

Where are the pics?

Where can I see the pics?

A big thanks to Annie, Warren, Nats and all the instructors who worked so selflessly to make the track day awesome.

We each had 4 twenty minute sessions on the track that seemed to go by in a flash. I'd hardly managed to get the hang of all the corners before the chequered flag was out and it was time to come back in. Try as hard as I might, I could not get rid of the chicken stripe on my front tyre. The back though was nicely worn right to the edge. It was like being on Survivor - I was out-accelerated, out-braked and out-manoeuvred even though I swear the speedo touched 190 on a number of occasions. Never the less - great fun and valuable lessons learnt.

Oh and special thanks to the club for the Christmas gift voucher that I won at last years lunch that paid for my day.