Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Thank you to all who supported club events this weekend.

What a busy weekend and we all passed each other at some time on our big three events!!

The weather was clear, slight breeze, and the Mercury mercifully never went higher than 26ºC.

Beautiful day to be out riding!

Event No:1

http://bmwmccc.org.za/training-datesevents-2016 was the last BMWMCC training day for 2016- at Anura, Level 1 & Level II and pillion .

As Gert says in this post it was an awesome day-

Event No:2

http://bmwmccc.org.za/club-invitational-breakfast-ride-4-december-2016

Was the last Club breakfast ride of 2016.

11 bikes, and one pillion met on time at the usual start point- Plattekloof Engen, after the safety and route briefing we set off using Method 2 for turns. The No: 2 rider stops at each turn and ensures no one misses the turn, before moving off with the sweeper again.

Paul was No: 2 more often than any other and I am sure he loved every minute of it!

The result was , I had no pressure as ride leader, we could move a lot more swiftly and totally stress free in the knowledge that no one could get lost.

The result was we easily ran way ahead of schedule so we could afford to stop at the top of du Toits Kloof Pass to chat, get to know one another and take in the splendor. a constant stream of other motorcyclists coming past us.

The 112 kilometer run ended at Du Toits Kloof Lodge where Anna Marie Wilken had arranged our Breakfast stop.

We all had  a lekker breakfast, some stayed and chatted longer than others and then we made our own ways off alter that.

Activity No:3

The BMWMCC Event marshals, 13 of them put time in to help ensure the 2016 Medihelp Stellenbosch Cycle Tour , was a safe and successful event.

Welcome sponsorship from Clemen Gold citrus marketing company, helped us with visibility, and communications.

Peter O'hanlon manned a desk in the Venue Operations Centre (VOC) 

coordinating and controlling the activity of the twelve marshals.

Danie GK rode the forward sweep clearing the course prior to the start to ensure it was safe for the cyclists following.

He was kept busy by course incursions, last minute supply drops and errant motorists.

Once the race started, the race leaders followed, with the race course now sanitised and safe.

Andy Froggatt deployed his team to leave at intervals to ride shotgun to the cyclists.

Andrew Hughes has just finished his first rotation bringing a group safely to the finish chute.

Steve Jones assists a rider get back into the race, giving him a new opportunity to reach the finish line.

This repair was the first of many for the day

Nick van Niekerk responding to instructions from the Race Director in the VOC via Pete, ready to deploy on a new mission of mercy

Henri Meyer helps a stressed lass, 8km from the end of the 97 km open street race to get her bike repaired and back on the road- You should have seen her jubilation at the finish line- totally priceless.

Henri taking some folksy wisdom from veteran Andrew Hughes...

How many Andrew Hughes' were there on the circuit? 

Wherever you looked he was there!

Kim Heptinstall escorts a rider past the 10km marker

The event marshals mustered at 05H00 on mission, and last minute arrangements we made by team leader Andy Froggatt, GPS trackers were issued and tested with Peter in the VOC.

The first racers kicked off at 06H00 and the 97km race was GAME ON!

Right up until cut off at 13H30 the 12 marshals on the road played Sheppard to 6000 cyclists.

Warding off incursions by motorists, resupplying water points, reporting on temperatures around the track, assisting cyclists with puncture repairs, been deployed by the Race Direcor in the VOC via Peter to attend to roadside emergencies, evaluate accidents, resupplying sector static marshals with items that needed replacement etc.

Stabilise and accident scene, Let stranded cyclists know the VOC was aware and a sweep vehicle would collect them.

Using Whatsapp and direct phone contact, Peter could deploy the marshal best positioned, by having full visibility of their position on the circuit, thanks to the trackers each marshal carried.

It was a tired but much invigorated group of marshals that gathered for the debrief.

no major mishaps, all went to plan, valuable lessons were learned and the organisers were quick to shout their thanks to the team.

Read Danie's report here

http://bmwmccc.org.za/stellenbosch-cycle-tour-pictures-unexpected-tasks