Dad's Motorcycle Tours in 2006

At 83 years, Dad isn't the oldest motorcyclist in Australia, but it's really hard to find somebody of that age who will ride 800 km each way to a rally, and then repeat the distance on holidays 6 months later.

Dad had the following article published in the May 2006 edition of "Flatchat" – the magazine of the BMW Owners Club of South Australia.  He mentions the Les Duffield trophy.  Since about 1980, the BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria has awarded it to the oldest rider at their biennial rallies, in honour of Les Duffield (from Adelaide) who always won the "oldest rider" award in his seventies.  Dad is now well past Les' age at riding retirement and subsequent death.
If you don't know where Yarrawonga is, click on this link to a map of south eastern Australia.

Ross and Lawrie at The Vic Rally

Lawrie Robertson and I decided to go for a bit of a ride together.
The Victorian BMW Club was to have its rally at Yarrawonga, so I thought, that should be a nice run, so we were to meet at Shell in Tailem Bend at 9:30 am on Thursday 27th April, me to phone at 8 am to say I was leaving but as I was to start the R100 RT the side stand broke so the bike was laying on its side and loaded, I could not stand it up.  I quickly went to the phone to Lawrie to delay until repairs were done, but would you know, he left at 7.45am.
My neighbours assisted me with all necessary repairs etc including contacting Lawrie at Shell during two and a half hours so we met at 12 noon, had a meal and set off.
We traveled through Pinnaroo, Ouyen and to Nyah for the night.  The country all the way has responded to the early season very well, traffic was light and orderly, the condition were fairly good so the day ended better than it started.
Up and away early next morning, traveled the Murray Valley Highway through to the rally site at the caravan Park, we being among the first at 1.00pm.
Our cabin was shared by Des and Garry from Albury not far up stream and it was just as well for Garry because his K1150 had rear seal problems causing complete loss of final drive oil, so had his machine transported back home.
Friday evening meal was provided by the sporting club in their dining hall as was Saturday night and Sunday breakfast where awards were presented.
Other than the Vic. members there was one from Queensland, he is a past Vic. Club president and four from our club, so we gained the most members trophy.
The Les Duffield trophy platter has been revived with a new platter, the original being filed three rallys ago, so now my name appears twice (there was nobody within five years of me).
A great range of machines were to be seen, from 5 series to the very latest, not many sidecars or trailers.  Neither Lawrie or I will be touring again without ours, it makes life much easier by taking those extra comforts without overloading the bike.
The camaraderie was excellent and was made to feel a little special, different ones changing seats to talk with us after the meals.  It is a great town, they allowed the motorcycles to be parked in the main street, in a whole block on Saturday morning for the public to view and speak with us, after which a parade up and down its length was organized.
After that a run to Beachworth for a meal at the famous bakery, was organized, but we didn’t go, but instead visited an enormous clock museum, the proprietor is acquainted with four folk whom I also know in Melbourne, we also visited a fine country museum in N.S.W. in the afternoon.
The weather was good to that time with only a light shower Friday night during dinner.  After breakfast and awards we returned home via Benalla, Sheparton, Warracknabeal and Nhill where we stayed, and next morning headed for home through Bordertown in thick fog for 110 km to near Keith where it ended suddenly.  After the first day the road surfaces became worse, at times very bad.  Total distance 1793 km.  I left with a little apprehension, you may guess why, but enjoyed every turn of the wheel, after the bike was stood up that is.

Ross Vogt

Dad and Lawrie had both lost their wives to cancer in the previous 9 months – that's half of the troupe who never went on holidays without each other since 1980, so this tour was very different from the beginning.
In early October, I accompanied them on a holiday through western Victoria.  Here's a short pictorial summary –

First overnight stop: Mount Gambier for 2 nights.
Dad and Lawrie carried large tents in their trailers, but we always opted for cabins instead.
Dad with his trailer that captured Lawrie's interest from its debut in May 1980.

So Lawrie built his own trailer to the same dimensions.  For a professional
metal worker, the box shape is cheaper and easier to make than Dad's fibreglass tubs
(original mould based on a bath tub), and his lid folds out to make a good meal table.

Mine: 1977 BMW R100RS (gold)
Dad's: 1982 BMW R100RT (green)
Lawrie's: early 1990s BMW R1100RT (blue)

The city of Mount Gambier is built beside this famous extinct volcano that forms the Blue Lake

and the nearby Valley Lake as viewed from the mountain (after which the city is named).

We stayed 2 nights with friends Colin and Jean at Portland.
They have 3 cars of the 1930s – this Oldsmobile in which Colin took us for an
extensive tour around the countryside, a 1˝ litre Riley and a 2˝ litre Riley.

After staying 1 night at Warrnambool, we stayed 2 nights at Ballarat.
My cousin (Mum's neice) Betty invited us to their home for evening meal twice.

Between those 2 nights, we went on a day trip out to Daylesford, where we
caught up with Rozanne the eldest daughter of Dad's cousin Howard Vogt. 
We had been next door neighbours until I left the farm at the end of 1962,
so Rozanne and I travelled on the same school bus for 3 years.
She was a lot taller than me back then. 

You might think this family visitation would be a bit boring for Lawrie.
Wrong!  Rozanne has a good collection of speedway driving trophies,
firstly from the women's competition, then an unrestricted Mechanic's
Licence allowed her to race with the men.

Lawrie was the car builder and mechanic for national and state champion
speedway driver Phil Hereen (sponsored by Clem Smith),
so there was plenty to talk about.

Back at Ballarat, we walked through the Botanic Gardens, near the caravan
park where we stayed.  This is the Prime Ministers Avenue where there
are bronze busts of all 25 past and present Prime Ministers of Australia.

(also see http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2008/04/29/2230588.htm).

On our way west towards South Australia, we visited the
gallery of painting artist Almar Zaadstra in Casterton.

(Click on the picture to visit his excellent work).
Why this was interesting: Dad had been visited in Kapunda
by Sandy Thorne who wrote a book titled Working Horses.
Dad worked with horses on the farm at Allendale North as a
youngster.  He was impressed with the accuracy and feeling of
Sandy's text as well as Almar's pictures throughout the book.
So Dad finally got to meet Almar, who is a fascinating person.

Further across, into the south east of South Australia, our final night
was in the coastal town of Kingston.

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