September 2001 Volume 83 Number 9 "serving the protectors"
SA POLICE MOTORCYCLE CLUB
by Jim Andrew, President

Dirt rides – Monarto

Club members assisted Peter Stevens Motorcycles with its first ride day at the Monarto property in mid-April. About 80 riders attended by invitation and brought their own bikes, while Peter Stevens supplied demo bikes. Many club members enjoyed riding the latest Honda CRF450 motocrosser and hope that Honda releases a registered version sooner rather than later.

Coorong camp-away

About 12 club members attended the annual Coorong camp-away in early May. The great riding and weather of that weekend made the event an outstanding success. The huge sand hills were again a challenge: one member – from his Polaris quad – came off second best. Regrettably, this property has recently been sold, but club ComSec, Greg Trickett, is trying to negotiate with its new owner to secure its use by the club in the future.

Geranium

Some keen dirt-riding members attended the Geranium property on the June long weekend. They enjoyed the endless sand trails and other facilities, including the usual hot shower after a long day’s ride, and a drink or two around the campfire. This great property is usually booked out every weekend, as it has everything a dirt-rider would want.

Thumper Nats

Many members attended the Australian Thumper Nationals – again held at Boulder Park, Mannum – at the end of June. Club members volunteered to help the organizers set up the track on the previous Thursday, and followed up with a few laps of this great track. They also helped out with the main racing on the Sunday. The best of Australian riders put on a wonderful show for the many spectators. With perfect weather, the track again proved to be the best in Australia.

Coonalpyn

On a late-July weekend, a large group of club members attended one of the best dirt-riding areas anywhere. The Coonalpyn property again proved a challenge, with its long winding sand sections, large open scrub areas, and continuous rain that never stopped all weekend.

Tintinara sand-’n’-swamp ride

Several members attended the annual sand-’n’-swamp ride in and around Tintinara on a mid-August weekend. This was not a club ride, but a few members were invited to the event, which 120-plus riders attend each year.

It was an exhilarating ride, which went through such terrain as deep sandy sections, boggy areas and the occasional sand hill. After a huge meal on the Saturday night, riders bunked down in shearers’ quarters.

Road rides

Matt Nairne this year organized some great road rides designed mainly for the warmer months. In the first ride, last April, riders ventured up to Mannum and then cruised back to the city. In other rides, members headed out north of Adelaide, as well as taking the quick road ride through the Adelaide Hills and down south toward Victor Harbor.

Coming events

The club has more road rides scheduled for the summer months, and more dirt rides are also pending. For the October long weekend, Greg Trickett has organized a dirt weekend through the Big Desert State Park in northwest Victoria along the border fence and surrounding areas.

This will be an organized trail ride with four-wheel-drive back-up vehicles, and members will get to see some of the best country around.

Meetings

The club now holds all its meetings at 8pm on the first Tuesday of every month at the Seven Bells Hotel, Gilbert St, city. All road rides generally start from this locale.

Any queries about either road- or dirt-riding should be directed to any club committee member.

CONTACTS:
PRESIDENT	Jim Andrew
	(Drug & Org Crime)
	Ph: 8207 4032, 0417 717 360
V-PRESIDENT	Bud Abbott (Drug & Org Crime)
	Ph: 8207 4032, 0419 860 549
COMSEC	Greg Trickett (Flinder Street)
	Ph: 8204 2290, 0413 561 444
SECRETARY	Mick Klose (Parks Patrols)
	Ph: 8207 6515, 0417 830 552
TREASURER	Bernadette Reilly (Parks Traffic)
& SOCSEC	Ph: 8207 4241, 0418 804 552

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