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The Kickstart Club

5 Ralston Road
Fernglen
Port Elizabeth
6045
 Club Officials Contents
Captain Tony Barlow Mikes Mix (Editorial) 2
Captain’s Log 3 I believe there were a number of spelling errors in
57 Kraggakamma Rd. Framesby 6045 Errol Milner’s lovely report last month on Rassies
Sunday Run (Memoriaal Run) 4 mishap. Gee Errol, you really must be more
tel 041 360 8317 cell 076 833 5926
Japenese Motorcycle Industry (Part 1) 9 carefull! (I too have been known to make the odd
Treasurer Keith Rae Countdown for Bonneville 11 mistake here and there.) - Let this be another
reminder to new members that I don’t read unless I
P O Box 28472 Sunridge Park 6008 Coincidense 13
have to! So, errors that I make normally go
Tel 041 360 5242 cell 083 617 1731 Mailbox & Advertisements 14 unnoticed. As it happened I re-typed Errol’s article
and that is how it happened. My apologies to Errol.
keithrae@mweb.co.za
Please do not let this prevent you from submitting
Editor: Mike Wood more tales!
Calendar for August 2008 This month we have the first of a series of
5 Ralston rd, Fernglen 6045 articles on The Japanese Motorcycle Industry
th
Tel 041 364 2367 cell 084 564 2367 13 Monthly Meeting at EPVCC at being written by Eric Krog. I’m sure you are going
7:30 for 8 PM. to enjoy them. Eric is hoping to “raise the profile of
Email mwpswood@iafrica.com the Japanese bikes within the club”. One of his
th
17 Sunday Run –.To be finalised comments to me was “-if the club is still going in 30
Cover: Alec Auld’s 1945 350 BSA. at the next meeting. It will year’s time, guess what bikes the members will be
th
Taken on Sunday 13 July at Sunridge. most likely be a longish ride. riding!” – Now there is food for thought! Well done
Eric – Keep them coming.
Ray Wakefield has given us an update on the
huge administrative headaches associated with his
up-coming record breaking attempt at Bonneville,
due in just 3 weeks. That’s on page 11. All I can
say is –“Good luck Ray, Rather you than me!”
I love stories of chance meetings like the one
Roy tells on page 13 – They show just how small
the world really is, but it only happens if you talk to
the strangers you meet along the way!
Next month (September) I will be away on a visit to
the Greek Islands from the 17th until the 1stth of
October. So there may be some difficulty in
producing the October Newsletter. (It may be out a
little later than usual. Tony will be away on a visit
to the UK and Europe for most of September. We
Dave Hawkins, taken during an off-road training course at a venue near Uniondale. (See Mailbox.) Members at the mast base during our visit to the Sentech Greenbushes Transmitter
station.
1 2
will plan the September activities accordingly.
Myrna Brightman is back on the pillion after
some essential surgery to her foot. Alec Auld
has had surgery done to his left shoulder and
will not be riding for a while. Perhaps some kind
soul will enquire if he needs a lift to our next
meeting. Our wishes for speedy recovery go to
both members.
I have been particularly lax with Club
correspondence and I must apologise to those
affected. I have received a number of calls and
emails and (believe me) I have just not had
time to respond. I know I had a number of calls
from Colin Ferreira of St Francis Bay who
wants to join us and I also had emails from a
classic bike enthusiast in Summerstrand and I
just cannot find his contact details. (A name
would be a good start) (I appear to have lost
part of my mail records) I have had little time at
home in the last few months and of that time
very little has been available for me. Hunting
through my inbox after being away for a week
is not one of my favourite pastimes. Please be
patient – things may get better!
The picture below shows the group at the
Sentech Greenbushes mast base on our last
outing. The mast is just over 700 feet tall and
those mast legs are not tubular. (They are
solid) Unfortunately lighting was not right but I
took the picture anyway.
Have a great month and enjoy your
motorcycles!
Mike
Monthly gathering 9th July, 2008. meeting. I will be overseas soon after then until
22 members attended with Les being the only lady the end of September and would really like to
present. see this issue settled prior to that.
A special welcome to Mike Miller who is assisting Name Golf Shirt T Shirt DUE
Ray with his record breaking endeavours. Eric Krog 1x M 1xM R 100
Eric Krog 2x XL 1 x XL R 160
Apologies received from Lex and Wendy,Keith,
Stan Mattison 1x L R 60
Rassie and Errol from J’Bay and Mike Gover.
Justin Manthe 1xL 1x L R100
Miggie Nortje 1xL R 60
In retrospect June was a great month for the Club. I have the following in stock and available for
The Dinner was a wonderful success. Thanks sale: 1 x M golf, 1 x M Tee, 2 x L Tee.
once again to Ray and Les for the superb The Sunday Ride 13th July,2008.
organisation. The Memorial Run was well attended
We had a good turnout of 18 motorcycles. The
and beautifully conducted by Keith. More than 50
weather was excellent and we set off down the
people attended the Birthday Bash Braai and Prize
Old Cape road to the Sentech Tower at Green
giving and we sincerely thank the Ratcliffe’s who
Bushes. We were privileged to have Mike
have now hosted the event for six consecutive
provide a very interesting and informative tour
years. Thanks to all the members who supported
of the facility and it’s history (Did you know that
our fund raising efforts. Due to this none of the
there had been an unsuccessful sabotage
above activities required any subsidisation from
attempt to blow up this tower? ) From there we
Club funds.
made our way to “Out of Africa”. A delightful
Office Bearers for 2008 / 2009. little Pub off the Rocklands road. The weather
A big thank you to Jim Kirkwood for his sterling was just so good and as I was on my Sunday the 13th July was bright and sunny with no difficulty in dealing with sun and shade so most of my
work as Treasurer over the past two years. We “Japanese Triumph Replica “ I came home wind but there was a nip in the air as you can see bike pictures were spoiled. Graham was riding his
welcome Keith Rae aboard and thank him for alone on the longest possible route. All in all a from what people were wearing. (Even Roy had latest acquisition being a 2008 Royal Enfield. He
agreeing to take over this onerous function. very pleasant outing shared with some great jeans on!) Perhaps then it was good that we had changed his CZ. for this bike. He is enjoying it a lot
company. not planned a long ride. but “has made some modifications!”
Roy Cartmel continues to collate, staple and
distribute the monthly newsletter and we are There were 17 bikes at Sunridge. I was trying to We were joined by Ray’s friend and new member,
extremely grateful for the amount of personal time Yours in safe riding, get used to a new camera and was having Mike Miller. Mike was riding his 49 XT500. (above)
Roy sacrifices in order to perform this task. Brian
Walker volunteered to become an additional
Tony Barlow
committee member and his first job will be to
facilitate the Victor Ludorium process plus
organise the Over 30’s run. Thank you Brian. Then
of course there will never be sufficient words
available to thank Mike Wood for everything that
he does for this Club, much of which goes by
unnoticed. Thanks Mike.
The Sunday and Other Activities schedule.
This should be issued shortly and we thank you for
your input. It was agreed that the “Over 30’s” run
would take place in October this year in an effort
to confuse the inevitable rain.
There will be a weekend outing to the Bathurst
Museum sometime around March, 2009 and
please note that the Memorial races in East
London will take place on the 2nd of May,2009.
Anniversary Shirts
I am holding shirts for the following members.
Please make arrangements to pay and collect
New Member Mike Miller at Sunridge.
these by no later than the August monthly

3 Marie (back from Ireland), Ester, Philip Wakefield, Shirley and Myrna (back after foot surgery.)

4
 Departure from the site

Daven’s Honda GL 400 Graham’s 2008 Royal Enfield

The tour of the

transmitter station
Willem’s trusty ’37 Velo
went off fairly well. I
was the oldest bike
think I managed to
present. It Was nice to
convince most
see Alec’s ’55 350 BSA
members that getting a
out again (front cover
picture onto their TV
picture) Darryl rode his
set’s screen was
’62 ES2 and Ray came
perhaps a bit more
along with his son Philip
involved than they may
on the ‘55 B31 side-car
have imagined.
combo. Its great to see
The “tea stop” was at
ye olde motorcycles out
OUT OF AFRICA. Just
from time to time.
a few km from
The ride was a short
Greenbushes and we
one. We went straight
had a really pleasant
up Cape Road as far as
stop there.
Greenbushes where we
By the time tea was
turned off onto the 400m
over, some took a long
access road to the
ride home.
Sentech Greenbushes
I am not aware of any
broadcast transmitting
breakdowns!
station. Darryl preparing to start his ’62 Norton ES2

6
 -“We‘re not inside, we’re on top!”
On top of the top panel of the
UHF TV antenna array.

The car gives

good perspective

Above: The group in front of one of the TV

transmitters. We have never had such an
untidy bunch of unlikely individuals in this
space before!
Left: We’re not inside, we’re on top! The
rigger and I during a mast inspection. The N2
and the sea are in the background.
Below: Part of Port Elizabeth and the Bay.

N2
Cape Road The VHF TV
antennae array

The FM antenna array

 THE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY
(This is Part 0ne of a series being written by Eric Krog.)
World War II was the pivotal event for the
emergence of Japanese motorcycle companies.
Post-war Japan was an impoverished, shattered
country. Prior to World War II, the only
motorcycles travelling Japanese roadways were
imported machines primarily from Europe and
America. After the war, several companies
emerged with a focus on motorcycles.
Motorcycles were seen as the way to mobilise
the Japanese population after the war.
Up to, and during the 1950's American and
British motorcycles were in control of the global
motorcycle market. The only downside to this
was that in order to drive a motorcycle during
this time, you had to be mechanically inclined
and needed to know how a motorcycle worked
inside and out. Just starting a motorcycle was a
msion on its own. This made it difficult to own a
motorcycle during this time. Advancements in
designs of motorcycles were at a near stand-still
as there iswas no competition to force new
technology. Then came the Japanese!
To better appreciate the development of
Japanese motorcycles, one needs to look at the
innovative genius and risk of some of the early
entrepreneurs of the motorcycle industry. Some
of their founders were already involved in the
transportation industry prior to the war. The war,
and the changes it brought, forced them to look
for another form of transportation as the
Japanese rebuilt their country's economy.
Soichiro Honda, the founder of the Honda Motor
Company, was a Japanese race car builder.
After the war, he seized on the idea of personal,
affordable transportation in the form of the
motorcycle. In 1949, his idea was realised with
the birth of the Honda Motor Company's first
motorbike. Unlike Soichiro Honda's company,
the other three big Japanese motorcycle makers
have a much longer history. The oldest,
Yamaha, was founded as far back as 1887.
Before motorcycles they produced pianos and
organs, which is why the Yamaha badge shows
three tuning forks on it. Kawasaki came into
existence in 1896 and spent its early years as an
aeroplane manufacturer and had acquired
valuable experience manufacturing aero
engines. Again, World War II changed
Kawasaki's focus and it entered the motorcycle
industry. Suzuki founded in 1909 was another
industry giant that had to completely reinvent
itself after the war. They were in the silk industry
producing silk looms. After the war's devastating
impact on the cotton industry, Suzuki, found
itself looking to motorcycles as a way to reinvent
itself
9
could perform as well as the top of the line motorcycles and financial strength.
Mercedes-Benz for the price of a Hyundai. Now Innovation is a word often associated with
and stay afloat in the fragile economy. In people could have the fastest most reliable Japanese manufacturers. In 1968 Yamaha
1951 the Japanese cotton industry totally motorcycle and pay only a fraction of the price. became the first company to produce a
collapsed, leaving Suzuki with it's number one The Japanese motorcycles were more stylish motorcycle for use both on and off road. The DT-1
product, the motorcycle. and more reliable, so the British manufacturers Enduro was an instant success, particularly in
Like most countries directly involved in the fell behind as mass-market producers. The sun America. A more recent innovation came from
war, Japan’s manufacturing infrastructure was was setting on British dominion over the big- Honda in 2006 when their Gold Wing model
reduced to total ruins. Therefore, instead of displacement motorbike market. became the first motorcycle to be equipped with
rebuilding how it was before, they decided to Of the initial companies which were making an airbag.
look into the future and build towards that. At motorcycles and / or motorcycle components, The incredibly successful story of Japan's
this time the primarily focus was concerned by the early 1960s, only about 20 companies motorcycle companies currently shows no signs of
with providing cheap transportation for their remained in Japan. In the end, the surviving letting up. They continue to produce high quality,
citizens. Japanese motorcycles, being small, companies all shared four things in common, innovative machines, which sell in huge quantities
were not popular in the rest of the world as no wartime manufacturing experience; knowledge the world over. Japanese motorcycles will be
one had the need for a ‘bicycle with an engine of mass production techniques; winning around for a very long time to come.
in it’. This created little threat to the designs which some were adapted from proven (To be continued.)
established European and American European
manufacturers. When the Japanese
manufacturers came up with improved
motorcycle engines and suspensions having
better performance than their British and And here is an
American counterparts and obviously at lower excellent
cost, the motorcycle business of British and example of a
American companies started to slow down. As fine piece of
the late 1950's rolled around, Japanese Japenese
motorcycles started evolving into bigger and craftmanship.
better motorcycles.
The picture
British manufacturers Triumph, BSA, and
Norton retained their dominant position in shows Peter
Ratcliffe on his
some markets until the rise of the Japanese
manufacturers (led by Honda) in the late Honda CBX.
1960s and early 1970s. Along with that, the
role of the motorcycle shifted in the 1960s, This would
from transportation to a toy and a lifestyle. It have been our
became part of an image, of status, a cultural cover picture
icon for individualism, a prop in Hollywood B- for the June
movies. The motorcycle also became a 2007 edition of
recreational machine for sport and leisure, a Kickstart.
vehicle for a carefree youth, not essential
transportation for the mature family man or I’m sure Eric
woman - and the Japanese were able to will feature this
produce modern designs more quickly, more bike in one of
cheaply, and of better quality than their his future
competitors. articles in this
series.
Finally other motorcycle companies took
notice of the Japanese offerings and started Well done Eric,
creating ways to compete with the Japanese I’m sure
bikes. Several companies incorporated new readers are
technology to their classic line of bikes but this looking
proved to be too little too late. When Honda forward to your
introduced its new four cylinder CB750, there next article in
was no doubt Japanese motorcycles were the series.
here to stay. There is nothing that can be said Mike
about this bike to overstate it; this bike's
introduction was incomparable to any other in
the world. It was like a new car company
making a car that
10
 Countdown to Bonneville
3.Seven weeks to go – or, by the time you read
this, only about three. In response to a number of
questions from various people, I thought it might be
of interest to give you an update on things as they
have transpired so far in the preparations for my
proposed attack on the World 500cc Land Speed
Record.
When I first was offered the seat in the Williams
Arrow team streamliner I wasn’t too sure what
records we would attack. Bob Williams was keen to
go for ‘American Only’ records, i.e. those contested
under the American AMA rules. I on the other hand
preferred that we go for the World Record i.e. set
under FIM rules. There are subtle differences, but I
will not to go into them here. Suffice to say that the
FIM ones are recognised throughout the world, but
the paperwork involved etc is more complex (and
costly).
Though the Williams team made the entry into the
BUB motorcycle-only record week, during which we
will make our bid, the actual attempt has to be
made in the contestant’s name, not the teams.
Therefore we have a situation where an
Englishman, living in South Africa, is riding for a
Canadian team at a venue in America, under rules
of the governing body sitting in Switzerland! And
who has to deal with all this? You got it, Joe Soap!
My telephone bill is becoming horrendous these
days, not to mention the fact that each time I want
to call someone, I have to work out if they will be
awake!
The closing date for all of this was July 4th. As I
haven’t heard anything to the contrary, I assume
that all of the mountain of forms etc is in order, and
we are in.
First job was to get an International Competition
Licence from the FIM’s agent here, MSA. Initially it
was thought that I may have to get this from
England, but I told MSA that I really was keen to do
this as a South African, not an Englishman, as I
had left that country 25 years ago. I needn’t have
worried; a quick check showed that it was my
country of residence that had to issue the licence,
together with a letter to the American authorities
giving their permission for me to ride in a foreign
land.
I have had some disagreements with MSA over the
years about record breaking matters, but much to
my surprise they couldn’t have been more helpful. I
had the licence within a couple of days. This, it
turns out, was the first time such a licence has
been issued in South Africa specifically endorsed
for Land Speed Record breaking, and as a result,
they were as much in the dark as I was
11
the fastest man to have travelled on two Motivator up there, but this was nothing
about who has to do what with respect to the wheels) Richard Brown was to meet me at by comparison.
FIM formalities.
Kenhardt from which we would go off to the I was however able to get in another
Fortunately I seemed to have picked up a pan where he would do his own evaluation practice session at Graff Reinett on the
guardian angel along the way. Dennis of the site, with a view to possibly using it way back, and by the end of the
Manning, a past multiple LSR holder himself, for another record bid in a couple of years, morning was able to do most of the
and builder of many streamliners that have and I would be able to get some practice in runway upright, and in a straight line.
been ridden by others, is the organiser of the and pick his brains on a number of issues. Even so, take your concentration away
BUB meeting. His wife, Delvine, is obviously
As Sodds law would have it, the previous from the job in hand for a second, and
the power behind the throne, and despite month had seen an unseasonable 68mm of you are down on the trainer wheels at
having a colossal amount of entries to
rain fall in the area. Nonetheless, we set off one side or other of the machine.
process, and a million and one other matters on the gravel road. I became a bit worried
to deal with for the event, she has taken the I am told that I must be able to ride at a
when I saw water in dams where usually walking pace, and slalom down the
time to gently lead me through the there is nothing. Then later we found the
complexities. I have received several emails runway without dropping off the main
road washed away, and had to take to the wheels before I can consider myself
from her along the lines of “Dear Ray, I just veldt to get around the problem. Only when
thought that I should send you a little reminder able to ride.
we were about 1 km away from Campbell’s
that your xyz form must be in to the FIM by track did we discover what I had begun to Clearly, there is still a long way to go!
next Friday” - she sounds really sweet, and I
fear.
am looking forward to meeting her (and
Dennis, who is quite a character). The entire area was under water. Ray Wakefield
As I am riding a streamliner that I am “in” as So Richard had travelled from England for
opposed to “on” I must wear the same nothing. It was bad enough having to haul
fireproof clothing as a Formula One driver, i.e.
three layers of Nomex, Nomex underwear,
balaclava, boots, and gloves. All this in a
temperature that could be in the 40 degree
plus heat. This stuff is expensive, and I was
quoted around R. 20 000 for a complete outfit
here. Fortunately I found one in America,
brand new, for $650, but this equates to about
R. 5500. That’s about ten times what I paid for
my Tux!
I still have to get a helmet which will satisfy the
FIM. This is not easy here. As well as
satisfying the relevant international safety
standards, it must be relatively new. Even
some of the expensive helmets on the various
dealers’ shelves are over two years old before
they are sold.
The other thing I must do is learn how to ride!
Again, I have been fortunate in that I am able
to use the airfield at Graff Reinett. This is 1.5
km long, and plenty wide enough. I went up
there with Stuart Fergusson in mid June, and
after starting off by only being able to keep my
trainer bike, Motivator, upright on its two main
wheels for only about four seconds, as the day
progressed, I found that I could improve this to
about half the length of the runway, although I
did wobble around a bit.
The next outing was to be on Verneuk pan in Here is a picture of Motivator running on Verneuk Pan in 2003. The photo was copied
the Northern Cape. The plan was that one- from our July 2003 newsletter.
time outright LSR contender, (and for many
years
12
 Coincidence
Our recent visit to the Kruger
National Park necessitated
staying at overnight chalets and
B&B’s. The first stop was at
spectacular, but cold, Clarens.
We found a B&B called ‘Cottage
Pie’ and, as we liked the name,
Pauline went into the reception to
enquire about accommodation.
Pauline noticed a ‘Two Wheels’
magazine on the counter and
asked the owner whether he was
interested in motor bikes, thus I
met Dave Green.
Dave ushered me into his
workshop containing a ’56 BSA
B33 ex Army issue, still in faded
army green with Inventory
Number, a very nicely restored
Vespa scooter already bumped
over and damaged by one of his
“wekkers”, a 3 wheel Vespa that
he was rebuilding and – ‘smile’ –
a R60/5 BMW, an ex Cape Town
Traffic Department bike.
After much biker conversation, he
asked whether I knew of the
Kickstart Club In Port Elizabeth as
he had bought an Enfield from a
member by the name of Pieter
Badenhorst who was immigrating
to Australia.
“How small is this world?”
Roy Cartmel
I had an email from Pieter before he left for Australia. He left contact information for the event
that if we ever “go electronic, “ then he would be very keen to receive Kickstart PE.
Good luck Pieter – I hope you meet up with a good motorcycle club in Aus. and continue
with the spirit of biking!
Pieter writes:
Please note that I will be joining Deakin University from the 1st of July 2008.
My address will be as follows:
Prof PJ Badenhorst
School of Law
Faculty of Business and Law
Deakin University
Geelong Victoria 3217 AUSTRALIA
My temporary e-mail will be: ProfPJBadenhorst@gmail.com
13
By Roy Cartmel.
From: Eric Krog on the 23rd of July The seven other riders on the course came from
Subject: Japanese Motorcycle Industry far and wide, mostly with fairly new GS1200's, a
Dakar, a Suzuki 'V' Strom and a new GS650. It
Hi Mike, was amazing to see how quickly we all gained
Here is the first of the series of articles I will submit on confidence and were able to ride standing up
a monthly basis with regards to JAPANESE through rivers, deep sand, up steep, boulder
MOTORCYCLES. It starts off with this article giving a strewn tracks and do emergency stops, tight turns,
brief (as can be) history of the emergence of the etc.
Japanese motorcycle industry. The next will be a series I am so fired up that I cannot wait to go and
of (4) articles on the four big names: HONDA, practise these new found skills. Of course a lot of
YAMAHA, SUZUKI and KAWASAKI. And lastly, a the teaching would be appropriate to normal
series of articles on each of the noteworthy, classic, riding. Look out for the next course. The
exceptional models produced by these manufacturers. accommodation, food and venue were absolutely
Hopefully this will raise the profile of the Japanese outstanding and well worth the price.
bikes within the club, and perhaps stimulate existing Kind Regards
members to also become custodians of these bikes, or Dave Hawkins.
even new members with these bikes to join the club, and
swell the numbers. Hi Dave,
Best regards, Thanks for the email. It’s great to hear your
Eric Krog enthusiasm about off-road riding. I have just
come back from a Butterworth people’s
Thanks Eric The article is great and we are looking reunion, which was held at Qulora - on the
13 forward to the rest of the series. Keep writing! Wildcoast near Butterworth. During the
Mike weekend I walked to the wreck of the
Jacaranda some 6 or 7 km north at a place
with the English name of Mound Point. We
From: Dave Hawkins on 11th July
had a cottage there when the Jacaranda
Subject: Off-Road Training Course.
went on the rocks in ‘'71. (In fact a friend and
I, fished the first two "survivors" off the rocks -
Dear Mike,
but that's another tale) In those days I had a
I attended the three-day intermediate off road course,
1935 AJS 500 and I had great pride in being
run under the auspices of BMW Motorad, at their venue
the first (to my knowledge) to have ridden
near Uniondale.
that very rough coastal strip from Mound
Having purchased a used GS 650 dual purpose bike,
Point to Qulora on a bike. There are quite a
with the intention of doing some adventure riding, I
few of our club members who are keen off-
thought it would be a good idea to learn how to handle
road bikers - Trevor Williams, Peter Ratcliffe
mud, sand, dongas and dirt.
Mark Smailes and Graham Sheard to name
Well, what a marvellous experience. This course is a
but a few. Let us know when the next course
must for anyone wanting to improve their riding skills.
is advertised.
It was fantastic. Possibly more so because the instructor,
Marchandt Maasdorp was so patient, thorough and
Kind regards.
friendly.
Mike
MOTO GUZZI (LA MAN MK2) (Rare black & white model) Bike in superb condition.
For Sale or Swap. (Estimated value R20,000)
Very Reluctant Sale, due to owner Brian Walker having rheumatic problems, he also finds the
bikes performance too hot to handle. If you like high speeds and good road holding, this is the
bike for you.
OR
Will swap for a much more laid-back machine for lane pottering. (Whot is this life if full of cars we
have no time to potter & stare) Would prefer a bike of German origin.
Phone Brian on 041 365 4357.