Rathdowney and return
4 October 2014
Master Map
This was the big day: the first day of the inaugural Lions TT. While you could be forgiven for thinking 'TT' stands for time trial, it doesn't. Because of a requirement that road rules be observed, 'TT' means Tourist Trial. The organisers' plan was to close the Lions Road to traffic for two days to allow bikes travelling north to south free use of it. But, because the road runs over the Queensland-New South Wales border, two police forces had a say in how things would proceed. The Queensland Police (who, together with their current political masters, have what may well amount to a pathological aversion to anything on two wheels powered by a motor) refused permission to close the Queensland side of the road to traffic. The organisers decided to accept the reduced road and start the actual event from the border.
I think I mentioned in my report on the Founders ride back in July that the Lions Road created a path over the Queensland-New South Wales border by joining two existing roads. Construction was paid for and organised by two Lions Clubs—one in NSW; the other in Queensland—when the state governments declined to come up with the money. Hence the name. The road, although a public road, continues to be maintained by donation. There may also be some local government input, but I really have no idea about that. It's scenic, twists and turns, has erratic surfaces and is seen by many bikers as a hell of a lot of fun. Tony would say, I suspect, that his enjoyment is marred by the lack of a centreline which means you have no idea where on the road cars will be when you steam around a corner.
The organisers of the event proposed to the two councils (local governments) that they agree to the closure of the Lions Road for two days to enable motorcyclists to ride it from north to south free of the danger of meeting oncoming traffic. I suspect their long-term plan has always been to get the thing going, garner some support for it and then convert it into a time trial. However there was none of that in 2014: it was made abundantly clear to us that we were to adhere to all the road rules and would be individually liable for any breach of them. Notwithstanding that, there was no sign of NSW police on any of the section of the road on which the event eventually ran and I suspect many riders took it at speeds far in excess of any posted speed limit. More on that later.
So, in the end, these were the conditions:
- The section of the road on which the event was run was closed to all other traffic between 1000 and 1600 on the two days of the event meaning participants had only to worry about being overtaken or overtaking as the case may be.
- Riders had to register and sign disclaimers exempting the organisers from any responsibility, obey marshals' instructions and agreeing to comply with the applicable road rules.
- There was a fee. For non founder members it ended up being AU$179 for a weekend package which meant you could have up to two rides a day on the closed off road on each of the two days. It was AU$99 for a single day. The prices were originally AU$220 and AU$150 respectively. It was less for founder members. Any surplus funds are to be donated to the upkeep of the Lions Road.
There were riders of varying abilities there and we had to self-select where we would fit in the scheme of things. Tony kindly chose to 'downskill' for the weekend to keep me company. There were lots of people who at least looked like they knew what they were doing and were really going to give it a shot. I did not want to be in their way!
If you look at the website, you'll see they also tried to organise some timed drags in the street at Kyogle. They couldn't pull off the necessary police permit in time and so ran some untimed runs on the airstrip in a nearby town. Given a better understanding of what they need to do, they may well get the requisite approvals for next year.
On final morning just before heading for home, my breakfast was served to me by the mayor of the Kyogle Council. She told me she was very angry with the Queensland Police for refusing permission to close the road. I didn't say it in the earlier post, but the rejection occurred far too late for there to be any chance of an appeal. She told me the NSW police were happy with the event and the local council was delighted by it. My suspicion is that the event may well always struggle to get approval from the Queensland Police. I also suspect the organisers will struggle to get either State to agree to a full-on time trial, for the simple reason that the event occurs on a public road. It might well have the unintended consequence of limiting participation to people with some sort of racing certificate. But we'll see.
For my part that's not an issue. I'll go again if I can. It's a fun festival and it's great to ride a road, however difficult it's construction and surface, where you can be confident you won't come around a corner and meet a SUV coming towards you on the wrong side of the road.
But ... to the events of the day.
It dawned fine and warm with an excellent forecast. We had a cup of tea and watched bikes in singles, twos and groups of varying sizes roll out of the camp ground and head for the start at Rathdowney.
Our plan was to enjoy the ride to the assembly point in Rathdowney, register, eat, have our bikes checked and then proceed to the border for the start.
The ride to Rathdowney over the Mt Lindesay Highway was magnificent as usual. The Summerland Way out of Kyogle starts straight and flat but the corners gradually become more frequent and tighten as it begins the climb to meet the Mount Lindesay Highway. Tony was much better focussed than me and I saw little of him after the first corner. He was smiling quietly when I joined him at Rathdowney.
We arrived to lines of bikes and bikers; registered; ate some breakfast at the local pub where the landlord was cashing in on the activity. The kindest thing I could say is that he should have hired a cook. We had our bikes checked; attended a briefing; and joined the aimless milling around waiting, waiting, waiting, for things to happen.
Here's some photos I took while we were milling around.
The word went around quietly that we should be careful how we started out as the constabulary were being vigilant to make sure we all observed the markings on the Mt Lindesay Highway as we crossed it. There was, apparently, no thought of them helping by stopping traffic to let groups of bikes across. The word also got around quickly that we were being held up because the Queensland Police had decided to stop every bike on the way to the border and breath test its rider.
Other Saturday rides were passing through Rathdowney and, as I walked up the street to get coffee, I saw this glorious specimen.
When, a few minutes later I looked again.
They were breeding!
Eventually we set off towards the border, were duly breathalysed, passed (or failed, depending on your perspective, I guess) and made our way to the border. The test site was right in front of a camp ground which was full to bursting. I presume this was done so as to provide a free spectacle to the campers.
Here we are looking up at the border, waiting to start.
Tony and I had deliberately gone in the final group, determined not to hurry too much, just enjoy the ride and stay out of the way of those who wanted to give it their best shot. Bikes were started at 30 second intervals and I watched Tony vanish down the hill. After his performance on the way over, I was sure I wouldn't see him again until the finish. I set off sedately enough but got a bit enthusiastic when it dawned on me I could have the road all to myself and didn't have to worry about meeting a car on a blind corner. I was quickly overtaken by a chap and his pillion on a large Triumph disabusing me of my fantasy of demonstrating to Marc Marquez exactly how this riding business really worked.
To my surprise I caught Tony, at which point I curbed my enthusiasm and followed him at a reasonable sort of pace to the finish.
By then it was warm and, deciding to forgo another attempt at the road, we returned to Kyogle for a well earned glass of beer and an afternoon nap.
I can't remember where we had dinner; it was probably the Commercial Hotel. There were lots of bikers and lots of talk about the day. We learned there had been two offs, neither serious and that one dickhead decided it would be fun to pull a wheelie in front of the NSW constabulary. He made no friends and is unlikely to be riding the event again.
