Ariels and others

HMCCQ Pine Rivers Mostly Ariel Rally 2016

25 September, 2016 – Strathpine, Qld.

The new Club House for the Pine Rivers Area of the HMCCQ was the start point for their 2016 Mostly Ariel Rally. The good weather forecast had changed overnight and showers were coming through from the west. This didn’t deter the hearty and 15 Ariels and 25 other brands (including one mysteriously badged Ariumph). The street directly in front of the clubhouse was reserved for the Ariels which were lined up neatly. A few drops of rain before the briefing but thankfully that was all until the afternoon when most of us should have already returned home.

It was the first club ride from the new clubhouse so Glynn Leitch produced a leaflet for a letter box drop to invite the neighbours. The riders and neighbours were also invited to the free barbecue at the rally conclusion, to celebrate our new home and to show the locals that their new neighbours were really a nice bunch of old motorcycle enthusiasts. Barry Deeth (Pine Rivers Area President) had four of his family riding on 3 of his Ariels and he welcomed the gathering. Glynn Leitch then briefed the riders before leading the marshals to their posting for the first leg up to the Mt Mee lockout. Jenny and Lex drove the backup vehicles. Everybody got to the lookout safely with only one bike on the trailer. Interestingly the lady in the Mt. Mee coffee van was native to the Ukraine and she noticed a motorcycle which needed a further look. Yvonne Mackenzie loves her Dnepr outfit and the fox tail (on an extended whip aerial) is a familiar site on many rallies. Yes the Dnepr is also native of Ukraine and Mt Mee was the last place Aliona thought to see one, and she took a few photos to send back to her Dad who still lives there. Thankfully the road was dry while we then trekked down the mountain and back to Stanley Street after 120km and still only one motorcycle on the trailer. Gary Woodcock and Brad Goostrey manned the tongs at the barbie while many helpers laid out the table for the food, cold and hot drinks. Many thanks to the Pine Rivers Area members and their families. It was indeed another great day in the life of a motorcyclist and especially for the Ariel owners for which the rally was mostly organised.