2017 NOMADS ECONOMY RIDE ENDING IN SWELLENDAM – 19/20 AUGUST – REPORTS AND RESULTS BY IAN SINCLAIR
Mandy and I were up earlier than normal on this Saturday as we had to be at Masakhane Caltex Service Station, Bosmansdam Road. Milnerton, to be ready for the motorcycles to arrive and be issued with their route schedule and general instructions and for Brian Barson to note the odometers of each motorcycle taking part in the economy ride.
There were 16 motorcycles taking part, the first one leaving at 09h00 and the rest following at 2 minute intervals. All the motorcycles having been filled, I called the riders together for a briefing and a general instruction on what the economy ride is all about.
The route was from the Masakhane Caltex service station, turning left into Bosmansdam Road and proceeding to the N7 and turning right towards the N1 all the way through to the N2 and turning left towards Somerset West, negotiating the traffic along the way, especially riding through Somerset West, where there are 8 traffic light intersections. At the eighth traffic light intersection, the route turned right into Sir Lowry`s Pass Road towards Gordons Bay. At the T junction we turned left onto Clarence Drive and rode the top road past Gordons Bay.
We stayed on this road all the way through Rooi Els, Pringle Bay, Betty`s Bay and Kleinmond, past the Arabella golf estate up to the T intersection and turned right towards Hermanus. Continuing past Fisherhaven, Hawston and Onrus and onto Hermanus. Turning left at the first traffic circle, exiting the next circle straight and the third circle left into the Main Road until the last circle out onto the Stanford Road. By riding this route, we cut out the Saturday morning traffic in the centre of Hermanus.
Riding on the Stanford road, it was reasonably quiet, just the road surface was bumpy and not too pleasant to spend too much time on. Upon arrival at Stanford we had to stop at the Caltex service station for a compulsory 1 hour stop to refuel, to eat a sandwich or two and drink a juice or water which was supplied by Nomads Motorcycle Club. Everybody arrived before their scheduled arrival time which gave them extra time to relax and enjoy their time together.
Soon it was time for the first rider to leave at their scheduled departure time and so the rest of the riders left at their 2-minute intervals.
The second leg of the ride went away from Stanford through the Akkerdisbergpas, eventually turning right onto the R316 towards Napier. Straight through Napier and onto Bredasdorp and halfway through Bredasdorp turning left onto all Saints Street, out through the industrial area, past the flowering Canola fields and the Canola pastures that were yet to bloom.
The route continued all the way to the N2, turning right towards Swellendam. Just past the weighbridge outside Swellendam, we turned left towards Swellendam, up to the 4 ways stop sign, turning right into Voortrek Street and proceeded up to the Caltex service station, where every rider had to refuel and make sure that Mark Shearer had noted the amount of fuel and the odometer reading of each bike.
Once again, every rider had arrived early at Swellendam and then it was off to the caravan park to park the motorcycles and get ready for the Lion`s Club to fetch us for the evening`s presentation and braai, which was also sponsored by Nomads.
The results of the Winners in each of the categories are as follows:
0 – 950cc (Solo Category)
- Ivy Matthews – Honda NC 700 – 26.90 kilometres per litre
- Kevin Farrow – Suzuki V-Strom 650 – 25.32 kilometres per litre
951cc and above (Solo Category)
- Simon Jefferies – Suzuki V-Strom 1000cc – 19.52 kilometres per litre
- Peter Dollman – Honda 1300cc – 18.92 kilometres per litre
0-950cc (Pillion Category)
- Robbie Geugis – BMW GS 800cc – 22.54 kilometres per litre
951cc and above (Pillion Category)
- Glen Kotze – BMW GSA 1200cc – 21.31 kilometres per litre
- Pierre Wubbeling – BMW GS 1200cc – 19.30 kilometres per litre
Last but not least – Mike Meiring – Honda Blackbird – 14.06 kilometres per litre
Breakdown of the bikes as follows; BMW 6. Harley Davidson 1. Honda 3. KTM 1. Suzuki 4. Yamaha 1.
The following is a list of all the Riders and Pillions who participated in the event.
| NOMADS 2017 ECONOMY RIDE RESULTS | |||||
| Solo 0 – 950 cc Class | km/l | ||||
| 1 | Ivy Matthews | 27,7 | HONDA | NC700 | 700 |
| 2 | Kevin Farrow | 25,3 | SUZUKI | V-STROM | 650 |
| 3 | Dylan Jefferies | 19,5 | SUZUKI | GSX | 600 |
| Rider 950cc & Upwards Class | |||||
| 1 | Simon Jefferies | 19,5 | SUZUKI | V-STROM | 1000 |
| 2 | Peter Dollman | 18,9 | HONDA | ST | 1300 |
| 3 | Shaun Matthews | 18,8 | KTM | 1190 | |
| 4 | Barry Wrankmore | 18,4 | BMW | GSA LC | 1200 |
| Pillion Class | |||||
| 1 | Robbie & Jeanine Geugis | 22,5 | BMW | GS | 800 |
| 2 | Glen & Christina Kotze | 21,3 | BMW | GSA | 1200 |
| 3 | Pierre & Tracey Wubbeling | 19,3 | BMW | GS | 1200 |
| 4 | Luderick & Helewese Jacoby | 19,0 | BMW | GSA LC | 1200 |
| 5 | Ian & Haley Peters | 18,6 | YAMAHA | FJR | 1300 |
| 6 | Chris Dollman & Erin | 18,1 | SUZUKI | GSX | 1000 |
| 7 | Harold & Mads Mead | 16,8 | BMW | GSA LC | 1200 |
| 8 | Ian Sinclair & Mandy Koorsen | 14,2 | HARLEY | COUCH | 1787 |
| 9 | Mike & Jenny Meiring | 14,1 | HONDA | BLACKBIRD | 1100 |
My thanks to all the Motorcyclists who took part in the economy ride, for without you entering there would not be an economy ride.
My thanks to the Marshals for their assistance at the start, the refuel point and the finish, without you who would take note of fuel and odometer readings?.
My thanks must also go to Luderick and Helewese for plotting the route on Google and making the bookings for the accommodation at the Caravan Park.
My thanks also to Mandy for compiling and printing the route schedules and instructions and totalling up the fuel consumptions at the end.
All in all, a good weekend was had by all.
THANK YOU
To Ben at the Masakhane Caltex Service Station for the hot drink and muffins
To Kevin & Jonathan of Pathfinders Transport Consultants for the sandwiches, beverages and gifts
Thank you to Herman Smit and Members and Wives of the Swellendam Lions Club for the wonderful food laid on for us.