2012 HOG Rally

2012 HOG National Rally

Taking the long way round!

Somewhere in a pub in Western Australia, one of our newer members commented, loudly, that this chapter does not do things by halves. He proclaimed that if there’s two ways to go somewhere, we’ll always choose the one that gives us a long ride!

How true.

We are a club that likes to ride, so it’s only logical that when Bill Davidson announced last year that the next National Rally would be held in Canberra, we didn’t even consider the option of an easy 2-3 hour trip down the freeway. Instead, we chose to turn the trip into a one-week ride through southern Victoria and the Australian Alps!

After the massive success of last year’s ride to Margaret River, we knew we’d have to do something special this year. From the send-off BBQ which our sponsoring dealer, Trivett H-D, wants to host, the trip will be special.

The Chapter’s team of Road Captains will challenge each other to make each day better than the one before. Each day’s riding will provide the excitement of big group riding, with a group of over 50 Harley-Davidsons creating an awesome presence on the road.

But no matter how great the roads and the route, it means little if you can’t share it with some of your closest mates. There’s nothing like stopping after a particularly great sector and saying, “How good was that?” Last year, 40 members on 31 bikes shared the ride to Western Australia. Everyone who went will tell you that one of their highlights is sharing the experiences with their club mates.

The route takes us through some of the best bike roads in Australia. The Great Ocean Road, the Queenscliff/Sorrento ferry crossing, the Great Alpine Road, and incredible Snowy Mountains. the back route via Corryong that takes us around and back into Jindabyne from the North! Day after day of exciting riding through stunning country.

As usual, accommodation for the trip is motel/cabin style and well-located. We have a block of 30 rooms booked each night for 60 or more people. Each member is responsible for contacting each place to book yourself into that block.

This year, we’re putting in a special effort to focus on events at the rally. You’ll still be free to do your own thing, but each day will be organised to ensure that, if you wish to, you’ll get the most out of every activity, every hour of the day. We intend to let them know that Sydney Chapter is there!

A commitment fee of $50 per bike entitles members to all details for the trip, and the ability to book into the block of rooms reserved each night. This fee, introduced for last year’s rally, serves to cover the multitude of minor costs involved in organising and running an epic trip like this, both before and during the trip.

Don’t delay! In February, when details were released, 40 members booked. There are still rooms left but they won’t last.

Think this trip might be for you? Not sure? Not confident in your ability to undertake a ride like this? Your fellow chapter members are a mine of information. We can help you organise yourself, your bike, and what to pack. We can enrol you on an advanced riding course to make sure you have the necessary riding skills. Talk to Michael Chesworth, any committee member, or any Road Captain.