Marlborough to Taranaki Jampot 2007

The location for this years Jampot Rally was especially poignant for this member, as I was brought up in Taranaki having emigrated from the UK in 1966. My early days in Taranaki were spent riding around farm land and rough west coast beaches on horseback. The chance to return to the province on two wheels was not to be missed!

As were last years hard core from Marlborough ready for another adventure. You bet! Chris de Wagt finalised the ferry bookings with her usual precision and good will to local members by providing the back up. We sailed on the Thursday night. Steve Gaudin and John Welch on their Matchys negotiated Wellington by night (who said you need lights said Steve, once his had diminished) and we found our digs. The guys enjoyed a ride round the bays the next morning out of the city. At the rendezvous point off the motorway my BSA came off for the rest of the trip. Pierre Woolridge joined us on his Matchy for the ride up. Chris and Case followed with Chris’s AJS and back up Royal Enfield in tow. The weather was kind and it was a great ride. John’s G3L died at Wanganui (magneto problem, now sorted).

The highways and scenery around Taranaki made for a refreshing change. I loved the way the roads rolled giving me plenty of run up for the hills .......! Important, when you only have three gears. I thought the Rally Route was a wonderful ride, thank-you to the organizers. Great venue, too.

Steve’s 1951 G80 - John’s 1954 G3L - Mindy’s 1947 BSA
Vertical Horizon Camp, Inglewood

Steve and I had just been on our first VCC National Motorcycle Rally two weeks prior. We discovered what good sense it made to tape the rally route instructions to your tank. I found it quite amusing when a group of AJ’s and Matchys kept passing me, and then I would get to an intersection and here they all were stopped, reading their maps and I would cruise off round the corner. Then they’d all catch up and roar past again and so it went on. Such is the nature of speed (or lack of it) and strategy when you choose to ride a BSA C10 on a Jampot Rally. Riding up that awesome mountain to the visitor’s centre was a highlight for me.

Pauatahanui Road

Chris got her AJS off for the run on the Saturday, but not without minor mishap, sorry to say. Nothing too major and she continues to work on her restoration. We had a leisurely ride via the British Dirt Bike Racing at Wanganui to Palmerston North on the Sunday. Monday’s ride to the ferry got interesting when Chris suggested that we ride over the Pauatahanui Road from Waikanae to mix things up a bit and I was glad we did. What an awesome ride and a great view.

On board the boat John entertained us with a display of photos from his recent trip touring India by Royal Enfield. We were joined by George Whiting from Takaka and it was great to see George out on his AJS combination recently in Golden Bay.

With next year’s Jampot in the Mainland, we look forward to having plenty of people to ride down south with. We know for a fact there are several other Matchys and AJSs lurking around Marlborough thatwould love a good long run down south next year (refer to next photo) .........!

See you all at the pass!
Mindy Chowdhury