The Putty BBQ - A Pictorial

[red_dave]

Happy that all involved as safe and well and I thoroughly enjoy having a few drinks with them all!

[Damon Z1000]

Well, well, well, Dave thanks for starting this off to everyone else a big sorry for not pulling my finger out, we have been talking about this issue and when to post over the last few weeks but due to my commitments to a possible family move I just haven't had time to start it off. Sorry Dave.

Up front, no one else is to blame except myself, a bad decision at the wrong moment not only cost me my motorcycling enjoyment but also a lot of heartache for people I considered and still consider friends. The emotion of the event can raise it's ugly head at anytime, the injuries sustained by individuals were shocking, Ty spent time in hospital, Dave 3 took a big shake up and would have struggled for a while and as for Hoffy, well Hoffy was Hoffy and HTFU'd, four bikes (3 were 9's) visited the junk yard in the sky, absolutely unsalvagable, value must have run into 35k+, thank God for insurance, all be it damages only but at least I was insured.
We can all get into discussions and arguments on fault, what if's and why, it happened we lived to tell the tale and I will always remember at the time we got together and said in the future we would be able to recall the incident and joke about the Putty BBQ.

Other forums can stick their nose in, pinch sections of posts, change facts and try and blacken the site, they can all f*ck off, they can only wish their forums got on like us guys, so go for lives, see if we GAF!

My recollection is a bit sketchy now but here goes.....

Met up with guys at Pie in the Sky and continued for a 'Putty Loop', the usual suspects were there that I normally rode with and we also met up with other guys that we didn't normally ride with or didn't even know but all were made welcome from all parties and coffee and pies were consumed.

Around 12 bikes left for Putty run, things didn't go to well to start as on the Old Road the group of riders were noticed by a roadside speed check, just before the bridge and poor old Ty was pulled and accused of speeding!!!, no charge given and everyone continued. A few guys looped back to PITS and left us to our run.
We kept a 'comfortable' pace through the countryside and out to Broke.

We stopped at Broke servo for refreshments, soft drinks and chips were on the menu if I remember (NO ALCHOHOL) and filled the tanks to the brim, time bombs!. Left Broke expecting a nice Pacey run up the Putty, came out of the servo in a really messy order, not the usual riding buddies together, all messed up.

I think we all realise that when you go out on rides with regular people we all settle into a comfortable riding order?? You follow people you are comfortable following and etc etc behind, this didn't happen on this fateful day and I found myself in an uncomfortable position surrounded by people I wasn't used to. In reflection I wish I had pulled over and left a gap to allow a good run through or just thought, there's always another day , some of you know me quite well and I think you may realise that I'm not a hoon but family man with commitments and responsibilities, I try through life not to take risks, hmmm, what happened.

As I said, not comfy with rider #1s riding style, not what I'm used to following and no disrespect to rider #1, I think 'the pace' was mentioned by a certain person somewhere in the forum, I'm not a big advocate for using brakes in the twisties and enjoy holding a comfortable and relaxed pace with maybe just a touch of brake to correct. (If you have ever followed MadKaw you would know what I mean, not that I followed him for long until he disappeared but when following him he almost never touched his brake). So I was a little unbalanced and not comfy, so I decided to pass, unfortunately for me, picked the wrong place (bring on the flame for not passing in the twisties), I showed plenty of front wheel at various times prior and I'm sure the noise from the Remus and engine revs may have been heard. Came out of a left hander, saw a straight and went to pass, unfortunately rider #1 may not have seen me, didn't realise what was happening and held the line. By the time I was passed, too fast, wrong line, bit of panic, lost control, ran along the barrier slowing up, front wheel dug in and threw the bike out right infront of rider #1, fuck fuck fuck, sorry mate , that silence happened for a lifetime until touch down.

Next thing I remember was coming around, realising what had happened and did the old 'fuck, am I ok' had a wriggle on the floor, yep ok stand up. As I stood, I saw MadKaw (who was one of the miss the crash Gods) running up the road adjacent to me, waving arms trying to obviously slow other riders coming around the blind bend.
BANG, as I stood, a bike slid through at speed, collected the bikes and skittled me, fuckin somersault later and touchdowned on my head and shoulder, fuck what happened, stood up again!
As I stood, I saw Hoffy come around the corner, looked him straight in the eyes and watched him lock up, slide straight into the barrier and do a Superman straight over the side of the cliff, FUCK ME.
A bit of a blur now, events are a little sketchy, remember trying to make sure people were Ok, slapping Dave3 on the back, saying 'we'll be right mate' and Cath giving me what for cus he might be injured , then the bikes sparked, and the things caught fire, jeeesus, something out of the movies, Ty, we all helped move, who was in a dangerous position, wheres Hoff, fuck he's down the cliff, look over the side and there he is with a leg that looked like a Donner Kebab, so we got him up to the top and made him comfy. Don't know who to thank first, MadKaw for holding it together, Glen for being Glen, Draven(theres a name from the past, anybody want a remote control car?) and his girlfriend, the nurse who was one of the only cage drivers that offered help cus all the other farkers were to busy taking photos to put in their albums and all the other bikers who rallied around THANKS!

Glen had already shot off to summon help, I reckon Glen holds the record for a Putty run now , fireys turned up to dowse the flames, then the ambos and cops . Realised the boys were to critical to drive so they flew! Hats off to WestPac.
Tow trucks came and stole all the wreckage before we had chance to decide what to do, cops took statements, which were, looking back an absolute joke cus nobody could figure what the fark happened at the time!

I was the only walking survivor, the other guys went to hospital, it was only after everyone went that I realised I hadn't got a bike anymore Glen to the rescue, I never want to do that again, 1hr on the back of a 10 with the left leg of my leather pants missing, severe tissue damage to the left leg from bike impact, shock and all the other shit that went on.
When MadKaws Justine met us they had to lift me off the back as I had lost allfunction in my left leg, blew uplike a bastard for 2 weeks, ooops, wife not happy and canned all motorcycling from that day on. I don't normally bend to ultimatums but I appreciate marraige over my bike, hard decision but I love my daughter.

So, no more bike riding, a lot of heatache for people and an expensive time, moto of this story,

DO NOT MAKE RASH DECISIONS ON GROUP RIDES
DO NOT GROUP TO CLOSE TOGETHER
LOOK PAST THE PERSON IN FRONT
BE CAUTIOUS RIDING WITH STRANGERS
BE CAUTIOUS OF BLIND BENDS
RIDE IN A MANNER TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION


and above all, believe in your machine, try not to panic and LEAN THE FARKER

I have learnt by this experience, that there are good and bad people in the world and the people we associate with on this site..... ARE TOP GUYS AND GIRLS, great friends and come together when required, for that I will always remember, thank you

PS The radio and local papers told everyone about an inferno on the Putty Rd where the cage drivers extinguised the flames, BULLSHIT it was the quick thinking and teamwork of the people on the ride that prevented the situation being any worse than it already was!

Thanks for the pics Dave, please if anyone has anymore, post em up.......

[Damon Z1000]

Bloody Newspapers.................

[Damon Z1000]

Before and after, jeeees I miss that bike..........

[Shifty]

Good to see the content of the thread developing. Kudos for Damon for joining in; also a good opportunity to wave a finger at anyone who doesn't have at least Third Party Property Damage on their bike.

A few years ago I was riding behind someone I regularly rode with and trusted, and then they did something sudden (jammed on the brakes while riding in formation on a major road and cut across about a foot from my front tyre to take an exit at the last minute). Long story short, I hit the anchors too hard, locked the front and a few seconds later my bike slid into theirs. Technically this went down as MY fault as I hit the other rider from behind, a bit rough if you ask me but as I felt at least partly responsible I thought better to avoiding an insurance battle and both of us paying an excess.

Thankfully noone was hurt badly and I have better luck with my new (and very much upgraded! ) girlfriend but the moral of the story is that no matter what the situation or how well you do or do not know the people around, TREAT EVERYONE AS A HAZARD.

[javaman]

Very impressive story indeed... thanks for sharing that.

[IsleofNinja]

Probably the best / most responsible thread I've ever seen on a forum to date.


OK so I might be a nation away from where this all happened but after reading thread it certainly shows the calibre and integrity of our members.

It's a real credit to those involved and those who initiated and posted this thread as a graphic education to those who may not have had much experience with tight twisties and or group rides.
Those who have / those that ride EVERY day/attend regular track days etc WILL have the edge in these situations and well to you for your quick reactions and avoiding more carnage / injuries..

PS ; I remember DJ saying when interviewed years after hitting 'that rock' "why look behind you , all you get is a crick in your neck" (in true Dick Johnson style..)

Assuming everybody involved is still breathing we should be thankful for that at least I guess..Bikes at least can be replaced.

[hoffy]

Ahh yes, I should share my injuries as I havn't yet, they have all heeled now.

14cm gash to inner thigh left leg. Looked like a doner kebab with tomato sauce ! yumm !
8cm gash across inside of left knee. still tingly and feels funky from time to time !
Fractured right arm at elbow joint, still a bit clicky, but she's all good !
5 broken ribs, ouch these were not good.
cut inside of lip and chipped a tooth, for that bikie look !
Massive bruising to butt and back area, this is where I landed !

My biggest concern in hospital was getting a copy of AMCN, a Coke Zero and a Mars Bar !

Cant remember who bouth these in, but I owe them !

[hoffy]

Go The Thread Revival, Newbie's take note, the road is not a race track !

[Damon Z1000]

Ah yes the thread revival, bout time this old fart threw a leg over again.

Things are really starting to look up, a plan that has taken 3 years in the making

[Six Addict]

[hoffy]

Ah yes the thread revival, bout time this old fart threw a leg over again.

Things are really starting to look up, a plan that has taken 3 years in the making

Damo, I have no doubt you would be a very cautious rider if given the chance to throw a leg over again, however I would insist you remain at the back until such time.............

[JetPilot]

Old thread new tricks.
Ride your own race , as Shaun would say....

[dutchy]

wow

I'll definately be showing this to my brothers when they get their L's. I think it'll really teach em a bit about riding responsabilty and consequences. Not just during a ride but also afterwards. Lots of maturity here..........who would've thought!!

I'd never known the full details of this incident untill this resurection but had seen the odd photo hinting to it. Glad to know the whole story now. Glad everyones around to discuss it also. Thanks all who've posted.

[Colette]

The middle set of pics with the bikes in flames was taken by a friend of a friend (not a motorcyclist), who happened to be driving past at that moment. It was quite by chance that this event came up in conversation at that time and he mentioned he had these photos - it is such a small world - so it was helpful for those involved to have another perspective on the event.

I was supposed to go along that day but pulled out as I had family visiting. As stated by others, I am so very glad that all involved are still here to tell the tale and provide us all with an often-needed wakeup call.