The 2 Day Durban to Johannesburg (DJ) Vintage Motorcycle Rally - A first time perspective

Physically shattering, what more can I say. How these old fellas complete this rally every year is purely inspirational. The oldest rider to complete the rally this years was 89.

The 2 day rally is more of an endurance time trial than anything else. There were 135 pre 1936 motorcycles that started the rally this year from the top car park of the Hillcrest Shopping centre near Durban. There were several speed categories in the event and the number 1 bike , a 1910 Humber started off at 6.00am. Each bike then left at 1 minute intervals and had several speed and directional instructions on the supplied route schedules for each day. Being bike number 77, I left at 7.17am. The old man was number 78 and left 1 minute after me.

the rally is held over 2 days with day 1 being around 370 kilometers and day 2 around 300 or so. Whilst this does not sound so bad to the casual observer, due to the rally restrictions and speed instructions this equates to around 9 hours in the saddle on day 1 and another 8 or so on day 2.

Remember, this is being completed on a pre 1936 motorcycle with a hard as hell seat and little or no suspension systems apart from possibly a couple of 4 inch springs on the seat.

I felt fairly comfortable with my start on day 1. I was a little apprehensive but once I got going I found the route schedule fairly easy to follow. About 2 minutes in I passed a bike that had failed and was being loaded up onto a trailer. How disappointing this must have been for the rider?

 

After the start and around 60 kilometers in was the first fuel stop at Pietermaritzburg. I filled up there but probably did not need to. The Zenith only took about 3 or 4 liters of fuel. This bike has a big tank. We had 15 minutes at this stop.

One of my biggest fears throughout the rally was not being able to restart the bike after it had warned up. Some of these old bikes can be very temprementle and I had not had enough time to get intimate with her peculiarities. I decided that the best way to start her was to put her on the side stand, get up on the left peg and give her a real good kick. Unfortunately, whilst doing this the side stand gave way and the bike tipped off the stand and onto her left side. The embarrassments of this situation seemed to give me supernatural strength and after picking her up and a few swift kicks I was off again.

After another 65 kilometers there was another fuel stop at Mooi River. The rally took us through some stunning scenery, up and down the enscarpement and past some historic landmarks including tohe Nelson Mendella capture site. Durning the 20 minute stop at Mooi River I noticed that the slip at Pietermaritzburg had resulted in the side stand jamming up near the left foot peg and loosening the nut associated with the peg. I took some tools and tried to tighten it and found that the bolt was threaded. As a result of this I used cable ties to secure it to the frame but it was loose for the remainder of the rally.

After another 31 kilometers we stopped for lunch in Estcourt. We had 40 minutes there and lunch was provided and taken at an old church that had been used as a hospital for the British during the Boer War.

After another 62 kilometers there was a fuel stop outside of Dundee. By this time I was starting to fatigue and the hot sun and windburn was taking it's toll. We then travelled through the outskirts of Ladysmith and on to Danhauser for another fuel stop. This was about 90 kilometers from the Dundee stop. By this time I also noticed that the sole on my right boot was coming apart so it was back into the toolbox and out with the gaffer tape.

After this we travelled 50 kilometers to Newcastle. At Newcastle we booked into a chalet at the Majuba Lodge refueled and checked the bikes and after dinner and a couple of drinks it was straight to bed.

 

 

Day 2 commenced about 20 kilometers out of Newcastle at Ingogo Station. This was a requirement due to the large amount of road work that were being completed just north of Newcastle. The rally commenced at 7.00am and we got the well ahead of time at about 6.30am. The times were all set back an hour from day 1 and this meant that I was due to start at 8.17am.

As I have previously stated, this rally is a big reliability trial and this was apparent by the number of bikes that had broken down and were on trailers after the end of day 1. One particular Triumph had internal issues with a broken grudgeon pin in the engine. The rider stripped down the bike whilst in Newcastle, arranged for someone to machine him a new part about 10.00pm that evening and reassembled the bike for the start of day 2. Unfortunately the bike failed again a short was in and this was the end of his rally. Knowing how my father works, prepares and treats his vehicles I had no doubt that the Zenith would make it.

Climbing back into the saddle on day 2 and knowing that I had a reliable machine under me was very reassuring. However my body was not as reliable and a short time into the ride all the cramps and pains came back from the previous day.

28 kilometers into day 2 we stopped for 15 of refueling at Smitt Motors in Volkrust . As I pulled into the garage I rode past a bike with it's clutch apart and the rides and others feverishly trying to put it back together in time to avoid hefty time penalties.

After another 80 kilometers we stopped again at Vaal Rivier Motors in Stanarton. I filled up the Zenith here and was fairly confident that this would get me through the next few fuel stops without refueling. During the next section of the rally we passed over some of the worst roads that I have ever come accross. The frequency and severity of the pot holes was unbelievable. Whilst I was confident of the bikes reliability, the road was that poor that I was a little worried that something was going to be vibrated loose and come off. Shortly after this section I noticed a fiend Howard, loading his Sunbeam onto a trailer with a rear puncture. Possible the poor roads had caused a spoke to pierce the inner tube. So close, but so far, Howard was devastated.

64 kilometers later was another 20 minute fuel stop in Greylingstad. The weather was hot and fatigue really starting to settle in by this time.

After another 52 kilometers of rallying we stopped at a church hall in Heidleburg for a 40 minute lunch break. This was the last stop before the home bound stretch and by this time I was confident of finishing. After lunch I had some serious difficulty in starting the Zennith. I kicked and kicked her and even tried a push start with no luck. I had fatigued severely by this time and Howard gave me a hand to kick her over. After starting her I noticed that I had reversed the order of the advance/retard and choke levers and this is why I was struggling to exhaustion. I put this down to fatigue at the time.

54 kilometers later and the rally came to an end at the James Hall Museum of Transport in Johannesburg.

 

The James Hall Motor Museum is located in a questionable part of Johannesburg and this was highlighted by an event that occurred later that afternoon. Another competitor who had recently migrated to Australia had parked his fathers utility vehicle outside of the museum grounds due to the large crowd and associated vehicles that were in attendance. When they returned to the vehicle a few hours later, all of the tool boxes and his bags had been stolen and an attempt had been made to hot wire and steal the vehicle. I saw him the next morning at the prize giving breakfast and he was wearing his fathers shorts as he had no clothes left.

In total, 88 bikes completed the 2012 DJ Rally and for any motorcycling enthusiast, this event could only be considered as the premier vintage motorcycle rally in the world. I am extremely gratefull for being offered the opportunity to participate in this rally and it has surely been one of the highlights of my adult life. The knowledge, commitment and compadre associated with these types of events can not be understated.

I have taken a large number of photographs associated with the rally and also several hours of HD video. When I return to Australia I will be editing a presentation that I hope to deliver to the Western Australia Vintage Motorcycle Club. I will also be making these images available on my photographic website www.davewhitnell.com

Next year is the 100th anniversary of this event and the organizers are expecting a large number of competitors. Planning for the 2013 DJ has already commenced.

A full story, photographs and list of event results can be located at the Classic Motorcycle Club website.

 

The Day Before the DJ Rally

Spent the last few days at my Aunt and Uncle's place in Hillchrest, which is about 30kms from the centre of Durban. These were some busy days with the social events leading up the the DJ Rally tomorrow.

 

Today was a big day, starting off at around 8.30am when we drove to the Hillchrest Shopping Centre, underground car park, which is quite close by. This is where we had dropped the bikes and trailer off a few days ago and was now to be the meeting point for all the competitors bikes where they would be scrutinized and inspected before we received our route schedules and rally instructions.

Bikes continued to arrive all day. There were around 130 bikes, riders and support staff that gathered for this pre rally meeting and the atmosphere was buzzing. It took all day to get through all the bikes and by 6.00pm we travelled to a nearby school hall for a final competitors meeting and dinner.

I will be setting off on the start of the rally at 7.17am in the morning and will be up at 4.45am to prepare. The old man leaves 1 minute after me.

With more than 13 hours in the saddle over the next 2 days I was in bed by 8.30pm for some rest.

 

Off to Durban

We left Boksburg at around 9.00am for a leisurely drive to Durban. Mom will be binging the empty trailer back after the rally and she was more confident in taking her small Honda Jazz as opposed to the old man's much larger Jaguar.

I drove most of the way and found the roads good and scenery spectacular. The Honda was labouring at times, especially going up hill but it will be a lot better comming back without the extra weight of 2 bikes and 2 passengers.

We stopped in at Villiers for breakfast and to refuel at around 10.30 and then again for a break and a coffee at Harrismith. I ordered a double strength cappuccino at the ' The Mug and Bean', it was very reasonably priced by Australian standards but, gee am I looking forward to a descent cup of coffee when I get home!

Got held up in a bit of a traffic jam for a while about 1 hour out of Durban as the roads became congested due to a crash involving a rolled over BMW sedan.

Dropped the bikes and trailer off at the Hillcrest Shopping centre underground car park and then headed to my Uncle and Aunt's place for the evening. Spent a lovely night putting together some of the jigsaw pieces associated with the complex history surrounding this family. After a swag full of bears, the old may had us all in stitches of laughter and at one stage I had tears rolling down my cheeks I was laughing so much.

Tonight there is a cocktail party being sponsored by the local Natal vintage motorcycle club for the DJ participants and tomorrow we start to prepare for the rally which commences early Friday morning.

 

Afternoon Braai

Spent all of Sunday morning at the South African, Classic Motorcycle Club with the folks. Met many extraordinary people and reacquainted myself with some gents that I met a few years ago when I rode in a Velocette vintage motorcycle rally with the old man.

There were many bikes and riders at this monthly event and they come from everywhere for a big cooked breakfast that is put on by the local Lions club. The cost of the breakfast is R30 ($3.71). There were even a number of patched motorcycle club members at the event. Representation from clubs wearing colors 'Satan's Saints', 'Hells Angels' and 'Crusaders' we're present. Whilst there colors were reminiscent of traditional outlaw motor cycle club colors that may be found in Perth, the majority of persons wearing these colors were cleanly dressed and riding modern Japanese cruiser styled motorcycles. Not what you would expect from a traditional outlaw motorcycle club member!

The Classic Motorcycle Club is established on an old bowling green that was actually used to hold the World Championship of bowling some years ago. It was a hot day of around 30 degrees and after walking around the venue and inspecting many of the bikes that were parked and displayed on the green and stalls of second hand parts for sale I eventually submitted to the pressure of Pierre Cronje ( the club Chairman and Clerk of Course for the DJ Rally) and accepted a 660ml bottle of Windoek draught beer. I took the opportunity there to also purchase a couple of rubber moldings that should hopefully replace the frayed ones that are on my 1959 BMW R60.

About 4 or 5 bottles later (the old man included), Mom drove us back home via a couple of shops to obtain some fixings for the bikes and food for the Braai that we had invited Pierre, his wife Gweneth and a fellow DJ first timer, Howard and his partner Elaine to later that afternoon at the folks house.

 

This was a lovely day and after a fantastic meal, the guests left by about 8.00pm. Elaine was the first person to hand feed the black swans and to see this was quite surreal.

I was up fairly early today and drove down to the local Spar supermarket to purchase some food and the like for an oxtail portjiekos that I promised I would make for dinner. My sister Jenny, brother in law Dennis and Pierre and his wife Gwenth will be comming over for supper tonight.

I also ended up driving to Benoni, with the aid of a Garmin GPS that got me lost for about 1/2 an hour, to pick up the micro sim for the folks iPad. Looks like they are all connected now and I hope to familiarize them with the operating system over the next few weeks before I travel home.

The fire for the portjiekos.

The oxtail about 2 hours in.

 

The Pre Rally, Rally

Today was to be a day where Dad, our friend Howard and I completed a bit of a Pre DJ rally just to get my head around how things work and to complete a ride with the aid of a rally route sheet. ( this is a Pre set route with distances, times, speeds and directions).

These rallies are quite difficult because the bike's speedo is covered up and all speeds are calculated by time over distance with the aid of a route schedule and stop watch.

We set off at about 9.00am after Howard arrived. Just prior to this my Mom left home for a baby shower for the new granddaughter that is due in a couple of weeks. I think she was quite happy to let the boys do their thing anyway!

About 20 Kms into ride before we actually started the rally proper I had some clutch problems again and after completing some roadside emergency repairs we decided that it was best to take the bike home, pull the clutch apart and find out what the real problem was.

 

After the old man reengineered the thrust bearing washer and nut we were off again.(he has pulled it all apart again tonight and want's to fix it properly tomorrow).

We completed about 180 kilometers of riding throughout the day through some stunning South African countryside. The rally took us on a scenic route to Heidleburg( past the folks old farm) and back.

By the end of it my legs were aching and bottom pretty numb. Don't know how 700 Kim's will be late next week on this 76 year old beauty!

 

Got home at about 4.30pm, just before Mom returned.

Went out the back to feed the birds who were all waiting patiently.

 

Settled down to a lovely meal of home made quiche and salad washed down with a couple of cold beers And a whiskey. Or two whilst watching the rugby.

Tomorrow morning we are all heading to the South Africam Classic Motorcycle Club for breakfast.

 

Preparations continue.

Spent the last few days sorting out a couple of things with the bikes in preparation of the rally.

During the first test ride on Wednesday I lost the clutch on the Zenith on a highway between Boksburg and Heidleburg. Had to pull over at the side of the road and make a few adjustments to get it going again. Also, I had some troubles distinguishing between the decompression lever and clutch lever as they are situated very close together. This also caused me some initial difficulties.

I noticed whilst following my Dad on his 1936 norton 500 that his rear tire seemed to be flat. On closer inspection when returning home we discovered that both of his tires were perished and cracked! We fixed the issues with the Zenith and made a plan to get new tires for the Norton the following day.

The next day we drove around most of the morning to find tires for the Norton. We found some late that afternoon at a total cost of about R1200 ($150) for 2 tires and tubes. Dad had them fitted the next day.

We will be going on another test run of about 180kms on Saturday with another rider and this will be the final outing on the bikes before the DJ commences late next week. We will be leaving for Durban on Monday and staying with my uncle and his wife prior to the rally.

An interesting thing happened to my Dad whilst waiting to transfer some funds at a local bank. He was wearing his DJ Competitors shirt ( which he hasn't taken off since he got it about 3 days ago)' when a gentleman tapped him on the shoulder and wished him luck on the rally. It turns out that this gentleman rode the rally in the late 1950s.

I have been spending the last fed days also trying to sort out an iPad for my folks as I think this would be a great tool for them to communicate with me in Australia and other family and friends. They will also be able totake it with them when they tour in their motor home of on other classic motorcycle or vintage car rallies. The problem that they have at home is no dedicated phone line or ability toget the Internet installed so I think that the 3G connectivity option will be ideal.

We bough a 16gb iPad yesterday and I will be trying to sort out the 3G data plan today. This has been a little difficult, but based on the level of intelligence and customer service that I have been experiencing from the African shop assistants here I am not expecting miracles.

I set up their iPad at a local Wimpy food outlet yesterday as I could get wifi access from there. I bought myself a cooked breakfast and large coffee whils I was there for R60 ($7.50).

Another interesting thing over here is that in the middle of this Wimpy Resteraunt, which is in the middle of a large shopping mall, is a glassed off 'smoking area'.

 

 

A little about the DJ

Whilst traveling to South Africa to spend time with my family is the main purpose of this journey, I have also been offered the privileged opportunity of being able to participate in the 99th Annual Durban to Johannesburg vintage motorcycle rally in company with my father.

The first Durban to Johannesburg “DJ” motorcycle race was held in 1913 and continued with the last being held in 1936. There are around 135 competitors on this years rally with several international entries. Click here to be directed to the official DJ website and find out a little more about this classic rally and the history surrounding it.

I will be riding the DJ on a 1936 Zenith 600cc single. Zenith motorcycles were manufactured around London in the UK between 1904 and 1950. I took this bike for a 80 km familiarization ride yesterday afternoon with my dad riding his 1934 Norton model 18. The Zenith was great and once you get used to the need to retard the ignition each time you start her, make sure you remember that the rear brake is on the left side and the gear shifter on the right. That the gearbox is configured to operate by moving it 1 up and 3 down and that the bike has a total loss oil system (oil is pumped from the oil tank into the engine and then onto the road), it's a breeze!!

700 kilometers on this beauty will be a real adventure!

 

 

 

 

A long but great day.

I had forgotten how long the flight from Perth to South Africa was. 11 hours give or take, depending on the winds at 32000 feet. Luckily the aircraft was not at capacity and I ended up sitting in a right rear window seat with the seat next to me vacant. This gave me a little more room than usual and enabled me the opportunity to put the centre arm rest up and spread out a little. At one stage I lied down in a contorted manner across the 2 small seats and tried to get a little sleep. This must have lasted for about 15 minutes in total before the pain and cramping became overbearing.

The plane departed Perth Airport at around 10.30am local time on Sunday the 26th of February and by 11.20 a light lunch was being served. I opted for a chicken and tomato sauce with olives mashed potatoes and peas meal. Very nice indeed. Around this time the captain recommended that we set our watches to South African time of 5.20 am. This started to put the length of the journey into perspective.

The cabin crew were excellent, apart from the 1 female African attendant who seemed to be responsible for the section that I was in. Everything seemed like a real effort to her and she clearly didn't want to be there. She was abrupt in her comments and her body language displayed a clear lack of enthusiasm.

The in flight entertainment was exceptional with inbuilt monitors on the back of each chair and an overwhelming selection of cinema, TV shows, games and other entertainment on demand. I watched the recent movie "J Edgar Hoover" staring Leonardo DeCaprio and although quite slow, found it very entertaining.

I was met by my mother and father at the airport and taken to their lovely house in a private estate of Boksburg near Johannesburg . I remember when the place was being built around 6 years ago and recall standing in an area where the first floor was and looking over onto some rough wetlands that my father had plans of transforming into a type of bird sanctuary.

The place is now stunning, the building itself is exceptional and the wetland area has been transformed into an outdoor sanctuary what is home to several varieties of wild birds including black swans, Egyptian geese, ducks, peacocks, guinea fowl and others. The birds are fed daily by my parents and have become quite tame. The swans are very territorial though and it is entertaining watching them chasing around the other species

This photo has been taken from half way into the wetlands looking back toward the house.

Shortly after arriving at their house I had a cold Windhoak beer in my hand. After a couple of these my sister Jenny and her husband Dennis arrived. Not long after a few more friends arrived and we settled into a lovely evening of cold beer, braaied boerewors, chicken wings, steaks and salad. All accompanied by great conversation and discussion around the impending Durban to Johannesburg (DJ) classic motorcycle rally.

By the time I eventually ended up in bed it was about 4.00am Perth time on Monday 27th of February. A long day indeed!

 

 

 

Getting Set To Go

I've created this blog so that I can document my 2012 journey to South Africa to spend some time with my family and participate in the 99th annual Durban to Johannesburg, vintage motorcycle rally.

I'll try to post to this blog most days whilst I am away.

I fly out tomorrow morning at 10.00am Perth time and arrive in Johannesburg at 3.30pm local time.