Bike economy run around the corner
Motoring Staff
2010-07-13
The 29th national motorcycle economy run, organised by the Pretoria Motor Club and sponsored for the fourth year by Retirement Fund Solutions (RFS), takes place in Mpumalanga on August 12 to 14.
This popular event, which combines two days of touring in some of the most beautiful parts of the country with the serious business of riding as economically as possible, will start from Forever Resorts Loskop Dam between Groblersdal and Middelburg on Thursday, August 12 and finish at Numbi Hotel in Hazyview on Saturday afternoon, August 14.
Scrutineering, refueling and sealing of fuel tanks will take place at Forever Resorts Loskop Dam on Thursday, August 12. The start of the competitive sections will be from Loskop Dam at 07h30 on Friday, August 13 and from Numbi Hotel in Hazyview at 08h00 on Saturday, August 14. Both sections, which total some 890 km, will end at Numbi Hotel, where competitors will overnight.
“The primary purpose of the annual RFS Bike Econorun is to demonstrate the fuel economy capabilities of well-maintained and skillfully-driven standard, modern motorcycles under varying conditions over a representative selection of South African roads,” explained clerk of the course Francois Jordaan. “It is also a great opportunity for bike owners to enjoy the pleasures of touring in some of the most spectacular parts of our beautiful country and enjoy a couple of nights away from home in a relaxed rural environment.
“In these difficult economic times, with the high price of fuel and general rising costs of operating and maintaining our chosen form of transport, it is important for the consumer to know what can be achieved by careful and sensible use of a motorcycle, while observing all road and traffic regulations,”.
“It is not our intention to achieve low fuel consumption figures that the average rider can never hope to emulate,” adds Jordaan. “This is a fun event that brings together people who love riding motorcycles, but it is also a real opportunity for motorcycle importers and their dealers to show the public what their motorcycles are capable of.”
This year’s route will take competitors on the Friday from Loskop Dam to Belfast via Stofberg, where a refuel will take place at the Engen garage on the N4 at Belfast. After a coffee break of 40 minutes the run continues through Carolina, Badplaas and Machadodorp, where the second refuel will be at the Caltex garage at Milly’s, also on the N4.
After a lunch break, the final leg of around 200 km will take competitors to the Numbi Hotel for the overnight stop, via the tollgate at Machadodorp (where TRAC will offer free passage at the tollgate as a gesture of goodwill to bikers), the beautiful Schoemanskloof Valley, Sudwala, Sabie and Graskop. The first competitor is expected at the Total garage in Hazyview at 15h00, where the final refuel for the day will take place.
The following day the route will take the bikers from Hazyview to White River, Malelane, Barberton, Kaapschehoop, Ngodwana (refuel) and back to Hazyview via Kiepersol and Sabie T
There are 13 different classes catering for motorcycles up to 700 cc to over 1 000 cc, touring, dual purpose, cruisers, pillion, motorcycles older than 10 years and modified machines.
Entries close on July 25 and should be submitted early as they may be limited to 70 riders. Regulations and entry forms can be downloaded from the official website www.econorun.co.za.
