JULY 2010 NEWSLETTER

Contents

Secretary’s Report [Top]

G’day to July! What a positive run of surf we’ve been enjoying this month. Even good stuff on weekends. Lots of comps and socials and winter mornings. Mind you, personally I’m a summer mornings person but this has been a successful winter so far. Notwithstanding that Captain Bruce has been noticed showing up for an uncharacteristically tardy 8 am start one recent weekend.

Your secretary has been experimenting with the newsletter format here and there, and pestering Chris a bit for his technical help as to what can fit where, how and when. It’s been a bit of a trade-off between rapid publication right after comps and being able to put together something more to read and look at. Maybe it can last, maybe not. It will depend on what club members want as well as you helping out with a story or two here and there as well as responding to my requests for their own little stories that they may have to tell. My fun in taking surfing photos has technical limits, as Chris points out, and I don’t want to be over-loading you. Your feedback is important, really. Do you BMC’ers just do a Ctrl+f on your own names, or do you go through it all? Let me know. Thanks.

For those few of you who don’t have email access, I have also tried to ensure that you are receiving a hard copy of our monthly newsletter, courtesy of Westlawn and Mick’s staffer, Julie. My only problem is that if you are reading this online then you don’t need hard copies and, of course, if you aren’t reading this now in hard copy then you won’t be aware of it. So, listen up! If you’re not getting this either online or in hard copy you’d better let me know at once, please! (And good luck finding this out.)

We had a busy start to the month with two comps on the one weekend. Bruce has the words for the club competition at Flat Rock and I’ve put in 38,000 words worth of pictures, plus a few captions (if each one is worth 1000 words, anyway, because I didn’t write anything else).

The Evans Head 7-Ways was an interesting bit of an exercise. Arriving at the beach I found, to my great overall joy, that two of the clubs didn’t show up because of the lack of organisational notice in advance. They were Burleigh and Byron. As much as that was a shame in theory, I for one don’t think heats with more than five surfers in them are all that much fun… unless you win, of course.

When I first had a look the surf was only breaking in one tight spot, very small, but very nice shape and conditions. There were 5 people out in the water for the heat and not another soul anywhere else. It was on the minimal side and the twenty minute slots were not always well fed with things to ride. As forecast, conditions improved during the day but not enough to bring any more than five non-competitors out down the beach at any one stage.

The idea of a 5-ways friendly competition was also one I was looking forward to. I was down on the beach taking a few photos of Marg’s heat when one of her competitors came out of the water as it finished. I overheard this girl her telling her mate, with laughter, that every time this one other woman called out which way she was going, this sparkling sport used the info to paddle that woman out of position just for the fun of interfering. She had no intention of catching the wave, just of being unfriendly. I thought that was a pretty lame attitude, especially the laughter, I don’t mind saying.

It turned out that the other woman just trying to let others know which was she was not planning to go, so her competitors could still take advantage of the other shoulder, was named Marg. The spirit of this comp was tested a number of ways. I experienced the very same tactic in my heat but I couldn’t live up to Marg’s role model, letting one particularly offensive person politely know what I thought of his interference and glaring lack of sportsmanship as we exited the water.

Ring-ins were also recruited, especially noticeable in both the Evans Head and Second Wind rosters. The final results, by the way, were Evans Head first, Second Wind second.

Even we got in on the act somewhere, recruiting a junior to surf for us who, I think, got last (he wasn’t a longboarder but had potential and a note from his Dad, Phil Roxburgh). I had barracked for Mick Calnan to surf juniors but Evans Head officials disqualified him. I don’t know why, he had a note from his Dad, Phil, too. Of course in the end that didn’t carry too much weight. Poor Phil Calnan’s heat 13 was cancelled as he was in his comp jersey waiting to paddle out. Not an icon of organisation, this comp. Phil went out anyway. That’s the spirit, mate, don’t take no for an answer!

I’m told that the origins of the 7-Ways once began with just a 2-way between ourselves and Evans Head. It then progressed to a 3-way up to, finally, a 7-ways under Byron’s invitation. I would not mind at all if it went back to being a smaller comp, personally, and I hope it does. Perhaps we could also entertain the idea of having a one on one with another out of area club again. Any thoughts out there?

Behind the scenes your committee is working away at a top celebration in November for the 13th. Tee shirts and artwork were discussed at our last meeting and are close to being finalised. The social girls are really on top of the tasks and Kerry’s spreadsheets are keeping us all on track. Plenty more to be done but it’s getting done so far. Thanks to all!

Speaking of sociality, Marg put together an impromptu social this month for a Fed Hotel dinner (always good value and tucker) and concert at the Alstonville Bowlos where we heard Rick Price, one of Marg’s idols and a one-man Australian musical force. The supporting singer did a devastatingly powerful rendition of the blues classic ‘Crossroads’ and I didn’t even catch his name. Dynamite. Marg came away with an autographed CD just in case you missed it and wanted to hear the latest. Just call Marg! She’s probably listening to it right now.

Recently I sent out a simple survey about what you see on your computer screens when you read this newsletter. The idea is to see whether or not we can consider making use of the ‘border’ areas in our newsletter design.

Chris explains that the reason the borders are there is to allow for different computer screen resolution capacities. Some older computers might not be able to see everything if we use up ‘too much’ of the page. If you are one of those whose screen is filled by the main images and don’t see the blue border with wavy white lines (I see four waves each on the right and left side borders) then you are at risk if we make any future changes and I want to know about it.

So far, everybody that has replied sees the borders that I’ve described. If not, you’d better let me know. This doesn’t mean that change is imminent, just possible (because it involves work).

Speaking of change, this report is done and it’s time for you to move on down the page. Till next month.

Secretary Alan

For all the pics of the Evans Comp click here...

Presidents Report [Top]

A great day was had by all at Evans Head on Saturday for the 7 ways which turned out to be a five ways as Byron & Burleigh failed to show up. Beautiful little waves rolled through for the whole day & along with the sunshine, music & cold beers made for a great day. Thanks to Marg, Mel & Di for the great food. Our club Captain Bruce Wilson did a great job organising the day. We didn't do too well as far as overall results but we were there & all had a good time.

Our club comp on Sunday was a follow on from the 5 Ways but with a bit more swell making for a good day on the beach. Bon Voyage to Frank McWilliams who is off to England for a month. Frank intends to do some shaping while over there no doubt to give the poms something decent to surf on.

A few of our members headed down to the Westlawn Finance race day in Grafton on Thursday as guest of our former President Mick Wilson. All appeared to enjoy themselves especially Marg who cleaned our the bookies. There have been some great waves at Flaty so get our there & enjoy.

President Wazza

Captain’s Report [Top]

Greetings All,

What a difference a day can make with the surf, after checking out Flattie late Saturday afternoon to see it looking like a lake then early on Sunday morning to be greeted with long lines of swell pumping in with some decent size to it.

Once again we had a good line up of members turning up to enjoy the day. It was good to see Chris Bull & Brian Fryer return to the fold.

There was some good surfing put on by the ladies during the morning especially Jan Webster in the second round with a nice right hander that come through while I was out in her heat that just stood up for her to nearly ride it all the way into the beach good one Jan and congratulations on first spot in the fourths. We had Col Harper on fire as well in his heats by taking out first place in thirds. I could hear Eric’s words ringing my ear after my heat when he gave some words of wisdom the day before which I didn’t put into action, thanks Eric.

There was some controversy during the heats with the judging but overall everyone did a great job on the day.

See you at the next club round and may you all be blessed with good waves until then.

Captain Bruce

Results for July 2010:

Firsts – 1. Eric Walker, 2. Frank McWilliams, 3. Wazza, 4. Peter Wilcox, 5. Paul Abbott, 6. Mick Wilson
Seconds – 1. Grant Edwards, 2. Mel Mott, 3. Chris Bull, 4. Alan Rich, 5. Rob House, 6. Dave Zeman
Thirds – 1. Colin Harper, 2. Marg Bryant, 3. Kerry Wilcox, 3. Paul Bioletti, 5. Doug Blackburn, 6. Phil Calnan
Fourths – 1. Jan Webster, 2. Bruce Wilson, 3. Colin Woodbry, 4. Brian Fryer, 5. Gavin Calnan

Click here for all the pics...

Pic of the Month [Top]

This month the Pic of the Month was a tough call with a handful of great choices to make selecting difficult. However, when it comes to taking the Neanderthal cake, Col Harper was the unchallengeable show-stopper (see July comp photo #21 for one of the close runners-up ).

As those at our refrigerated mid-winter comp will know, there was no one more classic than Classic Col. In a flashback to the real 60’s, Col showed off his flash new red wetsuit.

Or did he?

The bright red wetsuit that Col is wearing under his bright yellow comp singlet was, in reality, none other than Col’s bright red WOOL jumper. Shades of yesteryear! When I asked Col later about it he acted like it happens all the time. I think it may actually to him because he then started talking about when he used to wear wool jumpers and so forth as if it was only yesterday, and maybe it was? Whatever makes your toes tingle, son!

Still, I just couldn’t resist prodding him: “when are you going to get a new wetsuit?” You know what he said? Maintaining his classic demeanour, with aplomb and even flair, he just sort of glanced at me with a ‘what-a-stupid-question’ look and matter-of-factly replied, “Whenever Pam knits me one”.

Whoa! What can you say? Our Pic of the Month has to go to Master Stylist, Colin Harper. (Photo by Ev).

MEMBERS PROFILE [Top]

A chat with Margaret Bryant

Age?

61

Family?

Peter, children Jon 32, Meredith 27

Where do you live now?

In paradise – Lennox Head

Why did you end up where you are now, how and when?

Left Goulburn 15 years ago and never looked back

What is your current job: 

Book keeping for our tea tree farm

What is the best job you ever had?

Office Manager at Flat Rock

How old were you when you started surfing?

15 till I was 20 then a big break and started again at 47

Where was that and why?

At Durras because Peter taught me and bought me my first board at 16

Did your parents surf?

No never

Which is your best foot forward?

Left

What is your favourite type of wave?

3-4ft peelers - no close-outs

Where are your favourite surf spot(s)?

Flat Rock, Lennox Beach, Arrawarra, Woolgoolga

Where do you surf locally and when?

Every morn (if possible) at Flattie or Lennox

How many surfers does it take to make a crowd at flat rock?

Depends who they are but say 10-16.

Have you surfed many different places? For instance…?

New Zealand (4 times), Samoa, Maldives, Hawaii, and lots of places along the East Coast

Where and when was the best surf you ever had?

Well now?? Last Wed at Lennox, Woopi in April, and NZ lots of good waves

What was your best surf holiday?

In our caravan at Woopi and in New Zealand with Eric and Chris

Describe one of the most memorable waves you’ve ever ridden:

6’ Medewi

Who is the best surfer you’ve ever been out in the water with?

Beau Young and Eric of course

Who is the best surfer you’ve ever ridden the same wave with?

Eric because he has dropped in on me Ha Ha !!!!

What is your nickname and how did you get it?

Marg, Margie anything but Marge

Marg going for a drive at Evans Head

Why did you decide to join the club?

Social contact and improve my surfing

Name your favourite surfing movies and why:

The Art of Longboarding, Adrift, Surfing for Life (inspiration)

What kind(s) of other movies do you like?

Funny, romantic, true stories

What kind(s) of music do you like?

Classical, cruisy, not loud – oh except if it’s home alone with Endrea Bocelli

What is/are your favourite tv show(s)?

Australia Story - don’t watch TV much at all

Besides surfing, what is/are your favourite sports?

More surfing and walking Maddie (the dog)

What else interests you and why (besides surfing)?

Family, cooking , travelling in our caravan

What is your pet peeve?

Unfriendly/ greedy people in the surf.

What do you love most?

Happy times in the surf and being with our children

What is/are your favourite food(s)?

Mmmm I think mint crusted lamb fillets from Lennox Butchery

When you drink, what do you have?

G &T n the summer and a glass of red sometimes

When you pay?

Same

When I pay?

Same

What are the details of the surfboards you like to ride the most?

My 9’6” Farrelly shaped by Gary Burden

What kind of board you are thinking about getting next?

Same (just got it)

Who are your favourite surfers and why?

Melissa Combo, Joel Tudor and Eric

Who are your nominees for the top 10 surfers (more or less) during your lifetime and why?

Midget, Joel Tudor, Beau Young, Wingnut Weaver.

What have been your best competition results?

1^st All Girls L/B div (twice) 2^nd World Masters(NZ)2^nd in div 2 at BMC

What do you like most about competing?

Improving my surfing and challenging myself

Are you a soul surfer at heart?

Yes nothing better than Flattie with a few friends sharing waves

What would be your dream surf trip?

3months travelling up and down East Coast Aus. with Peter and Maddie

How much time do you spend in the water?

An hour hour/half every day would be ideal (injuries permitting)

Is that enough?

Yes

THANKS, MARG!

BMC’s Big Day Out at The Westlawn Cup [Top]

Marg and Pete had the same good feeling coming over the hill as I did when I asked them later. I guess surfers don’t like to miss it, even if we’d probably all have been better off by everybody else surfing themselves out. Funny that.

Arriving at the Westlawn offices and bus stop, my eyes caught sight of our normally motley crew. They’d had a sartorial transformation for our Day at The Races. It was a most unfamiliar sight.

Financial Kingpin, one Mick Wilson, had organised a bus to the Westfield Cup day at the Grafton races, as you’d been told, and a full day was a’ waiting. We climbed onto the bus and headed south amid an array of sangas and Goldies and at the back a crew of financial refugees seeking merrier fields, come hell or high water.

It was an eventless journey; the only drama was the bridge into Grafton. It has to be one of the narrowest in the world for its length and 2-way traffic. Not that I hadn’t done it before, just not on a full-size bus with a perfectly perched view of the old-fashioned angled turns, rusty bolts, crack-laden concrete edges and the mighty Clarence below. It was a new perspective and fortunately a fleeting one.

We arrived at the track ready to become instant millionaires. The rain in Ballina, as usual, was left well behind and a good day was ready to be had. This time I brought along the camera, thanks to Ev remembering, and put together a small photo album of the Ballina Malibu Club’s day in Grafton at the Westlawn Cup for you.

The Westlawn Cup Photo Album by Alan and Ev

Mista Walka was a starter and looking every bit the goods. We all knew that Eric was going to be the key to our day’s fortunes. Not only did he look like he knew what he was doing, he seemed to have hush-hush connections as he quietly worked his mobile phone during the bus ride down. We weren’t sure if he was joking or really was trying to get calls through to the jockey’s enclosure, but we were prepared to believe just by taking one look at the ‘new’ Eric, a person that now bore scant resemblance to the surfer on the blue and brown board that just yesterday we thought we knew….

Ah, the spectacle of thoroughbreds rushing headlong for the finish. (My money’s somewhere to the right of this picture.)

Eric, below, once again contemplating his chances while Pete seems to be taking things very seriously. It seems that our Eric has more than one string to his bow. His past life at the track (past?) isn’t widely talked about but, casually clenching a fistful of dollars, he let on in his understated way, “I’ve ridden a few here before”.

Oh, really?

Dapper Walker makes his move and cash changes hands. Bookies beware! With a bloke looking like this you’d be wise to pay out no matter where the nag finishes. I think it was the sunnies that capped off his style, actually. I never saw him take them off; rain or shine, indoors or out.

Unfortunately for Eric though, I didn’t get a chance to get a picture of him with the cash being handed over the other way.

Here’s another lovely photo of one of my better races. That’s my horse coming in fifth. Don’t laugh, it could be worse. Oh, yeeess….

Winners are grinners! Ev tipped a horse to Marg that they both won on. The name, Electric Field, sounded right. Of course it does. Marg reckons her picks came in on six of the races. Unquestionably our most successful member of the day trackside.

However, one of Westlawn’s financial ladies (from the back of the bus) plonked $2 down on Galliano Bay’s nose as soon as we arrived and came away with $90 we heard. A long shot that Ev almost bet on (because Ev has a soft spot for Galliano). But of course she didn’t.

I had two methods I was working at the track. The first one came to me in my second race where, disgruntled with the rubbish result of the previous run, I put $2 to win on Yogi. It was the shortest odds horse I could find hoping to get something across the line. Everybody else thought it’d win so why not go with the flow? Well, it worked. A winner! Yeah! Six whole bucks!!

After that method stopped paying dividends (starting with the next race) I tried putting money on 3 or 4 horses hoping to improve my odds if not my ‘profit’.

In race 7 there about a dozen starters so I ‘wisely’ put money on three of them. It was a fit of either confidence or desperation. Something funny was going on with Condi’s odds so Wazza and I put some on it in the hopes that the race was rigged and we’d ride the gravy train too. I also had money each way on Handsome Dane because Ev has some of that on her Mum’s side and I thought this was extremely smart money. There also was good talk about a short odds favourite named Galleriaborghese. Ev and I took each way bets on her.

This photo is of Galleriaborghese crossing the finish line, not seven lengths ahead but rather far behind following a very suss ‘mishap’ at the starting gate where Galleriaborghese got delayed.

When the rotten nag eventually took off, so far back it wasn’t funny, a widespread and rousing cheer roared up from the crowd. No chance of ‘em making up the ground at that stage, at least not without a plane. Naw, not even with a plane, I reckon.

If you look carefully (with a magnifying glass) at this inset from the top left of the previous picture you can just barely see the rest of the field way ahead in the distance.

This horse, the one with the short odds, never really got out of the gates and we did our dough with plenty of company I guess. The closest we got was with Condi, in fourth and out of the money. If the race was rigged they didn’t do a very good job of it.

It wasn’t the result we had bet on but I guess if you’re going to lose, do it right.

After a full day of making many important investment decisions a happy Ballina Malibu Club ‘Team Westlawn Cup’ poses for a photo finish. (A far cry from the day before when most of the suits were wet ones.)

We shuffled the short distance back to the bus (where we waited a half an hour for the financial crew to finish betting on other race meetings around the state) and made ourselves comfortable with more XXXX and sangas courtesy of Westlawn Ballina’s head honcho, Mick.

I said to Eric that he was lucky that it was school holidays so he didn’t have to work on the day. He reflected that he wasn’t so sure about that, he probably would have been heaps better off if he had been driving the bus instead of riding in it. For all the killer looks and connections, none of his horses came home.

One wonders, if only there had been a ‘Grey Ghost’ on the card we all could’ve backed him to the hilt and made our fortunes! (But afterwards I began to ask myself, where did he inherit a name like ‘walker’ from anyway?)

I can’t talk though. If anyone asks me how my horse went I can honestly give that proverbial answer, “Dunno; it’s prob’ly still running….”

Thanks Mick, thanks Westlawn.

Petrol-heads Paradise [Top]

This came to my attention recently from a mate that sent me an email full of classic photos. I went online and found them on a site from which you can download them quickly and easily for yourself. This is about the woody, the definitive surf transportation vehicle of the longboard era. I’ve reproduced the story below from another web site. Here is the link to photos of a whole bunch of cars at the intersection of Memory Lane and the Coast Highway. Roll on!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466583

Wild world of woodies: wagons, coupes, & convertibles

By Jim Cherry

Originally all cars were built with wooden framework supporting their bodywork. A steel outer skin protected occupants from the outside world. A need was soon recognized for a "station hack" or car to take passengers to and from train stations and hotels, and the woody was born. It made perfect sense to leave the wooden part of the car's body exposed as these were limited production specialty vehicles and tooling up to produce steel outer bodies would have been prohibitively expensive. Later, as people came to like the style, sedans, coupes and convertiibles were also produced with partially wooden bodies.

A simple, cost-effiective expendiency created what is no doubt after convertibles, the most sought after body style of classic cars. It was not always so. Woodies were largely forgotten as creaky old crates nobody wanted until California surfers adopted the practical, roomy rigs in the 1950s and 1960s and made them cool. The last true wood-bodied wagon produced was a 1953 Buick. Since then, carmakers have faked the look with plastic framing and woodgrain decals on a bewildering array of models.
After the hey day of surf culture in the 1960s woodies gradually insinuated themselves into the car collecting culture until their prices reached six figures. RM Auctions handled the sale of Nick Phillips' legendary woody collection at Pebble Beach 2009. The properly restored and/or preserved collection of 52 cars brought in 7 million dollars by the time the last gavel struck. A 1946 Ford Deluxe Sportsman converitble brought $275,000.

Today woodies are so hot, and have been so for so long, it's all but impossible to find an unrestored original. And restored examples fetch very high prices indeed. They attract crowds at car shows from coast to coast as most everyone seems to favor the station hacks of America's past.
From: http://www.examiner.com/x-6882-Classic-Autos-Examiner~y2010m6d17-Wonderful-world-of-woodies-wagons-coupes--convertibles

PARTY HARDY [Top]

This month biggest congratulations are in order to our favourite Club Captain, Nurseryman and FIRST-TIME GRANDFATHER, Bruce Wilson. He reports that the birthday was on July first. Unfortunately Bruce was so stoked that he forgot to say whether it was a boy or a girl but it was his daughter’s. We’d like to say ‘well done’ to you, Bruce, glad to know that you were able to make it down to Sydney to be there for the big occasion.

And, not to be forgotten, members with recent or upcoming birthdays include Gavin Calnan, Steve Watts and Gary Burden. Party hardy, one and all!

A RUNNER-UP PIC OF THE MONTH [Top]

Wanna find a horse head in your bed? (photo by Ev)

Classifieds [Top]

Board for sale: Free Flight 9’1”x 22 ½”x 2 ¾”

Has only been ridden about half a dozen times, there are two small dings; one on the tail & the other on the bottom hardly noticeable. Asking price $400 with board bag & leg rope, without board bag & leg rope $375 or nearest offer. Contact Bruce Wilson on 0427 789 331 or Email brucewilson88@bigpond.com