Every drop counts in fight against clock
On a cold Sunday morning in July, 30 motorcycle riders with their lightest throttle hand, congregated at the Engen Filling Station at Rocky Drift in order to participate in the fifth Half Day Motorcycle Economy Run hosted by the Sabie Valley Rider Academy.
At the start the level of fuel in each motorcycle was measured and the riders were issued with a route schedule, either a tar route of 204km that routed the participants via Kaapsehoop and Sudwala Caves to the final refuel in Sabie, or a dirt route of 107km that took the dust-covered riders past Rhenosterhoek, Misty Mountain and then Horseshoe Falls to Sabie.
The aim was to complete the route in the allocated time constantly calculating distance and time, to use the least amount of fuel in the distance and in the given time. Clocking in late was not recommended as each minute-late check-in incurred a 500ml fuel penalty that got added to your fuel used during the event. Refuelling at the Caltex in Sabie had a lot of riders eyeing the pump anxiously as the fuel was trickled into the tank to the same level as measured at the start.
The Sabie Brewing Co situated conveniently across the road from Caltex, hosted the frugal riders for a well-deserved cold one and lunch while the organisers calculated the placings.
With the results, Thomas Böhm handed out prizes consisting of accommodation and rider-training vouchers that where sponsored by The Windmill Cottages and the Sabie Valley Rider Academy with the winning couple …. on a BMW F800GS from Maputo taking the honours with a fuel consumption of 3.082l/100km.
Tobie and Betsie Klopper took second place on a BMW R1200RT 3.554l/100km and local dentist Canzius Pretorius third place on a BMW R1200GSA LC with a consumption of 4.092l/100km.
For more information on events and training courses offered by the Sabie Valley Rider Academy, please visit www.rideracademy.co.za
Results: Top three
1. Malte and Thekla Engelien on a BMW F800 – 3.082lt/100km
2. Tobie and Betsie Kloppers on a BMW 1200 RT – 3.554lt/100km
3. Canzuis Pretorius on a BMW R1200GSA LC – 4.092lt/100km.
