The Worst Kind of Weekend Trip Report

A Tragic Motorcycle Ride in Queensland, Australia

My neighbour just took delivery of his new (probably the first in Australia) Ducati 999 and the plan was to go for a run on Saturday morning. In spite of a heavy night on Friday night catching up with an old mate now living in New Zealand, there was no way that I was going to miss out on the ride.

We left a 6 am in glorious sunshine, quick fill-up at the local BP and then on out to Dayborough where we met Scott (R1150R). The group now totalled about 3 Dukes, 1 BMW and 3 or 4 Japs, a mix of R1's and R6's and of course the Aprilia. A quick smoke for those that do that sort of thing and on up into the mountains over Mount Mee to meet the last of the guys to join the group. We met them just outside Kilkoy and after brief greetings we started off on the last section through the hills to Maleny for breakfast.

About 5 km's after leaving, I was riding second last in the pack with the front runners a good 500 to 600 meters ahead of me. Just ahead of me was the 999 and the Kawasaki (I think). They rounded a left hander and momentarily were out of my sight. When I came around the corner, there was shit flying everywhere with a bakkie and trailer approaching in the opposite lane. At first I thought the "stuff" were leaves from the trees but within a split second I realised these were pieces of motorbike. Braking hard I passed the bakkie now almost stopped on my right followed by the bike lying in the ditch on the left and some meters further the rider also lying in the ditch.

The Duke was about 150 meters further up the road also pulling up. Scott on the BMW also braking hard but stopped about 50 meters ahead of me. I got off the bike and started running back to the crash site whilst digging in my jacket for my cell phone (I hate the friggin' things but they uses at times like this). By this time the driver of the bakkie had stopped and was coming towards me also trying to phone.

It is all a bit of a blur at this stage but to cut a long story short, Mark was lying on his back on the ditch next to the road. He was not good at all and I could see that one leg and his left arm looked broken. I knelt next to him and sort of tried to calm him and told him not to try and move although I'm not sure he actually heard or understood anything. Scott came running up followed by Kim (999 rider). The bakkie driver was not getting any reception so I went over to see if my phone would work. Scott staying with Mark. My phone worked and we got onto the emergency services. A car stopped with three ladies. Then another bakkie then another car with a woman who knew CPR. She came over to see if she could help. All the time we had the emergency services on the line with them giving instructions. Scott by this time had tried to stop the bleeding and there was very little reaction any more from Mark. Under instruction from the emergency services I took his helmet off so that we could monitor his breathing and start CPR. It was then that we realised he had died. About 8am, ten minutes after the accident.

I have left out some of the more graphic details of body parts lying in the road and blood etc. Suffice to say this was an experience I never want to go through again. The damage to the bakkie and trailer was unbeliveable. He had hit the back section of the bakkie just before hitting the trailer full on. It was a really heavy duty double axle trailer and looked like you could transport a tractor on it if you wanted to. Well, both axles were broken, two wheels were off the trailer, the tow hitch had broken (!) and the trailer had come off completely loose from the bakkie. Fortunately for Scott and I the trailer had gone off the road to the left and not ended up in the road (in our path). The right back tyre of the bakkie had a gouge in it and even this rim was broken. There were bike parts everywhere, from springs and wires and bits of instruments, windscreen, and plastic and God nows what all.

It took about another ten minutes for the police and ambulance to arrive. We sort of hung around till they said we could leave. By this time the rest of the group had heard the news and they were waiting for us in Maleny. We joined up with them, the mood somewhat sombre. The rest of the ride was cancelled and we split up into smaller groups each choosing their own route back home.

I didn't know Mark at all, just shook his hand when we met some ten minutes before the accident. In retrospect, as sad and tragic as this incident is, at least he was doing something he really loved. Imagine sitting on your stoep one day, 90 years old and never having raced a rally car, flown a glider, ridden a bike, skiied a black slope, etc, etc. Nah, better to do this stuff, accept the risk but take care. Don't be reckless. Ride within your comfort zone, not someone else's.

Thanks for listening, I needed to get that off my chest.

Please, okes, take care out there.

CHARLES