Defence & Doctors Supporting The Long Ride


There's been more media coverage regarding the Long Ride, this time in the Canberra Times (March 5, 2013), see below.

Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson and Vice Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin may seem an unlikely pair of easyriders but they both love their motor bikes.

The two 50-somethings (Dr Nelson was born in 1958 and Air Marshal Binskin in 1960) were like a pair of boys with a new toy when they had the chance to sit on a classic 1944 ex-army Indian motorbike at Russell Offices on Monday.



Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin,

sits on the classic WWII era Indian motorcycle and

Australian War Memorial Director, Dr Brendan Nelson,

standing. Photo: Supplied



The forgotten American marque, made famous again by the Anthony Hopkins film The World's Fastest Indian, was once a serious rival to Harley-Davidson in terms of style, performance and prestige. The Russell Indian, a model 148, is a lightweight affair intended to be used by airborne troops. It even retains its parachute rings.

Dr Nelson had arranged for the Indian, together with a much heavier Harley-Davidson WLA, to be displayed at Russell Offices to part of support from both the Australian Defence Forces and the Australian War Memorial for this year's ''Long Ride'' to promote prostate cancer awareness.

An annual event, the ride supports the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. This year bikers from all over the country will set out on May 4 with the intention of converging on Cairns on May 11.

Organiser Chris Dunne, who left the RAAF in 2004 before spending another eight years in the reserves, told Gang Gang at least 350 bikers would be taking part

Air Marshal Binskin, who worked with Mr Dunne many years ago when they were both at 77 Squadron, will be among the participants. He will hit the road aboard his BMW 1200 GS for the first couple of days but, due to work commitments, won't be able to ride all the way to Cairns.

The 1200GS is the same model bike Ewan McGregor rode in his travels in the television series The Long Way Down and the successor to the 1150 GS machines he and Charley Boorman used for The Long Way Round.

''It is the perfect bike for Australian conditions,'' said Air Marshal Binskin, who has logged an impressive 3500 hours in single-seater fighter jets including Mirages and F/A-18 Hornets.

His choice of bike may have been influenced by the fact he competed in motocross as a teenager before joining the Royal Australian Navy where he flew Skyhawks before transferring to the RAAF.

''I have got back into [biking] in the last few years,'' he said.

''I enjoy the camaraderie and the fact that so many more people are riding.

''A lot more women are enjoying bikes now, and not just as pillion passengers.''

His wife, Gitte, who rides a BMW 650, is one of them.

Dr Nelson, who says he never goes above 110km/h, is more cafe racer than off-road adventurer.

His current rocket sled, a Suzuki GSX 1300 Hayabusa, is capable of 303km/h. This is the same speed the hayabusa, Japan's peregrine falcon, is said to reach when it dives at its prey.

For Dr Nelson, a former federal president of the Australian Medical Association and former Liberal politician, the need for speed dates back to the 1970s when, as an impoverished medical student, he could afford only two wheels rather than four. He owned a 1976 Honda CB 750. The first genuine superbike, it could top 200km/h and out-accelerate a Falcon GT.

''I do wish I'd kept it,'' he said.

All of the Long Ride participants are hoping to raise at least $1000 each for the charity.