HELLS ANGELS ANZAC DAY POKER RUN

Sadly the 22nd running of this icon of motorcycling in Australia was marred by a number of members of a group that gate-crashed the event. In the early stages of the run and ignoring the wet weather conditions of the day, which all motorcyclists know present extra hazards, some of these people showed a flagrant disregard for the safety and wellbeing of the invited riders as they forced their way into the rear of the ride, their unwarranted attempts to get in behind bikers that were deep in the middle of a tightly packed group of riders that included women, children as pillions and in a couple of instances, even the family dog, can only be described as completely over the top and bloody dangerous. This was not an isolated event and was followed by them forcing their bikes and cars a number of times into the lines of riders as they rode through the streets during the run, the ensuing mayhem caused by these actions were not only extremely dangerous to the riders but also to other road users and pedestrians, groups of riders numbering up to a hundred at least were forced to stop for up to twenty minutes at a time, as a result entire lanes of roads were congested with stationary bikes and riders, combine that with a number of intersections being blocked off, well even blind Freddy could see the potential for a serious traffic accident was rising exponentially as each of these incidents occurred.

But did this deter them? No!! Of course not, and for no justifiable reason they continued to race up and down the lines of riders at speeds well in excess of the posted limits. If you were not there that day, no doubt, by now you are probably wondering who this group of hooligans was, well, surprise, surprise, it was none other than some of our illustrious NSW Police Force, now, if you think I might have been prone to a bit of exaggeration in describing what I saw from my place in the run, you can rest assured that this was only a portion of the debacle that occurred on Anzac Day, as anyone of the hundreds of people on the run and even members of the public at the pub stops can truthfully testify. Oh, and by the way I forgot to mention that in addition to the horde of police in or on a couple of dozen or more police cars and motorcycles, they also had at least one chopper flying circles around us for about 6 hours chewing up a shit load more of our taxpayers dollars.

No doubt there was a lot of back slapping and war stories being told at the Police Station that night, however, its my opinion, that, in light of the events that transpired on the day, a number of people need to be made accountable and then sacked, for either conceiving the idea, or approving and enacting it, and last but not least, with every one of the police involved in the Anzac Day debacle having committed, or by their inaction as a superior officer, condoned the large number of dangerous and unjustified traffic offences occurred by themselves, they should all be given hefty fines and lose their licences, after all, they do it to us. Or are they above the laws that they are supposed to enforce?

OK, having said all that, heres a few pics of people enjoying themselves despite attempts to discourage them from doing so.

I can only describe it as very shabby behaviour, and on Anzac Day of all times, certainly nothing to be proud of, and certainly not befitting the ideals that Aussies and Kiwis so proudly fought for, and, sadly died for. With the police’s credibility already at rock bottom, this handful of its members managed to dig a hole big enough to bury it completely. A sad day for other members of the Police Force who are trying to do the right thing, and an even sadder one in the annals of Anzac Day.

Thanks HAMC Sydney Chapter, and all the riders who saw the run through. See you again next year.