abc - bloke on the bike

I crossed paths with an ABC show last sunday called LandLine, on which there was a bloke travelling around the country on a drought relief "say g'day" tour. At the moment he's riding a bmw 12adv kitted out for radio broadcast from the road, so he has a full set of mikes, mixers, laptop and transmission gear on this thing and he does stories from across the big brown land.

Noticed on the website that he's been doing this for quite a while, and the 2002 page shows him proudly on an 1150. Seems to have a few stories to tell if you're interested, and there are lots of pics of the bike throughout the country if you farm the site.

(current one 2008)
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2007/s2156047.htm

(previous stories 2002/01)
http://www.abc.net.au/bloke/

On top of all that, he carries enough camera equipment to train the local people in tv and radio broadcasting. Be an interesting chap to meet I reckon - our (better) version of ewan and charlie has been doing it for a lot longer.

also look for his book, "Not all Ringers & Cowboys" it's great

His Names Drew Radford.... If you go back to about '98-99 he did a radio doco for JJJ called "Asian Welding Tails" as he rode the Silk Road route from the UK back to Oz on a late 80's XT600 Tenere, it's available as a tape (CD to I guess) from ABC shops. It's a top yarn from a bloke that's ego fits in his wallet.... not his top box. Obviously his doco predates Long Way Round which is nice.

Hi followed that one up with anouther ABC radio doc called 1/2 way round, in which he road 1/2 way round OZ inteviewing local in the western states, also available at ABC shops..

He did a bit of promo work for BMW OZ when the 1150 Adv came out and I think they now sponser him, or did

.... Drew, If your Lurking out there pipe up and fill in the blanks for us,

Top bloke. He's often on Australia All Over (ABC radio Sunday mornings)Well worth listening to. Has some great stories.

Thanks for the info and links Bonox, I had not heard of this guy. I used to listen to australia all over on sundays but the family objected too much.

+1

Hats off to this guy.
He managed to get the ABC to lease him a brand new 1150 to ride around Australia with the pretence of doing a few radio and TV bits. Looks like he's done it again.
I recommend Not All Cowboys and Ringers as well. It’s a good read.
Paul.

He was in Adelaide(he lives there) at the BMW dealer release of the new F650GS earlier in the year.
He was doing figure 8s in the car park on a 1200ADV.
Knows how to ride.

I bought the book that day.

I met Drew in 2001 after a quick trip to Darwin-Broome-Perth then home to Bendigo in sixteen riding days (800Ks a day average). He was in Bendigo at the time and chased me down the day after my return to ask me why. A very interesting person, very well equiped with a motorcyclists dream job, riding someone elses motorcycle and being paid for it.
John S

funny, i'm in the middle of reading his book. not a bad read. wouldn't it be nice to do what he did.

Apparently the book is out of print. But I do know that BMW on Glen Osmond Rd (Adelaide) has copies. If you give them a call I'm sure you could come to some sort of arrangement.

Yeah, BMW in Adelaide sell them for Drew. Thats where I got mine.
They make no money on the deal. Had to be cash, no cards.

Yep yep, that was the deal.

Im currently reading it aswell picked it up few weeks back at a book store in Victoria Gardens in Richmond for only $5.

I've been trying to buy that book for months.

Thanks for the tips.

+1 It's a great read

i was ripped off.