Spotlight
Ride Guide’s Biker of the Month
Bio – Rod ‘Wulfe Ryder’ Brown
Born at a very young age in Melbourne in 1969, Rod Brown grew up primarily in and around farming communities where he first discovered the pleasure associated with being outdoors. It was this enjoyment which led him to gaining an affinity with bushcraft and the Native American Culture. It was through his interest in the Native Americans that he discovered his own ‘Spirit Guides’ – the Eagle, symbolizing freedom and the Wolf, symbolizing survival.
Rod has spent many weekends camping, first with the family as a child and in his four years as a Scout in his then home town of Warragul in Victoria’s Gippsland region. It was here that he first experienced practical bushcraft and his natural abilities saw him rising quickly through the ranks to become a patrol leader, skipping over others who had been in longer and who had been in Cubs beforehand.
In his early teens he was ‘lucky’ that his mother got remarried to a then Army Sargent from Victoria’s Wimmera District who expanded Rod’s horizon’s to include small game hunting and told him stories of his involvement with an Australian Army assisted exploration in the hunt for the fabled Lassister’s lost gold reef in Central Australia.
This planted a seed which slowly germinated over the years
Not long after this Rod discovered trailbikes and trailbike adventure touring and the enjoyment associated with actually being a part of the environment and not just watching it go by through a car’s windscreen. It was through this freedom that he started exploring and discovering more of Australia, but being new to the game and not knowing other adventure riders to ask questions of he made plenty of mistakes. This led him into chasing down as much information as possible regarding the best ways to set up his bike safely.
In 1993, not long after moving to Queensland he was lucky enough to land what would have the perfect job in a camping store. Ironically he was too busy working in the camping industry to actually go out camping as much as he would have liked. The plus side of this was that it empowered him with a wealth of updated knowledge in regards to camping and hiking products and also gave him access to suppliers and distributors.
This in turn worked in his favor when in 2003 Rod landed a reviewing and writing gig for the Federation of Off Highway Vehicles (F.O.H.V.A.) a newly established organization who’s main aim was to facilitate and help keep open current riding areas which are slowly being closed down due to bureaucracy. Unfortunately the organization was taken over by Motorcycling Australia and then promptly buried soon after.
But this had given him self confidence in his own abilities as a writer
After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, Rod bit the bullet and mass emailed every Australian trailbike magazine he could find.
And received nothing in return!
He waited a month or so and tried again, but also to no avail.
When he noticed a change of editor at TrailBike Adventure Magazine (TBAM) he once again hit the send button but didn’t expect much to come of it. Fortunately the new editor saw a spark of promise in Rod and even though spare pages where at a premium, he offered Rod a shot at writing camping and hiking product reviews. Seeing his big chance, Rod promptly proved himself and is still writing for TBAM.
Rod is currently working on two new books – the first being a work of pure Action/Erotic fiction called ‘The Southern Bank’ and the second being about his search for the legendary ‘Brisbane Line’ – a Second World War defence proposal in which many believe that if it was to go ahead, the plan was to ‘give up’ the northern areas of Australia to possible Japanese invasion until it was viable for the allied armies to take it back. If all goes to plan he and a small group of friends plan on riding from site to site in South East Queensland and then up to FNQ.
He has also taken with incorporating the ‘Wulfe Ryder’ tag in his name to celebrate his ancestry – Finnish, Native American (still checkin’ on that one), French, Irish, Scottish, English, Kiwi and Aussie, his affinity with the Wolf and the fact that he ‘rides a bloody bike’.
It is also through this ‘mongrel’ heritage that he believes that “through me runs the blood of warriors and poets!”
Executive Summary
‘WulfePak Productions’ is designed to be a multi faceted business. Initially, it is to be the vehicle with which to publicise and distribute my recently published book ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams – A Poormans Adventure Touring Guide’ to bookstores, motorbike shops and my through my current employer Australian Way P/L, who own/run the souvenir stores and newsagents in every major airport, both domestic and international in Australia and has recently opened stores in New Zealand airports.
As well as publicizing and distributing ‘Dirtbike And Dreams’, ‘WulfePak Productions’ is also to be used to assist with coordinating the logistics of further rides which will be turned into subsequent books – ‘Doing A Line’ and ‘Zero To 55’ among others!
It is also my intention that all official rides conducted under the name of ‘WulfePak Productions’ will also be used as a charity to help raise funds, either for victims whose lives have been decimated as a result of bush fires or another as yet undecided cause. Whether it will be under a side banner or in conjunction with an already established charitable organization is yet to be decided.
‘WulfePak Productions’ is a home based business, located in the Brisbane suburb of Carina Heights, and will be solely owned and operated by myself, Rod ‘Wulfe Ryder’ Brown. The ‘Wulfe Ryder’ name has long been known around trailbike adventure riding circles and ‘WulfePak Productions’ is also becoming synonymous with it as I have been writing under that banner for a few years now in preparation for this eventuality.
It is my firm belief that with my 20 years of trailbike adventure touring experience, many more years camping and hiking, four years in Scouts, small game hunting, being associated with the army through family members and friends, working and managing a camping store for seven years, plus writing product reviews for the Federation of Off Highway Vehicles (F.O.H.V.A.), TrailBike Adventure Magazine (TBAM), and currently being a contracted contributor for the sundaymorningrides.com website on where I review all products motorcycle related.
All this leaves me in the remarkable position of knowing what is needed by the riders themselves but not having a narrow view on solely trailbike related equipment.
‘WulfePak Productions’ started off as a dream – a dream to have my own series of trailbike based adventure books. The majority of trailbike adventure type books are along the lines of ‘I did this trip – A to B – and this is what happened along the way’ but without much in the way of practical information for the reader. My idea was to start from scratch with the first book informing the reader on how to set both themselves and their bike up for the journey.
And ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams – A Poormans Adventure Touring Guide’ was born!
Phase One
To start up ‘WulfePak Productions’ as a viable business! Currently ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ is only available as ‘Print On Demand’ through the lulu.com website and it is my intention to act as distributor for both it and subsequent books/projects.
Planning for book two, ‘Doing A Line’ (see 1.2 – Products), is nearly finalised. Locations are identified for the first leg (Brisbane, Maryborough, Miles, and Tenterfield) and a final meeting with fellow riders is all that is required. Leg two (Cairns, Townsville) is in final preparations. I am in contact with two fellow riders in the Cairns area who are running reconnaissance rides in preparation to my arrival. They are also contacting other riders for information in regards to possible rumored ‘hidden’ bunkers and sites.
Initial planning and pre-publicity for book three – ‘Zero To 55’ is already underway. See 1.2 – Products.
Phase Two
To buy copies of ‘Dirtbike And Dreams’ for sale through bookstores, motorbike shops, Airports Australia wide, adventure touring companies, distribution for book signings and also send out copies for review to magazines such as Freerider, Australasian Dirtbike, Dirt Action, Trailrider, Two Wheels, Biker Ally, Adventure Motorcycle, and Dirtbike Rider. Also planned are review copies to be sent out to various newspapers such as the Sunday Mail, Courier Mail, Bayside Bulletin, Redland Times, Warragul Gazette, West Gippsland Trader, Dimboola Banner, Wimmera Messenger, Horsham Weekly Advertiser, Wimmera Mail Times, South East Advertiser, Barossa and Light Herald and the Wynnum Herald.
‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ has already been reviewed in Trailbike Adventure, Motorcycle Trader and Trailzone magazines.
Final preparations for Angus and Roberts book store signing – publicity, posters, invites to contacts at motorbike magazines for possible coverage. Also invites to be sent to managers of motorbike stores with the goal of getting them to stock ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ and following publications in their stores.
Adrian Knox (Ado from the television show BlokesWorld) has also shown interest in ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams!’ If the book store will allow it I am hoping to get television coverage as well.
Phase Three
Final preparations for book two’s ride – ‘Doing A Line’. Initial time line is for part one of ride to take part during September 5th 2009 until around September 11th. Part two is to take part around the Cairns/Townsville area from around the 19th Sept to the 25th September with the bike being transported to Cairns in the interim period.
Phase Four
Pre-publicity for ‘Doing A Line’. Collating, writing and editing of ‘Doing A Line’ for release onto the market by October/November 2010. Book to be sold in same stores as ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ + any additional stores that would suit a more historical, research style of book.
Phase Five
Publish ‘Doing A Line’. Continued publicity and review copies to be sent out to willing parties who reviewed ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ PLUS others with more historical and military reader base.
Final logistical preparations for book three ‘Zero To 55’. Ride to take place from September 11th 2011 to October 13th 2011. Initial locations and stop-overs are already established. In Barrie, Ontario I intend to stay with a gentleman who also conducts trailbike adventure tours in South Africa which will facilitate matters for book four.
Phase Six
Collating, writing and editing of ‘Zero To 55’ for release onto the market by October/November 2012.
Pre preparations for book four to be conducted at the same time.
Phase Seven
Publish ‘Zero To 55’ Continued publicity and review copies sent to previous reviewers.
Final logistical preparations for ride/book four. Update and re-publish ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ including updated ideas and concepts including travelling in a foreign country.
During these phases I also intend to be looking at options for other rides/books. I also have it in mind to be to be looking at other options/ideas/products to be incorporated under the ‘WulfePak Productions’ banner.
Also in the initial stages is a possible trailbike adventure documentary style which I am planning on taking to both SBS and Aurora TV initially. I’ve have big ideas for this show, but I realize that no matter how big the idea is I still need to start small to get ‘a foot in the door’ so to speak!
I am also in the process of writing an adventure/erotica novel as a side project. Due to my own personal observations while working in connection with the news-agents at the International Airport, I have noticed that short, gripping novels of this type have a large turn-over!
This is intended to be purely be a money spinner to also help with financing the main body of ‘WulfePak Productions’!
1.2 Products
‘WulfePak Productions’ is not intended to be limited to just the research, writing and distribution of my own trailbike based adventure books/guides. The very nature of a production company means there is ample opportunity to diversify into a wide range of projects including the manufacture and sales of bike related equipment and merchandise, calendars, clothing, promotions, public relations and possibly television by way of a Leyland Brothers/Harry Butler/Bush Tucker Man hybrid centred around a group of families and their love of trailbike adventure touring.
A few of the additional ideas/plans are –
A range of ‘Run With The WulfePak’ t-shirts, caps, shemagh’s and clothing. I figure the big names like Thor, Fox, No Fear etc had to start somewhere. I’m planning to start off small, WulfePak brand t-shirts with riders’ alternative names on the back, Wulfe Ryder, Hunter, Wild Man and the like. I know enough riders to get a good start in this enterprise. The caps would also be along the same lines, but with ‘I Run With The Wulfe Pak!’ on the front.
I have already sourced a clothing printing company that specializes in small print runs and have already taken a few pre-orders and it is planned to launch the range of T’s at the book signing.
An adventure trailbike calendar – Utilizing both mine and fellow riders bikes, a close friend who is a professional photographer, and a huge range of lightweight touring gear I have amassed through-out my reviewing career.
A trailbike rider/adventure tourer friendly map carrying system – quite often it is impractical for the adventure rider to carry a tankbag due to excess weight so I’ve developed an alternative map carrying system.
Book One (in print as of Nov 2008)
‘Dirtbikes And Dreams – A Poormans Adventure Touring Guide’
‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ is a guide for the trailbike adventure tourer, either those new to the adventure or those veterans wanting to relive, and is intended to help show the rider the easiest methods of setting both themselves and their bikes up for touring.
Set out in six main chapters, the book covers ‘The Bike’ – bike prep and set-ups and modifications, ‘The Gear’ – clothing, cooking and eating, lighting, tent’s and shelter, bedding, backpacks, fuel, water etc, ‘Food’ – meals and recipes, ‘The Journey’ – State Forests, campsites, camp hygiene, maps and compasses, ‘The Backups’ – First Aid and ‘Survival’ – hot weather riding, safety, shelter, water, visibility, and bush tucker.
Current cost per unit $21.45USD
ISBN – 978095185797 (pbk)
Dewey No. – 796.750994
Published by – Adventure Yarns – adventureyarns.com.au
Printed by – lulu.com
Proposed book signing in April/May 2009, date to be finalised – (to be reported in trailbike magazines and a related television show)
Looking at possibilities to have book stocked in every major airport newsagents and souvenir stores in Australia with AWPL (Australian Way P/L, my employers).
Book Two
‘Doing A Line’
There was a defence proposal during WW2 in which a line was drawn in the sand from just north of Brisbane, Queensland, out west to around the Miles area and then down south to either Melbourne or Adelaide. The purpose of this line was if in the eventuality that Northern Australia was ever invaded by the Japanese, all troops on mainland Australia would retreat behind this ‘Brisbane Line’ until which time enough troops could be bought back from either the European or Pacific theatres of war to reclaim the occupied territories.
Through much research and delving into historical records and personal accounts of the time, I’ve discovered as to where it would have most likely been situated and it is my intention to ride along its length. The plan is to ride the locations closer to Brisbane first, and then transport my bike north to Cairns where I will be linking up with local riders who has been conducting research in that area on my behalf.
I also have an army friend looking into more ‘sensitive’ information regarding locations and possible hidden bunkers.
It is my also intention to film as much of this ride as possible for a possible documentary.
Pre-publicity – Fairly minimal due to the sensitivity of the subject matter. After the ride is completed I’ll be hitting the publicity trail vigorously while producing the book. Timing is perfect in regards to it being Queensland’s 150th birthday.
Date of journey – Sept/Oct 2009
Date of book release – Oct/Nov 2010
Book Three
‘Zero To 55’
Or alternatively/sub-titled – ‘Convoy To Cabo’!
What started off as a slim possibility to one day maybe visit Sammy Hagar’s Tequila bar, the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, has exploded in to a full blown Trans America ride.
Starting at Ground Zero in New York on the 11th Sept 2011 then riding north to Concord, west through the Adirondack State Park to Barrie in Ontario then Grand Rapids (MI), across Lake Michigan then to Cadott, Minneapolis, Sturgis, Lame Deer, south to Colorado Springs, over the Rockies and Nth to Bonneville, then west to Lake Tahoe then back south to Yosemite, Fresno, Lancaster, LA, San Diego then onto Cabo San Lucas to the Cabo Wabo for Sammy Hagar’s Birthday bash around the 13th Oct (Sammy Hagar bought out a song many years ago titled ‘I Can’t Drive 55’, hence the ‘55′). Through the magic of technology and the networking website FaceBook I have amassed a plethora of adventure touring friends on whom I plan on stopping in and seeing, with quite a few of them showing an interest in loading up their own bikes and tagging along for the journey. As a result, publicity is already underway.
The alternative name is a possible sub-title due to these potential ‘tag-along’ riders!
As with ‘Doing A Line’, it is also my intention to film as much of this Trans-America adventure for a possible documentary.
Pre-publicity is already started and has been extensive due to difficulty regarding logistics of an overseas adventure ride. Anticipate much more interest to be forthcoming as the date draws nearer.
Date of journey – Sept - Oct 2011
Date of book release – Oct/Nov 2012
Book Four (destination and subsequent title to be decided)
An adventure tour/ride across South Africa, Japan/South East Asia or New Zealand!
Initial nibbles as to touring South Africa due to one of the main people I intend to catch up in America also runs adventure tours in South Africa. This also has a personal twist to it as my recently departed father-in-law was born there, as was his daughter/my wife. Hopefully Rhodesia is free by the time this one comes to fruition.
Japan has distinct possibilities for seeing the ‘other’ side of Japan due to a close friend who has housed many Japanese exchange students over the years. Through their eyes and local knowledge I hope to be able to explore those parts of Japan that are not part of the usual tourist destinations
Due to my immediate family heritage coming from New Zealand and my mother researching our family tree it has come to light that we have a lot of distant relatives here. Also, due to pre-publicity for ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ I have received invites to visit by many local riders who have offered to show me around their favorite riding areas and their country.
For me to make the most of this and further opportunities, I require at least one big brand name behind me. ‘WulfePak Productions’ is an unknown entity amongst a see of well known products and companies. I realize that times are tough in this current economic climate, but I also know it will take a few brave souls to stand up and fade it head-on.
We are adventure riders, dirtbike riders who keep on striving forward, determined to get to the end of the trail! We don’t give up in a hurry! Even if we end up bruised and battered at the end of the day, we know that we did our best!
All I’m asking for is a helping hand to do my best.
I have the products, the opportunities, the contacts and the drive. The nature of the business is that, once the initial foundations are established, it will be self sustaining and growth will only be limited by my own effort.
Rod ‘Wulfe Ryder’ Brown
‘Earth First – We’ll ride The Other Planets Later!’
G’day, my name is Rod ‘Wulfe Ryder’ Brown and I am the sole owner of ‘WulfePak Productions’, a company which distributes my own trailbike adventure books! I am looking at expanding the enterprise into a basic clothing range, producing documentaries on trailbike adventure based charity rides, a trailbike/adventure tourer friendly map carrying system and adventure touring calendars. I have also, over the past 5 years been writing/reviewing for the Federation Of Off Highway Vehicles Australia (F.O.H.V.A.), Trailbike Adventure Magazine (TBAM) and at the moment I am currently a reviewer/writer for the sundaymorningrides.com website.
‘WulfePak Productions’ is designed to be a multi faceted business. Initially, it is to be the vehicle with which to publicise and distribute my recently published book ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams – A Poormans Adventure Touring Guide’ with a view to expanding operations
My first book, ‘Dirtbikes and Dreams – A Poormans Adventure Touring Guide’ informs the reader about many of the best and cheapest ways for an adventure rider to set himself and his bike up for adventure touring, including camping, gear, set-ups, modifications, survival, first aid and all other essentials. It is available both online at www.lulu.com/content/4730860 and through my on Facebook pages. It is soon to be available through Angus and Robertson bookstores Australia wide and through my current employer Australian Way P/L, who own/run the souvenir stores and newsagents in every major airport, both domestic and international in Australia and has recently opened stores in New Zealand airports.
‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ is selling quite well, with buyers all over the world, reviews in Trailbike Adventure Magazine, Trailzone and Motorcycle trader
My next ride and subsequent book, slated for Sept/Oct 2009, is following what was/is called ‘The Brisbane Line’, a defence proposal put forward at the beginning of WW2 where a line was drawn in the sand from just north of Brisbane, Queensland, out west to around the Miles area and then down south to either Melbourne or Adelaide. The plan was that if Northern Australia was ever invaded by Japanese or any other enemy forces, all troops on the Australian mainland would be pulled back behind this ‘line in the sand’ until such time enough troops were called back from the European theatre of war to reclaim the occupied territories! Through much research and delving into historical records and personal accounts of the time, I’ve discovered as to where it would have most likely been situated and it is my intention for myself and a few riding partners to ride along its length. The plan is to ride the locations closer to Brisbane first, and then transport my bike north to Cairns where I will be linking up with local riders who has been conducting research in that area on my behalf.
I’ve also enlisted the help of an Army friend as there are rumors of hidden bunkers containing WW2 equipment dotted around the South East corner of Queensland. The best known would be the rumored 3 Spitfire Aircraft and 6 WW2 WLA Harley Davidson’s buried some where near the old airfield at Oakey!
While this is not a hidden treasure hunting trip, the more information gathered as to possible WW2 hidden bunkers and sites will only add interest to not only the readers of the book, but to us as adventure riders riding along it. This ride has been kept relatively low key for the moment as, even though there has been many books written about Australia’s involvement in WW2, there has only been a few that have mentioned the ‘Brisbane Line’. Of those few, none have pinned it down to a definite location. To my knowledge, and I work with the newsagents at Brisbane’s International airport, there has been no books published about the ‘Brisbane Line’ purely as an entity itself. Considering the political minefield that it caused back in the 1940’s and 50’s, I’m highly surprised, especially as this year is Queensland’s 150th birthday which is another reason for keeping it low-key until after the ride is completed.
The following ride, slated for Sept/Oct 2011, is going to be epic and as a result, publicity has already started in earnest!
Starting at Ground Zero in New York City on Sept 11th 2011, I’m planning on riding north to Concord, west through the Adirondack State Park to Barrie in Ontario then Grand Rapids (MI), across Lake Michigan then to Cadott, Minneapolis, Sturgis, Lame Deer, south to Colorado Springs, over the Rockies and Nth to Bonneville, then west to Lake Tahoe then back south via Yosemite National Park, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Fresno, LA, San Diego then onto Cabo San Lucas to the Cabo Wabo Cantina for Sammy Hagar’s birthday bash on around the 13th Oct. Even though this ride is over two years away, I’ve already started pre-planning and have organised stop overs with different adventure riders most nights. The other nights I’ve arranged to stay with a range of people from all walks of life – musicians, punk/goths, ‘Indy’ movie producers, South African tour operators, Photographers and Native Americans. The concept is that the more interesting the people I meet, once again, the more interesting he book will be for the reader.
I’ve have received initial contact from
The title of the consequent book will be ‘Zero to 55’ in honour of the start being at Ground Zero and Sammy Hagar’s song ‘I Can’t Drive 55’! I am also looking at possibilities of going on one or two talk-shows along the way across America.
Following this is a possible adventure tour/ride across South Africa, Japan/South East Asia or New Zealand!
Initial nibbles as to touring South Africa due to one of the main people I intend to catch up in America also runs adventure tours in South Africa. This also has a personal twist to it as my recently departed father-in-law was born there, as was his daughter/my wife. Hopefully Rhodesia is free by the time this one comes to fruition.
Japan has distinct possibilities for seeing the ‘other’ side of Japan due to a close friend who has housed many Japanese exchange students over the years. Through their eyes and local knowledge I hope to be able to explore those parts of Japan that are not part of the usual tourist destinations
Due to my immediate family heritage coming from New Zealand and my mother researching our family tree it has come to light that we have a lot of distant relatives here. Also, due to pre-publicity for ‘Dirtbikes And Dreams’ I have received invites to visit by many local riders who have offered to show me around their favorite riding areas and their country.