Pretoria - Are you a fuel-efficient biker with an educated right wrist? Are you game to put your bike where your mouth is?
Then take this as a personal challenge to enter the 33rd RFS Bike Economy Run - but you'd better get a move on, because entries have to be capped at 60 and as of 30 July there were only five places left.
First, however, disabuse yourself of the notion that an economy run is all about dozy old farts wombling along country roads at a steady 65km/h.
Convenor Francois Jordaan comes from a rallying background and is expert at laying out a route that varies from city freeways to Mpumalanga back roads so badly potholed they look like broekie-lace - and setting target speeds that will have you riding a little faster than you are comfortable with, almost all the time.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU RIDE
Entry is open to any rider with a valid licence and a roadworthy, petrol-driven motorcycle irrespective of engine size as there are 12 classes to enter, catering for standard production touring, cruiser and dual-purpose motorcycles, further classed by engine capacity and type - with special classes for entrants with pillions and modified bikes.
Jordaan told IOL Motoring that 25 percent of the entries already received this year were from first-time Econorunners, and no fewer than 12 were from riders with pillions; the Econorun, he said, was becoming a family affair.
In addition to the overall winner's trophy, there will be a trophy for the winner of each class - and a prize draw in each class as well.
Jordaan believes riders will be pleasantly surprised by this year's route.
Spiralling fuel costs mean that fuel economy is more important than ever; the Econorun is run over public roads as a test of both the rider's skill and the motorcycle's fuel efficiency, with the aim of achieving the lowest total fuel consumption for the event.
"We have found better roads than we expected in areas not familiar to many riders,” he said, “so the run is also an opportunity to explore a new route through some of Mpumalanga's most scenic areas.
The 2014 Econorun will start at 6am on Friday 29 August from The Rose Haven Sasol service station on the N4 outside Pretoria and will take competitors to refuel stops at Bethal, Piet Retief and Barberton, with an overnight stop at the Numbi Hotel in Hazyview.
Saturday morning will see a more relaxed start with a shorter route looping through Graskop, Sabie and White River back to the hotel for the gala dinner and prize-giving.
Entry forms, regulations and general information are available at the Econorun website .