Contact Us
Many of you know I am a friend of Max Mawer who is the proprietor of the Road Warriors Cafe at Mt. White NSW. The Cafe has been a mecca for motorcyclists for many many years and I personally have been dropping in there for at least 25 years (although it was originally located just down the road).
So it is with a great sadness that I announce that the Road Warriors Cafe will be shutting down in late December 2008.
The property was recently sold and the new owner has doubled the rent, passed on additional costs and now requires Max to carry out renovations. Needless to say, its just not a viable proposition for Max who has decided to up stumps. The last couple of years have been a bit hard for Max, with the Hwy being cut due to the bridge collapse, the ridiculous 60km/h speed limits and the heavy police presence all contributing to reduced passing trade.
The building will still be there and I wouldn't be surprised if the new owner has a 'mate' who takes it over and tries to make a go of it. But Max won't be associated with it, it won't be called the Road Warriors Cafe (which is a brand owned by Max) and I doubt the culture and feel of the place would ever be the same.
For those of you that don't know, Max has done more than most to support the motorcycling fraternity. Anyone who has laid a bike down on the Old Pacific Hwy, missed a bend or just come to a juddering halt - would know that Max was always just a phone call away with a trailer and a wry smile. On top of that were puncture repairs, just about any temporary mechanical fix you could imagine, gaffer tape fairing repairs, battery charges, a few litres of fuel or oil, brake bleeds, spare parts, levers, bolts and screws - and a full tool box. All part of the service - and all done for free. He's held countless charity events at the Cafe and supported many bike clubs, rally organisers and worthy causes. He will be greatly missed.
Granted, the old Cafe looks a bit tatty, but what it loses in appearance it makes up for with a hearty smile, hospitality, good coffee and food and a true sense of 'community' - which is very hard to find. I'm going to miss the sight of a carpark crammed with bikes on a sunny Sunday morning and a hundred or so riders and pillions laughing, talking, eating breakfast, sipping coffee with mates, playing cards, sharing yarns - and applauding the impromptu stunters as they put on a free show on the fly by.
So many great memories, so many wonderful people. Fantastic weekends warming myself by the cast iron fire after a quick blast in mid winter, feebly clutching a cup of coffee and watching the steam rise as my leathers and gloves dried out. Playing cards until the small hours of the morning (again in mid winter huddled around the heater). Like countless others, I've made a lot of new friends a Road Warriors, drunk an awful lot of coffee, departed for runs and rallies from there and dropped in for a quick cuppa on the way back. It has been a constant for most of my time as a rider and I can't imagine it not being there. It's the first place I used to take every new bike (including the current busa... at 1am in mid winter on the day it arrived... brrrrrr!!). I was hoping it would be the last place I'd ever ride a bike to - when I got to my late-80's and they take my license off me. The end of an era ladies and gentlemen - the end of a bloody good era.
So.... if you want to have a last chance to experience what must be one of the most well known 'bike friendly' venues in NSW, you've only got another 6 or 7 weeks to drop in at Road Warriors.
Don't forget to say hello to Max.
So it is with a great sadness that I announce that the Road Warriors Cafe will be shutting down in late December 2008.
The property was recently sold and the new owner has doubled the rent, passed on additional costs and now requires Max to carry out renovations. Needless to say, its just not a viable proposition for Max who has decided to up stumps. The last couple of years have been a bit hard for Max, with the Hwy being cut due to the bridge collapse, the ridiculous 60km/h speed limits and the heavy police presence all contributing to reduced passing trade.
The building will still be there and I wouldn't be surprised if the new owner has a 'mate' who takes it over and tries to make a go of it. But Max won't be associated with it, it won't be called the Road Warriors Cafe (which is a brand owned by Max) and I doubt the culture and feel of the place would ever be the same.
For those of you that don't know, Max has done more than most to support the motorcycling fraternity. Anyone who has laid a bike down on the Old Pacific Hwy, missed a bend or just come to a juddering halt - would know that Max was always just a phone call away with a trailer and a wry smile. On top of that were puncture repairs, just about any temporary mechanical fix you could imagine, gaffer tape fairing repairs, battery charges, a few litres of fuel or oil, brake bleeds, spare parts, levers, bolts and screws - and a full tool box. All part of the service - and all done for free. He's held countless charity events at the Cafe and supported many bike clubs, rally organisers and worthy causes. He will be greatly missed.
Granted, the old Cafe looks a bit tatty, but what it loses in appearance it makes up for with a hearty smile, hospitality, good coffee and food and a true sense of 'community' - which is very hard to find. I'm going to miss the sight of a carpark crammed with bikes on a sunny Sunday morning and a hundred or so riders and pillions laughing, talking, eating breakfast, sipping coffee with mates, playing cards, sharing yarns - and applauding the impromptu stunters as they put on a free show on the fly by.
So many great memories, so many wonderful people. Fantastic weekends warming myself by the cast iron fire after a quick blast in mid winter, feebly clutching a cup of coffee and watching the steam rise as my leathers and gloves dried out. Playing cards until the small hours of the morning (again in mid winter huddled around the heater). Like countless others, I've made a lot of new friends a Road Warriors, drunk an awful lot of coffee, departed for runs and rallies from there and dropped in for a quick cuppa on the way back. It has been a constant for most of my time as a rider and I can't imagine it not being there. It's the first place I used to take every new bike (including the current busa... at 1am in mid winter on the day it arrived... brrrrrr!!). I was hoping it would be the last place I'd ever ride a bike to - when I got to my late-80's and they take my license off me. The end of an era ladies and gentlemen - the end of a bloody good era.
So.... if you want to have a last chance to experience what must be one of the most well known 'bike friendly' venues in NSW, you've only got another 6 or 7 weeks to drop in at Road Warriors.
Don't forget to say hello to Max.
![[Image: zzzCustom.jpg]](http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s69/Gnarbunkle99/zzzCustom.jpg)
![[Image: photo3.jpg]](http://s88.photobucket.com/user/loafie01/media/photo3.jpg.html)
