The MTCV Home Page has taken another 207 hits last month and 3904 since April 1996. This is fifty hits up from last month. To ensure a future presence on the net, the Club has reserved the Internet address: www.mtcv.asn.au for future use. Asn stands for association. Note: Ian Payne and Rob Matricciani now have email addresses.

Seen at the August Social Sip: Ian Payne, Tim Walker, Darren Hosking, Lyn Duncan and Eddie, Dianne Welsford,Rob and Mandy Matricciani, Tim Casemore, Nick Casemore and Lisa, Pearl and Wendy.

"Danny Vits is still waiting for the return of his WRX and R1100S after repairs, despite what was printed in last month’s Who’s News." That’s what I wrote last month. By the time of printing he in fact had both vehicles back and on the road in good working order. I can attest to this because I was driven around the block in the WRX. Very nice. It leaves the Hyundai Excel for dead.

The Committee is looking urgently for a new Social Sip venue as the Baden Powell closes at 10 pm. To this end the Committee has checked out a few pubs using such criteria as aesthetics, location, parking, ambience, closing time, pool table, food prices and quality.

Club subscriptions were due 1^st of July. Economics dictate no subscription, no magazine.

Don’t forget the KBCP Survey. Responses have been very varied so far.

The MTCV has recently payed the $50 membership fee to the VMC, a political lobby group actively pursuing motorcyclist rights in the political arena. As such we are entitled to a delegate at their meetings. They meet one Thursday a month at the same hotel we currently have the Social Sip at, the Baden Powell Hotel. The Committee is looking for a new VMC delegate after the resignation of Lyn Duncan due to other commitments. We thank Lyn for her regular attendance of the past year and her contributions to our Club magazine. If you feel like giving something back to the Club, or motorcycling in general, this would be a good opportunity. Please contact any of the Committee for more information.

Incorrect contact details in Motorcycle Trader and Just Bikes have been sorted out, we hope. The latest problem fixed was a duplicate entry: the old details and a separate entry with the new details. If you spot incorrect MTCV contact details anywhere please notify the Committee.

Next General Meeting (September) is the Auction Night. Bring anything and everything that you think might sell, not necessarily motorcycle related. Ten percent of the sell price of items auctioned is kept by the Club. A reserve price can be nominated or items can be donated to the Club. If it doesn’t sell, you take it home again. Articles range from bike magazines, motorcycle boots, helmets, tyres, leathers, water-proofs, racing accessories, and kitchen appliances. Bring lots of money!

As per Jack Youdan’s letter to the Committee printed elsewhere in the magazine, if you wish to put your name down as volunteer reserve leader should the person listed on the itinerary be unavailable, please contact the Club Captain, Theo Kalkandis, with your details. You can specify such things as easterly direction only, etc Note: there is a Club procedure in place to mange such occasions: it is the responsibility of the Club Captain "to appoint a group leader and rear rider" according to the Constitution. Obviously having a list of reserve leaders will make it all the easier. Please volunteer.

Congratulations to Darren and Wendy Hosking. They have had a baby at last (10 days late) Her name is Teagan Melissa and she weighed in at 3.29 kg (7lb 4oz) and was born at 2:55am 28/7/99. Wendy and baby are doing well.

For Sale: 1998 Kawasaki ZX9R, 2000 km, green, mint condition, Scorpion exhaust, jet kit, $13,000 ono. Contact: Wayne Grant

Dianne Welsford is going to USA on a 13 day Con-Tiki Bus Tour leaving September 4^th and returning September 30^th spending 5 nights in Los Angeles and another 7 in Hawaii. She plans to pack as much activity into the holiday as possible including baloon trips, miniature submarine tours, water skiing, etc.

Nick Casemore and Lisa are off around Australia on a camping/working holiday. We wish them luck and expect to get a postcard from time to time.

Stewart Foster was at the July meeting with some good news: he and wife Amanda are expecting their first child. Also Stewart is hoping to return to Oz sooner than first planned from his 2-year stint in USA, telecommuting over the Internet instead. He is not enjoying working there.

Jon Riddett and Zara are back from a holiday in England, which took in the Isle of Man TT. Jon took his video camera , capturing plenty of footage including some late night nude motorcyclists!

Quite a few ex MTCV members attended the recent BMW Icicle Ride with Steve Leyland (past Committee), Mark Dennis (past President), Luke Richardson (past Committee) and wife Stav braving the midnight to dawn ride. Also seen were some very ancient past members of the Club, namely, Phil Duffy (past President), Ray Thomas (past Committee) and Mick Fagan (past Club Member of Year). Mick has just upgraded his old R100CS to a new R1100GS. Wonders will never cease. I crashed on my first Club ride chasing Mick on that CS, me on my GPz550. I lasted three corners. He deep-ended me as Tom put it. I learnt not to play with ex-racers! Note: Luke Richardson has rejoined the Club.

The September Social Sip will be the last at the Baden Powell Hotel in Collingwood.

The Christian Group that Mark Dennis belongs to is sending him to Darwin as a volunteer to work with the Aboriginal people. He should come back with some interesting stories.

Member Patrick Davey broke his ankle on the Queens Birthday Long Weekend while rock climbing Mt Arapales in the Grampians. His ankle is in a plaster cast that should be removed in about 3 weeks. His next ride will be Geoff Jones’ Hill Climb for which he had been practising! We wish him a speedy and full recovery.

Dave Moore and Darryn Webster are heading to London and then central Europe (France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, etc) for a two week riding holiday, leaving middle of August. Hiring bikes in London, Dave is on a 207 shod Yamaha R6, Darryn on a Honda Fireblade, and Dave’s mate who lives in England will be riding his Suzuki TL1000. I expect to get a postcard and write-up of their adventures. Sounds great. Note: Dave Ward will be in Europe at about the same time, working alas.