Participants: 21 people, 21 bikes

R1100 GS Geoff Barton GSXR750 Ray Walker

RF900 Enzo Cunico 748 Dave Ward

GSXR600 Nick Casemore ZXR750 Ben Warden

XTZ660 Ian Handforth GSXR750 Darryn Webster

YZF600 Mick Hanlon CBR600 Dianne Welsford

YZF750 Dave Ward ZX7R Rhys Williams

YZF750 Craig Morley 1100 Sports Jack Youdan

RF900 Ian Payne CBR900R Andrew Edmonds (1^st ride)

RGV250 Nick Prapas ZZR250 Joanne Slater (1^st ride)

RGV250 Bronwyn Manifold GSXR750EF Noel Maggs (1^st ride)

TL1000 Peter van Meurs

The bike trip meter registered 50 km on reserve so I figured I had better fill up immediately. I had to queue up to put air in the tyres and, as I had promised Dave I would lead them out of the city, time was of the essence. It was cold but dry with a forecast of a beautiful winters’ day: bright sunshine and no wind. The forecast proved correct. The weather was sensational.

At the Kings Bridge Car Park there were Geoff from Loch, Ray from Pascoe Vale South and Andrew from Queensland on a CBR900R. Andrew had rung me the night before after getting my number from member Tony Fabris, care of Brighton Kawasaki. He was looking for someone to ride with, but was surprised at how few of us there were. I suggested that there would be another ten or so at Yarra Glen, the second pickup. There were another seventeen!

The Kew Boulevarde was relatively quiet when compared to the previous day’s Café Cruise stopover; and not a policeman to be seen. We continued out the not-so-dreary Eastern Freeway to Springvale Road, picked up the Old Warrandyte Road to … Warrandyte, around to Kangaroo Ground, getting tangled up with a few bikes, and on to Christmas Hills and Yarra Glen. More bikes.

Jack was riding a new toy: a black Motor Guzzi Sport 1100. It barely gathered a glance but as rear rider Jack seemed to be enjoying the accelerating ability every now and again, rearing up in my rear view mirrors after corner marking. President Ian Payne gathered us all around and Dave gave us the corner mark spiel and noted the day’s route and first stop. Gentlemen (persons), start your engines, as they once said.

Direct route to Healesville and then across the Black Spur. Dave Moore and Dave Ward set off at an indelicate speed across the Spur, got the jump past some cars and were gone. I rode a lonely fast ride, the traffic light, the road dry and clean. Excellent. Craig was next and we corner marked the Marysville turnoff. I was a bit achey after the exertions and appreciated the rest. Ian Handforth, closely followed by Jack, arrived and we were soon heading for Marysville and Buxton. Ian Payne, Craig and I toured sedately up the highway to Taggerty keeping in close formation to Thornton, then taking the back road into Eildon, where people were gathered at the servo refueling. Note the red ute giving it heaps along this section. Morning tea at the shops. Time to catch up with a few irregulars.

Dave Moore had magically appeared out of the woodwork. He has bought a dirt bike and has been spending time rebuilding and riding it. Andrew from Queensland was surviving; more corners than he was used to I suspect. Nick needed a few cable ties to stop his RGV fairing flapping, and a knife to cut them. He jokingly complained that the knife was too small so I produced a bigger one. That stumped him. New rider Joanne Slater (Tony Fabris’ better half) and friend of Bronwyn’s was riding the wheels off her ZZR. Tony has promised to buy her some leathers. Geoff’s cows are still giving milk and there is nothing much in Ian Handforth’s huge top box other than a few tools and a set of jumper leads purchased after a new rider had battery problems on Paul’s ride a few weeks ago. (He has the makings of a very good rear rider me thinks.) Enzo had a good day at Phillip Island, Craig’s tyres were worn, and Ray’s bike was running on three cylinders, weeping oil and dragging the chain. Hmm.

Onwards, and Dave has gone, back to the Torbreck River Road, some 37 km of twisty road before turning to dirt. We all managed to get there in one piece, although some were lucky to survive, looking in my mirrors and listening to tales. The surface is in fantastic condition with no bark, leaves or green lichen on the road. And I reckon there is only one bump in the whole road — I found it. Ouch. Ian did mention gravel on one corner. Some people don’t like the white pebbly surface at the beginning of this section, but on the way back, after a sighting lap, there was even more ragged riding. All good fun, and the girls were flying.

Nick’s bike was disintegrating the more he rode it, the fairing now showing signs of recent close encounters with the bitumen. He blamed Dave. I gave him some more cable ties and tape.

Back to Eildon and up the Fraser National Park road. I did a big lean on Dianne round a corner and later Nick leaned on me, giving me the wakeup call. I followed with Dave Moore just behind. Dave had been swapping the lead with Nick up the hill, using his power advantage, toying with him. Thank god Nick is not your average 250cc jockey in size or he would have left us for dead. Rhys was cruising and sight seeing having never been on the road before, despite coming to Eildon to race boats for the past 30 years. He got a rude awakening, reminding him that he has riding with the "touring" Club.

Alexandra for lunch and fuel for some. We parked outside the bakery and set up a few tables. I signed up Peter van Meurs on the TL1000 as a member, being his third ride. He happily handed over the $25. Dave had a deadline to start work and was feeling the pressure. Time to go.

The Molesworth Road was as fast and flowing as ever, complete with the gravelly last corner. I caught and followed the smooth and fast Dianne along here. Then very legal to Yea where I corner marked. In no time at all Jack appeared. I didn’t catch anyone along here except Nick going slowly. His oil level light had come on indicating a low level and he was taking it gently. His bike took a litre of oil at the next fill. I pulled into Kinglake West amongst a group of bikes, before realising they were not us. Then I noticed Craig was corner marking the turn to Kinglake and took off again.

Plenty of bikes were refueling at Kinglake as I started down the St Andrews Road. More people have crashed along here … Just past the St Andrews Pub we cut down Elmo Road to pick up the Christmas Hills Road to Kangaroo Ground where we regrouped and disbanded. Our numbers had dwindled from 21 to 14, people diverging at Kinglake West and again at Kinglake.

It was very good ride put together in a way I had never done before. Thanks Dave. It worked really well. Rhys had no idea where he was and if we said Sydney, he would have believed it. He’d had a good day. Andrew will be back for more. He is an interesting sort of bloke, having won half the value of the bike playing Black Jack at the Casino! He was also bamboozled, not having a clue on how to get to Brighton. I trust he found his way.

Home by 4.30 pm after accumulating another 420 km for the day. The 500 Grand Prix was on at 3 pm but Mum had recorded it after getting a call on the mobile from Yea. Mick came second in pouring rain. Junior Roberts won it, now having two from two. It could be an interesting season.

The bike clocked over 10,000 km (indicated) and is starting to feel her age. Rhys informed me that a ZX7 motor will not fit in my frame — the air box and carburetors get in the way. As it is 10 kg lighter and has 10 more horse power it would have been the way to go. Plan B.

Ben Warden (ZXR750)