Great Ocean Road Sunday September 26th

Great Ocean Road Sunday September 26^th

ZZR600 Ben Warden (leader) ZX7 Colin Davies (ex member 7yrs)

R110GS Geoff Barton (rear rider #1) ZX7 Rhys Williams

RF900 Ian Payne (rear #2) ZX9 Mark Ayling

VFR750 Rob Matricciani & Mandy Flower ZX9 Mick Bosworth

GSXR750 Ray Walker CBR1000 Martin Govett (1^st ride)

CBR600 Ben Gilmore (1^st ride) ZF600 Gerry East

TL1000R Darryn Webster SV650 Michael Carr (2^nd ride)

15 Bikes 15 people

With a day promising great weather, there was a roll up of keen riders at Laverton. Unfortunately Patrick Davey was unable to lead this ride, so Ben accepted the duty with thanks to Geoff Jones for lending his ZZR.

Heading off at an easy pace down the Geelong road to the Little River turn off, we wound up the wick on the way down to Lara, by-passing Geelong onto Moriac and down to Anglesea for our first regroup and morning tea.

Refreshments consumed, the group started heading off towards Apollo Bay. The GOR was in as good a condition as I have ever seen, with very little loose stuff and the bitumen nice and sticky. Only one problem really: cars, and plenty of them. Lorne was like Bourke Street. Even having to negotiate cars, campers, 4wd's,and the occasional bus, there is no doubt that this really is one of the great stretches of motorcycle heaven.

The plan was a quick regroup outside Apollo Bay for the run up to Lavers Hill. As the last of the group arrived, we started the 50 odd km leg up to Lavers Hill for lunch and fuel. The road was unusually free of debris and with smooth constant radius corners and excellent vision; I was already looking forward to the trip back down. Once up at Lavers the temperature seemed to plummet. It had been a reasonable 19 degrees instead of the promised 26, but sitting at the table outside the shop I'm sure it was only about 10.

Lunch done we started the return route: Apollo Bay, Lorne, Deans Marsh (regroup) and onto Moriac where Geoff Barton had to take off to milk those cows. With Ian Payne out new rear rider, we were heading onto Lara when the CBR600 coughed and ran out of fuel. I had been corner marking with Colin Davies when a few of the 'Ball's Guys" informed us that a couple of our members were stopped a kilometer back. On returning to investigate I found Ian transferring the contents of his RF fuel tank to the CBR fuel tank.

OK, we're on our way, only 2km to Lara and Rays' GSXR coughs and runs out of fuel. I go back only to find Ian at it again. Alas with the RF900 on reserve Ray gets but a trickle but enough to get him within a hundred meters of the servo at Lara. He pushes the rest of the way.

At Lara Ben left to return Geoffs' ZZR, Rob and Mandy headed for home and I led the remainder up to little River and onto the Westgate Servo to break up. 450km for the day with great roads and good friends…..Thanks Ben.

Rhys Williams (Kawasaki ZX7)