The MTCV Home Page has taken another 210 hits last month and 4303 since April 1996. The new itinerary is up on the web.

Seen at the September Social Sip: Ian Payne, Tim Walker, Darren Hosking, Theo Kalkandis, Ben Warden, Julie McCall, Rob Matricciani, Mandy Flower, Rob Langer and fiance Kirsten, Tom Saville, Andi Sirninger, Jan, and Darren Hosking. Last time at Collingwood before moving to Hotel Canada, or more usually known as, The Canada, 596 Swanston St, Carlton. They do a $10 special including entree, main, coffee and port. Pool table, beer garden, TAB, Sky Channel, cheap beer and late closing may make it a more suitable venue for our requirements.

For Sale: 1985 Suzuki GS125 commuter bike, single cylinder, 4-stroke with 23,000 km. Long registration, RWC supplied, $1200. Very good condition. Ring Dave Ward on mobile 0413-624-598.

Rob Matricciani lost the key to his VFR at Phillip Island on the weekend. He had to hire a trailer to get it out of the paddock and back to the caravan park, and then return the next day from Melbourne with a spare key. Our commiserations.

Andi Sirninger is leading a girls ride on 14^th November. Meet 8.30 am Brighton Kawasaki, Nepean Highway, or 9.30 am Warrandyte Bridge. Tell your friends. These rides are normally very well attended, allowing like minded woman to enjoy a social ride together. Note: this is a women only ride.

Les Leahy has purchased a new Yamaha XT600 after enduring an Enfield in India for 21 days. He sold his XTZ660 and traded his TT350. The XT is barely recognisable: normally they are blue, his is black with a splash of red. He has fitted after market goodies such as allow rims, a 22 litre Acerbis plastic tank, Ventura rack, tool kit bag, Renthal bars, White Power springs front and rear, and a Unifilter air cleaner element. It is a big change after the Enfield which had no brakes (well 10% front, 60 % rear, 30% wind resistance!), no power (17 ps at sea level (claimed), what felt like 7 ps at 10,000 feet), suspension which would have improved dramatically with a new set of grips!, and gear change lever and rear brake on the opposite sides to normal. Next month read his Indian trip article.

After putting back together his ZXR750 the night before, Ben Warden duly dumped his ZXR750 the next day on the aptly named Noojee Falls ride. Cut off by a car turning right across his bows from the left lane. Bike and car collided, lhs fairings exploding on impact, rhs gravel rash, top fairing shattered, instrument mounting bracket wrecked. Impact cracked another rib, feet surviving this time. After removing fairings, bike rideable, limped home. Repaired 3 weeks later.

Congratulations to Rob Langer and Kirsten who are engaged to be married. The engagement party was held on the eve of the 500cc GP and they plan to marry in a year or so. We wish them well in their future endeavours.

Rob Matricciani is now working for Vince Genova at NOVA HONDA.

The Pakenham/Drouin back road is now being policed regularly after some of the ‘locals’ were clocked at over 200 km/h on the stretch. This was mentioned to us on the Wonthaggi ride while a motorcycle cop gave the group a breath test, license and rego check. He also stated that motorcycle police were on the way out as a fully equipped police bike can now cost more than a similarly outfitted car. Also no special training was required as "anybody" can drive a car.