The MTCV Home Page has taken another 189 hits last month and 4093 since April 1996. The new itinerary is up on the web.

Seen at the August Social Sip: Ian Payne, Tim Walker, Darren Hosking, Dianne Welsford, Wayne Grant, Theo Kalkandis, Ben Warden. 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.

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. Old news, but that explains why you get her answering machine all the time.

"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!" That’s what I wrote last issue. Patrick has since crashed his ZX6 into an errant car driver, bike a mess. Suffice to say Tim Walker is still the holder of the Hill Climb Trophy, Patrick failing to get there. He is also in doubt to lead his Great Ocean Road ride at the end of the month. We wish him and bike a speedy recovery.

Ben Warden dumped his ZXR750 on gravel on the recent Eildon Ride. Bike sustained minor cosmetic damage — see article for details.

John Clowes was seen riding a different coloured bike on a recent ride. Rumour has it that the last one disappeared over a cliff on the Black Spur, and was written off.

Mark Turner crashed his VFR800 into a car performing an illegal manoeuvre some months ago and it has taken until now for Mark to get recompense. He’s okay, bike almost fixed.

Congratulations to long standing member Michael Barnes who, on the Eildon Ride, reported that he was now the proud father of 4 month old Lewis.

Tom Saville and Andi Sirninger have headed north for the winter riding around the Litchfield National Park area, Darwin. It will be a good test for their new van, which thanks to Tom’s handy-work, not only carries the bikes, it also doubles as a home away from home with sleeping quarters, stove, etc.

The Black Night Rally to be held at Kevington on 18^th & 19^th of September. Anyone thinking of going should contact Rob Mattricciani or meet him on Saturday morning at Yarra Glen at 10.30am.

At the October General Meeting Steve Howden from Tiger Angel will be the guest speaker. Please make the effort to attend. He is bringing some "enticements".

Last Sunday Rhys Williams had a high speed violent tank-slapper traced to completely wound in compression damping adjusters after a recent fork service. His top triple clamp pinch bolt was also loose. Was that mud running down his leg? See article.