Geoff Jones ZZR600 (Leader) Ben Warden (Rear) Dominator

Tim Walker ZX7R Rhys Williams ZX7R

Mark Ayling ZX9R Bruce Saville FJ1100

Ian Payne RF900 Enzo Cunico RF900

Ravi Gnanaiah Across Michael Alexander (1st ride) VF750

Ray Walker GSXR750 Geoff Barton R1100GS

Val and Melissa Jones Ford

I left home a bit early, and on the way in I thought I’d give the new free- (for bikes) -way a try out. Turning off the Westgate freeway onto the Western Link there’s a fantastic high speed banked left-hander that just goes on and on. Over the Bolte Bridge, through the Sound Dome, up to Moreland Road for a U-turn, back down taking the Dynon Road turn off, and I still arrived five minutes before departure time. Geoff, Rhys and Ray were waiting. Bruce and Michael arrived just as we were leaving, Michael picking up some idea of the corner marking system on the run up to Whittlesea via the Yarra Boulevard.

At Whittlesea, Geoff previewed the ride, explained the corner marking system, and gave us permission to overtake him on the St. Andrews road and the Flowerdale road if the urge overcame us. Unusually we were lead out from Whittlesea in a southerly direction. At my second corner marking stint I was joined by Rhys, noticing his left boot covered in mud. He told me he had just experienced the mother-of-all tank-slappers - leaving the bitumen for about 100 metres down through grass and mud, miraculously missing a white post as he fought his way back to the black stuff at high speed. The story was still developing when Ben came through and we were off.

Up the St. Andrews-Kinglake road, on to Flowerdale, Strath Creek, a practice blast up the hill climb on the road to Broadford where we stopped for morning tea. Rhys retold his tale, now corroborated by witnesses. After a break we head off toward Pyalong, but turned off beforehand onto a 5 km section of beautifully smooth gravel road. Down through Lancefield and then onto an interesting back road through Cobaw that I hadn’t seen before. Cross the Calder, through Tylden and down into Trentham where Ray limps into town in third or fourth gear, gear lever dangling. Some quick work with the farmer’s friend - wire, and he’s mobile again.

On to Ballan, where Geoff goes looking for, and finds, his wife Val and daughter Melissa in town. They’ve spent the morning shopping and checking out the craft shops. Heading south from Ballan we take the turn off to Yaloak Vale. The land appears flat, but soon we see a valley appear on the left, and the road drops sharply from the plain down to the valley floor. This is the site of the hill climb. As we descend I see that the road is in worse shape than last year. The recent rains have left sand washed across the road in many places, particularly on the left hand hairpin. This will be interesting!

Val and Melissa position their car at the top - on an embankment on the outside of the last turn. Geoff, stopwatch and binoculars at the ready, sets himself up at the bottom in a position with line of sight to the car. The timing starts when the rider starts, and stops when the car lights flash.

This year we’re taking a shorter course, with the run in to the first corner down from about 800 metres to 300 metres. Anyhow, I’m first away, accelerating hard, but braking too early for the first left turn. Accelerate and brake hard before accelerating through another left hand sweeper strewn with sand where I have a couple of nice rear wheel slides. Into the right hairpin covered with sand on the entry, up around to the left, down, up and around to the right past the finish.

The others follow through without any problems that I heard about. I think that sand has made them a bit conservative. Last year we had a mobile phone connection from top to bottom to keep up to date with the times, but this year one of the phones, a digital, had trouble finding a signal. So, we make our way back down to see Geoff and check the times.

I’m in front by a few seconds! Time for a second run. Ben leads out this time surprising me at how slow a Dominator is off the line. I’m fifth away, lifting the front wheel and having to back off to get it down. Better at the first turn, and leaving the braking till later on the other turns as well. A bit sideways in the sand at the hairpin, but overall I felt a better run.

With the fun over and no incidents I get to keep the trophy for another year. The ride continued on to Melton for the final break up.

Many thanks to Geoff, Val and Melissa for putting in the extra effort that a day like this needs.

Another memorable day. Distance covered: - 350 km.

Tim Walker (Kawasaki ZX7R)

INJURED?

Life member Les Leahy off to India in late August to tackle the Himalayas by motorbike. He is booked on one of the "Enfield’s over India" bike treks. Sounds like a fantastic trip.

Theo Kalkandis dropped is Yamaha R1 on the way home from the Eildon Ride while trying to park at the Reefton Pub, sustaining some expensive cosmetic (minor) damage.