Geoff Barton - CB750 (1982) Enzo Cunico – YZF1000

Ian Payne – CBR900RR Ben Warden - ZXR750

Rhys Williams – ZX7 Geoff Jones – ZZR600

Andrew Napier - CBR1100X Darryl Chivers – CBR900RR

Mark Ayling – ZX9 Danny Vits – VFR800

Derek Atkinson & Kathy Robinson – CBR600

On arriving at Hallam I could find our leader for the day, Geoff, but, not his trusty BMW GS1100 chook-chaser. Due to some throttle problems Geoff opted to dust-off his ‘82 Honda CB750 for the day. BM parts are notoriously slow out of Germany, just ask me!

The poor thing looked a bit out of place amongst all the current model sports and sports tourers. Furthermore, Geoff briefed us all that his bike uses more oil than petrol, a fact most of us could attest to at the end of the day, having found ourselves behind the leader at some time or other. Any gear changes were accompanied by a great stinking cloud of smoke. No wonder Rhys kept about a hundred metres back each time he was running second.

So we set-off on this beautiful day for Warragul via Yarra Junction and Powelltown with Derek and Kathy at the rear.

On the way up the spur out of Powelltown I thought for an instance Geoff Jones was having some sort of problem being parked on the side of the road. Turned out he couln’t wait for the pitstop at Warragul. Once over the spur I caught up with our leader with Ben sitting behind him. The sweeping curves on the way to Noojee were begging so Ben passed Geoff as did myself, Andrew on his Blackbird and Darryl.

Nearing Piedmont junction Ben and I copped a bucket full of stones as we crossed some road-works at the same time a passing truck did. Luckily no apparent paintwork damage. At this point Derek and Kathy decided to return home and Ben went rear rider till lunch at Warragul.

By now Ben was complaining of having no rear suspension (It turned out to be no oil in rear shock!) and retired home along with Darryl on his first club ride for about 5 years or so.

The rest of us followed Geoff through South Gippsland to Inverloch and onto the Cape Paterson road to Wonthaggi.

I found myself corner marking at a T junction at the Wonthaggi end of the Cape Paterson road and after waiting some time I decided to return leaving new member Andrew at the corner. I found Geoff Jones, who was our new rear rider, just outside Inverloch picking up the last bits and pieces of Mark’s ZX9. Mark had crashed on a poorly marked right hander, presumably having locked up the front wheel. By the time I arrived Mark had already been taken to the Wonthaggi hospital by a Good Samaritan young lady motorist from Melbourne on a visit to her parents at Inverloch.

Meanwhile Geoff had taken Mark’s bike to a nearby, unattended property. By now the rest of the bunch waiting at Wonthaggi knew what happened (courtesy of the Good Samaritan) and Rhys and Enzo returned looking for Mark’s bike with the intention to ride it back (wishful thinking).

It remains somewhat of a mystery as to which way they went as they certainly didn’t pass Andrew, Geoff and myself. Anyway, after a short while they returned to Wonthaggi not having found Mark’s bike. At this point our Good Samaritan lady suggested the bike could be stored at her parents’ in Inverloch. Ian, Geoff Jones and Andrew went with her and after a lengthy period returned to join the remainder of us waiting at the Wonthaggi hospital, having stored Mark’s bike.

All the while Mark had been waiting in casualty for some radiologist to interrupt his/her Sunday afternoon to take some X-Rays. It was finally decided that his left forearm appeared too badly broken for them to manage and that he would need to be transported to Melbourne for attention.

Who should come into play once again but our Good Samaritan lady (I hope someone got her name and number for a big thank you) and offers Mark a ride to the Maroondah Hospital provided one of us would escort her back. Ian, helpful as always, opted to stay and escort her back. Meanwhile Mark appeared to be in good spirits, under the circumstances.

What was left of us ( 6 bikes ) finished off the ride at Lang Lang. Great roads, great company, great weather, pity about Mark.