The MTCV Home Page has taken 161 hits during January and 4880 since April 1996. The new itinerary is up on the web. There was a problem with access to the MTCV only home page. That has been fixed. See any of the Committee if you need to find out the password.

Theo Kalkandis is travelling to the Bathurst Bike Races over Easter, the same weekend the World Super Bikes are on at Phillip Island. He is leaving on Thursday night, 20^th April and returning Monday 24^th and taking the car and bike on a trailer. Theo has booked a room at the Victoria Hotel at $20 per night (cheap!) and suggests that accommodation is still plentiful. Bottom line, if you want a lift, ring Theo.

Last Sunday’s ride to Trentham Falls, lead by Geoff Jones, proved … interesting: Mr Plod set up camp outside the Flowerdale Pub in the 80 km/h zone and waited for developments … It is rumoured one unlucky rider scored the jackpot: 4 months on foot. Later, a new rider lost their ocky-strapped load, and spent over an hour looking for it (and finding it). In the process he failed to tell the rear rider of his effective departure from the ride, resulting in corner markers all over the countryside as people tried to figure out what was going on. Meanwhile Ben Warden spent the whole day chasing the Club, having arrived at the start point late, and then trying to second guess which route Geoff would take, failing miserably.

Luke Richardson is the proud owner of a new Suzuki Bandit 1200, replacing his "uncomfortable" VFR. It could be cold in winter without a fairing.

Seen at the Social Sip, 21^st January, and last Farewell to the Canada: Ian Payne, Tim Walker, Ben Warden and Julie McCall.

Dave Ward has purchased a new Yamaha YZF-R1. This gives him variety: Bron’s RGV250, a dirt bike, and the748 Ducati.

The Thompson Dam Ride MkII was again wet and with no-one at KBCP it looked like it may be a No Go, but seven hardy souls came out to play. Geoff Barton thanked Ian Payne for the rain and said he should hire himself out to the Farmers Association as a rainmaker! On the ride, Phil was unlucky when he over-balanced while stopped for fuel at Rawson and fell against the bowser shattering the glass. Luckily no damage to bike or person was sustained.

The Reefton Ride on Wednesday 26^th had a large attendance so it was not surprising that there were a couple of "oops". But remarkably, the bikes sustained only minor cosmetic damage. On the Reefton Spur, a GSXR1100 (not with us) ran right off the road and down an embankment. Broken front blinker and some scratches! Soon after a first timer riding a CBR250RR ran wide and ‘fell over’. Same result: front blinker and scratches. On the Black Spur a GSX1300R (Hayabusa) riding with the Club ‘failed to negotiate a bend’, and ran into a culvert before crashing. Result: 2 blinkers and slight scratches. Remarkable!

Port Campbell Weekend. Though not until the long weekend in March, Ian Payne is accepting bookings now. It is a sensational location offering a private heated indoor salt pool, large games room, and restaurant. Of course the trip down the Great Ocean Road is along some of the most spectacular coast line in Australia, if not the world. And there are numerous nearby tourist attractions. So if you would like to go, contact Ian Payne asap to secure a place.