ZX7R Rhys Williams TL1000S Peter Doak

ZXR750 Ben Warden (lead) TL1000S Greg Hales

CBR900RR Ian Payne TLR1000 Tim Dahlgren

ZZR600 Geoff Jones (1/2 rear) TL1000S Dave Skett

VF800 Jack Youdan (1/2 rear) TL1000S Jason Burrough (1^st ride)

YZF750 Craig Morley Guzzi 1100S Peter (1^st ride)

R6 Vincent Melot (3^rd ride) VFR750 Rob Matricciani

R1100RS John Curry R1 Ken Wright (1^st ride)

VFR750 Danny Kosinski CBR600 Steve Philp

R1100GS Geoff Barton CBR1100XX Stephen Anderson

R6 Shane Ingram (1^st ride) CBR1100XX Andrew Napier

Some pleading looks in the direction of the lovely Val and, despite the Don's demolition job on her Blues in the preliminary final yesterday, I get the nod and head for KBCP. This is 2 in a row for me, something I don't usually get away with, but this is a Gippsland day and not to be missed, hardcore biking indeed. Better than the other kind of hardcore usually found on the web.

Three other bikes at the pickup. No leader. So at 9.30 am off to Yarra Glen via The Bouly, which, on this first daylight saving day, has a fun run on. So its slowly through the runners, onto the freeway, and then on to the more interesting roads to arrive at Yarra Glen by 10.30 am to find a larger group, either there or still rolling up. (The actual list will be inserted somewhere in this tome by Mr. Editor Esq.)

One type of bike however was in the majority: Suzuki TL1000, both S and R versions. On the economy ride the week previous Greg Hale's TL1000S had developed what appeared to be a loss of damping at the rear. This had given Greg some interesting moments on the less than smooth roads used after the fuel use check was over and the ride reverted to more "normal" mode.

Greg had taken the bike to his dealer as it was still under warranty. The fix turned out to be a new frame, as a bolt, one of 2 that locate the rotary damper to the frame, had worked loose and fallen out allowing the damper to rotate around the 1 remaining bolt and so stop acting as a damper. Instant pogo stick. The threads in the frame had been damaged. Being a warranty claim, bingo new frame, problem sorted. Not bad service in 1 week. Greg's smile however was to be short lived. Stay tuned for more of the TL1000 saga.

Twenty two bikes and riders, no pillions, or surprisingly, ladies, are called to hear the pre-ride lesson. Well, it is Sunday, and with the corner marking system repeated to avoid any problems as had happened the week before, we kit up and head for those Gippsland roads. Using the back road we travel through Healesville, south to Yarra Junction and onto the Powelltown road for the run to Noojee, Neerim South. Then out to Jindivick where the wait on the corner seemed to be overly long. So Geoff Barton, who was on the corner headed back to sus out the delay. First TL1000 withdrawal of the day as Greg’s newly framed missile cops a stone through the radiator and looses coolant. He heads home at reduced pace and will visit his dealer again. No warranty claim this time; money required I guess. Ah, the joys of motorcycling.

The roads through this section had been, as Ben had warned, both wet and dry as the sun had not had a chance to penetrate the trees. The roads through the much logged forest around Powelltown were mainly wet with sections of running water across in many places. Caution required but no problems reported apart from Greg's. After the delay had been sorted the ride halted at Drouin for morning tea and fuel (It was declared lunch …Ed.). The time was about midday and only about 125 km section had been completed. So after a short break we pushed on to the, by now, dry roads south to----- well I don’t really know. The enjoyment of this type of ride is in the total commitment to the piece of road you are on at the time. Combined this with the effort required to get each corner as right as you can, and then to do it again a few seconds later as the next one is ready for you. My maps suggest we were in or near Poowong, Rancby, Arawata with a short section of dirt to Fairbank to a spot just north of Leongatha. (Close. We picked up the main Warragul — Korumburra Road at Larder and headed due south to Ranceby. Ed.)

Suzuki TL1000 V twins have lots of mumbo I was finding out as I bounced off the rev limiter of the ZZR, trying to hang on to the rear of one of the many TLs on the ride. They don’t go far with large nails in rear tyres, however, as Jason found out three kilometres from Leongatha. More delay while the repair kit was put to use. Then a slow trip home after a visit to garage and instruction as to the way. Jason made it OK. I notice a "thanks blokes" message on the Club’s web page. The rest of the ride turned off the Strzelecki Highway onto the Marden Road and on to Dumbalk, Mirboo, Limonite, Boolara South and Boolara.

Boolara was the lunch stop, but closer to afternoon-tea time. There was no fuel at the stop so we moved on to Mirboo North, again for a tank top up. I was surprised to see the ZZR take 13 litres for a mileage indication of 136 km. Not economy ride winning stuff but what fun: low gears, lots of revs, high heart rates, big smiles, wide eyes, and race faces everywhere. Ah Gippsland.

All fuelled up but more TL1000 trouble. Another rear tyre leak. This one appeared to be at the join of the radial belt which had obviously been used with some passion during the day. Another withdrawal as, with time getting on, we had to move on. Vince on the R1 stayed with the TL so I hope they made it back to town. If not there is always the Mirboo North Brewery to drown one's sorrows in.

Some large black clouds were now threatening as we completed a loop west to Hallston and back to Mirboo North over some of the best sweepers in the country. Then north to the turn off to Thorpdale and the run up to Trafalgar. We missed most of the rain on this section but the roads were very wet after Hallston and so those magic sweepers between Thorpdale and Trafalgar were not to be taken at speed. I am speaking for myself here as I was now rear rider and noticed that a few had by now slowed, fatigue, the supply of adrenaline low, wet roads and the knowledge that the ride was nearing its end all factors. (Jack came storming through to the front…Ed.)

More delays as people stopped to don wet weather gear and Ben did not take the Hazeldene road through to Lardner as the rain has set in. We droned down the freeway and stopped at Drouin for more fuel and some hot food. From here to Packenham via the Longwarry Road to the finish. I still had to get to Melton and arrived home knackered but happy with 631km showing for the day, door to door. Thanks to Ben who has the Gippsland bug bad and really puts together a top blast in this area, to Jack who rear rode for most of the day and handled the "incidents" with aplomb. To all who turned up, thanks for coming.

Despite the relatively large number of incidents resulting in longish delays, there were still thirteen wet shiny bikes stacked up along the main street of Drouin at the finish. It was a great look. More gratifying, I received many thanks from the remaining riders who clearly had had a great day.

Special mention to Club entertainer Craig, who took every opportunity to back track down the corner markers to see what was going on. At various stages he was seen punching the air as he performed some outstanding passing manouevre or beat Vince on the R6 over some section. He was cracking jokes and telling stories that had me in tears of laughter at one stage. He was highly competitive all day, in a friendly, entertaining way. Even so, the wizard Danny blitzed him on the road often enough to remind him that he was only mortal. If only Craig would change those bald tyres. ..Ed.