The MTCV Home Page has taken 338 hits during August and 6434 since April 1996. See more information such as magazine articles up on the web in the Members-only section. But note, we have changed the member’s password. That is, unless you are a current member, you will not be able to access the "Members Only" section. This is the biggest number of hits in a month yet recorded. Have your say on the Visitors Page — see below. It seems to be working well as a billboard.

Road Conditions Reporting Line: 9854-2899 where motorcyclists can report road conditions and give suggestions for improvement on any road in Victoria.

Seen at the June Social Sip at the Blackburn Hotel: Ian Payne, Derek Atkinson, Jon Riddett, Rob Matricciani & Mandy, Danny Carr and his friend Adam, Rob Wordie, Danny Kosinski, Harry Miller, Dianne Welsford, and Nick Casemore and Lisa. Nick and Lisa have been travelling/working all over Western Australia and the Northern Territory for nearly the last 12 months.

On 28 August 2000, Jason B. ([email protected]) visited the MTCV Home Page and had this to say: "G'day to all. Thanks for an awesome ride for Sunday the 27th August. Huge thanks go to the guys who helped me with the small 'nail-fell-out-of-my-tyre-then-it-went-flat' problem. I hope the rest of the ride was just as good, if not better, than the first half. I'll be out again fer sure :) Take care, Jason (97 TLS, Black...with a plugged rear tyre)"

For Sale: 1999 Honda CRM250, 1700 km, RWC, registered, $6,300 Contact Dave Ward on 0413-624-598. Dave is racing Tony Schrader’s (former member) TZ250 at the Phillip Island Stars of Tomorrow meeting in November. Tony has moved into B-Grade and is no-longer eligible to race at the Stars.

Bronwyn Manifold’s RG250 is in the workshop for some high compression pistons and new rings. It was fast before, it will be even faster now!

Hi Ben, feel free to report on this and edit it as suitable for the Club magazine.

I've decided to give up motorbikes for a number of years, pending Holly and any future children reaching a suitable age due to a recent incident on 2^nd July. While cruising Dandenong road under the Caulfield railway overpass a hotted up Commodore (reg. VUHSS or MUHSS) exited the corner behind, sideways and 30m behind me and nailed it. Not knowing which lane he was destined to end up in I accelerated to keep him a safe distance behind and noticed just up ahead a car pulling into traffic. Quick look behind and Mr. Commodore "looks" like he's going straight, so I back off, at which point the commodore gets sideways again, swerves into my lane. He's now doing ~150kph and I'm doing maybe 100 (in a 70 zone). He narrowly misses the rear of my bike (literally by less than a metre), careens into the other lane that the other car is pulling into, regains control, just misses said car pulling in, swerves back into my lane again (about 50) in front of me this time), guns it and runs the red light with the big glowing Tattslotto TV billboard (so you know we're I'm talking about).

While sitting at the traffic light thinking how lucky I was not to be killed, Mr. Plod races up and informs me I've just lost my license (to my utter disbelief). It would seem that Mr. Plod was watching me and only me through his telescopic laser gun and put it down and looked away (presumably pulling out) just as the commodore would have entered his field of view. Mr. Plod denies there being any other car on the road at the time, "what about the commodore and the car pulling out I say", "there was no other car - you're making it up" he replies. He decides whether or not to charge me with "dangerous driving", After some pleading, and him muttering something about there possibly being another car, but since he didn't see it happen so he can't validate my story, he settles for the standard ticket (124kph in a 70kph zone). This is a mandatory 6 months suspension, $300 fine and 6 points off the license. I had only just gotten it clean too.

So upon reflection, and being thankful I wasn't killed, I've decided to take it on the chin, so to speak, and reward Holly and any future children with not having a father killed in a motorcycle accident. The bike is up for sale, my license is suspended until 1 Feb 2001, and I won't be taking up motorcycling again for an indefinite period (at least 10 years).

Thanks for all the great rides people, and I'll catch up with you lot again perhaps at a meeting or social sip sometime.

Ben, just a quick note to let you know I was involved in a hit and run accident on the VTR last Wednesday night. I've done a rib or 2, my shoulder and have concussion. The bike still goes but the muffler was bent over the swing-arm so I didn't ride it. There were several people around who saw the incident but it was dark and no-one got the number plate. Hopefully I'll be at the next meeting and can provide more details. Darren Hosking

Congratulations to Ken and Ann Wurster who are expecting a little brother/sister for Claire.

After dropping his bike "big time" at our Sandown Ride Day, Mick Bosworth’s insurance company came to the party and now he is aboard a new 2000 model Kawasaki ZX9R.

Australian Superbike Championships will be held at Phillip Island on 9^th and 10^th of September. Classes include Superbike, Supersport, 250GP, 125GP, 250 Proddie, Sidecars and Harleys. Racing legends in attendance on Sunday include Mal Campbell, Rob Phillis, Ajay Johnson, Roger Heyes and Graeme Muir. Entry fee allows access to the Pit area.

Thanks to Jack Youdan for stepping in to lead the "Mornington Peninsula" ride at the last minute when our leader John Murphy had to pull out after injuring his back. Get well soon John.

The new October to January itinerary has been finalised with some great rides as well as a couple of weekends away. Coming up in November the Melbourne Cup Weekend will see us heading to Orbost, Bombala and Walwa over the 4 days. Our annual Christmas Camp will once again be held up at Porepunkah. Then for 2001 the Aust. Day Long Weekend will find us based in Walwa while we explore the great roads around the area. See the web page or grab a card for details.

While on a Hayabusa Club run up to Noojee, Wayne Nimmo dropped his bike when a fellow Hayabusa rider moved in front of him as they were stopping. Fortunately it was at low speed but as they were on gravel the front washed out Wayne could not hold it and had to lower the bike to the ground.