ZX7R Geoff Barton (leader) VFR800 Bruce Saville (rear rider)

ZZR600 Geoff Jones ZZR600 Leigh Third (2^nd ride?)

ZZR250 Ric Brabin SZR650 John Howard

ZX7R Tim Walker R1100RT Bob Kerseboom

At the start of each Club ride the leader for the day gives a pre-ride spiel, checks that all are OK with the corner marking system, and asks for a rear rider. Then comes the request for "the write up". We, the members on the ride, shuffle our feet, avoid eye contact and hope someone else gets the gig. This is one ride report I wish could rewrite history and the event which ended the ride at Bull Swamp could be rewritten with a happier ending. Life is not like that, however, and those who are still here must carry on, dealing with the hurt in their own way. I think Geoff would expect nothing less.

At Hallam at 10.15 am we are talking as usual about bikes. I recall asking Rhys about ZX9 model years and whether its best to buy in the city or at the dealers in the suburbs, how to get a good deal and other bike stuff. Geoff let us go on a bit and then asked if we were finished so he could get on with the ride. Bruce gets rear rider job, I carry the kit, and, at this stage, no write-up duty is given.

We start up our bikes and head north to pick up the Warburton road at Woori Yallock. Then east to Yarra Junction and onto the Powelltown road for the run to Piedmont and the turn south to Neerim South. Weather, as I recall, was not great. No rain but wet patches on the road and so care was needed to avoid being caught by a dry, then wet in the middle, sort of corner. Temperature was on the chilly side.

As we came to Piedmont Geoff's ZX7 started to show signs of the dreaded carby ice up, running rough and not revving past about 4000rpm. Slowly up the hill we sat behind the ZX7 which was blowing lots of black smoke. Through the various Neerims we struggled but as the road levelled out a bit the carbs cleared. By the turn at Rokeby we were back to normal function, running at that spacing that seems to just suit, close enough to enjoy the group with enough room to move if needed.

A fuel stop just north of Warragul and then into the town centre for lunch and more "talk the talk". The weather here much improved and the roads dry. We were all looking forward to some Gippsland magic as we headed down the Warragul to Korumburra road…..

Today, 1^st July 2001 I have been on Bruce's ride and at the end at Healesville Ben asked for a write up for June 10^th. As he said there had been a write up of almost every ride the Club runs and even though Geoff's life ended at Bull Swamp the ride should not go un-reported. The list of riders is with him and I trust will appear above or below.

As Ian says on the Club's web page, in the visitors section, Geoff was a man of many facets. As I heard his brother speak of him at the funeral I realised what a loss to all of us his passing is. I am sure we will remember him with love.