Tues 24th February. I had a call from Enzo Cunico of Tasmanian crashed R1 fame. He is getting the urge to ride again. All this push bike riding is making his legs so big he can barely fit into his leathers. A motorcycle will remedy this. Options being considered include a Triumph 955 or BMW R1100S. I think the next time we see him he will be riding a silver BM. Welcome back Enzo.
Sun 22nd Feb.: At the
start of the Mt Baw Baw
ride we were bailed up by former member Rod Miskin
(used to ride a Honda VF1000 FII). He disappeared to WA for 10 years or so and
is back, married and with a 14 month old daughter. He hasn’t aged a bit, though unkindly notes
we are all look fit for the Ulysses Club. The
ride allowed us to sample the recently surfaced Black Spur. It is now in the
best condition ever. Not a bump anywhere. It took a while to get used too.
Unfortunately it is still speed restricted to 40 km/h. There was barely a car
on it and a few liberties were taken, smiles all round. March 3rd – Martin Hastie
reports speed restrictions have been lifted.
17th Feb: Rhys
Williams (of
Thu 12th Feb. Dave Ward cunningly drops into conversation that he has sold/traded his 996 and bought a new MV Brutale for Bronwyn, making the second MV Augusta in the family. They turned up the following hot and sticky Sunday ride allowing us to have a good perve. Ten days later he started making enquiries about the length of the forthcoming Harrietville ride and whether he will have time to run in his new bike – a new replacement MV750. Probably not!
Dave Ward is having a
garage clearance to make room for his new acquisitions. For sale:
The MTCV Home Page took 412 hits during February and has taken 19,273 since April 1996. We continue to generate new members via the web and our ads in the bike magazines are doing well. I am taking plenty of digital photos – one day I’ll get then up on the web.
Seen at the February General Meeting: Danny
Kosinski, Pete Weyermayr, Ben and Julie Warden, Ian
Payne, Ron Johnston, Allan Zimmer, Rhys Williams, Mark Easterbrook, Ian Handforth, Liz Oliver, Craig Morley, Kirsten Anderson,
Robert Langer, Trevor and Anne Harris, Ray Walker, Peter Philferan, Wayne and
Joanne Nimmo, Martin Hastie, Carmen de Bono, Di Welsford, Kate Stewart, and Paul Southwell. 21 members, 26 people.
Margaret Wehl-Willet from Motorcycle Roadtours
Rob Langer owed me a favour. One lunchtime a few days
before the General Meeting I had taken some high resolution photos of his
R1150GS and then emailed them to a prospective buyer in
The Points System. The Club Participant of the Year is based on aggregate points accumulated at 1 point per ride, an extra point for leading or being rear rider, and 1 point per Magazine article (maximum 2 per Magazine). It runs till the May AGM. We are now ten months into the 2004 points and at the end of February the top ten points’ scorers are: Ben Warden (73), Pete Weyermayr (44.5), Ian Payne (39), Paul Southwell (37), Liz Oliver (34), Mark Easterbrook (32.5), Greg Hales (31.5), Rob Langer (30), Ron Johnston (29), and Kate Stewart (28.5). Paul Southwell is the big mover this month picking up 7 points and a place. He was on every ride, leading, or at the rear.
Herald Sun, 27th Feb. Bikecam
is coming to a road near you,
by Christine Caulfield. An unmarked
police motorcycle fitted with a hidden camera is the latest weapon against
dangerous driving on country roads. The hi-tech spy motorcycle will focus on
reckless riders in the
In the past four years, 14 riders have been killed and 390 seriously
injured in more than 500 motorcycle crashes in the popular recreational riding
area. More than 70 per cent of collisions involved a rider losing control. Yarra Ranges District Inspector Michael
Beattie said some weekend riders were using the roads as personal racetracks. "We want to penetrate the psyche of
those riders involved in the selfish pursuit of speed. It is totally
unacceptable," he said. Insp Beattie said the motorbike would also catch offending
cars and trucks.
The use of video cameras on Club rides. The Committee has deemed that at the start of each ride, the Leader must request that riders’ using video cameras identify themselves. “The use of video cameras, while riding on Club rides is banned, unless every rider waives his right to privacy.” No video cameras please.
We have run out of Magazine covers. I expect a new colour and design for next month, hopefully …
It has been another excellent month in terms of motorcycle crashes on Club rides with zero recorded! For the second month on a row. It must be the President’s calming words. Most of the recently injured are now being seen on the odd Club ride or social event. Excellent!
On the Friday Julie Johnston will be driving the car down and can carry
luggage if requested. To book call Ron Johnston 03 9725 7303
Damian Czarnecki, a fellow CBR929 rider, forwarded my 100,000 km CBR929 ride report to www.fireblades.org forum section. It generated all manner of responses: here are a few: