Who’s News                May  2007

At the AGM, a motion was put to change the Club name from "Motorcycle Sports Touring Club of Victoria" to "Melbourne Sportsbike Riders". This motion was carried. See AGM minutes elsewhere.

The MSTCV Home Page accumulated 723 hits during May, up 211 from last month. Total visits are 35,930 since April 1996.  I have changed every occurrence of Motorcycle Sport Touring Club of Victoria to Melbourne Sportsbike Riders on the web pages – about two hours work. It is surprising how big the site is getting.  Of course, I only changed current documents to the new name. Hence, if you back track through the old itineraries you will see a progression of name changes over the past 6 years.

Finally I have added a hundred or so photos from 2007. More to follow.  I haven’t added the full size photos – at 2 Mb each, disk space becomes a consideration. If anyone wants a high resolution copy for printing, etc, let me know.

Seen at the Annual General Meeting in the Club Hall on Thursday 4th May: Ben and Julie Warden, Ian Payne, Dave Ward and Bronwyn Manifold, Trevor Harris and Barbara Rolfe, Ron Johnston, Breht Emmerson and Libby O’Neil, Jacinta Thomas, Mark Rigsby, Geoff Jones, Paul Southwell, Peter Feistl, Cameron Stevens, and Rob Langer. 17 people

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). Attending one or more days of a weekend event scores 3 points for leading, 3 for rear riding duties and 2 points for participating.

The count has started again for the year 2007/8 ending at the 2008 AGM in May.  Count totals so far are: Ben Warden (10), Ian Payne (10), Paul Southwell (5), Geoff Jones (4), Cameron Stevens (4), Dave Ward (3), and Misho Zrakic (3).  This is the top eight. Usual suspects and a couple of new, keen winter riders.

Front Cover:  Redesdale Ride, last Sunday, 3rd June. Back row: Barbara Rolfe, Misho Zrakic, Ron Solomon, Pina Garasi (1st ride), Trevor Harris, Cameron Stevens, Dave Mann (1st ride), Paul Southwell, Les Leahy and Ian Payne. Kneeling: Chris Gash (1st ride), Paul Stavrakis (3rd ride), Rob Langer and Marty Thompson.  Ben Warden behind the lens.

Email received on Monday 4th June from first time rider Lorry Ciantar riding an Aprilia Mito 125: Dear Ben, Firstly I would like to thank the Club for allowing me to be part of the ride to Redesdale on Sunday 3rd of June. I was very grateful to all the riders for allowing a bike like mine to join in the fun. I would also like to apologise that I was struck by a bird and fell off my bike. Besides being  a  bit sore, my pride was more damaged than me. The bike looks like it will be  a  write-off. I was hoping when I get my new Mito I will be able to come again on a ride. Can you also apologise to the gentleman on the Kawasaki (Marty Thompson …Ed.) who was the back marker for only going slow.

Email received from Dave Moore 14th May:  I have decided to move on the old girl  "R1".  Just in the process of turning the ugly ducking into a swan.  This will take a while! Looks like I have a ZX6   from Daz (Darryn Webster ..Ed.).   I will pick it up in June. Hopefully I will have sold the R1 by then.

Tamsin and baby  all okay,  although she is not sleeping so well  at the moment. The baby does a lot of moving around.  Baby due on 20th August.

Dave rang a few days later to ponder his options after being followed around the city (CBD) by an unfriendly policeman while he read the Melways looking for an address, unaware he was being tailed. When he had accumulated enough points and fines they pulled him over, no ifs, no buts.  Six points brought him up to the magic 12 point figure and all the double jeopardy options. Not a happy munchin.

 

Darryn Webster has purchased a new silver Triumph 675.  It looks and goes! It will be interesting to see how reliable it is over the next couple of years.  Look out for him on a club ride soon.

 

Welcome to new member Barbara Rolfe, sometime pillion with Trevor Harris, and regular visitor at the General Meetings and Social Sips. She has become a member and joined the Committee as the Social Secretary, a position vacant for some time.  Welcome to Barb.

 

Who’s News cont.                May 2007

Welcome to Mirko Strasser who joined the Club on the Pyalong ride. He rides a tri-colour Honda CBR929 and was very keen to get to the member section of the Club web site. We wish him many long, safe rides.

 

Email on Monday 14th May from Matt Brice a day after his epic mono gone wrong: “Feeling ok today, right shoulder a little bit sore and a couple of bruises down my right side. Back at work this arvo, situation normal and feeling pretty lucky overall. Still not entirely sure what happened, dunno about an epic mono, just an epic crash. Started off a run-of-the-mill 3rd gear stand up wheelie. Then I was tumbling along the road. Gust of wind, over-rev, fingernail flick by the man upstairs? Whilst tumbling along when I started to realise it was really happening. I tried to get up to walk away but still had about 3 more tumbles to go. It was a kind of strange, surreal feeling.

 

A mate came with his ute and picked the bike and me up about 45 min after crash. Got it all back in the garage at home just after lunch. Unfortunately, I have no insurance (aaargh) as I lost my license last year and was quoted heaps for my renewal or they wouldn't touch me at all.

 

The farmer whose fence was partially removed called me last night. He said he will contact a couple of local contactors for the repair, but was more concerned I was okay which was reassuring.

 

A couple of us went over the bike yesterday arvo. The frame, swingarm, wheels, brakes and forks all look ok but the rest is pretty well stuffed. I rang Vic Wreckers today.  A tank and subframe will be about $450 each, top clamp, clip-ons and all bar accessories about another $600 to $800. Hoping for under $2.5k back on the road in streetfighter form. Didn't even want to ask about the fairings yet. May have to talk to the bank manager first. Or mod my race farings to take lights.”

 

Ben Warden’s CBR954 stator failed Tueday night, right on the typical 80,000 km mark. Normal symptom of a flat battery involving a push start to get home from work. A check with the multi-meter across the battery terminals with the motor running indicated no charge entering the battery (only 12.3V). I assumed the stator (the windings behind the left hand engine cover) had failed based on previous experience, now the fourth time if you count the old 929 failing with the new owner a few weeks ago.  Luckily – or good planning – saw the donor 954 wreck providing a replacement stator, the bike back up and running in under 1.5 hrs, indicating a happy 14.45 volts across the battery terminals. Only about half a cup of oil escapes. No gasket required as it came off without breaking. Hardest part was finding the fat white plug, requiring tank raising, battery out and black box wiring cover off.