Lavers Hill via the Great Ocean Road             Sunday 3rd February, 2008

 

Ben Warden (leader0

Honda CBR954

Geoff Jones

Yamaha R1

Dave Ward

Honda CBR600

Peter Jones

Yamaha R1

Mirko Strasser

Honda CBR929

Pinna Garasi

Yamaha R6

Paul Southwell

Honda CBR1000

Cameron Stevens

Yamaha FZ6

Dennis Lindemann

Honda CBR600

Chris Bouwmeester

Suzuki GSXR1000

Willem Vandeveld (rear)

Honda ST1300

Misho Zrakic

Suzuki GSXR750

Paul Punicki

Honda CBR1100XX

Bruce Fleming

Kawasaki GPz900r A6

Mark Copeland (2nd ride)

Honda VTR1000

Tim Walker

Kawasaki ZX7R

Bill Simpson

Honda VTR1000

Randall Leacock

Kawasaki ZX9R

Rob Langer

BMWR150GS

Andrew Southen

KTM 625

 

My first ride for 2008 started how my 2007 finished with a ride to Lavers Hill.  With School holidays over as well as the associated family commitments, spending time at the beach, BBQ’s and visiting family and friends it was now time to wheel the bike out and go for a fang. 

Choosing Lavers Hill run for my first ride back turned out to be a marathon with a total around 550 km from door to door.  It proved very draining as I was exhausted by the time I got home, which surprised me as I worked very hard to maintain my fitness over Christmas.

We all showed up at West Gate servo at around 9.30am where Ben advised our leader for the day was suffering mechanical problems.  Cliff’s Gixxer had become a green house terrorist blowing blue smoke after reaching 96,000 km allegedly. Time for some new rings.

Ben took on leader responsibilities, as he does (please don’t catch a cold Ben or we will all be stuffed) and Willem took up rear end duties on the Honda Winnebago.  The Euro Tourismo was looking a stand out with the extra reflector taped all over the back of the bike. He would’ve looked at home doing rear guard duties for a mobile nuclear missile.  I don’t think anonymity is Willem’s style! 

Ben’s brief for the ride was cops more cops and maybe even more cops.  This later led to people focusing on phantoms behind bushes, radars in the sky and the odd scan over the horizon looking for cops in boats.  (The result of an urban myth created by Ron Solomon when he had the jetski attachment on the Busa). 

We headed off to Moriac at a steady 100k’s until we reached the back roads of Lara where we dared to stretch the legs to around 1##kays.  This was on mostly straight roads to the first stop where we pulled in for morning tea with Geoff Jones filling up the thirsty R1.  After coffee, discussion on Cameron’s new Ohlins shock and the short comings of Internet shopping, we headed for some good roads.  Geoff left the ride here due to other commitments.

On to Lorne we went, initially through some very nice constant radius sweepers then into the twisty stuff descending into Lorne.  Cars, cars and more cars with plenty of bikes of all descriptions.  I have to admit to enjoying the road between Lorne and Apollo Bay: plenty of corners with good exit vision.  I pushed hard where I could between the cars, buses, bikes and scooters.  This road can be dangerous and you need to be on top of your game as there maybe some nuf-nuf around a corner stopped in the middle of the road taking pictures.  At one point I had three bikes in front of me with the tail rider on a GSXR1000. He accidentally baulked me when I tried passing.  So when the opportunity arose I used the superior power of the R1 to blow him to the weeds nearly taking out the lead scooter rider in the process.  We all made it to Apollo Bay without incident where we filled up, cleaned visors and took of for Lavers Hill.

From here traffic was light compared to my last ride, making things even more enjoyable.  The magnificent high speed sweepers were exhilarating. There’s something about having the bike cranked right over at speed; I was in the sphincter contraction zone.  The drama was only increased with the noise of two Honda V Storms at my back wheel which pushed me even harder.  The lack of confidence in my back tire went out the window where it belonged as this was the only way I was going to stay in front of the big V twins.  Once into the flat land I succumbed and was passed by Mark. I had run my race.

Lunch at Lavers Hill. Ben had the obligatory ham and salad sandwich along with many others, me being one.  Police presence was a hot topic with plain cloth police cars spotted on the way and a speed camera.  After discussing tyres and planning future rides, we were off again for our return trip.

I decided to take it easy on the way back to Apollo Bay and enjoy a smooth run. This plan was disrupted with wet roads which had a very shiny, slippery look. 

Andrew, on the KTM Motard, enjoyed passing me on corners around the outside at speed. The lean angle he achieved was amazing.  I was impressed, but I don’t think it’s for me.

We refuelled at Apollo Bay and then rode up Skenes Creek road to Forest.  I was following Bruce on his classic GPz900R (with mods) up through the twisties. This bike was cutting edge 25 years ago and I remember my Z from 1983. It was a great bike and it served me well.  I was impressed with its power as it accelerated very hard.  But when we got to the corners, especially corners with bumps I realised we have come a long way since 1983.  I admire the courage of the rider. Say no more!

The ride to Forest proved uneventful. It is a very nice piece of road with the only distraction being the fear of cops lurking in the bushes.  Some very uncharacteristic behaviour was observed by many riders: braking heavily for any white vehicle, new commodore, even a family in a white station wagon picking up a bag of horse manure on the road side caused our leader to break heavily.  Eventually the police got the better of us, nabbing Pina for speeding; there is clearly no justice here as Pina would probably be the safest of all of us.

We arrived in Moriac for the final break with the ride taking its toll on me. I was feeling fatigued and needed the rest.  After a drink and discussing the speeding fine we headed for Lara where we parted company.

It was great to get back on the bike after a long break and ride with the Club again. I really enjoyed catching up with everyone and to see you all got through Christmas New Year safely.

This year I hope to see Tony Raditsis on a new bike, Darran Porch on his R1, Barb fully recovered and many safe enjoyable rides with plenty of mindless banter in between. 

Thanks Ben for leading and Willem for rear rider duties. I will see you all again very soon.   

   

Peter Jones