Who’s News               January 2008

The MSR Home Page accumulated 544 hits during December. Total visits are 40,529 since April 1996.  A new itinerary is being formulated for February to May 2008 and we are looking for new leaders - or even old ones.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, a couple of prospective leaders are unavailable.  Contact any of the committee if you can lead a ride or two, or if you have ideas for a destination.  I will put up a draft itinerary on the web on the weekend (once this month's mag is out of the way) and you can look for "leader required".

Seen at the Social Sip on Thursday 6th December: Jacinta Thomas, Ben Warden, Trevor Harris, Barbara Rolfe, Peter Feistl, Matt Brice, Ian Payne, Paul Southwell, Dave Ward, and Darryn Webster. 10 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 is for the 2007/8 year ending at the 2008 AGM in May. Top ten totals after 8 months are: Ben Warden (80.5), Dave Ward (52.5), Ian Payne (51), Paul Southwell (42.5), Cameron Stevens (26), Geoff Jones (23.5), Trevor Harris (23), Misho Zrakic (23), Marty Thompson (20), and Ron Johnston (20). Geoff Jones moved up a couple of places was the only movement this month.  See sheet elsewhere for your score after 8 months. Any corrections send to Ben.

Condolences to Julie Johnston and Cliff Peters on the recent death of their 87 year old father who died peacefully in a nursing home on Christmas Day. A large family get together was held two weeks before his death. The funeral was on Monday 31st January in Portland.

President Ian Payne has been in the mechanical wars over Christmas. First the van (owned by Rob Langer but maintained and used by Ian) carrying his bike and gear expired near Oxley on the way to the Xmas Camp. Dave Ward rescued him late Boxing Day evening by towing the van to the Oxley service station for an initial diagnosis.  Ian’s bike and gear were loaded into Dave’s ute but not before Ian had tried everything to get the van going again including crawling around underneath the motor and blocking the errant water pipe, all in very hot and sticky weather. Initially it looked like a water hose had gone, with steam emanating out the rear view mirror. The initial quote off the top of the mechanics head, almost without looking at it, was astronomical, and a second opinion was called for. The final diagnosis after Rob and Ian towed it the next day to Wangaratta was a blown head gasket.  But with 212,000 kilometers on the dial, a complete engine rebuild or changeover motor was recommended. A deal was struck where Ian removed the number plates and took $100 for the salvage value of the van.

Ian had missed a day’s riding chasing around and now the weather was really heating up. Part way through a trip to Falls Creek Ian noted that his battery appeared to be failing. This immediately rang warning bells in my head, screaming stator problems. Though his bike had only done 38,000 km, I pointed out that Paul Southwell, also riding a CBR1000, had already replaced two stators by 60,000 km and my 929 did three in 200,00 km.  It is a Honda weakness.  Swapping batteries confirmed there was nothing wrong with his battery. Thanks to Craig for the loan of his battery charger to put some life back into Ian’s battery.  Ian was able to ride for the rest of the week and get home without incident with only a couple of battery swaps – and disconnecting the headlight.  Dave and Paul took his gear home.

Front Cover: Group shot on the Lavers Hill ride, December 16th taken by Peter Feistl. Back row standing: Willem Vandeveld, Denis Lindemann, Kurn Bridgeman, Rob Langer, Pina Garasi, Jean Avenard, Randal Leacock, Geoff Jones, Andrew Kennedy and Peter Jones. Front row: Cameron Stevens, Peter Feistl, Clifford Peters, Paul Southwell, Ron Johnston and Ern Reeders.

 

Who’s Bruised:

Email sent to members on Friday 21st December (with some minor corrections): Trevor Harris and Barbara Rolfe were involved in an accident on Sunday 16th December while returning home from Sydney with their "new" bike, Barbara as pillion passenger. They crashed into a reversing or stationary car on Hume Highway near one of the Craigieburn exits at about 11.45 pm. Trevor managed to take evasive action but still glanced the car with Barb's right leg taking a heavy hit resulting in multiple breaks. Trevor kept the bike upright and was unhurt.

Barbara had her thigh bone pinned and plated on Monday 17th and another operation on Thursday evening to repair the breaks to the lower leg and foot. There is cruciate ligament damage as well, though thankfully she was wearing protective armour and the rest of her knee is fine. She is in Royal Melbourne Hospital and likely to be there for at least another week, possibly two.  She is probably pretty groggy today but no doubt will welcome visitors in a day or so.

Update, Wednesday 2nd Jan. Barb has moved to Ivanhoe Rehab Centre, 144 Ford St Ivanhoe. She is in Bed 9A and should be there for the next 2-3 weeks depending on how fast progress is.  After 4 operations to her broken (in many places) right leg she is making good progress and is already beginning to stand and use walking frames.    She is very happy to receive visitors - to the point of leaving a message above her head to wake her if she is asleep!  Visiting hours are 2-8 pm. We wish her a speedy and full recovery.

Email from Ron Johnston: (He dropped the bike at the front gate some months back while accelerating hard on cold ex-race tyres with the Bandit landing on his leg.) Re: Foot and Leg, Went to Maroondah Hospital on 17th and 19th  December and given all clear. But cut index finger on left hand on Thursday 20th Dec, back to the hospital on Friday. 

I cut my finger whilst trying to remove a dip stick tube from a Commodore auto transmission. The doctor had to open up the wound, then went and got somebody from Plastics to look at it. After examining it, they admitted me straight away, and I was operated on after lunch. I arrived at the Hospital at 9am and left at 4.30pm.

Dec 28th had to go back for first check-up. They had to cut the plaster cast off my hand. Not much fun with one of them on. I felt like a one arm paper hanger. Was keen to find out what damage had been done; it was worse than I thought. Cut knuckle and tendon, I’ve got 8 stiches across the top of my finger, but Natalie couldn’t tell me how many stitches were inside the finger. They drilled a hole up the middle of my finger from the side, and inserted a piece of wire in there to hold the knuckle and tendon together, which will be removed on 11th Jan. Finger is in a splint at the moment.

Cameron Stevens crashed his GSXR1000 into a car and is now riding a Yamaha FZ6. See Lavers Hill ride write-up for more details.  Cameron suffered headaches for a week as a result of a concussion in the accident and the bike was a technical write-off.  We are happy to see Cameron has made a full recovery and is back riding again.

Jean Eldridge had a narrow escape when he skidded off the road near Mt Worth National Park on wet and slippery roads on the Woolamai ride, December 16th. His bike suffered only minor scratches to the fairing and he was able to continue riding. Though travelling at the same speed as other riders, he is now becoming aware of the concept of all things not being equal. Tyres, suspension, experience and bike setup all count, to name a few variables he is now more conscious of.

Jean’s crash partially lead to an interesting discussion raised by Jacinta Thomas at the Xmas Camp New Year’s Eve party. Could the experienced riders mentor new riders? Could there be rides where the road conditions, cornering lines, and riding techniques were actively discussed? The counter argument proposed by Ern Reeders was that we are not qualified to “teach” and hence open ourselves up to litigation. No doubt further discussion will ensue. All feedback, thoughts, ideas welcome. (As I was not privy to this conversation, this is only what I think was said …Ed.)

Long time members and strong supporters of the Club and fanatical bike riders, particularly the Black and Reefton Spurs, John Clowes and Eric Makin have both suffered serious crashes, neither of them at fault. 

Five Sunday’s ago (late November) John Clowes was confronted by two cars stopped side by side mid blind hairpin corner, between Cumberland Junction and Lake Mountain (tight twisties). A Harley had fallen off in the first instance, then the cars stopped and then two other bikes stopped. No-one thought to make the accident scene safe and when John rounded the corner there was absolutely nowhere to go. He crashed into the back of a black Ford sedan Hertz rental car and suffered a broken collar bone. The bike was a write off. A new 2008 Yamaha R6 is sitting in the garage.

Three Saturday’s ago Eric was confronted with a similar situation: two cars doing U-turns simultaneously, mid-corner. Eric and friend Paul headed for the gravel, the only option, and Eric crashed breaking his upper left arm and shoulder in five places, and tore tendons above and below his knee. He was taken to Maroondah Hospital where he was operated on. When finally released he had to be called back after a blood culture indicated all was not well. He spent another 3 days in hospital under observation.   He is home now, house bound. His knee is in a brace which holds his leg straight for the next six weeks – extremely uncomfortable. The bike, though not technically assessed will be written off. And the police are charging the car drivers. By law you must have 100 metres clear view in either direction before attempting a U-turn. We wish John and Eric a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing them occasionally, out minding the Spurs.