Who’s News                October 2008

 

The MSR Home Page accumulated 580 hits during October, about the same as last month. Total visits are 46,908 since April 1996. I have added some counters to the other pages. Other than the home page, after a week or so it is clear that the 2008 itinerary page gets the most hits (150 in 9 days) and then the Great Roads (50 in 9 days). Hence, Ern Reeders, with some spare time on his hands (see emails below) has offered to put some more intellectual property into the Great Roads pages, filling a few holes, up dating the content. Thanks Ern.

Seen at the Social Sip at Mark’s Place, Thursday 2nd October 2008:  Julie Warden, Trevor Harris and Barbara Rolfe, Paul Southwell, Ian Payne, Ron and Julie Johnston, Peter Feistl, Jacinta Thomas, Dave Ward and Bronwyn Manifold, Ian Payne, Kurn Bridgeman, Peter Philferan, Kate Stewart, Dennis Lindemann and Darryn Webster.  

There are still a few holes on the new itinerary in January 2009. It is up on the web. As usual, we are looking for leaders and destinations. If you have any suggestions or would like a turn leading, contact any of the Committee.  Any help is much appreciated and fresh ideas are welcome.

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 2008/9 year ending at the 2009 AGM in May. The count after six months is Ben Warden (49), Pina Garasi (38), Ron Johnston (36), Ian Payne (36), Paul Southwell (33), Ken Goederee (28), Dave Ward (26.5), Geoff Jones (25.5) Misho Zrakic (25), with Randall Leacock (19).  Quite a bit of movement this month with Pina jumping Ron, Ian jumping Paul and Geoff jumping Misho. Amazingly, Randall is still hanging in there despite having left to work in WA a few months ago. Ian picked up 9 points for the month after a lots of rear riding – and more importantly, lots of riding. Welcome back Ian!

Front Cover: photo taken on Monday at Sue City (Towong Weekend) after the rain (hence most people in rain suits). Back row: Peter Jones, Cliff Peters, Paul Southwell, Dave Ward, Ian Payne. Front row: Ron Johnston, Greg Trainor, Misho Zrakic, Pina Garasi. Ben Warden behind the lens. 

Email from Martin Bastock on 20th October providing positive ride feedback. Hi all, a note of thanks to all at Melbourne Sportsbike Riders from an old member of MTCV. Thanks for the welcome to the Eildon ride last Sunday – it was great to catch up with the developments of the Club and the evolving lives of the “older” faces. A special thanks to Geoff Jones, Ian Payne, Ben Warden and Dave Ward for bringing back the memories and of course, to Paul Southwell for the ride on some sensational roads. It was pleasing to see such a continued committed turn-out for the club rides, great organization ... and some sensational new machinery (Dave ... just love that new Honda and Geoff... well your machinery is consistent – it changes with new mods every week!). Once again – thanks for the ride! Kind regards, Martin BastockCBR1000F – 1990Ulysses Club – Melbourne Branch. 

Email from Marty Thompson on 10th August:  Hi Ben, not sure if I have spoken/emailed you of late as I have been a little bit drug f….ed and I have had a few conversations which I can’t remember!  I saw the specialist Monday at 5pm and was under the knife at 9.30pm Tuesday night! As with most things medical and me, it didn’t go exactly to plan, with the surgeon having to abandon keyhole after two attempts at finding a path through the scar tissue and adhesions of the op I had 6 years ago! The biopsy revealed a very unhappy gall bladder and two large gallstones. The bladder was enflamed which is why it had been constant pain wise. But I woke up expecting two or three cm long incisions and being told they had to open me up completely! Bugger! The end result just means a longer recuperation time and a lot of severe abdominal pain. I live on morphine from Tuesday night till last night, then switched to Pethidine injections when it was absolutely needed. They just let me go home at lunchtime, so I must be recovering OKish!  I now have another 8 inch long scar on my gut. This time it runs diagonally across my gut, following the bottom of my ribcage.  So I may not be on the bike till Christmas now! Faaaark! Anyway, I just thought I’d let you know I was still alive. I gotta go now as this has taken me 34 minutes to type out! I am on these pretty wicked painkilling drugs and they have just hit me. See ya

Email from Ern Reeders on 8th October: I'm back from NZ where I trashed a knee - snapped ACL and torn MCL. Advice is not to ride until after surgery and rehab which will be some months.  Actually, riding isn't the prob; it's putting down the leg when stopped and risking sideways force on the knee. So I'm afraid I need to bail out of the Cup day tour.

Email from Stoimen Stojanov on 6th August just after the Phillip Island MotoGP flag marshalling. The Island was awesome as usual. Even better for me this year, got to spend 4 days on a BM GS 650 Xcountry. I did about 140km's around the inside and outside of the circuit! Mark Rigsby was about and even (I don't know how!) Renzo said g'day...Friday afternoon, I had my full face on. (The weather was awful!).

Tassy 2009. It’s happening.  Confirmed dates are Wed 4th to Sat 14th of March. Costs are $241 night sail plus $41 for the bike, each way. The plan is to go nights both ways making a total $562 for fares. A dozen people have indicated strongly of their intention to join the tour. I have booked the boat paying a $300 deposit for 12 people, 10 bikes and 2 cars.  The first 12 people to pay will have everything organized. After that, make your own arrangements.  Full payment required around mid January.

 

Xmas Camp, Mt Buffalo Caravan Park, Porepunkah

Friday 26th December to Thursday 1st   January 2009

Over the past 10 years or so the Club has camped for about a week at the Mt Buffalo Caravan Park. Situated on the fork of the Ovens and Buckland Rivers it offers a fantastic range of activities including swimming, fishing and bush walking. Close by is the Smoko Trout Farm, the “Wandi Pub”, the Hedge Maze, various berry, deer and nut farms, and an alpaca ranch. The famous Milawa wineries and cheese factory are close by. Great road and dirt riding country abounds.

Mt Buffalo offers a sensational 25 km climb to the scenic Chalet and lookouts. Nearby are good half-day rides to Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Dartmouth Dam or full day rides into the Snowy Mountains and some of the best roads in the world. Who can forget Tawonga Gap? On the flip side there are lots of fire trails and mountain tracks offering spectacular views of the surrounding alps, most of which can only be reached by 4WD or dirt bike. So, bring your road and dirt bikes, the missus and kids, the 4WD, pushbikes, swim shoes and truck inner tubes or li-los to float down the river. Supermarket shopping is available at Bright, 6 km away.

The Club usually secures some unpowered sites under “The Willows”. Last year a few couples rented self contained cabins for the week, another good option. Ring 03-5756-2235 to secure a cabin or a powered site. Otherwise tell Ian Payne of your intention to camp with the group. Do it now.

 

 

Snowy Mountains, Jindabyne   Australia Day Weekend

Friday 23rd to Monday 26th January, 2008

The Committee has booked the Torino Lodge at the NSW Sport and Recreation Centre in Jindabyne. This style of accommodation has 2 or 3 beds per room (8 rooms) with communal bathroom facilities, and a large kitchen/living area with a big screen TV. We stayed there on the Melbourne Cup Weekend Epic a couple of years ago and were so impressed with the cost, quality and food, we thought we had better come back!

The Australia Day holiday falls on Monday 26th of January. Given the distances involved (700 km first day and last days), a four day weekend allows us to take full advantage of the great location, and sensational roads and spectacular scenery.  The plan is to ride up on Friday, ride around the snowy Mountains Saturday and Sunday, and return to Melbourne on Monday. This means three nights accommodation. You'll need to take annual leave for the Friday. Typically temperatures are in the 40’s at this time of year, but at this altitude the temperatures will be at least 10 degrees cooler making for ideal riding conditions.

As usual, this special event is offered on a strictly first come, first served basis. Preference will be given to members. A $150 deposit is required. The deposit buys you most of three nights accommodation, breakfast and main evening meals. All you need is your toothbrush, a change of clothes and near new tyres. Street legal, race replica tyres will not last much more than two days so regular road tyres are a more sensible option, unless you can find a motorcycle shop open and willing to change them.