Navigation Trial 14/07/2002

‘A’ TEAM ‘B’ TEAM

Greg Hales – TL1000S Renzo Cunico – R1

Ian Payne – CBR919RR Tim Walker – ZX7R

Ian and Sherry Handforth – XTZ660 Ben Warden – CBR929RR

Liz Oliver – CBR9190RR Pete Weyermayr – CBR929RR

Geoff Jones R1 Rob Langer and Kirsten Anderson – R1150GS

Les Leahy – KTM640 (judge and organizer) (11 bikes and 13 people)

The group assembled at Whittlesea. Les explained the ‘team’ concept of the ‘trial’ and then handed out maps and question sheets, dividing the group up into A and B teams and explained a couple of rules: Team members to depart Whittlesea as a group AND all team members to return to final destination as a group from a single direction. Basically the teams would answer 15 questions about the surrounding towns and could do it either as a group or individually but only one set of answers would be presented at the end. A quick scan of the map revealed all the answers were contained in an area bounded by Highlands in the north, Broadford to the west and Glenburn in the east!

The ‘A’ team decided to divide the group and questions into three with Geoff and Greg tackling the “far north” questions, Ian and Sherrie the westerly ones and leaving Liz and Ian the rest. The “B” team also got organized and looked like they would be hard to beat; even Renzo had come prepared with a full set of “wets” fitted to his R1! The questions (and answers) were:

1. Yea’s shire hall was built in what year? 1894

2. What is the name of Tallarook’s Roman Catholic Church? St. Joseph’s.

3. Take ‘Spur Road’ over Wall’s Crossing and continue on to the end. Name the last side-road before it turns to dirt. Doctors Creek Road.

4. The notice board at Glenburn Hotel is sponsored by who’s Towing and Transport? Eddy’s.

5. Who are welcome at the Reedy Creek C.F.A.? New Members.

6. What is the name of the newspaper published in Broadford? Broadford Courier.

7. The Highlands Primary School is located on what reserve? Taungurong Creek Reserve.

8. Name 3 of the many items of clothing that the Whittlesea Country Club are not happy about you wearing at their Humevale Golf course. Thongs, Singlets and Overalls.

9. What time does the first train depart Wallan railway station (destination Melbourne) of a weekday? 6:27am.

10. What do cyclists have to do at Coulson crossing in Sunday Creek road? Dismount.

11. What popular sport is played at the Flowerdale Primary School? Basketball and/or Netball.

12. Who is the nominee of the Trawool Hotel? L.Stuart.

13. Who is the principal of the Wandong Primary School? Mrs. Joy Briggs.

14. Which 2 early Australian explorers are commemorated with a cairn in Strath Creek? How old were they when they undertook this journey? Hamilton Hume (27) and William Hovell (38).

15. What colour are the horse sheds at the Australian Equine Behavior Centre at Clonbinane? Green.

Both teams left the Whittlesea servo at 10.35 am. With different strategies, bikes were going in every direction. A decision was made that we meet back at the Kinglake West store for the group ride into Kinglake proper.

The roads were still quite damp as we went our separate ways. Interestingly the three different loops all encompassed roughly 150 to 180 kilometers which made it quite an even handed event. Strangely, although Geoff and Greg had the greatest distance to travel they finished their loop in the quickest time! Most of the questions were quite straightforward relying only on observation to find the answers. Although our initial answer to question 11 was “netball” as this is what we assumed would be played at school it was only after conferring with Greg who has school age children that it became apparent that modern schools play “baseball”.

The ‘B” team used a slightly different strategy. Pete and Renzo headed to the far north to collect those questions (Highlands, Yea, Glenburn and Humevale), as per Geoff and Greg, except G&G didn’t pick up Glenburn. On reflection, this may been a case of the Kiwi leading the Italian, or blind leading the blind, but as it turned out, they complemented each other really well. Tim, the runner and keen to get going, was dispatched to the far north-west (Tallarook, Trawool, Strathcreek, Flowerdale). Ben and Rob/Kirsten picked up alternate questions out west: Wallan railway station, Wandong, Clombinane, Broadford, Reedy Creek, Walls Crossing, and Sunday Creek. Though the shorter of the loops, these destinations are not normally featured on Club rides and it was thought better to saturate this area with riders. We also agreed to regroup at Kinglake West.

Tim was back first and was nominated our scribe. Rob and I were back 3 minutes behind having run into each other on the Strath Creek Road. No-one from the opposing team had arrived at this stage, but where were Pete and Enzo? On closer inspection we realized that they had the longest distance (180 km) and the equal most questions – four. We enjoyed a coffee scroll and hot chocolate while waiting, noticing the abundance of police about – a 4WD, motorcycle and marked car, all seeming to be heading for Whittlesea. (Apparently Enzo had to be convinced not to stop for a coffee - half way through their hunt. Thanks Pete!) Soon enough Pete and Enzo arrived, Tim added their answers to his master sheet, and we mozied off to meet Les, who had had his own deep and meaningful discussions with Mr Plod. Something about tyres. …Ed.

What a sensational event! Les had certainly put a great deal of time and effort into organizing the day. It was simple, straightforward and extremely enjoyable. Unfortunately the “A” team LOST despite the fact that we had exactly the same ‘correct’ answers as the “B” team but we arrived 15 minutes after them at 1:13 pm. Congratulations to the winners!

After a leisurely lunch at the Bakery, Les had planned a short run back to Yarra Glen, then across to the Kangaroo Ground store for breakup! By this time five of the riders had gone there own way leaving Pete, Liz, Ben, Rob/Kirsten and Ian following Les. All went to plan until Yarra Glen when a couple of us stopped for fuel. Rob dropped Kirsten off at the corner and found himself on some damp grass but with road type tyres fitted to the GS he had trouble with traction. Kirsten’s attempt at helping was rewarded with a shower of mud as Rob tried vainly to get some grip before gently dropping the bike onto the soft grass. Thanks to the panniers and crash bars, no damage done!

Here is another eye-witness account of Rob’s escapades as witnessed by Ben:

Rob and I were corner-marking when Ian signaled his intention to get fuel. Gees I thought, we’re 20 km from the finish and he has to refuel. Then Rob reckons that he will get some as well and starts fishtailing up the hill, showering my bike and I with thick, brown mud. He eventually loses it, drops the bike on the left hand side, and Kirsten goes flying. I look at them, they look at me, and Kirsten rushes down to apologise profusely. Meanwhile Rob has picked the bike up – no mean feat on a muddy slope – and is rolling it backwards, ready to point downhill. It gets away from him, over balances and dumps on the right hand side. Rob picks it up again, with great strength as it is lying downhill this time, and now is trying to get around to the high side to get on, balancing the bike as he sidles around. I suggest to Kirsten she steady the bike. Rob gets on and motors down the slope but there is a dip just before the bitumen in which he is unable to extricate himself from. Kirsten rushes down to push. Sure enough Rob rooster-tails her in a shower of mud, from top to bottom, as he powers out. Where’s the video when you need it!

As I’ve already said “this was a very enjoyable event” and Les is to be congratulated on the organization. Thanks to all the team members, who without them this Navigation Trail would not have been possible.

Ian Payne (Honda CBR919RR)