February 2002 Who’s News

The MTCV Home Page has taken 338 hits during January and 10,967 since April 1996. See more information such as magazine articles in the Members-only section or visit the visitors’ page to see what other people think about us. Note: the password to the member section is only available to financial members. Do not divulge it to non-members.

Road Conditions Reporting Line: (03) 9854-2899 where motorcyclists can report road conditions and give suggestions for improvement on any road in Victoria. Vicroads has an email address for the same purpose: [email protected]

Below is a copy of an email I sent to members with a current email account on Monday 4^th Feb. If your email address has changed, or you are not receiving email and would like to, then please forward your details to Ben Warden c/o [email protected]

Re: Wayne Grant, Granya Gap crash, Sunday 27th January

Wayne is progressing slowly and doesn't expect to be released from Albury Base Hospital until Friday 8th February, maybe. He is waiting for a back brace to be fitted. He has two crushed vertebrae and one broken one. He expects to wear the brace for a couple of months. Once the back has healed then he will have a full knee reconstruction to repair the snapped cruciate ligament - the rope like one - in his right knee. He will be on crutches for some months afterwards. Wayne doesn't expect to return to work for a month or so, and even then it will be in a limited capacity – he will work from home via computer. He is in good spirits, bored stupid, and frustrated by his immobility and the resultant rapid muscle deterioration, and hence the expected long rehabilitation process.

Should you feel inclined, Wayne would welcome a call at Albury Base Hospital on 02 6058 4444, or better still, a visit. The Club wishes Wayne a speedy and full recovery.

For Sale: Kawasaki ZXR 6,  2000 model, 12,000 km, good condition. Standard throughout. Dunlop 207s. Asking price:  $9500 ono. Contact John Maney  on mob. 0409 860 010 or Geoff Jones on ph: 9743 3164.

Seen at the January Social Sip: Ben and Julie Warden, Ian Payne and Kerrie Gooding, Neville Maggs, Ray Walker, Liz Oliver and Pete Weyermayr.

Dave Nimmo Xmas crash: GSXR1000 still at Raceway Suzuki, paperwork pending. Probable write-off.

Phillip Island will be hosting Round 2 of the World Superbikes on March 22-24, 2002. This will be a good opportunity to see Troy Bayliss (Superbike) and Andrew Pitt (Supersport) defend their world championships.

Rob Langer sold one VFR and has bought a Yamaha FZ-1. He loves it. Last seen dropping the forks through the frame and twiddling rebound and compression, front and rear, on the Cabramurra road.

Ray Walker has had three minor crashes in three weeks, all about a week apart. First he dropped his son’s 50 cc minibike in the back paddock while dagging around with Craig Morley and lost some skin off his left arm. A week later he ran into the back of a car (that was faking a turn and then propping) on his GSXR1000 damaging top fairing, headlight mounting, air intake and blinker. Incidentally, all of which has since been repaired/replaced. He managed not to drop the bike. Thirdly, heading for the shops on Katrina’s Yamaha 1994 Jog 50 step-through, grinding his way around the roundabout, he crashed, taking skin off his right arm. The Club wishes Ray better fortune and suggests that T-Shirts are not for riding in.

Here follows email from Trevor Harris ([email protected]) received Thu 31^st January after I enquired about his health re crashing his YZF1000 on the Melbourne Cup long weekend ride to Orbost and Walwa. “The broken left hand is good.  The ring finger is 'tight' when bent, but is loosening up over time. The right elbow is also good.  I haven't got the full range of movement yet, but that is increasing over time. Bike was written off by the insurance company, and went to auction yesterday.  The ding in the frame is bigger than I'd be comfortable with, plus the rear sub-frame is bent/twisted.  I was interested in buying it as a donor of parts for the FJ1200 (brakes, swingarm, 1-week-old front tyre,...) for around $1500, but it went for $4,600; bidding started at $3,000. I've been on the FJ a few times since last week, when I went for my first ride since November - just 30 minutes up and down the Ring Road to start with. See you on Thursday next week, Trevor.”

Dave Ward has purchased a BMW Funduro 650 single cyclinder 4 stroke (Rotax engine). He very much enjoyed his time in New Zealand on one. So much so, that he tried out similar machines such as the Aprilia Pegaso 650 – rode a demo bike on the Reefton and Black Spur ride (13^th Jan. 2002) before deciding on the BMW. We look foreward to seeing him out on more Club rides with the BM.

Australia Day Weekend to Walwa proved incident packed. Of course there was Wayne’s crash on the Granya Gap road described elsewhere. Ben hit a small black wallaby on the Cabramurra road heading up from Corryong, along the “walls” section. The rear brake lever was bent in a U-turn and the foot peg mounting bracket pushed 10 mm or so inwards, almost interfering with the swing-arm. Later that day we successfully plugged a rather severe puncture in Darryl’s Fireblade and he was able to continue for the rest of the weekend. Liz copped a speeding fine on the Tallangatta - Corryong Road and raised the eyebrow of Mr Plod when she involuntarily exclaimed “Is that all?” and smiled with relief. Tyre wear was severe – Dean von Schill retired hurt early Sunday morning, limping home down the Hume Highway; Geoff Jones headed directly home Monday morning (after recovery duties) and Ben needed a rear tyre by the time he got home. Most people used at least half a rear tyre. Then there was Danny’s battery incident. And on the last day Tim had to bump start his bike a couple of times, the bike’s battery on its last legs. Did I forget to mention Darryl had a wasp inside his helmet and very nearly crashed when he took his eyes off the road? That incident slowed him down for the rest of the weekend.

It looks like Europe is going to set standards on motorcycle clothing. The Standards Authority has been given the go-ahead to establish rules for gloves, boots, jackets and pants. When the standards are law any motorcyclist involved in an accident not wearing ‘approved’ riding gear may be guilty of contributory negligence.

From the “Just Can’t Win” files, Ray Walker riding his GSXR1000, was stopped by the police for a random check – not much they can get him on as he wasn’t speeding and the bike is near-new. Wrong! The front tyre was unroadworthy and he has the ticket to prove it!

More news from Europe: it seems the European Community was prepared to pass legislation requiring ALL new cars and motorcycles to have headlights wired permanently on! The proposal was not defeated on safety issues but by the fact that it would use many extra thousands of litres of fuel. The lights on issue is not dead but has been deferred until more research has been done!

Also over the Long Weekend, the President’s partner Kerrie was involved in a minor car accident in resulting in a broken bone in her hand that requires a plaster cast for 6 weeks. Get well soon.

For sale: Bridgestone Battlax BT-39F front 110/70/17 (almost new - still has knobs on), Bridgestone Battlax BT50F front 120/70/17 - fit most sport bikes, 70% tread; Michelin Pilot Sport 160/60/17 rear, 40% tread; Dunlop Sportsmax II front 120/60/17 90% tread. Offers. Ring Ben 040-900-1618