The Big Bakery Biker Bash Sunday 24^th February 2001

CBR929RR Craig Morley CBR929 Ben Warden

CBR600 Di Welsford ZX9 Rhys Williams

GSXR1000 Ray Walker F650 Dave Ward/Bronwyn Manifold

CBR1100XX Martin Hastie VTR1000SP Glen Wood (1^st ride)

ZX7 Tim Walker (leader) R6 Dave Moore and Mandi

R1 Enzo Cunico GSXR750 Clint Vertigan/Danni

CBR250RR Kate Stewart Bandit 400 Stephen Cunico (1^st ride)

VTR1000SP Eric Makin CBR600 Eddie Kowalski (1^st ride)

RGV250 John Clowes Aprilia Ken Wright/Louisa

TL1000 Greg Hales XT600 Les Leahy (rear)

FJ1200 Trevor Harris R1 Michael Ireland (1^st ride)

CB400 Ron Johnston VFR800 Angel (1^st ride)

Seen at Marysville: Bradley Cain (TL1000S), Dave, Wayne, Joanne Nimmo (Car)

Dave Skitt (TL1000S) , Darryn Webster/pillion (TL1000R)

Well I guess a lot of our members must like homemade pies and croissants as when I turned up for this ride to Marysville Bakery I found the largest attendance I’ve seen in ages. I also noticed that a few of the guys who normally like to “give it the berries” so-to-speak had actually brought along their girlfriends for the ride too (no names Clint and Dave M!), though I don’t think it slowed them up too much. One of the girls told me later in the day that the rider would forget she was there and ride like he was on his own, I’m not surprised there. It was obviously going to be a great social ride today.

After finding out we had three first-timers, Tim giving us the run-down on the day and requested a volunteer for the write-up. Silence – silence – and more silence ensued. Finally pressure was put on Dave Moore, who didn’t seem to keen. After a threat that we were going nowhere until a scribe was appointed I said I could write the article. They said Dave M and I could do a joint-write up. Dave was going to do one and then give it to me to expand on, but as Ben has asked for one for this mag I’ve put one in. Dave, I still want to see you do one….it gives us a chance to see the Club rides from someone else’s perspective – so don’t think this gets you off the hook! You have a whole month to write it up now, and many hours on a plane no doubt.

With Les appointed rear rider, we headed down the highway and across the Old Healesville Road and then onto the Chum Creek Road. I guess the WRX Club were out to enjoy the sunny day as well because I suddenly had about ten WRX’s coming towards me, most of them well behaved but one with the centre of his car beautifully lined up with the white line…so I pointed out the birdies up above to him! If there’s anything I can’t stand its cars using the wrong side of the road; they may as well have a motorcycle target painted on their bonnet.

We headed back towards Healesville along the Myers Creek Road. Ben overtook me on this road so I thought I’d see how long I could keep him in sight. He must have been taking it easy as I kept him in sight the whole length of the road.

It was the usual turn right at Healesville, then across to the Warbie Highway. It was on the back roads here that I corner-marked with Martin Hastie. We realised after awhile that something had happened further back in the ride. Apparently one of the first-timers, Enzo’s son Stephen, had crashed on the start of the Chum Creek Road. Stephen retired hurt, and was able to ride home. The rest of the ride to Warburton was enjoyable and incident-free.

After a morning tea break in Warburton we headed up the Warbie Highway to the Reefton Spur. I corner-marked at the Reefton mainly because I knew we had some first-timers. Sure enough, Eddie went flying past only seeing me at the last minute. He did a U-ey up the road and came back. I had noticed on the Chum Creek Road he seemed rather inexperienced so I pulled him over and mentioned the Reefton was very twisty and to please take it easy first time over – preferably every other time as well - as it tends to catch beginners unaware.

Eric told me he and John would meet us in Healesville so I headed off with Eddie with Les not far behind. A little way along the Spur I came across a couple of bikes parked on the side of the road so I pulled up to see if they needed help. One of them told me his mate had ridden off the edge and they needed help pulling the bike back up. Then another one of them told me he was the rider, which was a huge relief! By this time Eddie and Les had arrived. Les said we’d need about 10 people to recover the Babyblade because it was so steep, so I went back to find more helpers. After an incredible effort the bike was pulled up and was still rideable. I told a pretty exhausted Les that I’d go ahead and tell the Club to continue – the last thing I heard before putting the helmet on was “now don’t do it again!” I later saw the rider in Marysville so he was okay; he’ll just be a little short in the bank balance as he didn’t have comprehensive insurance because as he was in his teens, it would have cost a lot.

We continued on to Marysville. I noticed the road had been swept clean for the weekend, which was great as there were a huge number of bikes up there for the day. When I arrived in Marysville the place seemed to be a sea of bikes. The bakery owners have hit the jackpot with their novel marketing idea.

The ride officially ended here but most stayed and mingled for quite a while. I asked around for numbers for the progressive dinner because it’s going to be a wonderful chance to see each other for longer than the time it takes to fly past someone! So, for those of you who haven’t yet responded – please call me on 9726 9066 and let me know you’re coming, bike or car it doesn’t matter. (I’ll be leading the bikes but feel free to bring your car and meet us at each place. Bring your partners, bring other people’s partners, heck, bring anyone you want – but come along and make this a really fun night like the last one was! Now that I’ve finished my little plug – back to the ride!)

There was only one thing I could fault with the Bakery’s organisation of the day – they left all the trophy presentations and raffle draw etc until after 3pm and the massive bike turnout had become a small scattering, which was quite a shame. However, Kate would have been quite glad as she managed to get the “Best Presented Bike Post 1980” – though I wonder if pointing out your bike to the judge then telling him how great his bike looks would lean toward judge-tampering? She received a wonderful big trophy, however they seem to not take into account the fact that they’re giving these large trophies to people who arrived on motorbikes – so after trying to find some way of getting the trophy home Kate had to pass it to me to bring home in my tank bag with the promise of getting it off me some other time (progressive dinner Kate, there’s motive to come to it!).

Ron, Kate and I left after 3 pm and rode back through the Black Spur together – which was worse than the Eastern Freeway in peak hour – it was constant overtaking the whole time. Usually you would get to the front of a little group. I think everyone in Melbourne had decided it would be a nice day to head up to Marysville. Some wonderful person flashed their lights at me to warn of a cop car sitting at the end of the Spur which saved me being guilty of overtaking over double white lines. I also was told in Healesville that there were speed cameras out. Maybe the cars served a handy purpose! Ron told me that he almost ran into the back of my bike twice. That, along with hearing your brakes squeaking a lot, Ron, tells me that maybe it’s time your brakes on the Norton (CB400 Norton! …Ed.) received some tender luvin’ care. (Be afraid. ..Ed.)

All in all it was a fantastic day. Thanks Tim for leading. Thanks Les and Eddie for helping get the Babyblade up the side of the Reefton. Thanks Les for going rear rider and congratulations Kate for winning Best Presented Bike trophy.

Di Welsford (Honda CBR 600)