Reefton Spur      Monday 27th January, 2003

 

Motogusta MVF4        Dave Ward (leader)                              Honda CBR929           Pete Wetermayr

Ducati 620Sei               Bronwyn Manifold (rear)                      Honda CBR919           Liz Oliver

Suzuki TL1000R          Darryn Webster                                    Honda CBR929           Ben Warden

Yamaha FZX250         Julianne Duncan                                    Yamaha R1                  Geoff Jones

Suzuki GSXR750         Clint Vertigan                                       Yamaha R6                  Eric Makin

Suzuki TL1000S          Greg Hales                                           Yamaha R6                  John Clowes

Honda CBR600           Di Welsford                                          Honda CBR1100XX    Martin Hastie

 

This ride was the final replacement ride for the Walwa Weekend cancellation. Monday was the Australia Day holiday. Of course it wasn’t advertised on the itinerary, though it did make it to the Club home page. Members were informed via email the Thursday before or by word of mouth. If you didn’t know about it, then maybe it is time to get on the web!  Weather-wise, it was the pick of the weekend days at only 26 degrees. Certainly better than 38 degrees on Friday down the Great Ocean Road, 44 on Saturday, and thirty something on Sunday.

 

Dave was co-erced into leading this ride. I guess he figured he could get one more ride in before undergoing a knee reconstruction.

 

A few minutes past 10 am we left Yarra Glen and headed directly for Healesville and Warburton where we stopped for morning tea after a lazy 43 km. John and Eric had their new bikes and I see the latest Australian Motorcycle News magazine features the bike on the front cover. The 600 class seems to be leading the development race and the new 600s are certainly very fine machines.

 

Next regroup at Cumberland Junction after the Reefton Spur. I found myself first bike behind Dave at the bottom of the Spur but was soon overhauled by the Darryn Clint freight train. They were too fast and smooth for me, as if they knew the road like the back of their hand – which they probably do. Something about going up and down the Spur every other week. Of course, the nominal Spur Minders, John and Eric, also fall into this category, except having the advantage of living and working in Healesville, not only do they know every corner, they know every bump! It is always worth listening to their expert views about the road conditions. Likely as not, they did it yesterday!

 

The Reefton Spur is an unbelievable road. The only other comparable road that readily springs to mind (in Australia) is up around Cathcart in southern NSW. So, for the best sport ride close to Melbourne, head for the Reefton Spur.

 

We regrouped at the Marysville Bakery for lunch. The trick here is to bolt inside and grab a number. Despite about six lovely ladies serving, it still takes an inordinate amount of time to get served. And they are now charging 30 cents for a plate (sit down) – if you read the not-so-fine print.

 

After lunch we made our way back to Healesville via Narbethong and the Black Spur for final breakup. It was a fairly healthy clip across the Black Spur. I can still remember hitting a bump hard under brakes and slamming into the tank – causing me to back off for a good 20 seconds while the tears cleared and heart rate returned to 180 bpm.

 

Short, sharp ride. Thanks Dave and Bron for Club duties and others for being there and sharing the Spurs.

 

Ben Warden (Honda CBR929)