Brisbane Ranges                            15th February 2004

 

Suzuki Hayabusa          Waye & Joanne Nimmo           Honda CBR954           Paul Southwell

Yamaha R1                  Geoff Jones 9leader)                 Honda CBR929           Ben Warden

MV Brutale                  Bronwyn Manifold                    Honda CBR600           Jason Miller

MV 750 F4                  Dave ward                               Yamaha TRX850         Peter Rykenberg

BMWR1100S              Darryl Chivers                          Yamaha TRX850         Michaell Dibb (1st ride)

Triumph 955i                Mark Easterbrook                    Honda CBR1100X      Aaron Karmiste

Yamaha YZF1000       Trevor Harris (rear)                  Honda VTR1000         Neville Maggs

Suzuki GSXR1000       Danny Kosinski                        Kawasaki ZX12R        Hans Wurster

Yamaha R6                  Joel Haley                                17 bikes, 18 people

 

Weather forecast “fine with a late change” so the weather woman says on Saturday night. Yeah right, more like bloody hot with no change in sight.

 

Day started at 8.00am rise and shine followed by breaky and coffee, Sky is blue, no wind, perfect! Left home at 8.50am for Whittlesea kick off, but not before warming up the new member of the household, Bron’s new MV Brutale naked bike. With only 150 km on the clock we thought a gentle half day ride would be ideal.

 

We headed off up Springvale Road to Warrandyte, Kangaroo Ground, Arthurs Creek and then to Whittlesea. At Whittlesea there was only a couple of members present. With the weather now quite warm, it was going to be interesting to see how many more would turn up. In the next 10 minutes before departure a large group of bikes and people assembled for Geoff Jones (leader) spiel on the day’s ride to the Brisbane ranges.

 

As we were leaving a few more bikes turned up making this hot ride into a very large turnout of 15 bikes. There were a couple of new faces including a first timer on a TRX850 from NSW (he must have heard about us).

 

We made our way through Greg Hale’s Boulevarde to Wallan, then across to Romsey via back roads. They were quite bumpy and narrow with no centre line, requiring a higher than usual level of concentration.

 

Through Lancefield, then left heading for Cobaw State Forest where I sometimes go dirt riding. It seems strange to be riding past on my road bike, getting there in half the time!  The ride, at this point, had stretched out a fair distance. While I corner marked, Wayne and Joanne told me of their lucky escape from the revenue raisers (oops, police officers) who kindly let them off. It must have been an age thing.

 

We finally reached Kynton for a well earned rest and drink. We were greeted by Danny who had been waiting for us, having missed the start and taken a more direct route.

 

After fuel and morning tea, the Club left for the Brisbane Ranges while Bron and I took the boring Calder Freeway home. Bikes got a quick wash, I had dinner, then it was off to work.  Thanks for the ride Geoff.

 

Dave Ward (MV Augusta 750 F4i)