Dumbalk Sunday 21^st December, 2003

Honda CBR929 Ben Warden (lead) Yamaha R1 Geoff Jones

Honda CBR929 Greg Hales Suzuki GSX1200 Ron Johnston

Honda CBR954 Rob Jones Kawsaki ZX9R Rhys Williams

Honda CBR954 Paul Southwell Triumph 955 Mark Easterbrook (rear)

`Twas the Sunday before Christmas and out in the shed, the chains were adjusted on those sport bike sleds. Well, some preflight checks anyway.

After consulting the weather radar and finding the promised rain band over Adelaide at 9.00am, I headed for the Hallam pick up for one of Ben's Gippsland "## not suitable for inexperienced riders" type rides. Some concern from my significant-other about the spate of "offs" on recent rides and a request to be careful noted.

Drone down the Western Highway, through the tunnel, onto the Monash, off at the Belgrave-Hallam road to the pick-up point to join Ben CBR929 (with 954 rear end), leader, Greg CBR929 (now fitting into BRIGHT leathers), Paul CBR954 (carrying, as an omen, token wet weather gear), Rob CBR954 (to be tested later, full leathers), Ron Bandit 1200 (new paint everywhere, even on the disc rims), Rhys ZX9R (taking it easy, didn't want to spoil Christmas), Mark 955 Triumph (busy day on the medical front), rear rider,  Geoff YZR1 (a passee, not a passer today).

Eight members, so not much pre-ride spiel. Onto the Princess for the transport section to Drouin in the company of, for a while, a sensational, stoppy pulling Buell with a cardboard rear number plate, the result of a severe mono maybe. Off the Highway at Pakenham, through Longwarry and onto the Korumburra-Warragul Road through Tetoora Road  to Ranceby, turn right and on through Poowong towards Nyora but swinging left to Loch for first break after around 125 km. Roads now more interesting, pace up and the appearance of a three Fireblade squadron, running the same slip on cans, coming past with a three bike wail, note perfect. Time to watch the mirrors after each intersection, the Fireblades featuring at each.

Fuel taken at Loch to avoid any repeat of my recent "out of gas again" episodes. Talk-the-talk done, next

leg to Mirboo North, second  break.

Back to Poowong by different road, on to Ranceby, Arawata with its dirt section to near Fairbank, back onto the bitumen, pick up the Strzelecki Highway and onto Mardan Road. Through Mardan and I'm told we did go through Dumbalk. I must have blinked or maybe the squadron passed again. (Not through Mardan at all, Geoff, but south onto Leongatha – Dumbalk Rd. and through Nerrena to Dumbalk. You were lost! … Ed.) North to Limonite, Boolarra South and up to Boolarra.

Nice twisties around here on the road to Mirboo North. About five km out and probably thinking about lunch, Rhys got into a left a bit hot. I saw brake light red, then blue tyre smoke, through the trees, then the ZX9 on its side and Rhys on the deck. Get stopped, chuck off helmet and gloves; it seems to take forever. Then the "How are you?" question. That Rhys grin, or maybe grimace, and he seems OK, for an old bugger anyway. The green machine not so well. Greg gets service on his CDMA and the Ambos turn up soon after. Pain killers given, neck brace fitted and Rhys departs. The bike starts and Ben rides it to a nearby farm, the lady owner who, it seems, knows the Club well. Stored for pick-up later.

Out comes Ben's camera before Rhys is loaded. A bit "ghoulish" is Rob's summing up of proceedings. The local police turn up for a chat but no official action taken other than a compulsory remedial driving course for Rhys. Mirboo North for late lunch.

Rerouting discussed over lunch had us heading north through Thorpdale, (nice open twists up hill), across the Princes Highway at Trafalgar and up to Willow Grove, Hill End and Noojee. Ron now joining the flying Fireblades on the sparkling Bandit, all in the groove. Roads still dry, corners more open, pace up a few notches. My mirrors being watched as the squadron were somewhere behind after corner marking at Icy Creek.

Lights soon enough as Rob and the boys slip by. More open type stuff here so I keep them in sight. Just short of Gladysdale things go "tits up" with a vengeance. The rain we had avoided all day had come from the west and so, while the road seemed dry, it was getting wetter as we headed west. Polished patches on a fairly open right hand bend and suddenly Rob lost the front end, the 954 doing violent things to itself as it slid down the road. Ron, with no where to go, ran into and across the 954, his Bandit rearing up, then coming down hard, undoing all the rebuild work in an instant.

Hard braking to avoid Rob, Ron and the bikes, I go through the helmet off stuff again, then head for Rob who had not moved, face down on the road. Greg went chasing Ben. Mark arrived and did the medical checks, others went for a serviced area to phone the Ambos.

Rob came round before the ambulance arrived but was pretty beat up, no breaks and released that night with, I would imagine, the mother-of-all headaches. Ron's elbow needed a bandage but he otherwise seemed OK. The bikes were left at the scene, Ron onto Ben's bike to head home for recovery vehicle, Rob's sons contacted to recover the 954.

The rest of us, subdued, ride on to end at Yarra Junction. Police arrived as Ben and Ron were leaving but again no official action, despite large pieces of the Bandit embedded in the highway and a large oil slick, which the police tidied up.  Of course photos were taken.

Five bikes at the end, 350 km covered.  Thanks to Rhys, Rob and Ron for the write up details, Ben for leading and recovery efforts, which I believe are going on as I tap this out. A call to Ben Monday night got Rhys in the car, heading for the farm.

What a day to be rear rider. Mark, I'm glad you were there.

Home via the Ring Road, rain all the way. Mixed emotions: bad to see crashes but good there was no serious injury.

Geoff Jones (Yamaha R1)