Mt Macedon 20th March 2005
Yamaha YZF1000 Trevor Harris (leading) Honda CBR1100XX Martin Hastie
Yamaha YZF1000 Peter Parissis Honda CBR1100XX Mark Hooper (2nd ride)
Suzuki GSXR1000 Lyn Duncan Suzuki GF1200 Eddie de Marchi (2nd ride)
Honda CBR929 Ian Payne Honda VFR800 Anders Plenge (2nd ride)
Honda CBR929 Ben Warden Honda CBR900 Ken Marchant (1st ride)
Honda 954 Rob Jones Honda CBR600 Jason Miller
Honda 954 Darryn Hutchinson Yamaha TDM850 Ern Reeders (rear)
Yamaha R1 Graeme Tattersall Harley Buell Nigel Hellyer
Yamaha R1 Ron Solomon BMW R1100GS Shane Hindle
Suzuki GSXR1000 Michael Albanese (2nd ride) Yamaha R6 Joel Haley
Honda VFR750 Renzo Cunico Yamaha R1 Peter Fisher (1st ride)
After last week’s shenanigans, Ern was concerned about doing the right thing as rear rider and engaged me in conversation. We had a thorough and worthwhile discussion about the role of the rear rider, and what to do in the case of an incident. Given the high number of first and second time riders, it was worth taking the time to get it right. As it turned out, it was an incident free day – almost.
Trevor was already leading the troops out, all 22 (possibly 23) of them. President Ian was still filling his bike with petrol, having only just made the start after battling various detours up Springvale Road due to road works. The delay was long enough to have Renzo coming back from the first Wallan Kinglake junction, 500 metres up the road, to see what the hold up was. Soon enough we were all pointed in the right direction.
The weather was once again fantastic with a forecast temperature of 26 deg. The downside of good weather is that there are bikes everywhere competing/sharing the same good roads. Sure enough, we ran into a large contingent of the Ulysses Club on the Flowerdale Road, riding in clumps. Just when you thought you had passed the last of them, another group would bob up, blocking the way. Riding like learners, they seem to have no concept of keeping to the left and making it easier for passing riders. At this stage, there were at least 20 of our group ahead of me who must have passed them, so it wasn’t like they were caught by surprise. Their motto “Growing old disgracefully” seemed appropriate. Probably a tad harsh, but I am sure it is what everyone in the MSTCV was thinking.
We turned left at Flowerdale and headed across to Strath Creek, then left again onto the Broadford twisties. I was sitting on a fairly reasonable pace, with a couple of newer riders following me, sensibly dropping off on the blind, off-camber corners, road knowledge a wonderful thing. The Jones’ gang (Rob “GRRR” Jones, Darryn “BART” Hutchinson, “Pommy” Graeme Tattersall) were in full flight, mightily enjoying the conditions.
From Broadford we headed up to Glenaroua and picked up the sweet Pyalong Road. I though I might have to corner mark but the boys came whizzing by again, allowing me to continue on to Lancefield for morning tea, without corner marking once, an unusual achievement given my average speed. Even Trevor noted he had had to lift his game to keep the hounds at bay, despite the protests of his near bald rear tyre. The infamous “Last Ride” he assured me, always a risky strategy given that we were always instructed that 90% of punctures occur in the last 10% of wear. Logical, but with the price of tyres …
We landed in the middle of a cycle race, with the cyclists lapping at frequent intervals. We couldn’t park in our usual spot outside the general store as it was all roped off. So we parked our large contingent of bikes, mainly up the centre of the road near the median strip, itself awash with BBQs and food outlets, servicing the multitude of spectators and rider supporter crews. A loud speaker was blaring, giving us constant updates of the leader’s progress.
Taking my life in my hands crossing the road, avoiding the support motorcyclists whizzing around, I headed immediately for my regular salad sandwich across the road at the General Store, not holding out much hope. I was pleasantly surprised to find a good supply of pre-packaged ham and salad rolls. Excellent. Now for the difficult task of getting the names and bikes of all the riders before the ‘leakage factor’ crept in. In the process I collected and processed membership fees from Peter Parissis (YZF) on his umteenth ride and Shane Hindle (BM) on his third ride.
After what seemed a short break it was back on to the bikes for more fun riding. It was pretty clear that the first 125 km to Lancefield would be the best riding of the day. After the initial smooth twisties heading up the Burke and Wills Road, it wasn’t long before the road surface began to deteriorate and the geography flatten and the roads straighten out. I managed to just miss that fork-bottoming bump in the middle of the heavily treed area for the first time, this time being on the look out for it. Though only 60 km away, Woodend, our scheduled lunch break was a welcome sight.
There were bikes everywhere, with at least three other clubs also deciding to lunch in Woodend. Parking was difficult and we spilled down the Trentham road, parking on the nature strip, or wherever we could find space. It was now decidedly hot and I started a collection of motorcycle clothing outside the corner bakery in the undercover area. It wasn’t long before I recognised one-time committee member, Danny Vits, now riding a naked Honda CB1300, out with the Ulysses Shearwater group. Their lack of speed was torturing him. After test-riding the latest CBR600 loaner bike, while his CB1300 was in for a service, he has committed his hard earned spondoola, the smaller bike just so much easier to ride.
Next stop The Cross. But we didn’t go the expected direct twisty way straight out of Woodend, but rather 8 km down the highly patrolled Calder Highway before turning left and across to Macedon township. When queried by Rob about the route, Trevor replied that he wished to avoid the last nasty right hand turn at the crest. Obviously he had thought about it, safety considerations winning out over other variables.
About 10 of us walked to the lookout, some 300 meters away, but well worth the effort. Lyn was enjoying her bike after it had recently been fettled by Ron Solomon of Balls Engineering, also on the ride. A new set of Pilot Powers had dramatically improved the handling. Throw in new fork oil, greased steering head bearings, a new steering damper, remapped ignition and synchronised throttle bodies and the bike was running better than new. Lyn was enjoying the bike so much she had been out to Broadford the day before to the Classic Race meeting and then decided to go for an extra 200 km round trip back home. Amazingly, after today’s 400 km jaunt, the knobs were still on her tyres.
Ron was running in his new R1 and was looking to accumulate lots of kilometres before servicing it in preparation for a trip to Mt Hotham the following weekend. His weekend tally would be around 1000 km.
The view was clear to Melbourne but hazy down towards Geelong where there appeared to be a large fire, probably a controlled fuel reduction burn.
Back to the carpark where people were admiring the 6 cm diameter hole in Nigel’s headlight, a recent addition, donor bike unclear. Nigel knew he was up for replacement as the headlight already had a number of cracks, he just wasn’t expecting it to be so soon!
Back on the bikes for the next leg across to Whittlesea via Romsey and Wallan. The Jones’ gang had departed and the ride was noticeable calmer. I now felt like the hoon element, particularly after charging past a group on the steep run down into Darraweit Guim, again local knowledge an advantage.
Just out of Wallan approaching the major T intersection, left to Whittlesea, right to Epping, I noticed a divvy van heading north. As we swept around the corner it executed a rapid U turn in a cloud of dust. I was unaware of this. But as we headed south a woman driver flashed us profusely causing the group to drop below the legal limit. Sensing this was more as a result of some earlier overtaking manoeuvre rather than police presence, I slipped past the group and onto the Eden Park ‘13 consecutive corners’ road.
I heard a loud noise behind me and watched Ron swish past, obviously on very familiar territory. The rapid changes of direction was unsettling my bike – fork oil on its last legs again. A touch more damping would probably alleviate. Nevertheless, Ron was definitely riding super smooth and fast through here.
We regrouped under the trees opposite the large service station on the north side of Whittlesea. It was my first fuel stop for the day after 275 km. At this stage I retired from the ride, another engagement pressing. The group, now reduced to eight, pressed on to Kinglake via the St Andrews road. Unfortunately, Shane overcooked it near the top and was seen dragging his bike out of the bushes. See snippet in Who’s News referring to oil leakage on rear wheel. Damage was minimal, as you would expect on the big BM.
The troops broke up at Kinglake after 315 km. Up until that point he ride had been incident free, a good outcome with so many riders including a large contingent of first and second time riders.
Thanks to Trevor for leading, never an easy job, and thanks to Ern for providing a “seamless” display of rear riding.
Ben Warden (Honda CBR929)