Eildon                 Sunday 9th  January, 2005

 

Honda CBR929           Peter Weyermayr (leader)                     Yamaha YZF1000       Trevor Harris

Honda CBR929           Ian Payne (rear)                                    Honda VFR750           Renzo Cunico

Honda CBR929           Ben Warden                                         Kawasaki ZX12R        Paul Grosser

Honda CBR954           Paul Southwell                                      Honda VFR800           James Melford

Honda CBR954           Rob Jones                                            Kawasaki ZX9 Dave Hives

Honda CBR954           Darryn “Bart” Hutchinson                     BMW R1150GS          Rob Langer     

Yamaha R1                  Pommy Graham Tattersall                     Harley Buell                  Nigel Hellyer

Honda CBR1100XX    Martin Hastie                                        Honda CBR954           Steve Cowburn

Suzuki GF1200            Ron Johnston                                        Suzuki GSXR600         Craig Davidson

Yamaha YZF1000       Peter Parissis (2nd ride)                         Suzuki GSXR750         Damian Glynn

Honda VFR800           Darren Goodman (1st ride)                    21 bikes, 21 people

 

"Eildon, Pete leading, meeting at Yarra Glen" was the event for the day’s ride. I wheeled out my bike into the sunlight to see close up the dint I had put in the bike’s tank, my punishment for not moving things before working on the house alarm system yesterday and then dropping the metal alarm cover plate right on the tank. I kick myself and get on with putting on the safety gear, saddle up and head off for the trip down the ring road and through Christmas Hills to Yarra Glen. The road works through the hills has been finished for some time and finally the 40 km/h limit has been lifted. I got into Yarra Glen, fuelled up, and went across the road to find a few members arriving.  

 

Pete gave the group today's route and Ian volunteered for rear riding duties. I volunteered for the article and started to get some detail from my xmas present, a new GPS. I am still learning how it works.

 

YARRA GLEN                        09-JAN-05 9:38:05AM

User Waypoint S37.65948 E145.37397           Altitude 73.4 m.

 

MARYSVILLE                        09-JAN-05 11:13:28AM

User Waypoint S37.50976 E145.74815           Altitude 409 m

 

CRASH1                                 09-JAN-05 12:06:08PM

User Waypoint S37.32084 E145.93095           Altitude 622 m

 

CRASH2                                 09-JAN-05 12:28:26PM

User Waypoint S37.37572 E146.05778           Altitude 331 m

 

EILDON                                  09-JAN-05 1:18:28PM

User Waypoint S37.23303 E145.90943           Altitude 245 m

 

KINGLAKE break up             09-JAN-05 3:05:29PM

User Waypoint S37.47545 E145.23704           Altitude 494 m

 

The above stats are for you to see that we rode up 540 meters in altitude, and the time taken to get to each point. A more detailed report follows with the max speed mysteriously disappearing during printing.

 

Marysville to Bridge Trip Odometer 78.5

Moving Time minutes 51, Stopped time 15, Moving Average kph 91.4

 

Bridge to Eildon Trip Odometer 34.3

Moving Time minutes 24, Stopped time 7, Moving Average kph 83.1

 

Eildon to Kinglake break up Trip Odometer 108

Moving Time minutes 60, Stopped time 2, Moving Average kph 102

 

Back to the ride. We were told Mr Plod was on the prowl. I didn’t see him in Yarra Glen but as we got to the end of Chum Creek Road, myers Creek Road loop, several members of the force were at the side of the road, but I didn’t hear of any incidents. On through the Black Spur, which has had the entire road works completed and no roadwork speed limits apply.  It now has a great surface, great corners, and is good fun.

 

Travelling at a good pace, I was flashed several times. At first I thought it was for the way I was riding, but at the lower car park a motorcycle riding Mr Plod was pulling over people at random for a breathalyser test. A couple of our group including Ben had to blow in the bag.

 

On to Marysville, which was a buzz with people, for a splash of fuel, a bit of a chat, then we were on our way again.Taggerty, Thornton and off to Torbreck River where the surface of the road was a white colour. I found it slippery in some corners and had stones chucked at me from the other bikes when riding in formation.

 

Just around one corner two 4 wheel drives and some bikes were parked with people looking over the edge. Peter Parissis had not taken the corner and travelled several meters down the embankment. The guys in the 4WDs hooked up a snatch strap and pulled the bike out. The bike sustained scratches and a broken indicator, Peter only suffering damage to his pride. Paul Grosser had his camera out taking photos, and, as it turned out, was a bad omen.  He was the next to take a spill some corners later.

 

I discovered Paul trying unsuccessfully to pick up his ZX12R.; Stopped in a dangerous position, we almost wore a couple of other riders trying them to slow down while we picked up the bike.

 

Finally we all got to the bridge for the photo shoot and some action shots from Rob Jone’s mono across the bridge. Then back into Eildon. I was following Ron with the two of us staying together until we reached the Eildon servo for another fuel top up.

 

After lunch and more chatting we saddled up with fewer riders. Some riders had departed. The Club went off through Mt Fraser National park, Alexandra and the molesworth road to Yea and King Lake West for the break-up point. I said my farewells and went onto Kinglake to see my brother. I had a great day, seccessfully destroying my front tyre which I wanted to get the maximum wear from before replacement. Red Wing tomorrow for a new Michelin.

 

Thanks to Pete for the lead and Ian for the rear riding duties. It was a warm day, but not too hot. Apart from two cosmetic spills, I believe all enjoyed  the day’s riding and company.

 

Martin Hastie (Honda CBR1100XX)