February 2005 Who’s News

Shane Hindle crashed his CBR900 on the Alpine Way 3.5 km west of Dead Horse Gap (near Thredbo) on the Australia Day weekend. He suffered 4 broken ribs and shoulder damage. Speaking to him on Monday he notes that he is making progress, the shoulder (muscle and bone damage) still giving him grief. He still wakes up each night, sits up for a while to relax the muscles, before getting back to sleep again. He has decided to repair the bike. No parts are available from the wreckers so he has to buy new, the top fairing expected to cost around $600. The good thing with Honda parts is that come fully painted with all the decals. Shane intends to do some rider training as part of his rehabilitation and may look at another more modern bike. We wish him a speedy and full recovery.

An overnight ride is planned to Mt Buller in April (Sat.8^th and Sun. 9^th). Dave Ward is putting together this ride and will include the Reefton and Black Spurs, and maybe the Jamieson Road, Mt Buller and return, Whitfield and return. That is just day one! Day 2 will include Mt Buller return and then back to Melbourne via Alexandra, Yea and Kinglake West to finish early. Expect around 700 km of hard, twisty road riding. Dave has booked 10 people into the Delatite Motel Hotel. The price is $35 for a single room and $60 for a double. People may have to be flexible if required. To book a room contact Dave on 9563-7705 after 11 am. He works shift work and will be sleeping till then. Places are limited so be quick.

The MSTCV Home Page took a healthy 479 hits during February (down 121 from last month’s record 600) and has taken 28,208 since April 1996. I have added a link to “Policy and Procedures”. This contains the Constitution, The Road Rules, The Corner Marking System, Aspects of Leading a Good Ride and the Risk Management Strategy (RSM). It is important that you visit this page and read thoroughly.

It is part of our RSM that you are well informed on the Club’s Policies and Procedures. The web page is aesthetically a bit rough at the moment but the content is there. The plan is to put a new colour strip photo with all the bikes from Mt Hotham across the top, and to make each page look and feel similar by splitting into newspaper style strips for ease of reading. Lastly, Application for Membership and Membership Renewal forms will be added to the page, the format consistent with the RMS guidelines. Peter Feistl, our treasurer, is working on those at the moment.

An outcome of formulating the Risk Management Strategy has been a slight change in the duties of the leader. He/she is now required to gather the next of kin details from the riders at the start of the ride. You will have noticed that we have been doing this for the last month or so.

The Classic Italian Motorcycle Association of Australia is holding an “MV Augusta gathering for old and new MVs” On Saturday 18^th March at the Grissini Café, 1 Beach Street Port Melbourne, corner of Esplanade West. Dave Ward will be there for sure. Check it out.

Seen at the General Meeting on the 2^nd February: Paul Southwell, Ben and Julie Warden, Ian Payne, Peter Feistl, Brett Stuart, Danny Hasnat, Renzo Cunico, Trevor Harris and Barbara Rolfe, Martin Hastie, Lyn Duncan, Allan Zimmer, Ron Johnston, Mark Rigsby, Breht Emmerson and Libby O’Neil, Rob Langer, and Bronwyn Manifold. 19 people. Digital photos from the Christmas Camp at Porepunkah and the recent Australia Day weekend at Towong were projected onto the big screen. The door prize was a bike cover won by Lyn Duncan.

The Club Participant of the Year is based on aggregate points accumulated at 1 point per ride, an extra point for leading or being rear rider, and 1 point per Magazine article (maximum 2 per Magazine). Attending one or more days of a weekend event scores 3 points for leading, 3 for rear riding duties and 2 points for participating. After 10 months the scores are: Ben Warden (85.5), Lyn Duncan (68), Ian Payne (61), Paul Southwell (51), Ron Johnston (45), Ern Reeders (41.5), Peter Feistl (34), Joel Haley (33.5), Breht Emmerson (33) and for the first time ever, Dave Ward (29); well done. Peter and Joel swapped places though there is only half a point in it. The rest remain unchanged other than Martin Hastie dropping off (the weather conspired against him on the last ride) and Dave Ward making the top 10.

As part of the 50^th Anniversary celebrations, consideration is being given to purchasing T shirts emblazoned with the Club logo and name. Designs are being sought, or even just ideas for designs. The Club has had various name changes: White Horse Scooter Club, Motorcycle and Scooter Association of Victoria (MSCAV), and recently the MTCV and MSTCV. Maybe a timeline on the back of the shirt, logo on the front? Any help from the members would be much appreciated. Of course, these would be limited edition. We are thinking black and white T-shirts.

The future of the itinerary card is under review. With the rapid expansion of the internet and its availability, the need for itineraries has diminished drastically. We have cut back on the numbers being printed form 2000 to 1500 to 1000, and even now we have at least 500 left over. Maybe all we need is a business style card with a few words and the web address. Feedback is sought. This period’s itinerary will still be printed, albeit a couple of weeks late.

Front Cover: 50^th Anniversary Photo Shoot at the MCG, Saturday 18^th February. The middle frame is an amalgamation of three photos stitched together thanks to Peter’s brilliant efforts. So, middle frame, left to right: Julie Warden, Mark Rigsby, Tony (photographer), Ron Johnston, Simon Trubiano, Les Leahy (back to us), Rob Langer talking to Renzo Cunico, Clint Vertigan, Darryn Webster, Ian Payne, Ben Warden on Peter Philferan’s scooter, Bronwyn Manifold, Dave Moore, Dave Ward talking to Paul Southwell (back to us), Brett Stuart, Libby O’Neil, Breht Emmerson, Joel Haley, Paul Grosser, Danny Hawker, Jason Peters, Cliff Peters, Lyn Duncan, Vicki and Stoimen Stojanov, Geoff Jones, Bruce Saville, Trevor Harris, Martin Hastie, Barbara Rolfe, Tony Raditsis. Danny Hasnat behind the lens but in bottom photo, missing Kerrie Gooding, Alois Zimmer (arrived late).

Thirty four people with 26 bikes participated in the photo shoot. The weather was kind with no rain. It was overcast making for even light and good photographic conditions. A couple of people arrived late due to work commitments making a total of 38 people and 28 bikes on the day. A fantastic effort.We ended up grouping near light tower number six, the next one around from the designated light tower one. Lots of orange plastic security tape and temporary fencing precluded us from getting too close to the MCG, so we formed into a giant triangle on the bend in Jolimont Terrace for the photo(s).

The photographer, Tony, was 25 minutes late but it all went smoothly after he had taken a few light measurements and worked out the framing for the shot. Meanwhile, Tom, riding an R1150 GS, the freelance journalist, set about interviewing as many people as he could using a video camera. These interviews continued long after the photographs had finished. Thanks to all those who contributed their thoughts and perspectives on the Club and it attractions. Tom interviewed most of the ladies present, trying to get a different slant, and they offered some very constructive insights. Thanks to one and all.

Later we headed off to Threshermans in Faraday St, a large bakery easily able to cope with the by now hungry hordes. Mark’s Pizza Place was closed, a slight oversight, thankfully picked up by Clint who went there directly. Peter Philferan, riding his scooter, took up the rear riding position as we snaked our way through the city back streets. It must have been quite a sight and would have brought back memories for Peter who has spent much of his Club life as the tail man.

Ron Solomon has been off the scene for a while. He broke a bone in his wrist when he crashed his R1 on the Whitfield Road while riding with the Hayabusa Club way back in early December. It was raining heavily at the time. The bike was rideable and the pain tolerable – he made it home. The hand was in plaster for a period and now he wears a brace when riding until the strength returns. He is still doing plenty of riding including 800 km last Sunday and promises to ride with the club very soon.

Those members reading email will have received some recent photos of Peter Parissis sent by his brother George to Ian Payne. The Club members are invited to the 40 day anniversary service this Sunday at the Greek Orthodox Church, 3 Epping St, East Malvern (the same place as the funeral service was held) at 11.30am with food and drinks to follow in the adjacent hall.