Who’s News May 2009

The Club web site at www.melbsportsbike.net.au accumulated 559 hits during May, down 227 on last month. Winter is coming. Total visits are 51,961 since April 1996. The counters on the other pages after another month indicate that the 2009 Calendar page took 467 hits (total 3042 since 28^th October 2008) and Great Roads totals 148 hits (total 1240).

Seen at the Social Sip at Mark’s Place, Thursday 7^th May: Peter Feistl, Dave Ward and Bronwyn Manifold, Paul Southwell, Ben and Julie Warden, Ben Fuller, Tim Emons, Trevor and Barb Rolfe Harris, John Rousseaux, Ivan Radywonik, Ha Du, Rob Jones, Peter Philferan, Ian Payne, Ron Johnston, Peter Jones, Rob Langer. 19 people

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.

The count is for the 2008/9 year ending at the 2009 AGM in July. The count after twelve months is Ben Warden (103), Pina Garasi (84), Ron Johnston (70), Ian Payne (69), Dave Ward (67.5), Paul Southwell (67), Misho Zrakic (53), Geoff Jones (50.5), Cliff Peters (49), Ken Goederee (45) and Cameron Stevens (39.5). Added Cameron as he is making hay while the sun shines and is now up to 11^th on the list.

Email from Jared Wade (23/5) who rides a Triumph 955i. I apologise for not riding for the past 2 months. After my Last ride (Licola 29th March) my triumph went in for a 10,000 service at Peter Stevens.  They still have it, waiting on a bolt they must have broken whilst extending a bill of over $1800 dollars to me. Good to read some of the stories though. Have fun.

I queried what could possibly go wrong …

Email from Jared Wade (25/5) Ben, It went in for a minor and they did a major.  They replaced the brake pads front and rear without asking.  Then, looking for a voltage drop, they broke a bolt on the alternator.  To fix it they have had to remove the clutch.  The clutch drum, they told me, was damaged and needed to be replaced at $1200.  I, of course, have not had a day’s problem with anything inclusive of the clutch.  Needless to say, I need to start servicing it myself.

Front Cover: Tarra Bulga National Park ride, Sunday 10^th June. Back row: Ivan Radywonik, Ken Goederee, Pina Garasi, Ern Reeders, Dennis Lindemann. Cameron Stevens, Ha Du, Eddie Orozco. Front Row: Dave Ward, Henry Wright, John Rousseaux, Chris Tran. Ben Warden behind the lens.

Kurn Bridgeman went home on Wed 3/6 after his hip reconstruction surgery at The Alfred and rehab at the Epworth. He must be non-weight bearing until 5^th August. The TAC have supplied an electric bed and modified bathroom fittings to facilitate ease of movement.

Inspirational Rob Langer called me on his mobile from Geraldton last Friday (29/5) – 400 km north of Perth. He was just about to head east and in to the never-never, the Little Sandy Desert (a misnomer if ever there was one), out to Mt Magnet and then north to Meekatharra and east again to Wiluna, a lazy 630 km. After that he planned to pick up the Gunbarrel Highway and work his way east to Marla or maybe Alice Springs (another 2500 km of desert). He was meeting Lloyd and someone else at Wiluna in a fews day time, with regular phone contact along the way.

Travelling alone in this country is dangerous so he had stocked up with extra food, water, and petrol and had bought a compressor to easily raise and lower his tyre pressures if he encounters thick sand as expected. He would only go as low as 18 lbs in the rear due to the weight of the bike, the risk of punctures or rim damage too high otherwise. (Low pressures give you traction and the bike tracks straight in thick sand, a huge relief. Otherwise you just crash.)

He is making a beeline back to Melbourne to be back in time to serve out a one month suspension for speeding, picked up on the outskirts of Victoria at the start of the trip. He deployed the “Stevens” defence (only give then your name and address) – and failed miserably.

Life Member, Peter Philferan, is back in Boxhill Hospital for yet another serious operation. He sends his apologies for missing the Social Sip and hopes to make the next one. We wish him a speedy and full recovery.

Cliff Peters is back riding again, albeit gingerly. He is now the proud owner of a new Kawasaki ZX10.

Dave Ward has a new mobile number: 0433-763-323

I spoke to Darryl Lyon (crashed ZX6R) a couple of weeks ago. His tally of injuries amounted to 4 broken ribs – the fat part near the spine – and a broken collar bone. The upside he has been spending a lot of time home with his wife and young children. He expects to be starting work sometime soon.