Vol 1, No 3 Editors:

September, 1962 Ian Carron

Len Shearer

* * * * * * *

Members are reminded that elections of office-bearers for the coming 12 months are to take place at the October club social. The present committees are as follows:

President: Mr Fred Carron

Vice-President: Mr Ken Kilgour

Secretary: Mr Alex McLean

Treasurer: Miss Judy Sisson

Minute Secretary: Miss Elaine Walters

Club Captain: Mr Peter Philferen

Social Committee: Miss Elsie Brown, Miss Judy Oakenfull, Mr Len Shearer.

Remember, it is you, the club members, who are responsible for putting the committees in office for the running of the club. If you feel that changes should be made in the administration of the club, then nominate and vote for the person or persons whom you think should be on the committee. Only financial members and associate members are eligible to vote, ARE YOU IN THIS CATEGORY? If you are unable to attend this election, nominations etc. can be posted or forwarded by other means. But make sure your votes are there.

The run to Silvan Dam and the Dandenongs was quite an eventful day, with Ron Fordham getting 10 kick-starts to the mile at the beginning. Then, later on, just to keep in the spotlight, he goes and sprains his ankle playing football. On the football subject, Peter P. and Ron D. had a grand tussle trying to push each other over in an endeavour to gain possession of the ball. Elaine W., Judy S., Gerry S., Judy O. and Sheila all managed to catch us as late as possible. Notice Ken B. is a regular early arrival at the meeting place. With a bit more of this type of enthusiasm, we could make the runs longer. Good thing Johnny G. hit his brakes with a screech. He just woke Len up in time. Nice to see young Miss Carron along on her first run, too. We’ll soon have her playing footy too, eh, Marg? Must say Ken K.’s Maico looks good with all that paint’n’jazz. We almost choked at Mitcham in the smoke cloud behind Peter’s bike. Better get some kingsize filter tips attached to it Pete! Good on you, Malcolm, for running away with someone’s make-up outfit at the finish of the day. Wonder how she managed with the necessary renovations afterwards? More attention will have to be paid to our road rules. Rear riders have reported a lot of very near misses with cars cutting in on scooters recently. We will have to enforce them to the utmost.

We extend our sincere sympathy and regrets to Mrs Anderson, mother of Richard Henry, recently returned from New Zealand, on the very sudden passing of her husband, Mr O. Anderson, on Wednesday, August 29. The said news came as a sudden shock, a short time before going to press. Most of the club members will recall the many occasions on which the Andersons have taken the part of hosts to us and made us all feel very welcome at their home. The funeral took place on Friday, August 31, at Box Hill Cemetery.

Another club member, Judy Oakenfull, also suffered a great loss when her mother passed away suddenly on Friday, August 22. To Judy and members of the family we also offer our sincere condolences.

The August club social was a quiet affair with a good attendance. Suggestions were given for our Birthday Party and the Christmas holidays. Members are also reminded that we are once again doing the courier duty at the Ferny Creek Rhododendron Festival to be held in November. More details of these will be finalised at a later date. Plans are also in operation for the Christmas Treat for the boys at the Bayswater Boys’ Home. Keep this day free if possible. The kids will appreciate it very much.

Hope Rae never has to cook for the club. After seeing what she prepared after ice skating we have decided to stick to tinned food for life!

When asked for suggestions and articles for the "Whispers", Elaine W. was overheard by several people to remark: "But we don’t always carry paper with us!"

A good night was had by all who attended St. Moritz for ice skating on Friday night, August 10. Irene brought a friend, Joan and Rae brought Pam and Anne along too. Gerry S. and Johnny G. were quite proficient skating round and round like experts. The majority of girls, I fear to say, showed the minority of boys how. An invasion of "The Bermuda Café" for supper followed. As usual, we all behaved like perfect ladies and gentlemen. Well, no-one’s perfect.

An apology is forwarded by co-editor Ian for not contributing to this month’s copy of the "Whispers". Owing to pressure of work(?), walking the floor, fixing his Maico, changing nappies, and a host of other glorious excuses, he has been unable to find time to attend runs and thus report on them. However, he sincerely hopes to be able to bash your ears in the next issue. - Len

Many thanks and a round of applause must go to Johnny G., who opened his family’s holiday home at Sorrento to our small number who braved the rain on Sunday, August 19. It was a change to be sitting around doing nothing for a change. Never thought we would see the day that Peter P. would have confetti over his head. It did look colourful, although he probably would have preferred brown and yellow. It’s a pity that no-one went for a swim. Ken B’s friend Joy showed enthusiasm in coming along on her first-ever scooter trip on a day like that. Welcome Joy, and hope to see you again. Must say it’s very unusual having a spark plug falling out, ey, John? Paintwork looks good too, John. Ken K. is pretty good with a brush it seems. Some people enjoyed themselves thoroughly looking for their shoes to wear home. Don’t know who hid them. Wonder when Peter will find his parcel, eh, Maurie?

Instruction books with new vehicles are usually fairly simple to follow, but just listen to this one which comes free with the Rumi (Italian) scooter. This is how you start the scooter:

This is magnificent stuff. It will probably make more sense if I tell you that "reverse gear in loose one" means NEUTRAL. "Air command" is the CHOKE. "Bolt on small tank" is the carby TICKLER, and "gas command" is the THROTTLE.

This simply means that to push-start the scooter, you put it in second gear with the clutch lever pulled in, and when pushed at a reasonable speed, the letting out of the clutch should jerk-start it. Fault-finding has a certain simplicity in it, too:

I have only one comment on this book. BOY OH BOY. — Secretary

The 20-odd people who attended the dinner dance at the Hotel Federal on Saturday, August 25, really enjoyed themselves. What we could see of the floor show was good, the meal (six courses) 1^st class, the drinks (soft and hard) also 1^st glass, er, sorry, class. Bad luck Johnny G. couldn’t make it. The dance floor was crowded but we all enjoyed the crush anyway. Notice Rae still mixing weird concoctions. Wonder whether anyone used the mint sauce after her? Apparently not, we didn’t hear any agonizing screams in the vicinity. Anybody needing education on how to use forks properly should have watched Elsie and friend Terry manoeuvring their implements with skill and purpose. Good thing there was an unoccupied table behind us. It came in handy when they ran out of forks.

The morning after the dinner dance night before, seven of us managed to attend the sports rally and trial at Hurstbridge, run by the Touring Scooter Club of Australia (ex-M.S.S.C.). The results were not known at the time of going to press, but we believe we almost broken even with the T.S.C.A. This shall be verified at a future date. Hope Ken K. doesn’t hammer the flags in next time; Peter P. nearly needed his Maico to pull them out. Pete got even though, by beating Ken in the final of the flat race. Nice to see so many volunteers for pillion with editor Len in the same race. With this type of real club spirit we could perhaps win an event next time.

It was a windy Sunday morn,

That we gathered in the city,

To begin the Gerry Seifert Trial,

The Subject of this ditty.

The Touring Scooter Club were there,

The Vespa Club were likewise.

And then when Richard H. turned up,

We couldn’t believe our eyes.

One by one we left the start,

With confidence and smiles,

But gradually we all lost heart,

As we churned out the miles.

Halfway through we stopped for lunch,

At Studley Park in Kew,

It was here that the ragged bunch

Picked up a clue or two.

Then off again we all did go,

(Towards the hills this time),

The wind continued still to blow,

The streets, they had no signs.

Half of us couldn’t comprehend,

Upon that awful day,

Why it was that half our friends

Were going the other way.

The checkpoints did a marvellous job,

To find them had us tossed.

It shows how tough this trial was,

When two of them got lost.

We finally finished at the hall,

At some unearthly hour,

To learn that some, and if not all,

Got there by an unknown power!