Bikes (15):

ZXR750 Ben Warden (leader) RF900 Ian Payne

RF900 Enzo Cunico ZX6 Patrick Davey

ZX7R Tim Walker ZX9 Mick Bosworth

FZR1000 Derek Atkinson (rear) CBR600 Scott Schrieke

YZF600 Paul Tallents YZF750 Craig Morley

TRX850 Jeff Servaas R1 Theo Kalkandis

VTR1000 Steve 2nd ride Ducati996 Tony 1st ride - left early

Stage1: 60km. Ben, Scott, Theo, Patrick, Mick

A beautiful morning saw 5 riders at the first pickup point in the City. We didn’t think our leader, Ben, would show up due to a fall the previous week in Adelaide resulting in broken ribs etc! Sure enough, Ben rolls up unperturbed and ready to roll. We headed off the usual way through Kew Boulevarde. No Mr Plod this time of the morning. Through to the Eastern Freeway, Warrandyte, then through Kangaroo Ground passing Mr Plod in the new Pajero with Patrick testing the braking efficiency of the 6 potters on his ZX6 with quite a high stoppie! On to Christmas Hills with slight moisture on the road to our next pickup at Yarra Glen for breakfast, morning tea, fuel.

Stage 2: 110km.

With Yarra Glen in our mirrors we headed off via the scenic route to Healesville, then Yarra Junction and Powelltown. The limits were starting to push on the twisties towards Noojee. A couple of groups of 3 to 4 riders were enjoying the excellent road conditions. One decreasing radius turn saw a few of us entering quite hard, Scott (CBR600) losing the front end, the CBR looking for the cliff edge, and Scott continuing on the line, less his bike. Throttle grip says keep going, he’ll roll out of the way. Experience says he wont. Sure enough, Scott’s rolling ended right on my line and I stopped close enough for him to rest his back on my front wheel and recover his breath. Scott was fine with the bike only suffering minor cosmetic damage and a bent rear brake lever. His rear suspension was somehow now full of gravel and quite stiff.

We continued on and had just caught up with the next group, about 5km further, when Steve (yellow VTR) mowed the grass on a right hander. (Actually 5 km after lunch break. ..Ed.) He’d nearly saved it, just diving into a 6 inch channel left by a 4WD and dropping into the grass. Broken indicator, fairing etc. Apparently mild mannered Tim went past Steve in the belief that he made room for him. Unbeknownst to him, Steve was in the process of spearing off the road and crashing.

On to Neerim South and Warragul with no further incidents on this fantastic section. Refuelled at top new servo - Phil filled up the VFR with diesel but had removed tank and emptied back into a ground tank, (no charge) before a few of us had even got there. Tony put a bit of weight on the back of Scott’s CBR (by sitting on it) and seemed to have revalved the rear shock because according to Scott it now handled a bit better. This section provided some fantastic roads.

We left Warragul, along the Korumburra Road to Arawata. Then three km of nice dirt towards Leongatha, saw a few practicing their sliding skills, up to Hallston, through Mirboo Nth to Limonite, around to Boolara and back to Mirboo Nth. Tight twisties around Boolara and some more great roads also made this section one to be talked about for some time. We parked outside the new large bakery for late lunch.

Mirboo Nth - towards Leongatha via middle road before turning towards Dumbalk - 4 km tight, twisty, steep down hill. Through Dumbalk then back up 6 km of heavily gravelled tight twisties to original middle road. Back over Arawata dirt, around to Poowong and up to Drouin for toilets, petrol and regroup.

Drouin, back roads parallel to highway, long, long straights (Bunyip, Longwarry, etc) to breakup at Pakenham wherefrom people scattered all over the place. Paul (YZF600) finished with a perfectly worn rear tyre, no flat spots in the centre, just no tread left anywhere! Enzo (RF900) also pulling all stops and frying the edges on the 207ZR. Quite a long trip for some, especially the dynamic duo from Ballarat, who had a break at my place only to get home after midnight in the freezing temperatures.

Note: This was one of the best rides I and a few others have been on and I would like to commend Ben on his selection of fantastic roads, and a reminder that Ben was leading with 2 broken ribs and big toe nail removed as a result of Adelaide crash (and felt every bump!)

Theo Kalkandis (R1)