Our committee has been concerned about the low quantity (not quality) of riders fronting for recent Club rides. No such worries on this day with 22 riders plus one pillion — must have been the heat holding ‘em back. February 27^th was perfect weather, i.e. cool.

The starters from Hallam (KBCP start) were:

VFR800 Jack Youdan (leader) CBR1100XX Martin (1^st ride)

YZF600 Mick Hanlon (rear) ZX9R Mike Bosworth

VFR750 Phil Radcliffe VFR800 Nick Campain (1^st ride)

FZS 600 Paul Buckton (1^st rider) FZS 600 Kevin Buckton (1^st ride)

GPZ 900R Cameron Burgess TL 1000S Sam Sirianni

ZX9 Wayne Grant ZX7R Rhys Williams

ZXR Ben Warden ZX6R Jeff Hornby

YZF 750 CraigMorley FZR100 Derek Atkinson

GSXR 750 Rob Wordie CBR 900RR Ian Payne

ZX7R Tim Walker R1100S Rob Langer/Kirsten

VTR1000 John Heiniger (1^st ride) FJ1100 Bruce Saville

First problem was traffic—lighted road work in Racecourse Road Packenham. No, the leader was unaware of this but perhaps should have been (no pre-ride — tut tut).

Second delay was on back road through Garfield: a "secret police" WRX booked Rob (GSXR) in the town’s 60 km/h zone after Rob passed said undercover car. Most of the group had sighted this operative in the 100 km/h zone so he missed out stopping/booking many — hard luck!

Following our traditional Drouin morning stop, the route was Topiram, Ranceby, Korumburra and the leader’s favorite way (via Outtrim) to Inverloch lunch stop. (What about the 4 km of dead straight dirt you forgot to mention with the tricky right hander at the end? Ed.)

Ahead of time, we inspected the ocean at Eagles Nest lookout en-route to Cape Paterson — Wonthaggi, then north from Dalyston.

A further problem then with the leader not able to read his map and a wrong turn had us backtracking onto the "proper" road to Loch. Thanks Sam for your guidance during this back track — probably saved an official Club lynching!

We then did the Loch-Nyora bit to an early dispersal at Lang Lang where it was good to hear first-riders enthusing about the day. We just may have some new members shortly.

Thanks Mick Hanlon for rear riding the whole approx. 280 km from KBCP to Lang Lang journey.

Jack Youdan (VFR800)