The MTCV Home Page took 286 hits during August and has taken 17,429 since April 1996. We continue to generate new members via the web. Our ads in the bike magazines are also doing well.
The Club, responding to members’ demand, has advertised the Superbike School Phillip Island Ride Day, November 24th, as suitable for members who wish to ride in the company of other members. Cost $149. Ring Mandy or Sue on 9792-1322 to reserve a place. Already 8 members have signed up. Be quick.
Seen at the September General Meeting: Kate Stewart, Craig Morley, Dave Moore, Tim Walker, Ron Johnston, Peter Weyermayr, Ian Payne, Peter Philferan, Rob Langer, Ken Wright, Rob Matricciani and son Adam, Liz Oliver, Ben Warden, Allan Zimmer, Mark Easterbrook, Paul Southwell, Mario Ibeas, Ray Walker, Derek Tomlinson, Roger Holt, Martin Hastie, Carmen de Bono. 23 people
Ken Wright has acquired a new Aprilia RSV-R Collin Edward’s Replica. The difference between his old RSV and the new is like chalk and cheese: Ohlin’s suspension front and rear, Ohlins steering damper, light wheels, more power, better handling, lighter steering, radial brakes. Ken is very impressed by it! Seen in the flesh on last Sunday’s ride to Eildon, the first thing you notice is how colorful it is!
Liz Oliver was sharing the riding duties on with Pete on Pete’s 929 last Sunday. “Why?” is the obvious question. Because she has traded in her old 919 for a new red/black 954 Fireblade! Picking it up Saturday.
For Sale: 2001 Suzuki GSXR 600, ~20,000 kms, $8,750 negotiable. Contact member Will Tran on 0421-118-879 or email him at [email protected]. Will is looking to upgrade to a Honda F4i.
Stuff up #1: apologies to anyone who turned up at Yarra Glen for the Pyalong Ride (7th September) as advertised in the August magazine. Whittlesea was the correct departure point. The error was corrected in the September Magazine and was correct on the web. If in doubt, the itinerary card is the definitive answer.
Stuff up #2: In last month’s September magazine article entitled “A Twenty Year History of the MSTCV Economy Trials”, there was an error. The September 1989 fuel economy figure of 299 km/litre should have read 37.5 km/litre. The mistake was due to converting miles per gallon into kilometers per litre and the figure was multiplied rather than divided. The error was corrected in any magazine posted and the web page is correct.
Stuff up #3: Also in the September’s magazine I mistakenly corrected a speeding fine detail in Mark Easterbrook’s article, forgetting that the break point is now 125 km/h, not 130 km/h. Most of the magazines sent out had the page replaced, though those at the meeting have a “collectors item”.
Speaking of numbers, we visited the Toora Wind Farm ride during the month and checked out the information board. The windmills are speed limited to 21 revs per minute and each blade is 33 metres long, three blades per windmill. The speed of the tips equals the revs by circumference (2 x Pi x radius) equals (21 x 2 x 3.14159 x 33) 4354 metres per minute or ( x 60/1000) 261 km/hour! The windmills are almost soundless and represent a spectacular engineering feat. Why speed limit? To avoid sonic boom (breaking the sound barrier) at around 740 (?) km/hour.
Stuff up #4: Apologies to anyone inconvenienced by the late finish on the above mentioned Toora ride. The unscheduled 12 km of dirt out of Yarram was clearly shown as bitumen on the map, costing us a bit of time. The subsequent two punctures and resulting delays compounded the felony. The third flat was a result of the two plugs (in one puncture) ripping out of, what turned out to be, a 2 cm slash on the inside of the tyre. The red mist came down on the Boolarra road, and something had to give!
Thanks to Pete for the loan of his bike pump – and sharing the pumping load. Ever tried to put 40 lbs into a tyre with a bike pump – while 20 blokes watch? And thanks to Greg Hales for the loan of the can of Tyre Inflate which we used to identify where (the first!) puncture was. I owe you one. Thanks to Mark Easterbrook for pillioning me the 190 km from Mirboo North back to Oak Park, arriving home at 7.05 pm after 580 km. I was stuffed.
Monday night Julie and I picked the bike up on the trailer, battling the fierce wind storm and continuous rain. The elderly woman at the farm was a bike fanatic and had even covered the bike up with a blanket. A burly farmer neighbour helped push it up the plank, making it look like child’s play. Home in time to watch the Brownlow after checking out the Hallam by-pass at night: a very impressive lighting display.
Paul Southwell crash
The Historical Racing Association is holding the Southern Classic at Broadford on October 4th and 5th .
The inaugural Australian Motorcycle Week is being held in Tasmania on November 14th to 24th and promises a week of racing, touring shows and festivals. One highlight will be a 1600 km, 5 day road tour on some of Tasmania’s best motorcycle roads led by Mal Campbell. For details call 03 6228 2400.
From the Age 25/9/03: The 2004 Yamaha R1 sets the record for power on a mass produced motorcycle! At 125 kW it eclipses its nearest competitor, the Suzuki GSXR1000.
Only in America! Honda has built a cruiser based on the Valkyrie. The “Rune” weighs in at 361 kg dry and is powered by an 1800cc 6 cylinder engine. If you’re tempted, a cool $A50,000 will see one in your garage. Want something a bit more sporting? The “naked” MV Augusta F4 Brutale is only $A62,000 plus on-road-costs!
Woops #1: Paul Southwell dropped his bike after the Toorongo Falls ride on a slippery wooden bridge sustaining major ($7500) cosmetic damage. The accident happened at low speed (1st gear) as he was heading home from the ride breakup in Healesville. He had only gone a few hundred metres when he lost both front and wheel traction resulting in a high-side dumping the bike on the left hand side, scratching all the panels, screen and tank, snapping off the handlebar and punching the footpeg bracket through the swingarm. Ouch. The bike was immobile, it was pouring rain, and the taxi fare cost $100. It took a week to patch the bike up and make it rideable. Paul is disappearing overseas for a month soon and it will be fixed properly then. Look out for the wooden bridge leading down to our favourite Healesville by-pass.
Woops #2: Derek Tomlinson, a former member from 10 years ago, is back riding a brand new GSXR1000. Last Sunday at Yarra Glen he managed to topple over at a standstill after hooking a boot flap up on the footpeg. All the usual minor cosmetic damge – blinker, fairing, pipe. Bugger!
The Points System. 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). It runs till the May AGM. We are already five months into the 2004 points and at the end of September the top 10 points earners are: Ben Warden (36), Pete Weyermayr (19), Ian Payne (19), Rob Langer (18), Paul Southwell (17), Mario Ibeas (15.5), Kate Stewart (15.5), Greg Hales (15), Liz Oliver (15), and Ron Johnston (14). A bit of movement this month with Ron breaking in to the top ten, Rob moving up the ranks and Martin and Geoff Jones dropping out.