Marysville                    Sunday 7th January, 2007

 

Paul Southwell

Honda CBR1000

Lyn Duncan

Suzuki GSXR1000

Ben Warden

Honda CBR954

Danny Hasnat

Suzuki GSXR1000

Ian Payne (rear rider)

Honda CBR1000

Cameron Stevens

Suzuki GSXR1000

Mick Zrakic

Honda CBR600

Dave Ward (leader)

Suzuki GSXR600

Ern Reeders

Honda CBR954

Ron Johnston

Suzuki GS1200

Ian Murray

Kawasaki ZX12R

Clint Vertigan

Suzuki GSXR750

Tim Walker

Kawasaki ZX7R

Alec Maritz

Yamaha R1

Darryn Webster

Kawasaki ZX6

15 bikes, 15 people

 

 

It was the first official Sunday ride of the year and what a turnout! Everyone was in high spirits with much talk about their different experiences over the Christmas/New Year period. Personally I was very fortunate to be able to sit around with a good friend, watch cricket and drink beer, all in the shadow of Mt Bogong. And wait for it, life got even better with Jo and I making a quick trip up to Sydney on New Year’s Eve to catch the fireworks. WOW, can Sydney put on a show.

Dave brought our attention back to why we there standing amongst some very nice looking machinery: the club ride up to the top of Lake Mountain. It seemed like forever since the club had been there. “Through Christmas Hills, cut across to St Andrews (excellent), up to Kinglake then on to the Beechworth Bakery that has just opened in Healesville for morning tea.”

A couple of unusual things happened on the way to Healesville: Dave was sitting on the speed limit all the way through Christmas Hills and what do you think popped up coming the other way, a highway patrol car. The second occurrence was a repeat of the first, but this time right at the base of Kinglake hills. Luckily Dave was still pretending to be an upright citizen rather than an outright hoon.

Once finished with the bakery, which by all accounts was excellent, the Black Spur beckoned. Going over the Spur is always a mixed bag: sometimes the road is car free, sometimes not. This time the first half was car free while the section past Fernshaw picnic ground wasn’t so good. As you can guess, the pace picked up for the first set of racetrack smooth twisties. Nice corners that first set, right up there with the top section of Chum Creek Road for me.

We didn’t officially stop at Marysville, but I noticed a few members briefly stopping at the Marysville petrol station with maybe poor economy? Unknown to us, the rain was heading down the mountain just as we were about two-thirds the way up. As you know, this isn’t an issue as the club rides in all conditions. Unfortunately for me, I had been battling to pass Ben before a particularly nice section of tight corners. You guessed it, moments after getting past Ben I hit the first tight, very shiny, wet left-hander. I can recommend Pirelli Corser fronts; Pirelli certainly helped me this time, much to Ben’s amusement.

The rest of the run to the top of Lake Mountain was cautious rather than exciting. I was very surprised as we pulled into the ski field car park to find a large conference centre/resort/café complex had replaced the old stone BBQ shelter. Progress I suppose.

The ride’s only real incident happened shortly after we started back down the mountain. Ian Murray (first timer) lost control of his ZX12R causing him and his bike a fair bit of damage. Ben took some graphic photos, Ern applied first aid to Ian’s broken nose, staunching the flow, and Lyn set off to Marysville to get an ambulance and tow truck.

The ride continued over to Cumberland Junction and down the Reefton, now cautiously rather than ‘on the throttle’. Most riders, including the leader, were unaware of the crash at this stage. As luck would have it, the misty rain stopped at the bottom of the Reefton so at least it was a pleasant run into Warburton Bakery where we took on fuel and grabbed a bite of lunch. Ben caught the group ten minutes later at Warburton and showed us the photos. Then we said our farewells.

Thanks Dave for leading us so diligently, especially past our friends in blue.

Paul Southwell