Who’s News February 2008

The MSR Home Page accumulated 695 hits during February. Total visits are 42,108 since April 1996. The new itinerary is up on the web.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, a couple of leaders are unavailable.  Ring the committee if you can lead a ride or two, or if you have ideas for a destination. 

Seen at the General Meeting/Social Sip on Thursday 7^th February held at the Tower Hotel, 686 Burwood Road Hawthorn. This venue (or just the fact it was somewhere different, or a different start time) proved attractive and we had a larger contingent than normal attend the meal followed by the general meeting help in a private room. The overall feeling was that the concept worked well and that future general meetings could be run along the same format. Those who attended were: Ben and Julie Warden, Paul Walkley, Nic Jacka, Dennis Lindemann, Rob Langer and Kirsten Anderson, Tony Raditsis (not seen since his last accident but missing his mates), Willem Vanderveld, Kate Stewart (former member), Ian Payne, Stoimen and Vittoria Stojanov, Peter Jones, Mirko Strasser, Trevor Harris, Barbara Rolfe (on crutches), Dave Ward and Bronwyn Manifold, Paul Southwell, Peter Feistl, Ron Johnston, and Dave (where are you?) Moore. 23 people altogether

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). Attending one or more days of a weekend event scores 3 points for leading, 3 for rear riding duties and 2 points for participating.

The count is for the 2007/8 year ending at the 2008 AGM in May. Top ten totals after 10 months are: Ben Warden (103.5), Dave Ward (66.5), Ian Payne (62), Paul Southwell (56.5), Pina Garasi (34), Cameron Stevens (33), Misho Zrakic (33), Geoff Jones (32.5), Trevor Harris (31), Ron Johnston (28) and Nic Jacka (28). Another big month for Pina jumping from 10^th to 5^th after 8 points in one month. And she didn’t start riding (and accumulating points) till October last year. Nic Jacka broke into the top 11 for the first time, similarly giving the rest of the field a head start when he joined in September last year.

Front Cover: Ron Solomon sitting outside Powelltown general store.

Property for Sale: 103 year old Blue Duck Inn, Anglers Rest, on the Cobrunga River in Victoria’s Alpine National Park is on the market. Agent expects upwards of $1.2 million. (The AGE 3^rd 3/3/08)

Email from Randal Leacock: It's Randal, green 98 ZX9R. Unfortunately a bit of valve recession has resulted in having to remove the head and get it machined and the valves ground. While in there I decided to hone the bores and re-ring the pistons (needed to change barrel lower shim gasket anyway). Big mistake. Can get hold of top end gasket kit but cannot obtain piston ring sets; must back order from Kawasaki Japan. Unfortunately, it will take another 2 weeks. Does anyone know another source of Kawasaki piston rings? It has been 3 weeks now. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks Randal.

Email from Ron Johnston, 18^th February: After you dropped me of at home, I had a bit of a clean up, connected the trailer onto the car, picked up my son Daniel and headed back down to Gippsland. Arrived at the farm around 8.15pm, loaded the bike onto the trailer and got home at 10 pm. Pushed trailer into garage, thinking I have done a few kilometres today.

Had a shower and went to the hospital at 11pm. Injuries include a torn AC ligament in shoulder, torn skin on the left elbow, swollen and bruised left hip, skin torn from right thumb, knuckle, back of right hand puffed up like a balloon, skinned right elbow.

Leathers took a bit of a battering, ripped my right hand boot, gloves a bit scraped, my new helmet was undamaged except the visor on both sides. Bike is a little worse for wear, again! LH engine cover, LH fairing, got the tank this time, minor, gravel rash, clutch master cylinder, LH mirror, both LH indicators, LH foot peg, LR foot peg, body work beside the seat, pack rack, LR grab handle, speedo and instrument panel, handle bars and screen. Have most of the parts to fix it, again! It will live to see another day and so will I. 

The hospital told me not to go to work for 3 days, but I did. After being off for 7 months and only having been at work for 2 days I didn’t think it would go down to well telling them I would have to have more time off, so I went to work and said nothing. I was sore, especially on my left side when I had to lie down. The shoulder is getting better, hip and thigh are still bruised, right hand is a bit funny, but a trip to the Bowen man will fix that. Left elbow is sore as well as being bruised. Will see if they can X-ray it to make sure there is no bone damage. I have been at work, but I am not doing any heavy lifting. 

Pina Garasi’s Yamaha R6 mechanical woes. Her bike has been running on three or less cylinders since Moriac, GOR Ride. Pina has been doing the rounds - Ron Solomon, Charlie (quote $700), Ben Turner (said it is the coils), Misho. New Yamaha coils $90 ea!  (Modern coils, one per cylinder, incorporated into plug lead, directly connected to black box.) Wreckers have them by the bucket load because they never fail - except on R6s - which it is now known to be a common fault. Misho chased petrol: water in tank, cleaned injectors, new plugs. Finally remembering, I grabbed my 4 spare 954 coils (from a 954 wreck) and wandered up to Misho’s last night. An hour later bike was running better than new! 

Misho rode it back to Pina’s house and I drove the courier vehicle. After first disbelieving (there had been a number of false positives during the week, particularly as the coils were only breaking down under load) she was very, very happy! The faulty coils had clearly burnt through the rubber seals (preventing water ingress into the plug cavity) on the way to alternative earth - the rocker cover. Pina used the Honda coils until new Yamaha ones were purchased and then swapped them over.

Barbara Rolfe is making steady progress with her rehabilitation. She is now walking with 50% of her weight on the injured leg when wearing a shoe brace and boot inside a shoe. This necessitates two pairs of shoes, one a size larger. She had to practise walking over scales to learn what 50% weight felt like. She is back swimming and continues with the positive attitude, the benefits now becoming obvious. Go Barb!