Who’s News                September 2008

 

The MSR Home Page accumulated 526 hits during September, 160 down on last month, though it was only a 4 ride month. Total visits are 46,908 since April 1996. Lots of work on the new itinerary this month. It was only up a few hours and I was fielding questions from strangers wanting information about rides. Check out Towong, Christmas, Jindabyne and Tassy upcoming events.

Seen at the General Meeting, Thursday 5th September 2008 at the Tower Hotel:  Ben and Julie Warden, Trevor Harris and Barbara Rolfe, Paul Southwell, Ian Payne, Ron Johnston, Peter Feistl, Kate Stewart, Jacinta Thomas, Mark Rigsby, Lyn Duncan and Tony Raditsis.  Only 13 people.  I didn’t send out a reminder message which may have had some bearing on the low numbers. Images from the last 4 months of riding were projected on to the big screen after finally getting access to the private room. Thanks to Trevor who spent half the evening trying to get the TVs in the kids area to work as monitors.

There are still a few holes on the new itinerary for the period October to January 2009. It is up on the web. As usual, we are looking for leaders and destinations. If you have any suggestions or would like a turn leading, contact any of the Committee.  Any help is much appreciated and fresh ideas are welcome.

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 2008/9 year ending at the 2009 AGM in May. The count after five months is Ben Warden (43), Ron Johnston (32), Pina Garasi (31), Paul Southwell (28), Ian Payne (27), Ken Goederee (23), Dave Ward (22.5), Misho Zrakic (21), Geoff Jones (19.5) with Cliff Peters and Cameron Stevens locked on 15. Pina slipped past Paul courtesy of earning 8 points this month including rear riding on every ride. Interestingly, 7 hard core riders attended all 4 rides this month: Ben Warden, Paul Southwell, Pina Garasi, Ken Goederee, Misho Zrakic, Dave Ward and Ron Johnston. For any ride, you have a guaranteed seven starters!

Front Cover: Taken at the end of last Sunday’s ride to Loch finishing at Longwarry North. From left to right Pina Garasi, Misho Zrakic, Mark Welland, Ian Payne, Dave Ward, Ken Goederee, Chris Pointon. Front row: Rob Zivanovic, Paul Southwell, Cliff Peters and Ron Johnston. Ben Warden behind the lens.

Email from Dave Ward: For Sale 2007 Honda CBR 600RR red and black, 21,000k's reg and factory Warranty till May 09. Everything good such as tyres. Service up to date and Kroozetune suspension. Never dropped but has a few stone chips from the usual MSR Club riding. For more information call Dave Ward on 0413 624 598 to talk price.

 

Email from Henry Wright on 8th September. Just thought I would update you on what is going on. I finally sold the Spada. However, that event coincided with the knowledge that my 675 Triumph, instead of being ready in three or four weeks, will now arrive in November! The wait is agonising! It’s like Christmas never comes! Also amazing how “two and a half months” on the showroom floor translates into “Nah, no one gets their bike within four months” once you have already paid your deposit.  Anyway, nothing to do but wait. Hope everyone is having some good rides.

 

Email from Dennis Lindemann on 10th September: Hi, I melted my front fender last Sunday and wasn’t able to take the rest of it with me. Does anyone know another place except Vic Wreckers or Motorcycle Respray where I might find a second hand one? Or has anyone got a front fender for a '98 Honda CBR 600? To which Ern Reeders responded:  Try  http://www.findapart.com.au/

Tassy 2009. It’s happening.  Confirmed dates are Wed 4th to Sat 14th of March. Costs are $241 night sail plus $41 for the bike, each way. The plan is to go nights both ways making a total $562 for fares. A dozen people have indicated strongly of their intention to join the tour. I will be booking the boat trip accommodation in the next few days, with full payment probably required somewhere around December.

 

 

Toowong, Melbourne Cup Weekend Sat. 1st  to Tuesday 4th , 2008

The Committee has booked the spectacular “Snowy Mountain Holidays” house and two cottages accommodation package, right on the Murray River at Towong, 11 km out of Corryong. Typically we make a 4-day weekend out of the public holiday to take advantage of the great location and the time and distance required to get there.

The plan would be to ride up Saturday, ride around the hills Sunday and Monday and return to Melbourne on Tuesday. This means three nights accommodation. You’ll need to take annual leave for the Monday, so book your leave day now.

Cost is around $45 person, per night. Remarkably cheap. All you need is your tooth brush and a change of clothes. Note: Towong payment is by cash only. As usual, this is strictly first come, first served, with any overflow into the Corryong pubs. Preference will be given to members. $135 guarantees you 3 nights' accommodation and forms your deposit. Send your deposit to the Club account.

There will be two cut-off points when no more bookings can be accepted: (i) two weeks before where we must surrender unused capacity to avoid financial risk to the Club, and/or (ii) when the beds are filled. The latter depends on the make up of participants. As a rule of thumb, the house/cottages accommodation sleeps ten people comfortably (assuming two couples), and less if more singles. The point of this paragraph is to emphasise the importance of committing early, and why it is necessary to do so. It avoids the disappointment when last minute requests for accommodation are likely to be refused. 

Nine people have already committed and hence more accommodation has been booked at The Ridge, a few hundred metres up the hill.  Also, a group is planning on leaving Friday morning and staying at Bright doing Mt Buffalo, Falls Creek etc before meeting the main group at Myrtleford on Saturday. You can’t get too much of a good thing!  See Dave Ward for more details.

 

 

Xmas Camp, Mt Buffalo Caravan Park, Porepunkah

Friday 26th December to Thursday 1st   January 2009

Over the past 10 years or so the Club has camped for about a week at the Mt Buffalo Caravan Park. Situated on the fork of the Ovens and Buckland Rivers it offers a fantastic range of activities including swimming, fishing and bush walking. Close by is the Smoko Trout Farm, the “Wandi Pub”, the Hedge Maze, various berry, deer and nut farms, and an alpaca ranch. The famous Milawa wineries and cheese factory are close by. Great road and dirt riding country abounds.

Mt Buffalo offers a sensational 25 km climb to the scenic Chalet and lookouts. Nearby are good half-day rides to Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Dartmouth Dam or full day rides into the Snowy Mountains and some of the best roads in the world. Who can forget Tawonga Gap? On the flip side there are lots of fire trails and mountain tracks offering spectacular views of the surrounding alps, most of which can only be reached by 4WD or dirt bike. So, bring your road and dirt bikes, the missus and kids, the 4WD, pushbikes, swim shoes and truck inner tubes or li-los to float down the river. Supermarket shopping is available at Bright, 6 km away.

The Club usually secures some unpowered sites under “The Willows”. Last year a few couples rented self contained cabins for the week, another good option. Ring 03-5756-2235 to secure a cabin or a powered site. Otherwise tell Ian Payne of your intention to camp with the group. Do it now.

 

 

Snowy Mountains, Jindabyne   Australia Day Weekend

Friday 23rd to Monday 26th January, 2008

The Committee has booked the Torino Lodge at the NSW Sport and Recreation Centre in Jindabyne. This style of accommodation has 2 or 3 beds per room (8 rooms) with communal bathroom facilities, and a large kitchen/living area with a big screen TV. We stayed there on the Melbourne Cup Weekend Epic a couple of years ago and were so impressed with the cost, quality and food, we thought we had better come back!

The Australia Day holiday falls on Monday 26th of January. Given the distances involved (700 km first day and last days), a four day weekend allows us to take full advantage of the great location, and sensational roads and spectacular scenery.  The plan is to ride up on Friday, ride around the snowy Mountains Saturday and Sunday, and return to Melbourne on Monday. This means three nights accommodation. You'll need to take annual leave for the Friday. Typically temperatures are in the 40’s at this time of year, but at this altitude the temperatures will be at least 10 degrees cooler making for ideal riding conditions.

As usual, this special event is offered on a strictly first come, first served basis. Preference will be given to members. A $150 deposit is required. The deposit buys you most of three nights accommodation, breakfast and main evening meals. All you need is your toothbrush, a change of clothes and near new tyres. Street legal, race replica tyres will not last much more than two days so regular road tyres are a more sensible option, unless you can find a motorcycle shop open and willing to change them.