Who’s News                July 2008

 

The MSR Home Page accumulated 688 hits during August, 40 up on last month. Total visits are 46,382 since April 1996.

Seen at the Social Sip, Thursday 7th August 2008 at Mark’s Place:  Ben and Julie Warden, Trevor Harris and Barbara Rolfe, Paul Southwell, Ian Payne, Ron and Julie Johnston, Peter Philferan, Keith Finlay, Dave Ward and Bronwyn Manifold, Peter Feistl and Kate Stewart, Ken Goederee, Nic Jacka and Kim Ayles, Darryn Webster, Jacinta Thomas, Tim Emons, Paul Walkley and Renzo Cunico. This was an excellent turnout considering it is the middle of winter and the weather is very cold and miserable.

Of note was the appearance of Keith Finlay, last seen riding with the Club 19 years ago on a Kawasaki Z1300 6 cylinder machine with a sidecar attached. He still has the bike but it is now impossible to get parts for the motor and hence the outfit is happily rusting away under the carport. Of more significance, he suggested I come and collect some old Club memorabilia including a scrap book.  More later.

At the next Committee meeting in a week or so we will be putting together a new itinerary for the next four months for the period October to January 2009. 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 in the next few days.  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 four months is Ben Warden (35), Ron Johnston (27), Paul Southwell (23), Pina Garasi (23), Ian Payne (21), Randal Leacock (19), Ken Goederee (19), Nic Jacka (18), Misho Zrakic (17), Dave Ward (17.5) and Geoff Jones (16.5). The big mover for the month was President Ian Payne, much more active now most of his home improvement projects are out of the way. With Randal disappearing to work in Western Australia, we won’t see much of him for at least six months. Similarly, Nic is heading overseas for a month’s rest and relaxation. After that, who knows what fortune will bring and what country he will end up working in.

Congratulations to Peter Feistl who celebrated his 50th birthday a couple of weeks ago, slipping under everyone’s radar.

Front Cover: Photo taken on Sunday 24th August outside the beauty salon, main street Seymour on the Maldon epic ride.  Back row: Geoff Ross, Ron Johnston, Det Kreuzer, Peter Jones, Ray Weston, Dave Ward, Pina Garasi, Paul Southwell, Ken Goederee, Renzo Cunico, Graeme Tattersall, Cameron Stevens, Peter Fisher, Rob Jones.  Front row: Geoff Jones, Craig Morley, Cliff Peters, Tim Emons, Dennis Lindemann. Ben Warden behind the lens. Three others missing.

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 a 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.