Who’s News October 2009

The Club web site at www.melbsportsbike.net.au accumulated 634 hits during August, up 24 on last month. Total visits are 54,437 since April 1996. The counters on the other pages after another month indicate that the 2009 Calendar page took 551 hits (total 5231 since 28^th October 2008) and Great Roads totals 173 hits (total 1839). The next four months of itinerary up to and including January 2010 have been put up on the web site. It is in a state of flux at the moment so don’t print it out just yet.

Seen at the Social Sip at Mark’s Place, Thursday 3^rd September: Chris Pointon and Suzi Pollard, Ben and Julie Warden, Kate Stewart and John Rousseaux, Paul Southwell, Ha Du, Dave Ward, Ron Johnston, Peter Philferan, Dennis Lindemann, Peter Feistl, Cameron Stevens and Ian Payne. 15 people. Ian notes that he is about to head off to China and will be away from 21^st September till 15^th October. We wish him a safe and fantastic trip and a speedy return.

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 2009/10 year ending the ride before the 2010 AGM in July. After two months, the top ten count is Ha Du (25), Ben Warden (24), Pina Garasi (20), Ian Payne (19), Dave Ward (18), Dennis Lindemann (16), Paul Southwell (16), Ron Johnston (16), Cliff Peters (13) and Cameron Stevens (12). A big month for Ha with 10 points sees her move ahead of Ben, something not seen for 10 or 20 years! And Pina has moved into third. Times are a changing – for the better. It is a fantastic period we are going through with attendances up everywhere despite often poor riding conditions.

Front Cover: taken at Black Rock BBQ, Saturday 19^th September. Back row: Julie Warden, Bronwyn Manifold, Paul Southwell, Ian Payne, Bill Wee, Henry Wright, Pina Garasi, Misho Zrakic, Suzi Pollard. Middle row: Kerrie Gooding, Ha Du, Julie Johnston. Front row: Ron Johnston, Chris Pointon, Kate Stewart, John Rousseaux, Cameron Stevens. Ben behind the lens.

November Melbourne Cup weekend. The Club has booked three different motels for Sat 31^st October at the Orbost Country Motor Inn, ($90), Sun 1^st November at the Adaminaby Tanderra Lodge Motel ($70)) and Monday 2^nd November at the Mt Beauty Snow Gum Motel ($95). We have booked six rooms, all twin share, so nominally twelve people. To reserve a bed pay $130 into the Club coffers (Club makes $2.50 out of you) asap, first in best dressed.

• Day 1: Licola, Dargo, Orbost - Cliff Peters leading
• Day 2: Orbost, Bonang, Eden, Bombala, Adaminaby - short option - Ben Warden leading
• Day 2: extra loop: Jindabyne, Thredbo, Khanacoban, Cabramurra, Adaminaby
• Day 3: Adaminaby, Cabramurra, Elliot Way, Tumbarumba, Jingellic, Walwa, Granya Gap, Tallangatta, Tamgambalanga Road to Mt Beauty - Dave Ward leading
• Day 3 extra loop: up and down Falls Creek
• Day 4: Tawonga Gap twice, Happy Valley Road to Myrtleford via Mudgegonga (Rosewhite road), Whitfield, Mansfield, Yea - Paul Southwell leading

The exact route is being discussed but we plan to do most of the good roads in the Snowies as far east as Eden, as far north as Tumbarumba, and as far west as Tallangatta. We will try out the recently sealed Falls Creek to Omeo road, completing a great loop around through Hotham. You will need near new tyres and be prepared to carry everything on your bike – you’ll need a rack. The ride is for seasoned riders. It Is not open to non-MSR members at this stage unless bookings are slow – most unlikely. Eleven of 12 spots filled already. We may have to book more accommodation.

Club Christmas Camp, December 26^th 2009 to Jan 1^st 2010. The Mt Buffalo Caravan Park are now sending out reminders to regulars to confirm their bookings. Telephone 5756-2235 for a powered camping site or to book a cabin. Let Ian Payne know if you want an unpowered site.

Tony Stegmar has traded his Hayabusa on a new Suzuki GSXR1000 pearl white K9. Read elsewhere how much he loves it. He just misses the enormous acceleration of the ‘Bus, but not the weight.