Who’s News April
2011
The Club web site at www.melbsportsbike.net.au accumulated 671 hits during April, down 87 on last month. Total visits are 68,366 since April 1996. The counters on the other pages after another month indicate that the Calendar page took 502 hits (total 16,639, down 72) since 28th October 2008 and Great Roads 132 hits (total 4339).
Membership now stands at 88 (up 1 this month). Ride
and injury data: There was a mix up last month when I included a couple of
extra rides from the next month. The figures are meant to be strictly based on
calendar months, not Magazine to Magazine, if that makes sense. So last month’s
correct figures are re-done in bold: Official kilometres for the month of March:
6176 (was 7524). Official Club kilometres for the month (people x ride length) is
68,554 (was 85,624 km), the biggest total for the past 6
years, boosted by Tassy and Dargo (Dargo should not have been added as it
occurred in April). The 2011 year total
is 147,132 km (was 164,202); average
yearly total 327,813 since 2005. The people km per injury for 2011 is 147,132 (was 68,554 km, just wrong!) – one serious crash this year; long term it is 122,930 km per
(serious) injury.
For April, official kilometres (sum of ride lengths) for the month is 2791. Official Club
kilometres for the month (people x ride length) is 33,947. The 2011 year total is 181,079
km; average yearly total 327,813 since 2005. The people km per injury for 2011
is 181,079 km – one serious crash this year; long term it is 122,930 km per
(serious) injury. (Question: does Cliff’s damaged hand count as a riding
injury? Probably yes. The word “crash” may have to be modified to include
Cliff-style injuries!)
Seen at the Social Sip, Mark’s Place in Carlton on Thursday 4th April: Julie and Ben Warden, Ron Johnston, Cliff Peters, John Rousseaux and Kate Stewart, Cindy Lee, Raj Malhotra, Marc Marais, Tony Stegmar, Rob Langer, Kurn Bridgeman, Paul Southwell, Tim Emons and Dennis Lindemann. 15 people.
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 2010/11 year ending the ride before the 2011 AGM in July. After ten months the top ten positions are: Ben Warden (80), Pina Garasi (57), Cliff Peters (55), Ron Johnston (49.5), Paul Southwell (41), John Willis (40), Misho Zrakic (37), Tim Emons (33), Ian Payne (32), and John Rousseaux (31). The top 10 remain the same people but there were a couple of movements: Pina overtook Cliff to move into second place, Cliff out injured, and President Ian Payne dropped a place. Rob Langer is breathing down the top 10’s necks, sitting on 29.5.
Front Cover: taken at Eildon lunch break on the Jamieson ride, Sunday 24th April. From left to right: Tony Stegmar, Raj Malhotra, John Willis, Lou Tickner, Damir Djikic, Pierre Ong, Paul Southwell, Pina Garasi, Cindy Lee, Jason Wilson and Frank Hutchinson. Three ladies on one ride! Ben Warden behind the lens of Jason’s camera. Peter Feistl digital mastery.
Back Cover Top left: Simpson (27/3) Geoff Jones, Tony Stegmar, Cliff Peters, Pina Garasi, Mark Copeland, Harry Buckle, Harrison Buckle. Top right: Shoe Tree (27/3) Mark Copeland, Cliff Peters, Billy Simpson, Pina Garasi. Bottom left: Thompson Dam (20/3) Jean Eldridge, Misho Zrakic, Tony Stegmar, Kurn Bridgeman, Jason Wilson, Marc Marais, Pina Garasi, Damir Djikic. Bottom right: Queenstown lookout, Tasmania (8/3) Back row: John Willis, Rob Langer, Ian Payne, Mark Copeland, Ron Johnston, Marc Marais, Cliff Peters. Front row: Dave Ward, Paul Southwell, Pina Garasi, Misho Zrakic. Ben Warden behind the lens. Peter Feistl digital mastery.
(30th April) Email from Cliff Peters with an update on his broken hand: “I broke the bone
just behind the third knuckle of the left hand pointer finger on Tim’s Dargo
ride, 2nd April. An oncoming
car threw up a rock which hit me on the hand forcing the knuckle back, breaking
the bone. After a week’s wait to see a specialist, I was fitted with a brace to
wear until the ninth of May. Then physio to get the finger and knuckle bending again.
Hopefully I will be back on the bike very shortly after that. I’ve certainly
been missing the Club’s Sunday rides. Bugger.”
Rod Merrett has traded in his BMW HP2
for a very low km BMW S1000RR, the bike that out Japanese’s the Japanese –
lighter, more powerful, better electronics, Bike of the Year. He loves it. (I got to ride it for 365 km. See my 954
comparison later in the magazine. …Ed.)
(1st May) Recently joined member Joe Klopfer crashed his ZRX1200S on last Sunday’s Wonthaggi ride) just out of Loch heading for Lang Lang. He walked away battered and bruised – sore ribs and ankle. A check up will determine if there is more serious damage. His bike was rideable with the usual cosmetic scratches including a broken rhs footpeg. He was able to ride home using the pillion peg. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him riding again soon.
(1st May) At the Berwick start, Cindy Lee noted that her rear tyre seemed to be leaking despite recently having a mushroom plug installed. It turned out to be another puncture, a 3cm nail. Ben soon removed and plugged the hole and she was able to continue on the ride. Cleaning off the excess chain lube was another proposition. Only half (a small) can!
(1st May) Bill Simpson got a first hand look at the latest police technology, a video of the group (head-on) and the number 154 on the dash. Luckily he hadn’t quite mastered the technology, scrolling madly through the footage, and finishing with the statement “Win some, lose some.” It did get rather exciting there for a moment or two with bikes scattering in all directions.
Barb Peters sent me an article from a local bush paper, “Weekly Times” Voice of the Country since 1869. Wednesday’s edition (27/3/2011) noted an agreement to seal the Omeo Highway between Omeo and Mitta Mitta, the last unsealed 28 km section of dirt road. A budget of $8M has been allocated. The road has spectacular scenery. Alas, the article does not say when …