Marysville          Sunday May 23rd, 2004

 

Honda CBR929           Ben Warden                             Suzuki Bandit               Ron &Kelly Johnston (leader)

Honda CBR929           Greg Hales                               BMW R1200GS          Rob Langer

Honda CBR954           Paul Southwell              Yamaha R6                  Joel Haley

Honda VFR800           Nick Stafford (2nd ride) Yamaha R6                  Rick Parker (1st ride)

 

I hate it when the computer spits the dummy and you lose three quarters of a page of work. Not saved anywhere. Ah, the joys of the modern world. Here we go again.

 

The weather was overcast but not cold. I was running late – slept straight through the alarm. Needing petrol only put more pressure on. It seems everyone is heeding the lack of speed cameras message on the Western Ring Road and are now seem quite happy to sit on 115 km/h hour, everywhere. Even at the 80 km/h road works associated with the new Hume Freeway Craigieburn bypass terminating on the Ring Road no discernable reduction of speed was detected.

 

Round through Diamond Creek and onto the Yarra Glen Road. The lights governing the road works have moved a couple of hundred metres on, as the widening improvements creep eastwards. Straight to the front of the queue, kids waving at the bike as we wait, and wait.  Roll into Yarra Glen five minutes late, the gang nearly ready to roll. I noticed a couple of new riders – guys that work near Ron’s work. Nick had been on a ride before and brought a mate, obviously enjoying the pain and misery of the last rain-sodden ride he attended. Speaking of pain, Kelly had volunteered to go pillion with Dad, Julie minding the baby for the day.

 

At Healesville, we turned left and headed up Chum Creek Road. The surface was damp and uninviting. But it was the first chance to ignore the speedo and use some of this famed Honda liquid power. Tyres seemed okay, though the temperature, as always through here, was much colder than elsewhere. The further I went, the more comfortable I felt, eventually catching Joel and then Ron.

 

At the top intersection we veered left towards Toolangi. The recent road modifications now making it unnecessary to provide a corner marker – but we did – to consolidate the ride.

 

At the Mt Slide major intersection we turned right and headed north up the Melba Highway heading for Yea. Ron was slipping past the cars at regular intervals, setting a lively pace. Given Greg’s recent contribution to the state coffers near Glenburn care of a mobile radar, I was happy to sit behind a fast moving Commodore tracking Ron.

 

Twenty-three kilometres south of Yea we turned right onto the Murrindindi Road. The first six kilometres are the best as the road winds up and down low hills. I rounded a corner to find the group congregated at an intersection. Ron and I had discussed the option of heading for Limonite but given the road clearly turned to dirt and was of unknown quality we took the safe option and continued along the bitumen. As the road opened out I noted the large number of magpies. Of course, it was along here a year or so ago that Ron stopped a magpie attack – with his headlight!  We rejoined the Highway 8 km south of Yea.

 

Ron was on the gas again as we headed for Molesworth and the 16 km link road across to Alexandra, one of my favourite roads. Judging by the grin on Greg’s face, one of his as well. Every time along here I look for the corner where I binned my ZX10 – and can never find it. I think the road works have redirected the road past “my” corner. I figured the only reason Rob had pulled to the side of the road at the start was to let Ron and Kelly get ahead. It wasn’t required, Rob. Kelly’s pain was just beginning!

 

First stop Alexandra, after 115 km, outside the Bakery. A couple of raisin buns did the trick. We engaged in lively conversation while cleaning visors and kicking tyres. Paul regaled us with his recent Phillip Island Blade Blast exploits the previous Wednesday riding the new CBR1000 weapon. Chasing down Liz on the new Blade and taking half a lap and a risk to get past was one of the highlights. It sounds like the three of them had a great day – Pete, Liz and Paul – booking double sessions – 15 minutes on their own bikes, then 15 minutes on the new Blade, then the same again later in the day. Enough to leave them panting for more.

 

Heading across Skyline Road through Fraser National Park for Eildon I had time to contemplate just how many members had come to grief on this road. The first one I remember was an FZ750 new rider crashing. I have a photo! Interestingly we had to take the spark plugs out as the cylinders had filled with petrol resulting in hydraulic lock. It was upside down at the time. Of course, in recent times Ray Walker and Ken Wright came to grief on the same day, a few kilometres apart. Renzo lost his XJ900 on the green pebbles chasing me up the hill. Dave Moore put his YZF750 into the bushes along the top somewhere. And I high sided my ZXR chasing Dave Ward on his Ducati 748. Dave was spat out of the seat and somehow landed on the tank and carried on. I was spat out of the seat and landed on my ribs and head.  Hence, I treat this road with some respect, naming each corner as I go by: Ray’s corner, Dave’s corner, Enzo’s corner, etc.

 

On to Thornton, Taggerty and Healesville for lunch at the Bakery. Ray Walker was waiting for us, looking for the Club everywhere, but knowing we would eventually turn up in Marysville. He has purchased Craig Morley’s old YZF750, cleaned it up and put a set of chain and sprockets on. He had ridden up to Cumberland Junction and back in an effort to intercept us. Talking at a million miles an hour, he was full of life, but did mention that his racing licence has been withdrawn as further brain scans indicated some bruising still evident, resulting in reduced reaction times and hence failure of race licence requirements. As the Doc said, “You’ve had a fair whack on your head, so whatya expect?” Time will heal all. In the interim, the YZF will do the job.

 

The Spur Keepers, John Clowes and Eric Makin,  rolled into Marysville 20 minutes later, after a blast across the Reefton. I noticed Eric getting off the bike rather gingerly. He said it was his first ride back since crashing at the Easter Monday Phillip Island Ride day. Apparently, a rider on a new Blade (of course) passed him at the end of the main straight, clipping Eric’s handlebar with the Blade’s ducktail, immediately spitting Eric down the road at something like 260 km/h. Eric’s near new R6 was completely destroyed. Eric walked away suffering “only” multiple fractures to two fingers and a thumb. Check his scars out. The Blade continued on, with a holed ducktail. I saw the bike in Redwing a day or two later when chasing stator problems. Eric’s bike has since been replaced with the latest black R6.

 

A fresh turkey and salad roll hit the spot. Lots of birds of the feathered variety were flitting about including galahs, crimson rosellas and magnificent King Parrots.  I had lunch with Kelly who was now much warmer with a set of Ron’s wet weather pants to keep the cold wind out. In fact, she was falling asleep before lunch, it was so toasty. Joel was suffering with handling woes, eventually remedied by increasing the rear tyre pressure from 25 lbs to something more sensible.

 

Last stop Healesville. The traffic was heavy across the Spur and the road wet and dry. Ray and I were on the gas chasing Ron – within safe limits of course. That Bandit has plenty of torque. It was a buzz.

 

We regrouped in Healesville after 210 km of fun. Home early enough to catch some of the V8s racing in Darwin and the footy. Thanks for a good ride Ron and thanks Paul for rear riding duties. I think he was making his own fun at the back as we often waited more than usual at the corners.

 

Ben Warden (Honda CBR929)