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 Eight riders plus Ray and
Elvera Isles doing back-up trailer duties met at the Chirnside Shopping Centre
car park for our once again “Ed led’ Sunday ride to Alexander. The day was forecast
hot and around 37/38 degrees. It was already quite warm as we left on time at 9am and took the direct route as we were also later
attending the Yea Autumn Festival. I was among the back markers who copped
every red light through Chirnside Park and Lilydale, not comfortable! Ian Sneddon joined us as on his R90 S Beemer
as we passed the service station on our left just out of Lilydale.
See photos at Gallery/2008/Weekend Runs/March 2008
It was a
relief to now get some cooler air on a faster run, particularly as we reached
the shady forest run after Healesville. A re-group at Taggerty where on
re-starting Eddie’s Beeza suffered a failed return spring on the kick start
lever. Same thing happened to me on my Beeza about 3 years ago at Meredith. I
was able to use an inch wide inner tube ‘band’ to keep the kick-start lever up
out of harms way. I since have always carried a couple, one of which we used
for Eddies bike. They are also very handy for wayward prop and centre stands
and also broken exhaust brackets, (yes, they will withstand a hot muffler). It
was also at this regroup that Ed noticed my inspection screw cap on the primary
chain cover had gone AWOL! Not to worry – the open hole was later taped up
nicely with a bit of tape from Phil. Later in the week I got a replacement plus
a spare from Modak. A few spots of Loctite on the thread from now on
Numbers where down at the show this year. I guess the recent hot spell
and today’s forecast couldn’t have helped. However the show was as good as
ever, plenty of interesting bikes on display in the main hall including some
outside. Also stands of new Hondas and Beemers etc. Plenty of shade to eat
lunch was appreciated including the music and singing of the country and
western group on the outside stage. I
picked up a brand new rubber for my gear lever for $5 at the buy/swap area.
Last year I picked a very good neck warmer with a chest flap and the year
before that a postie bike! Don’t ask me about it! I heard that one of our
members (not on the ride) picked up a set of Krauser hard panniers to suit
Beemers complete with mounting frames for $70. Not pristine perhaps but looked
as if they would clean up OK. We spent about an hour and a half at the show and
by now the sun was relentless.
Ed gathered the troops and we
then rode the good back road to the Yea festival, a distance of approximately
30 klms. The center of town was full of stalls, a brass band was performing and
a decent amount of classic cars were on display. At the Northern end of town
there was an excellent working display of vintage stationary engines all click
clacking, hissing and chugging away. Wonderful stalwarts of a past era that
will be running for many a year yet.
The heat now was almost
unbearable and I was glad to be homeward bound. We headed out on the Whittlesea Road with the main group, some then diverting over to
Glenburn after we went up and over Junction Hill and 3 of us remaining on the Whittlesea Road. Bye the way if you haven’t already spotted it, look
out for the large army tank languishing in a paddock at the last property on
the left before climbing Junction Hill on the Yea side. Looks in pretty good
nick. I arrived home very hot and knackered but never the less enjoyed the day,
as it was a day of much interest and good riding. Well done again Ed and thanks
also again to Ray and Elvira Isles for providing the security of a back up
trailer.
Reg Hammond
Participants:
JACK YOUDAN BMW R1150 GF 2001
LAWRENCE SMITH
BMW R1200 RT 2007
PHIL McARDLE BMW R90S 1975
EDDIE SLEIGHTHOLM BSA LIGHTNING 1971
REG HAMMOND
BSA GOLD FLASH 1957
TIM TRAILL HONDA GOLD WING GL1000 1975
PETER CULLEN BMW R60/5 1975
IAN SNEDDON BMW R90S 1975
STAN&JUSTIN MUCHA VINCENT
COMET
1950
RAY & ELVERA ISLES BACK-UP TRAILER
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