Let me apologise in advance for forgetting and getting everyone’s names wrong.
This is my first ride from the black spur car, which is why I was late. I arrived and the car park was pretty full despite the weather forecast was for temperatures in the mid 30’s.
Phil gave the usual briefing which I missed and we set off with 32 riders. We started off with a couple of flowing tracks with a few descents, just enough to give everyone a shake down!
The first stoppage occurred at 2.2kms with a DRZ250 it seemed like a fuel related problem. Myself and two other stayed with the bike while the other did a quick loop before picking us up. First port of call was to drain the fuel bowl, if you have ever tried to train it on a drz250 you’ll know what a pain in the ass it was. There is a oil hose or similar going from the head at just the ride angle to make it nearly impossible to get an alley key on the drain bolt. So I finally loosened the drain bolt and turned the fuel on to flash it out but nothing came out. (insert name here) opened the tank to make sure there was really fuel in there and it started also flowing out the train. Problem solved, kinked breather hose.
We rode to the end of the track and met up with the rest of the group who had already lost two members who decided trail riding wasn’t for them and we set off again.
We had a fairly slow pace due the size of the group, it was great to see Peter ROSS out and about showing no signs of injury. With plenty of re-groups it was a good chance to try out some other bikes.
The dust was the real killer of the day, it was the worst I’ve ever seen it. At times it was very difficult to see any obstacles on the track.
We did around 60km before lunch in Narbethong. By this stage it was very hot, I couldn’t drink enough! We were left with 13 riders for the afternoon ride. We headed for some tracks that Paul and Phil cleared before the bush fires last year. It was pretty slow going I could feel the bike heating up at every turn and me as well. At the end of the track we all had a good rest.
I think it was the final straw for some of the guys it was about 3pm and most of them decided to leave at this point and we were left with five. We took off at a quick pace and went up some of the hills that you wouldn’t even attempt in the wet. (insert name) on the TTR250 was having issues on some of the steeper uphills, the bike kept stopping. The ttr and one other ‘sorry’ headed back to the cars.
So this left us with three!! Phil, myself and Mat.
So off we went with some more big hills, Mat really surprised me with how he kept pace up some of the hills on the ttr.
I think Phil got sick of me following him because he waved me past, I took off and had a ball the dust was all behind me and the track was all mine. I enjoyed it so much managed to spear a branch through my boot. It was a pretty close call, it pierced the side of my boot, taw a hole in my sock and wedged itself next to my foot. It only scratched my foot but a few millimetres across and it would have been a different story. Phil and Mat caught up and we continued on. We got another few kilometres and I puncture my back tire. It was pretty easy to spot because half the branch was still sticking out of my tire. Maybe I should be running bridgestones anyone got a contact?
Given the time of the day, and the temperate I couldn’t be bothered changing the tube. My tire was at the end of its life so I decided to limp home with it as is.
We got back to the cars at about 6pm having done a total of 140kms.
Thanks again to Phil for leading another great ride, the black spur is a great place to leave from. Thank you to all who came, the beginners to the gun’s it’s the mix of riders that makes the ride was it is.
Phil Randall WR250R – Ride Leader
Peter Ross FE570
John Bacon TC450
Aarryn Savage WR450
Geoff Wickes KLX450
Marlene Schewko Sherco 2.5
Fred Schewko Gas Gas 450
Eric Lama TTR250
Matt Creasey CRF450
Darrell Clark WR450
Andrew Wratten DR650
Darren Hornsby KTM450
?? Un readable
Gerard Blamphed
Steve Wiseman
Mick Zantrouint KTM525
Steve Elvord
Warren Haanel
Leon Van Kollenburg WR450 – Morning Tailman
Chris McCran WR450
Matthew Law TTR250 – Afternoon Tailman
David Tucker
AMTRA.com.au
