S.T.A.R. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14
January/February 2007
www.starbikeclub.com
Club Details
Meetings held 1st Monday of each month at the Miners Rest Hotel,
Wonthaggi at 8.00pm.
President: Ph: 56574248
Email: dallasjulie@dcsi.net.au
Postal Address: PO Box 601
Wonthaggi Vic 3995
Presidents Report.
Happy New Year everyone! As we say goodbye to 06 and hello to 07, I have been looking back over the past
year with a smile, thinking of all the great rides and fantastic times we have had. Perhaps none better than the
Woods Point weekend that we had in December. How lucky we were to squeeze this in just before the fires hit. With
25 bikes participating, this was easily our biggest weekend ride yet! There were a few new faces as well, which was
terrific. I’d like to thank Russell for organising the accommodation and finances, Sue and Brad for a fantastic
backup job, Barney for leading the way and organising the food for the BBQ on Sunday, Scooter for the use of his
premises for the BBQ, Paul and Kev for running sweep, Mark for rescuing Julie, myself and our drowned WR, and
everyone else who came along to make this an unforgettable weekend. A big thanks to Mark and Linda for making
their holiday house available, your hospitality is greatly appreciated.
A few weeks after this trip Scooter and Ross were back at Aberfeldy defending their house from the fires. It
was certainly a worrying time for all concerned.
New people bring new ideas to the club, which is keeping things interesting. Kev has suggested having a tyre
changing night and there maybe some maintenance tips in future newsletters. A weekend ride in the Otways is
planed for early next year, somewhere we haven’t ridden before.
I’d like to wish all our members and families a safe and Joyful 07 and may the New Year bring prosperity and
more fantastic riding!
Dallas.
BITS AND PIECES
Bushfire
With the bushfires that have ravaged a great deal of bushland in the high country, we’re going to have to look at
changing the majority of our weekend rides. Dargo-Bright, Bairnsdale-Omeo and our annual Queens Birthday to
Dargo are all looking pretty unlikely. At our next few meetings we are going to have to discuss new areas to ride at
and what dates are available. On a positive note it may open up new areas to us that we haven’t ridden before and
new trails that may be just as good as the ones that have been burnt out. The Otways were already on our list to
ride, Narbethong is a possibility to go back to and Buchan sound like it might be a pretty good place to explore.
Another suggestions is a weekend to Tassie, perhaps leaving on a Friday night on the Spirit of Tas and arriving
back on a Monday morning. Joe is looking into the price and details and he should have that by our Feb meeting.
Tyre Changing
It has been suggested that after one of our meetings we have a bit of a demo on tyre changing. This would not only
be of interest to some of the guys who don’t know how to or struggle with tyre change but also may provide the rest
with a few new hints or ideas. We just need to work out a few details with the date, venue and such.
Maintenance
In the next issue we will put together a bit of a list of maintenance items that you’ll be able to run through and check
off when your working on your bike. That way you can make sure your bike is well prepared for the upcoming riding
season (when it cools down and starts raining) especially for the two day rides we have planned.
Up and coming event
Aust Supercross Championship Round 3 Sat 10th March Rosedale Speedway.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
Simon has purchased a new 07 WR 250F and sold his KTM 450.
CLASSIFIEDS
For Sale 06 CRF450x, less than 1000km, $9500 call Dallas on 56574248
Lucerne hay good quality square bales suitable for horses and cattle $18.50 each Phone Craig 0427783381
WEBSITES OF INTEREST
Mick, one of the blokes that came on the Woods Point ride has a website www.holmart.com.au that has pictures of
the Woods Point ride, among others. Just hover mouse on care sales, click on links.
Other sites
www.eatmydirt.com.au
www.amasupercross.com
www.dirtbikeworld.net
www.cfa.vic.gov.au for an update on the alpine fires including a map of total burnt areas.
S.T.A.R.
RIDE REPORT
Report written by: Bevan West
Day and Date of ride: 11/11/06
Where to: Rawson
Who went: Me, Simon, Steve, Ryan and Chicken
Km’s: 90km
Approx Hrs riding: 7hrs
Weather conditions: Nice Day
Riding conditions: Dusty but not to bad
Problems, breakdowns, etc: Hole in Steve’s Radiator
Brief Comments: Good Day
S.T.A.R.
RIDE REPORT
Report written by: Craig Matthews
Day and Date of ride: Sat 1st December 2006
Where to: Annual Woods Point Ride
Who went: 25 Bikes and 28 riders
Brief Comments: Sat 1st December 2006 saw 25 bikes and 28 people all raring to go on our annual
Woods Point Ride. The ride started at Mark and Linda’s place at Erica with some riders staying there on Friday
night so they could have a good nights sleep before the ride ( yeah right, 3.00am!). We had Sue driving a 4wd
backup and two pillions in Julie and Linda. After a rider briefing at around 10.00am Mark and Linda led us up
through the back of their place to Coopers Creek where Barney took over the lead for the rest of the day. We went
up Morman Town, down Deep Creek 1 and onto Binns Rd where we regrouped. Everything was going pretty well
except for Jay who had a bit of a get off up Morman Town and hurt his wrist. It was pretty sore but he was able to
ride the rest of the day. We continued on along Plane track, dry gully, S track Donnolly Creek and ended up at
Tomboon Chimney. We waited there for everyone to catch up which took a while because Phil got a puncture. We
got going again and made our way up to Abberfeldy along Eaton and Comet tracks. Once there we sat outside
Greeny’s block and had lunch, which Sue had waiting for us. It was after 3 o’clock before everyone got motivated to
get going but once we did we flew to Woods Point without any stops or problems. Russ went to check on the
accommodation at the pub, but because of the fires around the area, all of the rooms had been given to firefighters,
except for the three double rooms which were left for the couples. For the rest of us it was off down the road, 1 Km
to some cabins where we would spend the night. After a good clean up we were all back to the pub for a night of
food, drink, partying and the odd piece of bulls**t.
Sunday morning saw us having breakfast at 8.00am at the pub and planning our days ride. We couldn’t ride North
of Woods Point because of the fires so it basically head back the same direction as the day before, only on different
tracks. Jay couldn’t ride because of his wrist but for the rest of us it was up the back tracks to Matlock with Mick
from Holmart leading the way. Barney again took over from there and it was off down BB Jorden, Jims, Casper and
Voilet town tracks until we hit the Abberfeldy Rd. Some of the guys headed for Greeny’s block to get the barby
cooking and for the rest of us it was off up the road to spud spur before coming back on the main road and arriving
at the block to the smell of cooking meat. Russell spent all the lunch break trying to fix a carby problem on his GAS
GAS 200 but is was to no avail so it was a casual ride down the road to Erica for him and a couple of others. For
the rest it was back into the tracks including Pheasant Williams Spur, Northeast, Fultons, Beardmores and Low
Saddle. A few of the boys had a bit of a play in the water on Northeast near Fultons with some splashing and
roosting but this was just a taste of what was to come at the end of Low Saddle. Anyone who knows the crossing
there where it joins up with Narrows Rd will know there is a rock ledge 1/3rd of the way out that is quite shallow and
then a bit of a drop off. Well, that drop off has become a big drop off and with the strong flow of water being
release from the Thomson dam it was a case of sit back and watch the entertainment. With the first few bikes
through without any problems it was looking like we all might get through all right but then the fun started. One bike
went under which sent the first few riders scrambling to help, from then on it was form a human chain to try and stop
bikes going under if they went down. Finally it was down to the last bike which happened to be our fearless
President. With Russ standing in the middle of the River telling him to go straight and Scotty standing off to the side
telling him to come round the edge, it was interesting to see which way he would go. Unfortunately for the WR he
chose the Scotty way and ended upside down in probably the biggest hole in the creek. Final count was 7
drownings out of about 20 bikes, 3 being bad enough to have the tanks off and engine and carbys drained.
Interestingly all the DRZ’s went under. We finally got all the bikes going but Dallas discovered his WR had got a big
gulp of water in with the oil so it was game over for him and Jules. Mark took off to get the ute and the rest of us
headed back to Marks place via the dirt tracks to the East of Erica which form a large part of the Erica rally. One
final puncture caused a fair delay but everyone made it back in one piece. Apart for the dust which was a problem
on both days, it was a fantastic ride with few injuries or mechanical failures and with the bushfires that gripped the
area in the following week, it was one that we were very lucky to have done.
S.T.A.R.
PROPOSED WEEKEND RIDE
DATES 2007
2007
January: Ride to be decided
February: Otways
March: Bairnsdale to Omeo (now unlikely due to fires)
April 28th & 29th: Dargo to Bright – Guys and girls weekend (now unlikely due to fires) (Easter 7th, 8th, 9th and
10th April)
May: Noojee to Rawson (Shorter and slightly easier ride)
June: 9th, 10th and 11th Queens Birthday weekend at Dargo (now unlikely due to fires)
December: 1st and 2nd Woods Point
Apart from the Queens Birthday weekend, these ride dates are to be discussed over the next couple of meetings.
Have a think if there is a certain weekend that suits you and come and have your say.
Remember day rides are on the weekend following club meetings, alternating Saturday (odd months) and Sunday
(even months).
Example 2007 Rides: January 6th Saturday ride
February 4th Sunday ride
March 3rd Saturday ride
April 8th Sunday ride
May 5th Saturday ride
For more information on these rides contact
Dallas: 56574248 or Russ: 0429 327501
