S.T.A.R. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 11
JULY 2006
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
Well it has been a long time since we have had a newsletter with the last one being just before Christmas! I am
sorry for this but time has really marched on and I have been concentrating on weekend rides over the last few
months. It has been a great half-year for the club and its members. I have been lucky enough to be able to ride all
the weekend rides with the exception of Buchan, which was cancelled because of just two members being able to go
and the heat. These rides have been absolutely fantastic with exceptional backup when needed, great
accommodation with good meals at a fair price, and of course the best riding in the country. These rides do not just
happen. There is a lot of planning and organisation being done behind the scenes. I’d like to thank those people
who helped out with backup vehicles, Joe who mapped out and lead all those rides, Scott who helped me out with
accommodation for the Queens birthday weekend at Dargo, and the members and friends who came along and
made those weekends both memorable and enjoyable.
We have done track marshalling for Korumburra motorcycle club at Outtrim again this year. Unfortunately I
could not help out this year but for those who did THANKS HEAPS. We had over a dozen members turn out in cold,
wet conditions with plenty of flag waving to be done at times. We have decided to have a track day at Outtrim some
time in December that will also be our Christmas break-up. It will be a great way to end the year.
Our AGM will be held at the Miners Rest Hotel on Monday the 7th of August at 8:00pm. As it is an important
meeting we will try and start on time. Most memberships will be due at this time so it would be great if these could be
paid on the night. It is still only $30, which is good value considering the discounts we get from our local bike shops.
If you know someone who would like to do some rides with us, bring them along.
We have decided to organise our day rides for the Saturday or Sunday after the Monday night meeting of
each month. The Saturday day ride will be held on each odd month eg; January, March, May, etc. The Sunday day
ride will be held on each even month eg; February, April, June, etc. The locations of these rides will be decided at
each meeting prior to the ride. This will give everyone a more predictable time for each day ride for the month. It will
also cater for those who prefer Saturday rides or vice versa.
Dargo to Bright ride.
This was the first time we had ridden to Bright and it was absolutely fantastic. Bill, Stuart B, and Bill’s brother in
law did a brilliant job backing up for us. We left Dargo just after 9:00am and headed down Lower Dargo road. The
conditions were great and we made good time thanks to the fast, flowing tracks. Crash was having a great time on
his KLX but we were a bit concerned about the loose spokes in his front wheel! There was some burning off in the
area and we had to deal with a fallen tree across the track that was still on fire.
Messmate Spur was not a problem this time as it was dry, so we were soon out past the Dogs Grave, heading
for the support group on top of King Spur. After a steep downhill we arose on a rough and rocky King Spur track to
have a break for lunch with the support group who had a warm fire going. They even fuelled our bikes and cooked
up sausages and burgers on the gas stove, luxury!!
After a great lunch we were back on the main Hotham road where it was a bit slippery at times. I was riding
sweep when I came around the corner to find everyone except Fearless leader stopped by the cops in an unmarked
four-wheel drive. Just a licence and rego check but unfortunately Crash got booked for no L-plate and Bear was
done for the same I think. Anyway we continued on and it began to get foggy. Anthony had a flat but we still made
good time and rolled into Bright around 4:30pm.
The accommodation was great at the Alpine Hotel Motel and our support crew already had our rooms
organised and our bags unloaded. The evening meal was great and we were treated to a great band called the
Radio Puppets, who played mainly 80’s music. We all had a great night.
After a hearty breakfast nearly all of us were ready to go. Bear wasn’t up to riding and neither was Crash’s
bike! So Bear let Crash ride his KTM while the KLX and Bear got a lift back in the Hilux. It was a great days ride with
one section of track nearly 30k’s long with only one intersection! Whites track was a real blast and there was a
feeling of real isolation. Anthony copped another flat, but the rest of the ride was trouble free. We met the support
crew in Talbotville for refuelling, etc before heading for Dargo via the Crooked river track. Crash head butted the
bank up Bulltown track, but has since recovered.
What a great weekend! Thanks to Joe for putting together this ride and the support crew who did an amazing
job. This was as good, if not better than any professional tour could offer.
Bairnsdale to Omeo.
This was originally going to be Rawson to Dargo, but there was no accommodation anywhere in Dargo. After
some replanning and a lot of phone calls, Joe and I came up with this alternative. Julie was our support crew this
time. Julie and I arrived in Bairnsdale on Friday night at 8:30. We had two cabins booked at the Big 4 holiday park.
As the others arrived we had a few drinks on the veranda until the early hours of the morning. Troy, Clint, and
Sagey met us at Macca’s the next morning. We then drove out to Phil’s mates place and left our vehicles there. We
were soon into the bush and tackling some single lane tracks. Once out into the open Joe got a flat rear tyre.
(Bloody Dunlops!). From there it was on to the Haunted steam track, 53 creek crossings in 18k’s. No drama as the
water in each crossing was shallow. From there the wide four-wheel drive track was very wet and slippery and as we
were to meet Julie soon, I was hoping it was a lot dryer from her end.
We got to the meeting place and Julie wasn’t there, so I kept riding in her direction, calling on the UHF every so
often. Soon she answered the radio and I was relieved that the road was dry and in great condition.
Julie and I arrived back to find the boys had a great fire going. We all refuelled and tucked into the salad rolls
Julie had bought for us. The rest of the afternoon was a blast with the only hiccup being a locked gate that was
supposed to be unlocked for us. We were able to get through the fence and continue on to Omeo.
Julie had the beers lined up at the Hilltop pub and some of the guys were able to see some of the last quarter
of the local footy across the road. We all had a great night with plenty of friendly locals out for a good time. Julie
enjoyed playing pool as usual, with plenty of people willing to play.
After a great breakfast we were on our way back. This time we weren’t going to meet Julie, which meant some
of us were going to be very low on fuel by the end of the day. The tracks were open and fast and Russ and I were
having a blast! Clint had a problem with his KTM idling too fast. It was found that a piece of the throttle slide had
broken off. Sagey and Clint then headed back via the road. We did find 7k’s of really tight, rough, rocky track that
sorted some of us out, including myself! After some fuel swapping some went back via the road while others took in
a couple of extra tracks, eventually arriving at Phil’s mates. Another great weekend!
The Queens birthday weekend at Dargo was equally as successful even though the snow proved challenging
at times! Don’t forget the AGM on the 7th of August! Hope to see you then.
Catch ya later, Dallas.
