S.T.A.R. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 16
May June July
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.
With our AGM just around the corner it is a good time to reflect on the past 12 months even though it’s hard to
believe another year has gone by. There’s no denying that this has been a very tough year for trail riding. The
bush fires ravaged a huge amount of our riding area and the extremely dry conditions caused by the drought ruined
our planned weekend rides.
The Woods Point weekend was extremely successful with 26 riders having a great time. Other weekend rides
were organized and everyone who attended these had a brilliant time. I’d like to thank those who made these rides
possible, a lot of time and effort was spent (especially this year) and we really appreciate it. Thanks also to my
fellow office bearers who have been brilliant support and to Barney for a fantastic job on the newsletter.
Our day rides have been lots of fun as well with new areas like Turtons Creek being ridden again. Thanks to
those that have organized and led these rides as well. We now have a mobile phone to send SMS messages to all
our members. This should keep everyone updated on ride dates and times, even those last minute day rides.
Hopefully Mother Nature will be kinder to us all in the future and we can have a more predictable year ahead.
Remember if you have any ideas or suggestions please bring them up at the meetings.
Finally I’d like to thank you the members for making our club what it is today, something for everyone to enjoy!
Cheers, Dallas.
BITS AND PIECES
A reminder that the AGM is on Monday 6th August at 8.00pm. It would be good if everyone can make an effort to
attend and come and have his or her say. Also have a think about perhaps putting a hand up for a position and
sharing some of the workload around the club. Also due on the night will be the subs. Last year they were $30
and, while it will be decided on the night, I would probably say they would stay the same, so it would be handy for
the treasurer if you could fix it up on the night.
Also at the AGM, Dallas will be giving a rundown on the clubs new mobile phone. He’s had it for a short time and
has been loading numbers into it. This will be a great communication device for the club as it will allow anyone with
a message for club members to simply get a message to whoever is going to have the phone (to be decided) where
it can then be forwarded to every member instantly. This should be fantastic for organising club rides at short
notice.
On Saturday and Sunday August 18 & 19th Rounds 9 and 10 of the Australian Offroad Championship (sprint
series) is to be held at Wonthaggi Motox complex
CLASSIFIEDS
Wanted: XS 650 Yamaha parts in any condition Ph. 0427 849 169
For Sale: TTR90 2005 Model Electric start very little use, excellent condition, recently serviced $2200 ono
Ph. 0408 230 367
Report written by: Barney
Day and Date of ride: April weekend ride
Where to: Bairnsdale
Who went: Barney Joe Russ Phill
Km’s: Around 90 Saturday, around 110 Sunday
Approx Hrs riding:
Weather conditions: (eg. Cold, Snowing, Hot, Perfect etc) A bit cold and wet at times
Conditions: (eg. Slippery, Loamy, Dusty, Rocky, etc) Slippery conditions on Saturday wet and bit rocky on Sunday
Any problems, breakdowns, etc: Phill had a bit of a get off late Saturday and hurt himself and his bike. Sore ribs for
Phill and a stoved-in header pipe for the WR.
Brief Comments: We arrived in Bairnsdale late on Friday night. Saturday morning was wet and Russ wanted some
wet weather gear so we thought that after breaky we would quickly go to the KTM dealer and see what he had.
What was to be 10 minutes turned into over an hour with Russ getting some gear, Phill some gloves, Joe a part for
his bike and Barney worried about the local wet weather, a new rear tyre. We headed out to Phill’s mate’s place
and left from there. We rode a lot of gnarly single lane tracks to start with and headed out further where we rode
last year on the Bairnsdale-Omeo ride but everywhere we went seemed to be either closed because of the fires or
too many trees down on the tracks. We eventually headed back to do some more single lane and that’s where Phill
parted company with the WR. He was able to get it back to the cars and we went back to the caravan part and got
cleaned up, ready to hit the pubs for a feed and a few drinks.
Sunday morning was the day of the world cup cricket final in the Carribean and with Russ and Joe part of our riding
group we weren’t going anywhere until it finished. Eventually down the street we went for breaky and a new map of
the area around Buchan which is where we were going riding for the day to check it out for our Queens Birthday
Weekend. Phill wasn’t riding so he grabbed Russ’s car for the day so he could cruise around. We started just
outside of Bruthen and rode to Buchan for lunch. We came back a different way, coming out on the Omeo Rd
around 20km above Bruthen but because it was getting dark and running low on fuel we went back on the bitumen.
Most of the tracks were either flat or smooth and generally boring but we did find a couple of good ones. Basically it
was an area that you would probably avoid. We picked up Phil at Bairnsdale, had a counter meal at Sale and
headed home.
Report written by: Russ M
Day and Date of ride: 26-27/5/07
Where to: Club ride weekend to Erica
Who went: 14 riders rode on Saturday and 9 riders on Sunday
Km’s:Approx. 70km on Sat and 60km on Sunday
Approx Hrs riding: 6hrs on Sat and 4hrs on Sun
Weather conditions: Good
Riding conditions: Combination of all (slippery, loamy, dusty, Rocky, etc) and not much rock.
Problems, breakdowns :Kev puncture tyre on Darren Coldebella’s KTM. Husaberg Saturday did engine mount
and wheel bearing.
Brief Comments: Good variety of tracks Sat rode out to west of Erica and did approx 90 kms of good riding.
Plenty of single lane. Few good hills and some nice tight stuff with a bit of slippery clay here and there to keep
everybody on their toes. On Saturday Mark’s Husaberg broke down (again) so that put an early end to Mark and
Dallas’s day as he went back home with Mark. A great weekend of riding which worked well as no far to travel.
Great meal at Pub Saturday night and excellent to stay at Mark and Linda’s house with all the comforts of home. A
big thanks to them.
Report written by: Simon Bolding
Day and Date of ride: 16.6.07
Where to: Rosedale/Stradbroke
Who went: Callum, Simon and Colby
Km’s: 126
Approx Hrs riding: 3 1/2
Weather conditions: (eg. Cold, Snowing, Hot, Perfect etc) Good
Riding conditions: (eg. Slippery, Loamy, Dusty, Rocky, etc) Just right – Just had rain overnight.
Problems, breakdowns : Nil
Brief Comments: Go there
Report written by: Russ M
Day and Date of ride: 16-17/6/07
Where to: Alberfeldy
Who went: Dallas, Russ, Greeny, and Brad Gillies (Saturday only)
Km’s: 150 approx
Approx Hrs riding: 2 rides 6hrs Saturday, Sunday 2.5hrs
Weather conditions: (eg. Cold, Snowing, Hot, Perfect etc) Just right
Riding conditions: (eg. Slippery, Loamy, Dusty, Rocky, etc)Very good some slippery stuff, no dust and
tracks smooth
Problems, breakdowns None
Brief Comments: Went up Friday night and stayed at Greeny’s house then did a loop down Violet town,
casper, jericho, red jackets etc. Tracks were in awesome condition after being dozed since the bushfires. Some
tracks pretty wet but traction was suprisingly good. Unfortunately the big rain came about 10 days after this and
tracks are now very washed out and rutted.
Report written by: Phill
Day and Date of ride: Sunday 17 June 2007
Where to: Turtons Creek
Who went: Rob Heppell, Martin Paterson, Phill Sydenham
Km’s: 70ish
Approx Hrs riding: 4hrs
Weather conditions: (eg. Cold, Snowing, Hot, Perfect etc) Cold wet muddy slippery Perfect
Riding conditions: (eg. Slippery, Loamy, Dusty, Rocky, etc) Cold wet muddy slippery Perfect
Problems, breakdowns : No Probs really. Boiled the WR on one particular track.
Brief Comments: Excellent days ride for this time of year being at Turton’s. Some tracks were very
hardwork
Report written by:Simon Bolding
Day and Date of ride: 18.6.07
Where to: Hedley-Welshpool
Who went: Scott, Sime, Grant. Colby, Craig, Steve and Stefen
Km’s: 110
Approx Hrs riding: 4 hrs
Weather conditions: (eg. Cold, Snowing, Hot, Perfect etc) Sunny
Riding conditions: (eg. Slippery, Loamy, Dusty, Rocky, etc) Perfect, no dust, just wet enough
Problems, breakdowns: Nil
Brief Comments:
Report written by: Bevan West
Day and Date of ride: 30.6.07
Where to: Hedley
Who went: Me, Simon and Syar
Km’s: 90km
Approx Hrs riding: 4
Weather conditions: (eg. Cold, Snowing, Hot, Perfect etc) Not to bad
Riding conditions: (eg. Slippery, Loamy, Dusty, Rocky, etc) Slippery and good.
Problems, breakdowns:
Brief Comments: Good quick ride
Buchan Ride Report.
This year we decided not to spend the Queens birthday at Dargo because of the bush fire damage, so we
thought we’d head to Buchan instead. Unfortunately this weekend clashed with a 40th birthday party and the hill
climb so it was Troy, Barney and myself (Dallas) who headed off early Saturday morning to an unknown new riding
area. Barney had been riding in the area a short time ago and wasn’t at all impressed with what was on offer, so he
wasn’t very confident in finding anything outstanding. After a Maccas breaky at Bairnsdale we arrived at Buchan just
after 10 o’clock. It was overcast and drizzly but we were on the bikes just after 11 heading towards the Nowa area.
After a few k’s I knew what Barney was talking about, mainly gravel four wheel drive tracks that weren’t at all
interesting and provided no challenge what so ever. We tried to find the most promising looking tracks on the map
but nothing really came of these. We got back to the Lodge just after 2:30pm after travelling 85 k’s of c#$p riding.
We then cleaned up and headed off to the pub to drown our sorrows (and watch the V8 utes and supercar
qualifying.) The staff at the pub were very welcoming and the menu had plenty to choose from. I had a three-course
meal for $29 that I found to be good value. We were back at the Lodge after 10pm hoping to find better riding the
next day.
We woke to a foggy start to the next day, and that wasn’t because I had too many beers the night before! The
Lodge is a no frills set up but for $20 a night it is still comfortable and has everything you need for a good
breakfast, just help yourself. Things weren’t looking good for Troy as I noticed his rear tyre was a little on the flat
side as I was refuelling my bike. It was the strangest tyre we’d ever seen. Made by Barum, it had the normal knobbie
pattern in the middle but the sides were more like a trials type pattern. Troy whacked another tube in and we were
on our way by 10am. The fog had cleared into an absolutely perfect day. After a 15k bitumen transport we turned
off into the bush where things looked promising at once. At last some decent riding and it just got better as the day
went on! These were fast flowing four-wheel drive tracks that were smooth and a bit slippery in places. I’m sure Troy’
s rear wheel went twice the distance we rode that morning as it was sliding around quite a bit. It was magic to watch!
If you can remember the eastern side of Dargo where we do that half-day ride (90 k’s in 3 hours), this was very
much like that. 4th and 5th gear stuff with some steepish hills and the occasional tighter than you think corner
thrown in to keep the adrenalin up. This really made up for the previous day big time! When we stopped for a
break, there was not a sound, not a cloud in the sky and not a breath of wind. Ah the serenity! Barney had hit the
jackpot with the map; every track was fantastic. We all carried fuel and we ended up travelling 133 k’s.
After lunch I didn’t see much of the boys as they really put the hammer down and were seriously fast! We
arrived at the pub in time to see the first V8 supercar race, a perfect way to end a perfect days ride. 133 k’s in
under 4 hours with a few breaks, not bad! We all had a great weekend and it would be well worth our while to go
back in the future.
S.T.A.R. PROPOSED WEEKEND RIDE DATES 2007
2007
Nov 17th & 18th : Blue light ride
Dec(to be decided): Woods Point
Remember day rides are on the weekend following club meetings, alternating Saturday (odd months) and Sunday
(even months).
Example 2007 Rides August 12th Sunday ride
Sept 8th Saturday ride
October 7th Sunday ride
Nov 10th Saturday ride
For more information on these rides contact
Dallas: 56574248 or Russ: 0429 327501
