Half Throttle Newsletter

The Monthly e-Newsletter of the Ulysses Club Whittlesea Branch By the Branch, for the Branch

February Edition
17th February 2014

Editorial
Last month I put forward an idea to generate a photographic record of Branch members. I received 5 replies, 4 for the idea and one stating it may be problematic. As a result of the apparent lack of interest I have shelved that idea. So please understand that when you contact me for a description of a member I shall answer, theyre this tall, grey haired and ride a motorcycle. You will also notice that those that have registered their email address with Natcom you are starting to receive emails directly from them. The latest is notification for a Special General Meeting in Sydney in relation to the appeal on the expulsion of three members. You know as much as me about why this has occurred but I can only assume the matter has been dealt with in line with the Constitution of the Club. I believe that several members of the Branch are making an effort to attend and perhaps after that meeting we can ask them to give a report on the matter. At the Branch AGM last Saturday, I reported on the relative success of this newsletter. We now have 75 Branch members that receive our emails and newsletters and all at no cost to the Branch thanks to electronics. Regardless of the numbers of members we have, the most important aspect is to work within the Branch and keep you informed of the activities we conduct. I trust that this newsletter will keep you up to date in the coming months. Dont forget that if you would like to write into me about something you have done or a ride you have been on I will gladly publish it. We need your input as much as you need mine. Its intended to bring this newsletter out monthly with email notifications as needed. And at any time you no longer wish to receive any correspondence from this Branch you only have to drop me a line and I will take you off the mailing list. Next weekend is the Echuca weekend and I hope many of you take the opportunity to have a weekend off and join us there. Last time we went it was a great weekend and we can only make this one better. So until next month, get out and enjoy yourselves. Just remember to take it easy and come home safely. Ron Laurence Editor
Dont become road kill. Road safety IS your responsibility

Presidents summary for 2013.

Thanks to the committee for their hard work, team spirit and enthusiasm which has resulted in a very positive and successful year. The highlights have been:The move to electronic e mail communication particularly the bi-weekly newsletter which is a huge success. A big thank you to Ron Laurence for all of his skill and hard work in producing a high quality publication. (This has also resulted in the elimination of the $12.00 levy for hard copy printing.) The establishment of online banking for the branch accounts through a new Westpac account, and the alignment of our branch bookkeeping with the latest NatCom guidelines, both achieved thanks to our treasurer Ray Weeks. A steady lowering of our stock of badges and goods by Ray Farrugia. A very full social calendar for the whole year including our monthly dinners, Christmas in July, and our games night. A full year ride programme covering weekend and mid week rides. A wider interaction with the Whittlesea community. These final two items have been achieved by the hard work of the whole committee, and the enthusiastic support and participation of branch members. We continue to enjoy the hospitality of the Royal Mail Hotel and the Chicken Barn as our meeting locations and we look forward to a busy and disgraceful 2014. Stay safe , enjoy the ride. Ivan Robotham President

Branch Elections 15th Feb 2014

Congratulations on the election of the new committee for 2014-15. And the winners are:

Ivan Robotham President

Carol Farruga Secretary

Don Miller - Treasurer

Ray Farruga Quartermaster Rob Starbuck Committee Steve Inman Webmaster, who was unable to attend the AGM And of course yours truly as the Editor of Half Throttle

John Godfrey - Committee

Ex-Prez Kim led us in the opening prayer, gave the sermon from the mount whilst the tabernacle choir sang in the background

We thank all of those members who took the time to attend the meeting and exercise their democratic rights as well as Kim for chairing the meeting and Carol for the photographic presentation.

The old Committee stands down whilst one of the new committee thinks about what he has got himself into.

Early in the meeting the throng assembled and filled the chairs from the rear as usual

Tip of the month: Keep an eye on your side stand in hot weather. Sometimes they sink into the hot bitumen and may cause the motorcycle to tip over. Branch Events:
Tuesday and Thursday morning tea at the Chicken Barn in Whittlesea meeting from 9:30am

Echuca Weekend - Friday 21st -Sun 23rd February 2014. Staying at the Echuca Holiday Park. Accommodation will be in Acacia cabins (4 single bunks, 1 queen size bed) i.e. 5 singles, or camp sites. Costs are to be finalised but should work out about $80.00 each for 2 nights, and each cabin group is responsible for their own booking ,payment and meal arrangements. We will have a BYO everything BBQ on the Saturday evening, and we will arrange a ride with the Echuca Branch for the Sat. or Sun. Please let Ivan know if you intend to go, and start organising your cabin/camping group. We will try and finalise by the 17 January 2014. Echuca Holiday Park 52 Crofton St., Echuca Ph: 1800 555 640 or email at info@echucaholiday.com.au. Tues 25th to Thurs 27th March 2014, High Country Ride Ride Leader - Robert Starbuck - pass Rob and you are on your own - re grouping points and tail ender TBA, corner marking will be used. Pit and meal stops to be decided on the day. Tuesday 25th March - depart Whittlesea 9.00am Healesville - Launching Place - Yarra Junction Powell Town - Warragul reassemble Moe Morwell Sale Bairnsdale - Omeo staying o/night at Pub. Golden Age Hotel 5159 1344, or Snug as a Bug 5159 1311 (single and twin-share rooms) Wednesday 26th March - Day of excitement. Omeo - Mitta Mitta - Tallangatta o/night at Pub Tallangatta Hotel 02 6071 2513 office@tallangattahotel.com.au has rooms and dorm accommodation Thursday 27th March Tallangatta - Bandiana (Army Museum Visit optional) - Beechworth-Benalla Bonnie Doon Yea - Whittlesea. Approximate distance is 1000 km. N.B. The road section from Omeo to Mitta was gravel but scheduled to be sealed before the 26th. We aim to be the first road ride group to traverse this road in the history of the universe. Lets hope that the roads department is on time. If the road has not been sealed, the ride will go via Hotham, Bright, Myrtleford to Tallangatta. Preference will be given to financial branch members regarding ride group size. If you intend to be part of this ride, names to Ivan by 1st March latest, for room bookings. *Ride is subject to the route being bush fire free* Saturday 8th March 2014, Round the Bay Ride- Anticlockwise Ride Leader will be John Godfrey. Pass John and you are on your own- corner markers will be used. Tail end TBA. Depart McDonalds Whittlesea at 9.00am sharp tanks full and bladders empty. Ride will cover approx. 300Km

Route;- Whittlesea Donneybrook Mickleham - Sunbury Road past Airport-off lane to Geelong through Geelong Queenscliff Road - Queenscliff. On route re assemble points TBA. Searoad Ferry to Sorrento leaves every hour on the hour Costs- Motorbike $35.00, Trike $45.00, extra passenger $10.00 Pay at the terminal - Crossing takes approximately 40 mins. (good for lunch) Sorrento Rosebud Pearcedale - R at Bass Hwy. - L to Koo We Rup Packenham Cockatoo Worri Yallock Healsville - Yarra Glen - regroup to home. Sunday 23rd March 2014 Victorian Branches "Meet & Greet" at Mt Franklin

Needed urgently. Your ideas and commitment for rides in 2014

Dont just leave it to the Committee. If you have a ride destination and are willing to drag us along , drop me an email and Ill pass it on to the Committee. Being a ride leader is not such a bad thing. Sitting on your bum and complaining we dont have rides is. Eds Note: Number of replies to this request so far still only 1 from the President.

Additional Events: Easter M/C Classic April 18th to 21st Broadford Motorcycle track, 4 day classic racing Broadford and Velocette Club

I Remember When:
We were able to take a cricket ball and bat to school and play cricket at lunchtime.

From My Emails

"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many."

Joke of the Week
c/o Herald-Sun

An older couple were lying in bed one night. The husband was falling asleep but the wife was in a romantic mood and wanted to talk. She said: You use to hold my hand when we were courting. Wearily, he reaches across, held her hand for a second and tried to get back to sleep. A few moments later she said: Then you use to kiss me. Mildly irritated, he reached across, gave her a peck on the cheek and settled down to sleep. Thirty seconds later she said: Then you use to bite my neck. Angrily, he threw back the bedclothes and got out of bed. Where are you going? she asked. To get my teeth. RACV Roadside Assist: 13 11 11. To join the RACV ring 13 72 28

From the Quartermaster: Dont forget if you want club memorabilia see Ray most Saturdays and hell place an order for you.

The Aims of the Ulysses Club

To provide ways in which older motorcyclists can get together for companionship and mutual support. To show by example that motorcycling can be an enjoyable and practical activity for riders of all ages. To draw the attention of public and private institutions to the needs and views of older riders.

If there is something you would like to add to this e-newsletter please let me know. If there is a ride you have done and would like to tell others let me know. If you have bought a new bike and would like to show it off send me a photo. If there is a joke you would like to share tell it during a meeting, the audience is instantly responsive. If you are happy for me to just carry on dont do anything Im sure I can get myself in enough trouble. The words expressed in the editorial are the views of the Editor and not necessarily the official views of the Whittlesea Branch or Natcom.

Ron Laurence - Editor

Ulysses Club Whittlesea Branch Contact details

Postal Address: c/o Secretary Ulysses Club Whittlesea Branch PO Box 358 Whittlesea VIC 3757 Web Address: http://www.whittleseaulysses.au2.com/ e-Newsletter Contact: Email Ron at: ulyssesatwhittlesea@gmail.com Also on Facebook If you no longer wish to receive these emails please let me know and I'll take you off the distribution list. Also if you change email addresses don't forget to tell me otherwise your email ends up in cyber heaven and youll never find out about our events.

Members Advertising Advertising is FREE for Associated members of Whittlesea Branch.

Royal Mail Hotel Beech St., Whittlesea Saturdays meeting place from 9am Ph: 9716 1400 Whittlesea Chicken Barn James & Jenny Shop 2, 75 Church St., Whittlesea Meeting place for the Tues & Thurs Ride Group Ph: 9716 2433 Bentech Building Design Consultants Ben Tesich Ph: 9467 2803 Mob: 0412 220 655 email: bentech1@optusnet.com.au RW&SM Starbuck & Sons P/L Tippers Rob Starbuck Ph: 9717 3374 Mob: (Rob) 0418 170 479, (Jimmy) 0438 390 479 Email: sandy1959@bigpond.com Hume Presbyterian Church Services each Sunday at 10am Weddings, funerals, baptisms, counselling Scott Kroeger Ph: 9333 4264 Mob: 0412 681 715 email info@humepc.pcvic.org.au Cadwest Design Centre Engineering Design Services Keith Gilbert Ph: 9439 7127 Mob: 0419 515 774 email: keithwgilbert@gmail.com D&K Painters Quality Decorators David Taylor Ph/Fax: 9436 9774 Mob: 0413 021 810

email: kwozi@optusnet.com.au

Stretchs Motorcycle Detailing Stephen (Stretch) Deegan Detailer Ph: 9308 5747 mob: 0431 450 420 email: annettedeegan@aapt.net.au M & C Training - Dog obedience Training Michael West Instructor Ph: 9439 1978
Would you like to walk your dog with more confidence and less stress then give me a call Families welcome 25 years training experience Competitive rates All breeds welcome No dog too old, you can teach old dogs new tricks

Relocka Locksmiths - Locksmithing Service Kim Jacob Mob: 0400 651 746 email: kimjacob01@gmail.com Jims Building Inspections Home inspections Anthony Fenech - Building Consultant Ph: 0410 543 150 email: fenecha@jimsbuildinginspections.com.au Bills Welding Bill Graham metal spinning, welding & general engineering, metal fabrication, new gates & repairs Stump grinding, lawn mowing and grass slashing Ph: 0407 562 028 email: billgraham@live.com.au

Trike Licencing
Over the past few years there have been many people trying to make it less complex to obtain a licence to ride a trike. For those in many states that have already obtained a motorcycle licence, the transition is relatively easy. For those that want the freedom of riding a trike but do not, or could not, have a motorcycle licence the transition is more complex. Those that ride trikes, especially Spyders, know that there are differences in riding a trike compared to a motorcycle and some suggest that motorists could be instructed and tested to ride trikes, on trikes, instead of having to go through motorcycle training. If this occurred there may be more people on the road starting to enjoying the freedom which we motorcyclists have already. You never know, it may lead them to riding on two wheels. In the meantime there is Simon Kendrick in Sydney who is pushing for this and I include the bulk of his email below. I know that it is heavily Spyder orientated but you have to remember, Simon is the main man for Spyder in Australia so is pushing his own wheelbarrow but if it makes it easier for all trike owners then what the heck. So next time you hear of someone wanting to ride a trike but does not have a motorcycle endorsement on their licence, show them this. Editor

IF you're a South Australian resident and have always wanted to own a Spyder, I have some good news for you. It looks like our voices have been heard in S.A. There appears to be a relaxation in the laws in SA that allows a person to apply for permission to the department to get an R class licence "restricted to Motor Trike Only" This licence has no CC limit so LAMS does not apply in this case. It also means you don't have to wait 12 months till you can ride an open class bike, but this licence is only applicable to Motor Trike including the Can-Am Spyder. I have drafted a standard letter to apply to the registrar of Motor Vehicles in S.A. to simplify the process for you, if you wish to apply for your Trike learners permit. Don't bother contacting your local DMV, you have to get approval from this person named on the document before proceeding from there. Additionally, if you live outside of SA and wish to write to your State department of Motor Vehicles to request the same permission, I have written letter templates for each state with details of who to contact and how to write the letter to get the best response. I would dearly love to have heaps of letters sent to every MV dept in Australia over the next few weeks so that they get the message there are many, many people who wish to get their Trike licence without having to ride a motorcycle for 12 months first. Please email me at simon.kendrick@brp.com to let me know if you are going to apply as I would like to get an idea of numbers of people keen on this. I have listed links to download the forms for below; NSW doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hk2CWDPIVDZZVX4y6Cuzbfz4k9X_f-kBPyf3G0GigI/edit?usp=sharing VIC doc https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BFQdZSszp0AhA7d53MuHKT3FtD979PsK0oE5QcRaCg/edit?usp=sharing QLD doc https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jHInEEm92wh_8DxpWBhcco509S_NN8g0XleHltoSNyU/edit?us p=sharing TAS doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1abLVKImOoIf7d3uRYFvvxf9fpbh5EzCG_HpH7UlwK8/edit?usp=sharing SA doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sdzeyi4AOsE4KIvQ1Y2Ewr0dpCBqupr1EPvFniTzEU/edit?usp=sharing We haven't included a WA letter at the moment as our Public Affairs dept are already dealing direct with WA licencing division and are hopeful of a variation in the laws there too. Hopefully this should make quite a few people happy who without it would never have the chance to ride a Spyder on the open road PS, please share this with your friends network to spread the word Kind regards Simon Kendrick.