Inverloch Rally Pictorial
Inverloch Rally report, Saturday March 17 2018.
Inverloch has a distinguished place in our club’s history and is located in superb motorcycling country, so we booked in as soon as the notice appeared in Sprocket, and we had been looking forward to the rally for some time.
Friday evening many of us met for a convivial dinner at the Esplanade Hotel. It was good to catch up with old friends and new over food and drinks. President Ian and Vice President Graham briefly described the plan for the weekend and introduced Alan Prentice who had planned the rides and was going to lead them.
It was a good turn out on Saturday morning as we all gathered at the boat ramp in bright sunlight, our numbers increased by the ‘Inverloch Gatecrashers’ day ride led by Club Captain Sam. After a briefing by Ian and Ride Leader Alan, Ian introduced Joan Woodbridge who with her late husband Alan (Club Life Member) and their family organised 18 Inverloch Investigator Rallies. Joan and daughter Lyn waved us off and we headed east in the sun and cool morning air. The South Gippsland countryside, despite being atypically dry, looked lovely as we enjoyed the numerous corners and traffic-free roads: conditions which we were to enjoy all day. We had a re-group at Boolarra, and then rode to Mirboo North via a road which I’m sure was never straight for more than a distance of about 4m.
Morning Tea was hosted by Colin and Maxine at the 4Cs Motor Museum Mirboo North. By now the conditions were sufficiently warm for it to be important to seek shade and get the motorcycle gear off as soon as we stopped. Maxine had prepared a spectacular spread of her home-made cakes and biscuits and these were very popular. Later we viewed Colin’s impressive classic car collection.
Soon it was time to continue northward on ever more twisty and hilly roads to Warragul for lunch, that is if you had any space left after sampling several of Maxine’s cakes as I did. Parking in the shady carpark we stretched our legs to find various cafes and bakeries in the town. From Warragul the dayride group left us for Melbourne, and then the rest of us followed the corner marshals southward across the Latrobe Valley to Korumburra and Koonwarra, enjoying a view of the valley during a re-group at a lookout on the way.
It had been a full and enjoyable motorcycling day and back at Inverloch at our various lodgings things were quiet as many of us rested, with or without a refreshing beer. Dinner was at the Inlet Hotel that evening in good company, and many of us met the Woodbridge family, Joan, daughter Robyn, son Ian and his wife Jill and their two children.
Thanks are due to Alan for organising the rally assisted by wife Michelle, the marshals for their efforts, and Tom Prentice for backup trailer duties. Everything ran smoothly, a great ride.
John Best.
Sunday March 18
Sunday morning we all woke up to a morning of cloudy skies and the prediction of rain. We met at the boat ramp for the day’s ride, as we had done on Saturday. The number of bikes was somewhat down from the previous day due to the weather.
The rain had just started by the time we set off at 9am. It was somewhat of a challenging ride with the very strong winds, and at times driving rain. This ride was a self marshalling ride, and I can say it ran very well. “Well done everyone”.
We had a very enjoyable ride for two or so hours through the rolling hills of Inverloch, Wonthaggi, and surrounds, with great 360 degree views while riding along the ridges of the flowing hills.
We finished at Wonthaggi State Coal Mine, where we had lunch, and what a great lunch it was.
A big thank you must go to Allan Prentice and all the people involved in putting this rally together. It takes a lot of people a lot of time to run a rally as successfully as this weekend was.
Rob van
Rally Attendees
| NAME | BIKE | YEAR |
| Rob King | Norton 500 | 1950 |
| Paul Clayton | Matchless | 1952 |
| Jason Skiba | AJS 350 | 1954 |
| Nigel Sherlock | Triumph 650 | 1969 |
| Chris & Carol Price | Norton | 1972 |
| Wally Walsh | Kawasaki Z900 | 1974 |
| Ian & Lyn Snadden | BMW R90S | 1974 |
| Graham & Lynne Boulter | BMW R90S | 1975 |
| Norm Wills | Moto Guzzi 850 | 1976 |
| Andy Symons | Kawasaki Z900 | 1976 |
| Gary Moore | Suzuki | 1976 |
| Michael Thompson | Honda 750 | 1979 |
| Adrian Nash | Yamaha | 1980 |
| Alan & Michelle Prentice | Suzuki GS850 | 1981 |
| Aaron Symons | Yamaha 750 | 1981 |
| Richard Mason | BMW | 1981 |
| Noel Wills | Guzzi 850 | 1983 |
| Laurie John | Suzuki RG500 | 1985 |
| John & Vicki Best | BMW R80 | 1986 |
| Richard Somerville | Honda 750 | 1992 |
| Jack Youdan | Triumph | 2002 |
| Ray Isles | BMW F650CS | 2004 |
| Rob Van Lohuizen | Yamaha | 2008 |
| Robert Mullins | BMW | 2014 |
| Terry Hoare | Triumph | 2016 |
| Colin & Marilyn Borthwick | Triumph | 2017 |
| Reg Hammond | Triumph | 2017 |
| Tom & Geraldine Prentice | backup trailer | |
| David & Jenny Langridge | car | |
| Colin & Julie Sullivan | car | |
| Keith & Belle Emmett | car | |
| Joan Woodbridge & familly | ||
| Val & Alan Smith | ||
| Phil McArdle & Kay DiClemente | ||
| Tom & Geraldine Prentice | backup trailer | |
| Trevor & Jean Luke | Can Am | Marshal |
| Alan Luke | Triumph Speedmaster | Marshal |
| Craig Sanderson | Triumph Sprint | Marshal |