Chris and I headed off in Harvey a few days before the Australia Day weekend, bound for Phillip Island and the 14th Annual Island Classic. Overnighted at Mangalore airfield, then next day flew to Tyabb to visit friends as well as my mum, before ending up at Leongatha.

Friends picked us up from the airfield and took us to the Island on Thursday evening, ready for the practice and qualifying sessions. We ended up sitting out the first race due to rain, finished 2nd in the next race, and won the next two. What was really enjoyable about the event was meeting up with family and friends. My brother Mick was there, as was my daughter Jess, Bubba, Lil, Dr. Bob and Jolie, plus flying buddies Greg, James, all the race guys, the Trease family, John Maher, even Alan Cathcart dropped in for a chat. After seeing the bike perform, he is keen to ride it and write it up in the international press....mmm, better make sure he doesn't reveal any secrets.

With no broken bones, the flight back was uneventful - 8500 ft all the way, slight tailwind - just over 5 hours flying time Leongatha to Gatton, Qld. at just 24 lts/hr. Way to go...

When we got back, the local paper had put my article on the Airpark right across the front page, so now we have had heaps of locals coming out for a look. Maybe not such a great idea.

Despite the prospect of rain, Chris and I, along with neighbours Frank and Cheryl, joined with a bunch of classic bike enthusiasts on a ride up to Mt. Glorious on Sunday Jan 14. While it didn't rain, the top of the mountain was shrouded in mist with occassional damp patches. We stopped to check out about 150 odd classic bikes and have a coffee with the classic guys, before riding a bit further on to a cafe on the top of the mountain. Frank knew the owner, so he spent a bit of time with us 'talking bikes'. Then it was back down the mountain on the somewhat demanding road for lunch at Fernvale. A Great day.