Monto Muster

2 0 2 2 MONTO MUSTER

Words & Photos by John McNair

WITH RAIN THROUGH THE WEEK PRIOR TO THIS YEAR’S MUSTER WE WERE A BIT WORRIED HOW THE WEEKEND WOULD GO. FOR THOSE THAT LEFT BRISBANE ON THE THURSDAY, THEY HAD SOME RAIN ON THE WAY AND THOSE DEPARTING ON THE FRIDAY HAD SOME RAIN TO THE OUTER LIMITS OF BRISBANE.

From here it was a good run to Gympie where the group paused for a fuel stop and a coffee. Soon they were on their way again through to Kilkivan and across the Tansey Road before joining the Burnett Hwy to the lunch stop at Gayndah. Here we met up with Malcolm Johnston and Aaron Williams while we waited for Ken whose thirsty Kawasaki H2 750 required an in between fuel stop. Other than that it ran well all the way.

Arriving in Monto about 4pm, each rider set off to their various accommodation points before we all met up at the Albert Hotel for our Friday evening welcome dinner. Saturday morning saw all the bikes gather in Monto’s main street centre parking area for a display at 8am, with members and local residents invited to take part in a People’s Choice show judging.

At 10am the riders took part

in a ride to Kalpower, which is an old railway town about 40 kilometers north east of Monto. Upon arrival we gathered alongside the local hall with its train mural for a group photo before heading back towards Monto with a stop at the Mungungo Hotel for lunch.

This old hotel welcomes motorcyclists and has various motorcycle memorabilia in side. From here we rode back into Monto and then out through the Cania Gorge to Cania Dam before returning to Monto. This was a very enjoyable ride with the afternoon sun on the cliff faces above. included some trivia questions and door prizes.

The winner of the bike show was announced and this was Mark Sweeney from the Toowoomba area on his immaculate Yamaha TRX850. This was one of many immaculate bikes there for the weekend. We must say a big thank you to

Saturday night dinner was attended by around sixty people with the undercover beer garden area reserved each night. It was perfect for a fun filled night which along with the great meals also

our sponsors for the weekend with Precision Powder Coating donating $250 for the weekend. Other sponsors included Bullet Yamaha in Mackay, Team Moto on the Sunshine Coast, VJMC Australia and several others.

Sunday morning gave us the choice of two rides with the main ride to Mount Perry along one of the Burnett Shire’s best motorcycle roads. A few of us decided to check out the ride to Wiruma Dam which is south west of Monto near Abercorn. This was an enjoyable ride with the return ride being a very nice back road from Abercorn to Monto. About 130 kilometers round trip.

Back at the Albert Hotel, the publican had the MotoGP on for us, so all our members that were still in town converged on the bar. Our numbers were greatly reduced for the Sunday night Stragglers Dinner but a good night was had. Monday seen us heading for home with Mal. Had a stop for lunch in Murgon and a stop in at Bejolke Peterson Dam before heading back to Brisbane. Members attending came from the Gold Coast to Mackay and places in between plus Toowoomba. I should make special mention of Sydney member John Ingle who drove all the way up from Sydney with his Yamaha 250 on the trailer. Well done John. Great to catch up with you. It was a great weekend and I would like to say a big thank you to Coordinator Phil and all those involved in the organization of the 2022 Monto Muster.