Old Bike Australasia # 52

Beyond Vintage So far in 2015 I have attended three functions to mark the 50th anniversary of groups concerned with Vintage and Veteran motorcycling. It began with a very pleasant evening hosted by the Newcastle Vintage Motorcycle Club in February, where a number of speakers, including myself and Cycle Torque editor Chris Pickett, reflected on great times and personalities from the past 50 years or so. On May 1st I attended the 50th anniversary of the Veteran Racing Motorcyclists Association of Victoria, where it was great to catch up with people I haven’t seen for years and talk to legends such as Wes Brown who is still going strong into his nineties. Less than a week later I was at a similar evening to celebrate the half century of the…

The real Ray In OB46 ‘Under the Chequered Flag’, there is a photo of Lindsay Urquhart at Bathurst. The caption claims that his passenger is the late Ray Kelly. In the interest of accuracy, I would like to point out that this is incorrect, the passenger shown is definitely not Ray Kelly, but more likely Jim or Jack Craig. Here is a photo (above) of the real Ray Kelly passengering for Bernie Mack on the long stroke 600cc Manx Norton at Fishermen’s Bend in 1956. Paul Reed, Stanthorpe, Qld Not so slippery Your latest magazine (OBA 51) is a cracker, just amazing photo’s and stories. Write a winner! Each issue, we’re giving away a pair of tough, stylish Draggin’ Jeans, valued at $249, for the Best Letter contribution. Don’t forget…

Debbo – Great rider, great gentleman It was with sadness that I learnt that Eric Debbenham had passed away. Although I knew who he was in the late 1960s it was not until the early 1980s with Classic Racing that I got to know him better and talked frequently to him at race meetings. There were some tremendous dices between Eric on the Norvin and the late Graham Gates on the 650 Norton Dominator. Gates respected and was amazed at how Eric could throw his big machine around, especially seeing as he was then in mid 50s. He stated that if he could ride half as good as that when he got to that age he would be more than happy. In fact at the January meeting 1984 Gates was…

Barry Deeth – Life Member of the HMCCQ At the May meeting of the Pine River HMCCQ, club president Ross Rieschieck presented the Pine Rivers Area chairman Barry Deeth with his Life Membership Badge. Barry was a little shy on the night but accepted the honour humbly. This accolade is well deserved as Barry not only champions many of the club activities but who could forget his famous hot cheerios at rally smokos. John Finglas another deserving Pine Rivers Life Member also took the opportunity to congratulate Barry on appointment. (From Gaven Dall’Osto) Big money at Bonhams auction Traditionally the first major auction of the northern summer, the Bonhams Spring Sale at Stafford surpassed all previous years’ totals, with £2,262,109 in sales and a clearance rate of 86%. Top money…

LEWIS OSWALD (LEW) DOWSETT, one of the stalwarts of motorcycling in South Australia received the chequered flag on Sunday 12th April at the age of 93. There would be few motorcyclists in Australia who had entered a competition event at 90 years of age or were riding a motorcycle up until a few days of their 93rd birthday but Lew lived a good part of his life on two wheels. When he was a lad growing up at Southwark in South Australia he and his two best mates would ride their push bikes to watch motorcycle races and as soon as they were old enough to obtain motorcycle licences they purchased motorcycles with Lew’s mount being a 350 Rex Acme JAP. In 1941 Lew enlisted in the A.I.F. as a…

BSA Owners Club silver anniversary From humble beginnings 25 years ago, the BSA Owners Club of South Australia now boasts more than 200 members and has affiliations to BSA clubs and other motorcycle clubs both national and international. In recognition of this milestone, the club is holding a free public display on Wigley Reserve at Glenelg featuring around 60 of club members’ bikes, ranging from Bantams to Gold Stars. The club will also be hosting the BSA Owners Club National Rally on November 7-9 in Clare, north of Adelaide. See www.bsasa.org.au for details. Forward planning The Veteran & Vintage Moto Cycle Club of South Australia Inc will celebrate its 60th Anniversary Rally in September 2016 in the Clare Valley. The rally headquarters will be at the Clare Caravan Park which…