Old Bike Australasia # 54

Cautious optimism In what should be a major boost for owners of historic motorcycles currently registered under the conditional registration Historic Vehicle Scheme (HVS), the NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Duncan Gay has announced that a new system will be trialled, commencing October 1st, 2015. Known officially (at this stage) as the Historic Vehicle Log Book Trial, the new system will be reviewed after two years as part of the NSW Roads and Maritime Services review of the overall Conditional Registration Scheme. The Historic Log Book Trial will allow operators of existing vehicles within the HVS to join the new scheme. These vehicles may then be used for up to 60 days of general use, including club events, maintenance runs and personal use, in each 12-month period. Each…

Gasper cards ‘Thrillseekers’ were cards given free when buying Champion tobacco products in 1929. One shows Vic Huxley (“heading for the chequered flag in a final for the Silver Helmet, after a superb piece of work at the last bend”), while rider of the outfit is probably still recovering! I have read your book Along for the Ride a really great read. I started my ride about four years before you in Melbourne. There were just as many characters on and off the tracks them days as what you had in and around Sydney. My first bike was a 350 Matchless with no rear suspension, a very ordinary front end and a big lump of alloy and cast iron in the middle. Very primitive compared to today’s motocrossers but we…

And the winner is? Yes, it was the Norton Commando, not the Honda 750 or the Kawasaki 900 or the Suzuki GT750. These days many vintage motorcycle rallies favour using a popular vote of the rally participants to judge the best bike in each age category. Invariably, the counting method is good old “first past the post”, as there is only one box for you to choose one bike. Rallies are getting bigger and the categories 1965-1975 and 1976-1985 especially so. Hypothetical scenario: rally of 120 bikes, 100 people vote. The 1965-1975 category comprises 45 bikes. There are four absolute standouts, as reflected in the following voting results: Norton Commando MkII (28), Honda CB750 (19), Kawasaki Z900 (20), Suzuki GT750 (25), Others (8). Yes, the Norton wins but less than…

Hillview Error In the last issue was the story I submitted regarding the Hillview Short Circuit at Muswellbrook. I mentioned that the 1960 Australian Titles were conducted over two days of the Queen’s Birthday weekend in June. However this is not correct as the titles were on the Sunday only. There was a general meeting conducted on the Monday and one source tells me that it was a Restricted meeting for those members of clubs within Northern Centre, that is Newcastle and surrounding region. Also I said that Norm Fraser was a member of Lyons club, when in fact this should have been Lakes. Thought that I should rectify these errors before editor Jim gave me “the sack”. Nabiac Automotive Swap Meet This swap was again held in good clear…

Big changes at the Burt The Burt Munro Challenge celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2015, and will be held from Thursday 26 – Sunday 29th November. The big news is that the street racing which in past years has been held at nearby Wyndham, will now be staged in Invercargill. The City Council has agreed to close off part of the city to create a roughly rectangular circuit incorporating Bill Richardson Drive near the Waihopai River, with good competitor and spectator access. The popular Burt Munro Challenge Rally will again be based at Oreti Park, Dunns Road, Otatara, Invercargill, with an entry fee of $75. The non-stop program features a Hill Climb at Bluff, Supercross at Oreti Plains, Beach Racing at Oreti beach, Road racing at Teretonga, Speedway at Oreti…

Being a speedway promoter is a tough life. OWEN BATEMAN, who passed away on July 19 at Ulladulla on the NSW south coast aged 84, came into the business in 1969 when longtime promoter of the Sydney Showground Speedway John Sherwood retired. Bateman became a director of Empire Speedways, along with Mrs Gloria Little, second eldest daughter of the legendary promoter Frank Arthur who managed both Sydney Showground and Brisbane Exhibition speedways at various times. He lived and breathed for speedway, except for Sundays, his day off, when he indulged his other love, yachting. Bateman did everything from organising the program to driving the grader to prepare the track surface. He was also a major sponsor of speedcar legend Johnny Stewart. Prior to becoming a promoter in his own right,…