Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 79 i Old Bike Australasia

Rally season! This is my (our) favourite time of the year; when summer’s incessant heat has abated and winter has not yet unleashed its full chill. It’s also when we throw off the dust covers and roll out the bikes for a series of rallies that we look forward to immensely – a chance to escape the office and the city and take in some country air, catch up with friends that we haven’t seen for twelve months, and roll out on country roads free of the construction traffic that is Sydney these days. For us, this begins with the Bathurst Easter Tour – one of the longest running such events in the country and one that draws bikes from the full gambit of motorcycling history. Although it’s pretty dry…

2019 inductees to the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame include four-time Australian Speedway champion Phil Crump, motocross legend Ray Fisher, Enduro Ace Stefan Merriman, and posthumously, international road racer Eric Hinton. The sold-out gala dinner, sponsored by Famous Insurance, was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday March 15. Fisher ‘s long career (see OBA 33) saw him venture to UK in 1959 with his total savings invested in a one-way berth on the liner Arcadia along with fellow scrambler Bob Walpole. He stayed for five years, racing in England and Europe, and returned a very polished rider. Aboard his Matchless Metisse, Ray was virtually unbeatable back home, and also gave Kawasaki its first Australian Championship in 1968 when he won the 125cc Australian title in…

However for a young lad from Devon it was one when he attended his first motocross meeting where he both saw and heard a screaming two stroke with the name of Husqvarna on the petrol tank. Resplendent in its gleaming red and silver paintwork on its slim petrol tank and purposeful high rise silencer the teenage Richard Tupman was hooked and forty five years later he now has six of the Swedish off roaders all rubbing handlebars in his South Devon workshop. Mention the name Husqvarna and most of us will conjure up a mental image of the fabulous V twin four stroke raced by Stanley Woods in the 1934 TT or if you’re a motocross buff the big lusty singles campaigned by Bill Nilsson and Rolf Tibblin in the…

For the first 15 years of its existence, a five-speed gearbox was considered sufficient, in view of the massive torque and flexibility generated by the 1,298cc engine, but a sixth ratio was added in 2016 to give an overdrive top gear as well as better acceleration due to the closer ratios. Shaft drive keeps everything clean and virtually maintenance free in the back end. I couldn’t calculate the mileage I’ve knocked up on various FJRs, not just in Australia but the length and breadth of New Zealand, and every kilometre has been trouble free and immensely satisfying. It never ceases to amaze me that for a motorcycle weighing around 270kg dry, just how incredibly manoeuvrable it is. Once you drop into the seat, which is a sensible 805mm from the…

Lake Perkolilli, 23km from Kalgoorlie and 640km from Perth, first hosted motor racing in 1914 in the most unlikely location for such pastimes. Remote as it was (and is) the meetings held from 1914 to 1939 drew big crowds, and a grandstand was constructed in the ‘thirties, transported from the Coolgardie Racecourse by camel train. In 2014, the centenary of the circuit was celebrated and it proved so popular that a return is scheduled for September 12-16, 2019, open to any pre-1940 car or motorcycle. More details are at www.motoringpast.wordpress.com/lake-perkolilli-red-dust-revival-2019/ or email Graeme Cocks at perkolillimc@gmail.com…

The apocryphal story that follows involves two of the most famous names in the field of Physics known as Quantum Mechanics: Werner Heisenberg (Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle); and Erwin Schrodinger (‘Schrodinger’s cat’ – a paradox in which he postulated that a cat is simultaneously alive and dead until its condition is actually observed). In a nutshell what these two were saying is that the very act of observation/measurement alters the predictability of events. For example, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle postulates that at the subatomic (i.e. Quantum) level, you cannot know both the exact velocity and the exact location of a particle at the same time. So if we were to apply this principle in the real world of motorcycling, it explains why the only time you can know exactly where you parked…

2019 Burt Munro Challenge • 13 February 2019 – Invercargill, New Zealand Since the inaugural Burt Munro Challenge in 2006 it has evolved into a four-day international motorcycling festival and now is one of New Zealand’s major motorsport events. The laid back event, based around Invercargill, attracts an increasing number of competitors and spectators from Australia, Europe and America. Racing covers a wide range of classes from Pre 63s with Girder Forks to Formula 1, with half of the classes for Vintage, Classic and Lost Era machinery. The Classic and Post Classic classes attract a very diverse entry. This year the organisers decided to fine tune the formula that worked so well last year, run in four glorious summer days. Possibly the only issue is the move to February has…

VCC of NZ National Motorcycle Rally • 15-17 February, 2019 – Blenheim, NZ The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand’s 26th National Motorcycle Rally was based this year at Blenheim in the north east of the South Island in a district called Marlborough. It is known as the gateway to the Wairau Valley wine growing area, with spectacular alpine scenery to the west. Conveniently close to the inter-island ferry terminal at Picton, it attracted entries from most districts of both islands. One hundred and eighty one machines entered; the oldest were a pair of 1911 Abingdon King Dicks and the youngest a 1988 BMW R80T. There was a good spread of machines across the age classes: 11 Veteran, 28 Vintage, 14 Post Vintage, 69 Post War, 48 Post 1960 and…

Café 450 Good read on the CB450 DOHC Honda CB450 in OBA 77. I had one for a few years, then made it into a Café Racer in about 2000. It was quite easy to do; seat, tank, fairing, clip-ons etc. I rode it for a few years, then on-sold it. An attention getting bike! Bill Madden Charmhaven, NSW Dashing Dave I would like to congratulate you for the article on Dave Basham in OBA 78. It was fantastic as I and many other young lads followed his riding in the mid ‘60s to his retirement and it was great to read many stories we did not know. The photos were fantastic; ‘Ah yes that style was defiantly Dave Basham’. I have thought of a few more brilliant people in…

With the September 27-30 dates for the Australian Historic Road Racing Championships at Collie, Western Australia looming, Historic Competition Motorcycle Club WA president Bob Humphries says plans are progressing well. “We are getting lots of interest from Eastern States clubs, and requests for assistance with transport over here. We have an incentive for clubs that send a container over with bikes for 10 entrants. They will get $1000 towards costs and we have contact with a transport firm that is giving a good deal on containers here and back. The newly-extended track is progressing well, giving a lap of 2.5 km with plenty of elevation changes and sweeping corners. The event will cater for all classes of Historic motorcycles and sidecars as defined by the 2019 Manual of Motorcycle Sport.”…

Yet Eugene and Percy Goodman, sons of the founder of Veloce, John Goodman, staunchly believed that sporting singles alone could not sustain the company indefinitely, nor could the utilitarian GTP two stroke. During WW2, Velocette production was restricted to the wartime MAF model, so there was some time to think ahead to the days when normal service would be resumed. Eugene Goodman had sketched early concepts of what would become the LE (which he referred to as the Motorcycle for Everyman) during the ‘thirties, and Phil Irving frequently added his thoughts before he departed for Vincent-HRD, but it was Charles Udall who converted the growing paper file into proper working drawings to enable production estimates to be undertaken. As early as the British winter of 1944-45, a hand-built prototype of…

It was 1975 when Kawasaki stunned the Grand Prix paddock by unveiling their in-line (“Tandem”) twin cylinder 250, a motorcycle that was destined to become one of the most successful GP bikes ever, and which was joined soon by a 350cc version that was equally fond of the podium. The KR250 was not an instant success – it took until Assen in 1977 for British rider Mick Grant to score the first GP win – but from then on there was no looking back. Grant took a second GP win at Sweden later in the year, but this was just a taste of the dominance enjoyed by the Big K in the following years. Of course, Kawasaki had ventured into the quarter litre class before, with the A1R, another disc…

Like so many racing circuits in Australia, Warwick Farm came into being on the wave of popularity for motor sport when Jack Brabham began his rise to fame. In Britain, the Aintree circuit, near Liverpool, had been constructed in 1954 inside the horse racing complex which annually hosted the Grand National Steeplechase. This circuit was administered by the British Automobile Racing Club, with Geoff Sykes at the helm, and hosted the Formula One British Grand Prix on five occasions between 1955 and 1962. Brabham actually made his Formula One debut at the circuit in 1955. Although the 4.84km circuit was shortened after 1964, it is still in use for cars and motorcycles. The Aintree example was the inspiration for Warwick Farm’s circuit, and the Australian Automobile Racing Company was formed…

Renzo Rivolta was born in Desio, north of Milan in 1908, into a family of respected industrialists whose main business was milled wood products. In 1939 Renzo bought Isothermos, a small company producing refrigerators and heaters, and he moved the business to his family property – which included a magnificent villa on a large estate – in Bresso, near Milan, in 1942. The beautiful mansion still exists as Villa Rivolta. The post-war boom in scooters did not escape Renzo’s attention, but rather than start from scratch he decided in 1948 to purchase the manufacturing rights to the Furetto, a 65cc two-stroke that used pressed steel bodywork over a tubular steel frame, with 12 inch wheels. In 1950, Iso introduced their own engine, a split-single two-stoke displacing 123cc. Four years later…

Zenith scam Some time ago I asked in an Aussie Motorcycle newsletter if anybody had a 1933 BAPD Burman gearbox. This week to my surprise an email from New Brunswick, USA came from the owner of a Zenith bike of his dad’s he was dismantling for parts. I asked for a photo and thought this chap must have lost his marbles to pull to bits a cool old bike. Closer examination I noticed the number plate had been cut off the photo and touched up. Warning bells started to tinkle. I searched on Google and saw an identical snap in the Brooklands Motor Museum website with number plate. The bells sounded like First Church on Sunday morning. The ‘seller’ supplied an address in East Brunswick, New Jersey and asked for…

Alex Jackson is looking for help to fill in gaps in the history of an ex Victorian Police 1935 11.50 Brough Superior. I swapped a bike for a fairly run down 11.50, with only a few clues as to its Australian history. I know the bike was rebuilt in the early ‘nineties by an L.J. Brough of Beaumaris in Victoria. I believe Dennis Parry was the man who did the work. The previous owner to me believes it was owned by a chap with the moniker “Toad” or “Frog”, and was bought a few years into the new millennium. Can anyone add anymore to this story to help me complete the bike’s history? I can be contact at alex_jackson12@Hotmail.com…

Vincent stalwart Tony Perry has been busy in his Brisbane workshop: Philippe Guyony’s magnificent book “Vincent Motorcycles. The Untold Story since 1946” (below), was an inspiration to build an Egli Vincent racer. Of the numerous publications on Vincent motorcycles over the years, Guyony has nailed the need for a book devoted entirely to Vincent specials. My book was a present from a mate, and the excellent pictures made it possible to measure angles and work out a scale for making the frame and tank. Of the four varieties of tanks used over the years, I believe that the “droop tank” is the one that looks most “Egli”. This one came together using aluminum and resin with the help of my mate Pete. The frame has a steering head angle of…

QBE International Festival of Speed • 15-17 March, 2019 – Sydney Motor Sport Park, Eastern Creek NSW Sydney’s drought had to break some time, but did it have to be on the much-anticipated weekend of the QBE IFoS? After threatening but largely fine weather for Friday’s opening day, overnight rain left the circuit wet and slippery for Saturday, but thankfully the sun forced its way through and the track dried to produce some superb racing and a spate of lap records. Star of the show was again Aaron Morris, riding Phil Andrea’s Yamaha TZ750 to a quartet of wins in the big bore 2 Stroke events, plus his FZR1000 Yamaha in the P6 races and a Suzuki Katana in the premier QBE TT. Alas, after downing hot favourite Jeremy McWilliams…

HMCRRSA South Australian Historic Road Races Championships • 29-30 December 2018 – MacNamara Park, SA Along with a fewhistoric race meetings run around the country this is one of the must dos. The Historic Motor Cycle Racing Register of SA put together a slick show with plenty of racing for all those that come along. December 2018 was no different with some 40 odd races made up of nine rounds of races plus another five feature races. One of the feature races was the Pre War/Hand shift race, this was won by Murray Johnson on his WLA Harley. Murray is really enjoying racing his WLA, the poor Manx gets left at home. The Ken Blake Memorial is always a big feature race and Simon Cook is always a favourite, this…

An avowed dog fancier, the guvnor kept a veritable army of canines at each of his vast estates, and was widely known for his philanthropy to doggie-minded organisations. He was also aware that many motorcyclists, or potential motorcyclists, were dog fanciers themselves, and his fertile mind constantly probed for marketing opportunities therein. The Spagforth designers laboured long and hard on such directions from above, virtually all of them destined for ignominious failure. One such was a special version of the Spagforth Pipsqueak scooter to which a fully-furnished canine apartment was attached on a miniature sidecar platform. It failed to reach production when the Ministry of Transport decreed that all sidecar passengers, human or otherwise, must wear an approved and correct-fitting safety helmet. Even this was attempted, but found to be…

Star attraction at Shannon’s Sydney Auction on Monday 20th May is a mouth-watering assembly of Triumphs that include eight Bonnevilles, starting with the iconic 1959 model that began the breed. The other Bonnies are from 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, two from 1969 and a 1970 model – the last before the oil-in-frame series was released. The ninth bike is a 1964 Trophy TR6 SC ‘Scrambler’ which was a favourite of the late Steve McQueen, among others. Shannon’s Stuart Roberts says, “All the Triumphs have been the subject of a ground-up no expense spared professional restoration. A total of 18 bikes will go under the hammer on the night.” On-line bidding is available by registering at www.shannons.com.au/onlinebidding.…

Colin Burke Broken Hill’s own sidecar legend COLIN ‘SPOT’ BURKE passed away in January. Spot began racing on his 650 Triumph street bike on the big mile-plus TT dirt track at the old aerodrome area in 1952. He went on for the next 18 years racing all over country tracks, mainly big tracks like Romsey, the Pirie Mile and Half Mile, Whyalla Half Mile, and at his home track, the Broken Hill Half Mile. He also raced successfully at the smaller Mildura Speedway and at Rowley Park in the mid ‘60s. The local ‘Big’ Track was shortened to 800 metres in the late ‘50s to become the best half-mile in Australia. Spot competed in both the Up to 750cc class, and the All Powers on his quick 650, which was…

When Gianni Minisini passed away unexpectedly at his home in Adelaide in 2018, he left behind a collection of brilliantly restored Italian motorcycles, most sourced from his home town of Udine in Northern Italy. One however, was not quite finished, but needs only minor work to achieve completion. This is one of the latest models in the collection, and the only Bianchi – a 1959 175cc Tonale – the model name taken from a range of hills near the Bianchi factory in Milan. Bianchi itself was a highly innovative manufacturer that began business in 1885 manufacturing bicycles with pneumatic tyres. By 1897, Edoardo Bianchi began selling bicycles equipped with proprietary engines. In 1901 the first motorcycle to bear the name appeared, fitted with a 1.75hp De Dion Bouton engine and…

Now, all those years later, the Speed Twin is back as the latest member of the modern 1200cc Bonneville range that includes the T120 at one end and the Thruxton R at the other. And in the middle is where it sits, almost. You see, the Speed Twin, while sharing its DNA with its siblings, is considerably different, with around 80 bespoke parts, and it has to be said, the best of the lot. Why? For starters, it’s 10kg lighter, and that kind of weight loss is not to be sniffed at because it has been achieved by careful attention to design detail from front to back, and in the middle. To take the last point first, the crankshaft is an incredible 2.5kg lighter, so it gets on with the…

Burt Munro’s Café Two readers have sent in details of this spot which is becoming a popular pit stop for motorcyclists. The Burt Munro Café is half an hour from Launceston in the Tamar River Valley, and is owned by Tibor Mucha, who has dreamed of opening his own motorcycle-themed café since he was a teenager. Just before his 60th birthday, he achieved that ambition. Named after New Zealand’s redoubtable rascal Burt Munro, an ardent motorcycle collector, Timor has several of his own bikes on display, with more arriving. His brother, Roman Mucha, said the café was a hit within weeks of its opening in 2016. Reader Graham Longley, whose race photos from the ‘seventies appear regularly in OBA, supplied the photos seen here which were taken on a recent…

Syd Jensen is a legend of New Zealand motor sport. The son of another successful rider, Harold Jensen, Syd was also an accomplished motorcycle racer, and he was a pilot, aircraft builder, an engineer, businessman and racing driver. After a brief career in the NZRAF he rode to victory in the first post-war meeting in NZ at Cust, and was chosen to represent the country in the 1949 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, along with Jim Swarbrick, and John Dale. They won the Junior TT Club Team Prize. Syd rode a 7R AJS in the Junior TT, and in the Senior TT a Grand Prix Triumph loaned by Auckland dealer Bill White, where he scored a superb fifth place. The Triumph factory were so pleased with the result and they…

Levis MCC Sellicks Beach Historic Races • 16-17 February 2019 – Sellicks Beach, SA In 2017, the Levis Club brought racing back to Sellicks Beach, south of Adelaide overlooking St. Vincent Gulf. It had been a sixty-year hiatus but 110 competitors turned out for a taste of sand and salt air. Two years on, the entry has swelled considerably with 119 solo entries and 12 sidecars. Competitors ranged from first-timers to seasoned veterans, the star name being Dave Johnson, the fastest Australian around the Isle of Man TT course, who cleaned up in his races on the Triumph that his father Murray rode to win in 1992. Murray Johnson also collected some trophies, as did 84-year-old Murray Williams who raced in two classes. Side attractions included a flypast by ancient…

Maleny Swap Meet • March 19, 2019 – Maleny, Qld The recent Maleny swap made me realise that such events have a wider reaching purpose and offer many advantages over the electronic buy and sell that is eBay or Gumtree. It is here that I see many faces perhaps only once a year but more importantly there is time to have a good talk, catch up with what’s happening in our motorcycle lives and what other bikes, parts or contacts we have. Further to the social side I came across some interesting motorcycles and saleables which I thought I’d share. First was Lawrie Godde’s 1964 Panther M120 coupled to a 1961 Watsonian Avon sidecar. The gargantuan sloper single is a thing of beauty and so is the Watsonian alongside. If…

All British Day • 10 February 2019 – Echunga, SA There had been some rain in the preceding days before this year’s All British Day at Echunga, breaking what is Adelaide’s longest stretch of dry days since records had begun. That had also been accompanied by many days when the temperature had been high with Total Fire Bans in force. It was very pleasant weather conditions for the 6th All British Day to be held at Echunga ovals, overcast for much of the morning and clearing to sunshine later. The event had been held for many years before it moved to Echunga, and even now the Echunga Ovals are at full capacity for this show. There were motorcycles aplenty to feast your eyes on, representing all the major British manufacturers…