Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 84 i Old Bike Australasia

With the prospect of an even stronger attack coming from the USA side, the Australian team for the 2020 International Challenge at Phillip Island on the Australia Day weekend in January looks formidable indeed. Isle of Man TT hero Dave Johnson returns, along with former World Endurance Champion Steve Martin, Jed Metcher, Shawn Giles and Aaron Morris, while also on the grid will be Alex Phillis, Beau Beaton, Cam Donald, Scott Webster, Craig Ditchburn, and John Allen – the latter two on Yamaha TZ750s. America’s 12-rider squad for the International Challenge teams’ event not only boasts three riders who finished in the top six of the individual standings in 2019 – Josh Hayes, Larry Pegram and Michael Gilbert – but has added seven-time Canadian superbike champion Jordan Szoke and former…

The Southland region of New Zealand is the place to be in 2020, with the ever-popular Burt Munro Challenge from 5-9 February, plus a major new exhibition of Classic Motorcycle Mecca honouring George Begg, a hero to motorcycle and motor racing fans in this region. Begg was a self-made successful businessman who used his influence to indulge in the things he loved; motorcycles, racing cars, travelling and writing, as well as a 40-year philanthropic career that benefited the less fortunate. As a rider, he competed in the Isle of Man on a 7R AJS before returning home to begin his engineering business. He went on to build 18 racing cars that took on, and beat, the best marques in the world in various formulae. Transport World owners Jocelyn and Scott…

For ages, the telescopic fork had been viewed with distaste by engineers, citing numerous in-built shortcomings. The ‘tele’s’ predecessor, the girder fork in all its incarnations – pressed steel, tubular steel, friction damped, hydraulic damped et al – certainly had shortcomings as well, but they were relatively inexpensive to produce, quite strong, and easily repaired or refurbished. The ‘tele’ on the other hand, required precision machining or grinding of the fork tubes, matched to precision casting and/or machining for the sliders, and suffered the problem of stick-slip friction (or ‘stiction’) under heavy braking or side loads (especially when used on sidecar outfits). There were other issues concerned with geometric forces during the actual steering process that also rendered the concept less than 100% satisfactory. But there was no denying that…

The story began in 1969 when the Tasmanian Motor Cycle Club began the process of re-introducing sidecar racing to Symmons Plains with Terry Brooks demonstrating his home-built Norton. Steve Sheldrick took the challenge and in 1970 teamed up with mate Terry Powell and occasionally Alan Cash, on his 650 Triumph with a platform bolted on the side. They were spectacular but after only a year or so decided to take the plunge, especially after a meeting where the club invited a group of Victorian riders over with their then radical looking kneeler chairs. A beautiful little Urquhart was commissioned, and the Triumph motor fitted. To help with the expense Steve talked Duncan Ramsay into tipping in some money and from there it was a constant state of flux for some…

In as much as I had been aware of the CZ/Jawa marques while living in the USA as they were at that time (1960s-70s) almost unbeatable in motocross/trials, and what few I did see on the road were held in high regard for their reliability and durability, it wasn’t until I purchased a 15 year old Velorex sidecar in 1987 that I finally got more “up close and personal” with one of their products. On a side note, that same sidecar, which I used to bring my sons with me on motorcycle rides, is now 47 years old and is currently being used to carry my grandson. And so it was, with that in mind, that on a recent trip to the Czech Republic, I was keen to visit a…

The latest priceless image from the vast trove that is Gary Reid’s collection comes from Surfers Paradise Raceway in May 1972. It was the time when Production Racing was big, big, big, even though the Unlimited Production bikes had little in the way of track refinements or manners. Here we see John Warrian reaching the limits of ground clearance on his Suzuki GT750, while Marcus de Caux appears to be about to strike an object in the path of his Kawasaki H2 – at best a cushion, or worse, a concrete track marker. We may never know.…

Never one to miss a ride, Gaven Dall’Osto went along to the 2019 DOCQ Bevel Breakfast. “Another celebration of Taglioni’s treasures saw the annual running of the Bevel Breakfast on the 20th of October. The DOCQ are inclusive of the older model Ducatis and this is one such event that President Rob Stevenson has organised and kept on the events calendar. “The local bevel riders gathered at the Flying Nun Café, Samford for a coffee and a group shot before heading off to the Pitstop Café via Dayboro and up Mt Mee. 14 bevels including three singles lined up ready for departure. There’s nothing quite like the whirring of the bevels and the thump of Contis as they echo up the serpentine roads of the mountain. Belt drive counterparts were…

The inaugural Machines and Macchiatos weekend took place on 23-24 November at St. Ives Showground on Sydney’s north shore. Organiser Sam Princi was well pleased with the way things went. “The Machines & Macchiatos Triple Shot Super Show was a 2 day event to raise funds for the charities – Bear Cottage & Cure Brain Cancer. The Saturday afternoon event kicked off with a parade of movie star cars picking up the dads of the children at Bear Cottage & giving them a special grand entrance. The afternoon was laid back and lots of fun for all the family, with the super cool Cruisin’ Deuces playing their Honkytonk trademark sounds. The kids had plenty to amuse themselves with rides, free activities and face painting. Once it was dark, the sell-out…

HCMCWA Endurance Classics • 26-27 October, 2019 – Collie Motorplex, WA Just one month after the 2019 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships at the Collie Motorplex long track, the HCMC staged their final on-track activity for the year. This was the 2019 HCMC ‘Stand Alone Interclub Round’. Along with races for all of the normal classes there were three “Endurance Races”; an Historic Team Endurance Race of one half hour duration, a Junior Endurance Race of fifteen minutes, and a half hour Solo Endurance Race. The Historic Team Endurance Race was made up of two riders; a fast and a slower rider, with the fast rider leading off. Josh Mathers (JSM Construction WA Yamaha FZR1000) took pole position ahead of Craig McFarlane (Ducati 888) and Brendan Moran (Ducati TT2 750).…

Velocette Owners Club of Australia Inc. Good Companions Rally • 3-10 November 2019 – Hahndorf, South Australia What do you do when you have nearly 90 Velocettes (including a Veloce), manufactured by the Hall Green factory from 1925 to 1970, plus a smattering of other British, European and Japanese makes, all together in one place? Why – you hold a Good Companions Rally of course! The 2019 Good Companions Rally by the Velocette Owners Club of Australia was based at the Hahndorf Resort in South Australia. The location was idyllic: a large rambling resort in which members could choose the type of accommodation that best suited them, from tent camping to four star units, set in surrounds that included large garden and lawn areas dotted with a number of dams…

Vincent HRD Owners Club Qld Section Tablelands Tour • 21-28 August, 2019 – Atherton, Qld The rally started with a Meet and Greet at the Big 4 Caravan Park in Atherton with a 29 people and 14 Vincents from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and various other bikes for those who could not bring their Vincents. On the Thursday, a short ride to Herberton and a visit to The Historic Village, and a ride back via Wondecla finishing the day. On Friday, a ride down the Palmerston Highway to Paronella Park gave the interstate and Southern Queensland visitors a view of what was on offer in this part of the world. On Saturday The Local Highland Restorers Club invited us to join them for breakfast in Yungaburra, where we…

February 1st and 2nd is the time to be in Auckland, New Zealand for the 41st running of the Pukekohe Classic Festival. This year’s event is going to be a true festival of classic motorcycle racing, set in the park-like grounds of the Pukekohe Park Raceway. Overnight camping, food trucks and Saturday night entertainment promises a full weekend of great racing and entertainment. Over the past 12 months, Pukekohe Park Raceway has invested heavily in improving track facilities, including resealing a significant portion of the track. This promises more exciting and safer racing across all 10 classes covering machines from Vintage to Pre 89. Other entertainment includes lunchtime displays from expert stunt bike teams, flyovers from WW2 aircraft, and of course the people, the motorcycles and the friendliness that makes…

MacNamara Park, Mount Gambier, is the venue for the 2020 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships on 19-22 November. The venue last hosted the national titles in 2006. Motorcycling South Australia’s President Brenton Matters commented on the announcement, “Motorcycling SA is thrilled that our State will be hosting the 2020 Australian Historic Road Racing Championship. We know that Mac Park is the perfect setting for the Championships and will provide great racing for both riders and spectators, the design and character of the track are perfectly suited for historic racing. I would like to congratulate the Mount Gambier MCC and all the volunteers for the enormous amount of work they have done to upgrade and improve the track and I look forward to being trackside to see all the action in…

A long time identity in Velocette circles, VIC NICOLSON passed away in October, 2019, aged 87. A jeweller by profession, Vic had always been a keen cyclist and motorcyclist, as had his father, and his wife, who both rode LE Velocettes. When the Mount Panorama circuit opened in 1938, 16-year-old Vic cycled from his home in Hornsby to Bathurst in order to complete a lap of the new circuit. He went on to race there in 1954 and 1955 on a KSS Velocette. In the second running of the Mount Druitt 24 Hour Race for Stock Motorcycles, in 1955, Vic shared a 350cc BSA with Don Flint and Ian Richards, finishing 4th in the 350 class on 473 laps. After moving from Sydney to the NSW Southern Highlands, Vic restored…

KEN KAVANAGH, the first Australian to win a World Championship Motorcycle Grand Prix and the first to win an Isle of Man TT, has died in Italy, aged 96. Kavanagh left his native Melbourne in 1951 to try his hand in Europe and by the season’s end had scored four podium positions in GPs – performances that saw him quickly signed up by the illustrious Norton works team. He raced for the British factory team in 1952 and 1953 before defecting to Moto Guzzi and moving home to Bergamo, where he lived ever since. In 1956 he scored his, and Australia’s, first Isle of Man TT victory in the 350cc race. Ken went on to race the legendary Moto Guzzi 500cc V8, before sensationally quitting the team to join rival…

There’s no doubt that Yamaha’s retro racer SR500, introduced in 1978, was a bold move, and after an initial wave of nostalgia-fuelled buying, sales tapered away rapidly. After all, it was slow, difficult to start, and, in an era of multi-cylinder rocket ships, more than somewhat of an anachronism. Yamaha was chastened, but not completely discouraged with the overall concept; perhaps all that was needed was a re-think. A major re-think. What happened eight years after the SR500’s debut was a motorcycle that owed just one thing to its predecessor – the fact that it was a single cylinder four-stroke. Gone completely was the salute to the British singles of yore. The new machine – dubbed SRX600 – was a whole new slant on the big single. Beginning with the…

A recent gathering of about seventy motorcycle racing enthusiasts were drawn to the Pickle-Mee Café in historic Mannum on the Murray River to see the finished creation of the last Jerry Kooistra Honda racers; The 500/4. Another star of the show was Bill ‘Barney’ Horsman who entertained the guests for over two hours with stories of his career. He spoke tirelessly of other riders, tracks and machines. Bill recounted some interesting ‘get-offs’ along with the sounds that went with them. It turned out to be an amusing and colourful afternoon. Another interesting item seen recently is the aluminium helmet (above) made by Rex Tilbrook back in the early ‘fifties. It is owned by Tom Johnson, nephew of Rex, who owns the Tilbrook 125 racer.…

Following on from the photos sent by DENNIS QUINLAN of the Earls Court Shows in London (OBA 73), here are a few more interesting glimpses into models of the past putting on their finest faces.…

The company’s motto is ‘Built with passion” and that is no glib statement – it’s a credo that drives every member of the organisation and has done since the beginning. The man who began the company in 1996, Michael Buttinger, began tinkering with motorcycles at age 11. Born in 1973 to a Ukraine-Israeli father and Dutch mother, Michael became an apprentice motorcycle mechanic at a Netherlands Honda dealer, and later studied economics and computer science. At age 18, he and his then-girlfriend took a holiday to England where he visited a wrecking yard which had lots of C50 and C70 Honda step throughs, which were not so popular in UK but very popular back in NL. Outlaying all the cash he could muster, he bought a job load, loaded a…

Mount Tarrengower Hill Climb • 19-20 October 2019 – Maldon, Victoria 2019 marks the 90th anniversary of the Mt Tarrengower hill climb. Except for a short hiatus, the bikes have been racing since 1982 when just six bikes and 3 sidecars were entered. The number has since increased with a cap of 130 solos and outfits. If your entry isn’t received within a week of entries opening then you will probably join the ever-increasing waiting list. The last few years have seen the introduction of a chicane on a long sweeping right hand corner. For 2019 the chicane wasn’t used as an Armco barrier had been installed on the outside of the corner, great for the cars but perhaps not so for the bikes. Fortunately it didn’t see any action.…

Festival of Italian Motorcycles • 10 November 2019 – Preston, Vic This year’s Festival of Italian Motorcycles moved from Lygon St, Carlton, with its Italian heritage to the Preston Market, about 17 km north of the CBD. The move occurred as a combination of a change of organisers, the difficulty in gaining the appropriate council permits for Lygon St (and meeting the council’s particular requirements) and the need for a bit more space to accommodate the 200+ bikes which attend the event. Even with part of the adjacent street blocked off for bikes, the Piazza Italia in Lygon St was still packed. Unfortunately, the car park at the Preston market lacked a bit of the atmosphere that is associated with having Italian bikes parked in the Piazza which is surrounded…

‘Classics at Hart’ Mill To Mill Ride • 19 October 2019, Adelaide SA The Classic Owners Motorcycle Club repeated their successful formula from 2017; a run through the Adelaide Hills from Port Adelaide to the National Motor Museum at Birdwood Mill, combined with a static display of motorcycles at Port Adelaide. The event was open to all two or three wheelers to enjoy themselves, show off their bikes and raise funds for medical research. The riders assembled for the start at Hart’s Mill while a static display of veteran, vintage and classic bikes was installed at Port Adelaide’s Lighthouse Square. COMCC patron Gary Johanson flagged off an impressive 150 bikes headed for Birdwood led by two historic police cars. On reaching Birdwood Mill via the Chain of Ponds, riders parked…

The tragic tale of Bimota, one of the most innovative motorcycle companies in history, has taken a new and positive turn with the announcement that an investment arm of Kawasaki Heavy Industries has concluded a deal to purchase 49.9% of the brand from Swiss owners Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni. The Swiss investors acquired Bimota in 2013, but the famous Rimini factory closed in 2017 and the remaining parts stock was shipped to Switzerland. Since then the rumour mill has been running hot, with various suitors, including Yamaha (with whom Bimota had a long and successful partnership), and former 500cc World Champion Virginio Ferrari being named as interested buyers. Journalist Jensen Beeler broke the news following the recent EICMA show in Milan. “It was Italian Motorcycle Investment S.p.A. (IMI) that…

Back in 1935, Mortlock Brothers, the Perth Harley-Davidson dealers delivered a new 1934 Model R to Mr. Wishart, who put very few miles on it before it was housed on his brother’s farm, where it was given occasional outings around the property. Later, Mr Wishart’s sons, who both lived in Melbourne, took over the riding duties before it was packed up and sent to Victoria around 50 years ago. Apart from a period of 13 years when Geoff Wishart took it to Sydney where he was working, it has been there ever since. “Before dad died 8 years ago, he and I started to restore it,” says Geoff Wishart. “It is completely original except for the exhaust pipe and muffler. The motor was never touched, and John Gee from Antique…

ERIC HARRISON died on 11th August 2019 (born 20th November in 1926). He rode sidecar through New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. A member initially of the Southern Districts Motor Cycle Club, and then the Willoughby MCC, his swingers included Ray Ward, Eric Smith and Allan Hepworth. The pinnacle of his many racing achievements came in 1965, First in the Bathurst SESQUI Centennary TT on Easter Saturday, April 17th (swinger Allan Hepworth). The record books of the National Motor Racing Museum record this win by four seconds, the “Highlight of the weekend”. Eric and his wife Shirley are survived by eight children – grandchildren and greats too numerous to count. The arrival of the Old Bike magazine was a joy in his last years as his short term…

Eric’s foray into the big time had started a year earlier, when he was selected to represent his country at the Isle of Man TT. His effort ended 500 yards short of the third lap of official practice, when he hit oil exiting Governor’s Bridge and crashed heavily, putting himself out of the races. But more of that later. One of seven children, Eric William Charles McPherson was born, raised and educated in the inner-Sydney suburb of Glebe. From early youth, he was known to all as ‘The Mouse’, or ‘Mousey’, due not only to his chronic dread of mice but also his own sharp features. In later life, his racing helmet was usually adorned with a Mickey Mouse emblem, while the sobriquet could also have aptly described his quiet…

Stripped of its supercharging and air cooled post-war, the Rondine, which had become part of the Gilera empire in 1935, swept all before it bringing 500cc World Championships to Umberto Masetti, Geoff Duke and Libero Liberati. But what filled Gilera’s coffers were not such race track exotica, but basic, reliable fare designed to appeal to the everyday rider Giuseppe Gilera was just 15 years of age when he began work at the Bianchi factory in Milan, and by 22 he had started his eponymous motorcycle company at Marzo near Milan. His first design was in 1909 – essentially a bicycle powered by a 317cc single with mechanically operated overhead valves and final drive by belt. Even prior to WW1, Gilera had produced their own V-twin, and the first of the…

Figures vary, but in the period of the little twin’s existence, from 1968 to 1973, more than 300,000 were sold, and for a while it was the top selling motorcycle of any capacity in the booming USA market. Add to that figure a hefty number of the street scrambler CL350 and you have a success story that today could only be dreamed of. At this stage, Honda were extremely adept at making what the market really wanted; relatively simple, utterly reliable, clean running four stroke singles and twins – from 50cc step throughs to the sophisticated DOHC CB450. The CB350, and its near identical sibling CB250, were the generational leap from the earlier CB72/77 twins, and in outright performance terms, roughly identical. But the CB250/350 was more sophisticated, less sporty,…

Mark from Zorro’s in Melbourne has some news. “We have changed our name to reflect the business we are now in; the new name is Crazyhorse Indian. Our telephone number remains 0466 229 747 and currently our parts database can be searched on our website at www.zorros.net.au although we will shortly be launching a new Indian parts-only website with a much better search function and a more logical interface especially for mobiles, smart phones, tablets and computers. We also have a new website with videos of our pre-owned Vintage Indians & other collector bikes for sale www.crazyhorseindian.com.” For further information you can contact Mark on 0466 229 747 or email: sales@zorros.net.au…

When we ran the feature story on the release of the Yamaha SR500 (OBA 73), which included the famous poster released at the time, eagle-eyed reader Doug Fraser took time off from creating V-twin BSAs to observe that the chap aboard the red tanked Matchless (the late Michael Robinson) was riding not a single, but a twin! Horror of horrors. Well, somebody else noticed that too, namely Mark Tesoriero, who, in the poster is seated on the BDA Gold Star owned by Alan Puckett, who actually illustrated the poster. Alongside Mark is his brother Vincent (on the editor’s Velocette Sportsman) while the editor himself, back in the days when his moustache was black, along with his hair (obscured) on the Norton. Mark dug deep into his attic and unearthed the…

This issue we welcome Rex’s Speed Shop, a new advertiser from Britain. Here’s the background from the owner, MARCUS REX: “A love of motorcycles and engineering led to the creation of Rex’s Speed Shop, a quality focused business that has the knowledge and experience to design, manufacture and repair electronic ignition and generator systems for motorcycles. We’re specialised in classic British and Japanese motorcycles and we service customers offering first quality solutions for road riders and racers across the globe. The business is run by a team of trained, knowledgeable people in a small facility in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England who design and manufacture new electronic circuits and generator parts as well as being able to repair magnetos and modern alternators. “Our workshops are equipped with a wide range of…

Indefatigable adventurer and author Des Molloy has just released his latest book, a review of which you will find in Eyes Right in this issue. He and his beloved Panther Penelope have also finally completed what he says is, “possibly the first time a pensioner from Golden Bay, New Zealand has ridden a 1965 Panther 650 around ‘Big Red’ (Australia) unsupported. This was done over a period of four years, usually in late spring or winter. The whole of the Panther world followed and helped me with advice, accommodation and mechanical assistance on occasion…of the 24,oookm ridden, less than2,000km would be on roads most riders enjoy. Penelope and I have ridden fifty countries or so and done many wonderful roads, yet can’t put up anything better than Yackandandah to Whitfield…

Barossa Vintage Hill Climb • 8 October, 2019 – Collingrove, SA Eight motorcycles took part in the Sporting Car Club of SA’s “Barossa Vintage Hillclimb 2019” at Collingrove, near Angaston, SA. Although attempts had been made to include bikes in this event previously, a pre-war cut-off would have meant very few machines, but this year it was brought forward to 1955. Riders were Simon Cowling, 250 JAP and ex-Les Diener MOV Velocette; Bonn Watson, 1935 MAC Velocette; Trevor Henderson 350 BSA Gold Star; Dave Beechey, 1939 BSA 500, Andrew McDonnell, 1947 BSA 500; Geoff Kelly, 500 BSA Gold Star, and Murray Johnson, Harley-Davidson WLA, 750cc. The Sporting Car Club people make a very social long weekend around this event with a Saturday tour which culminated at the Greenoch Aircraft Museum.…

AJS & Matchless Down Under Jampot Rally • 1-3 November, 2019 – Oberon NSW Held at Oberon in the central west of New South Wales, the 2019 rally was jointly attended by the Classic and Enthusiasts Motor Cycle Club NSW, with the Panorama MCC Vintage and Veteran group capably acting as our corner marshals. Our group was made up of 50 AJS and Matchless machines with a further 19 non-AMC bikes and 6 CEMCC marshals. On Friday there was a short 6km shakedown maintenance ride to the Oberon Dam, leaving from the Jenolan Caravan Park Headquarters, followed by the usual ‘Sausage Sizzle’ welcoming gathering in the BBQ Hut. Saturday 150km ride set off following the instructional briefing at 0830, with morning tea provided by the O’Connell School P&C group around…

32nd Ragged Fringe Rally • 14-15 September, 2019 – Gloucester, NSW This year’s MGOA (Moto Guzzi Owners Association NSW) Ragged Fringe Rally attracted around 200 registrations with participants from far and wide, including Perth and Tasmania. The Rally was the club’s 32nd and life member Brett Rosenthal has never missed one. This year also marks the club’s 40th anniversary. Motorcycles of all varieties were in attendance so there was plenty to see, discuss and local rides to be had. On the Saturday afternoon/evening events such as a competitive slow ride and crankcase tossing were held and then 9 trophies were awarded for best Moto Guzzi; oldest bike and rider; longest distance female rider (this year from Geelong VIC); longest distance rider (this year from Perth); longest distance pillion; oldest Moto…

Autosol Metal Polish has been keeping metal shiny for a very long time, since 1929 in fact. The German-made product polishes to a brilliant high shine, leaving an ultra-thin wax coating for future protection, and is suitable for stainless steel, chrome, brass, copper and other metals and finishes. Autosol removes surface rust, tarnishing, staining, oxidisation and other discolouration simply and quickly. In a convenient 75ml tube, Autosol Metal Polish has a RRP of $12.85. See www.autosol.com.au for more details and other products in the Autosol range. Breathe easy When it comes to footwear, breathing is the key to summer comfort. The new TCX Clima Surround Gore-Tex boot features ground-breaking technology because it breathes through the soles as well as through its abrasion-resistant Cordura fabric upper. Lined with a full sock…

Dispensing with a motley collection of Soviet motorcycles and their burley jockeys, Edgar simply disappeared, substantially increasing his lead with every lap of the 112km circuit. With a four-lap advantage, he even paused on the final tour to accept a posy of roses from a very attractive and obviously cultured lady – a posy he soon discovered contained more than just blooms. An enclosed card contained an address and a key, and following the champagne-fuelled celebrations on the victory dais, Edgar quietly slipped away. Early the following morning, with his overnight companion still sleeping soundly, he crept back to his official lodgings in the Hotel Carrion, reaching his room unobserved via the fire escape. Exhausted from the strenuous bedroom bout which had lasted most of the night, he was about…