Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 110 i Old Bike Australasia

The National Motor Racing Museum at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, has recently received two new exhibits, representing very different aspects of the motorcycle racing spectrum. A 350 BSA 1936 Competition Model competed at the very first race meeting at Mount Panorama when it was still dirt-surfaced in 1938, ridden by Ron Mackenzie. Ron, a successful businessman from the Windsor/Richmond area of NW Sydney was a very well known figure in the sport, and after his own racing days were over, a prolific sponsor with a fine stable of machines. His sponsored riders include the late Matt Daley, and later Kevin Fraser, who won innumerable Dirt Track championships on Ron’s Bultacos. Ron actually rode this BSA in a parade at Easter 1988 to celebrate Mount Panorama’s 50th anniversary. The second bike is…

Photographer Rob Lewis, co-founder of the Ken Blake Foundation (1981) recently presented Grant Chandler, motorcycle curator at Gilberts Museum in Strathalbyn, South Australia with a framed print of the photograph that he shot of Ken overtaking world champion Giacomo Agostini to take the lead in winning the 1976 Australian TT at Laverton in Victoria. The museum’s large display features two of Ken’s significant bikes being the Ron Angel Tuning Yamaha 350 and the original Jesser Triumph that took him to early successes. Both bikes are owned by the Motorcycling Australia Museum & Heritage Committee and are currently on loan to Gilbert’s Museum. Ken’s home town of Strathalbyn features a main street sculpture depicting Ken on the RG500 Suzuki that he rode to beat Ago. Ken Blake memorabilia and trophies are…

Born in England, Roger immigrated to Australia with his widowed mum, first living in Oatley to Sydney’s south. Money was tight, but by the time he’d moved to Riverwood and taken up his apprenticeship as a Fitter and Turner, Roger had saved enough to purchase a well-worn Honda CB350; and promptly lost his riding licence. Avoiding the constabulary seemed more prudent, which led to a Kawasaki 350 Big Horn he raced at Luddenham and Nepean short circuits with Bankstown Wiley Park MCC. It was here Roger formed a somewhat combative mateship with Dennis Neill as both riders were intent on achieving much more than victory in flag bending and ring return events. When they both acquired Kawasaki 900s it immediately became obvious their new mounts were unsuited to throwing around…

For the first half of the twentieth century, Indian was not just another American motorcycle – it represented innovation and engineering excellence and enjoyed racing successes world wide. But post WW2 it was a different story; a seemingly never ending struggle to stay afloat, with numerous schemes, plans and potential suitors aiming to cash in on the reputation of the famous brand that began as the Hendee Manufacturing Company, and to reinvent it. For many years, just who legally owned the rights to the Indian name was a matter of much speculation, frequently involving drawn out and expensive legal cases. One of these aspirants was an Albuquerque, New Mexico car parts salesman and purveyor of sheepskin seat covers named Wayne Baughman, who had his own ideas on how the Indian…

Bill was born in 1938 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He majored in higher maths while attending college and in the 1960s began working for various U.S. Government contractors, including Hughes and McDonnel Douglas. While at McDonnel Douglas, William was involved in the development of the guidance systems for their surface-to-air missiles. According to reports, disgruntled that he was denied access to the complete guided missile plans, William moved to Chicago and opened/ran several motorcycle shops. As Bill was dissatisfied with the unreliability of Harley Davidson’s engines, he began designing and building a series of motorcycles utilising various car engines etc from both U.S. and U.K manufacturers. Bill designed and built the Roadog as well as several variations of his “Autofour”. Bill had intentions that the Autofour be mass produced and…

One common thread was that many were members of the Tasmanian Motor Cycle Club (TMCC) committee. Riders like Vern Sutcliffe, Jack Sheldrick, Jim Cridge, Bill Tilley, Reg Hay, George Wade, Frank Hallam, Bert Howe and Martin Coombe. Martin Coombe took on an apprenticeship at Launceston Rootes Group car dealership, Mitchel Motors, that proved to be a hot bed of talented motor cycle riders. Fellow apprentice George Wade was to move through the trade and end up on the Jack Brabham Repco engine project before setting up his own business next door under the title Wade Cams and went on to become the main supplier to the GMH factory. Soon after them came one of the state’s top racers in Ev Sadlier followed by another quality rider in Mal Campbell. It…

• 29-30 July, 2023–Pitt Town, NSW Superb, balmy, late winter temps greeted the 100 strong rallyists for the Macquarie Towns Motorcycle Restoration & Preservation Club’s 2023 Annual Rally at the early morning sign-in at the Pitt Town Sports Club on the last weekend in July. There was a feast of beautifully restored motorcycles in the line up as we headed out to our morning tea spot via busy Windsor then traversing quiet, carless country roads through Wilberforce, Tennyson and Freeman’s Reach out to the historic Ebenezer Church on the Hawkesbury River, established in 1809. With scones, cream and jam and hot coffee in hand, judging of the different categories was a difficult decision with all the bikes gleaming in the sunshine. After a good catch up with new and old…

• 19-21 May, 2023 – Sawtell, NSW The rally got under way in glorious weather, with the Friday afternoon ride heading south on a loop through Nambucca, Macksville and back to Nambucca then on to Valla beach. Here, at a picnic area right on the beach, refreshments were available before returning to Sawtell. Brett Roberts and Grahame Branch availed themselves of the back-up trailer. Saturday was another fine day with a short & long ride. Long riders went off first for a 120km ride to morning tea at Dundurrabin School where the school committee produced the usual sumptuous repast. Short riders only had 40 km to Bellingen Showground and here Coffs club supplied the food. Short riders then ascended Dorrigo Mountain and out to Griffith’s lookout. Here we had a…

It was a red-letter day for Australia (and Honda) at the eleventh and final round of the highly prestigious 2023 AMA Motocross season at Ironman Raceway, Crawfordsville Indiana on August 26 when 20-year old Queenslander Jett Lawrence did what no other rookie has done in the 51-year history of the American Motocross Championship by winning every one of the 22 races in the series. With the series sealed prior to the final round, Jett could have rested on his laurels and rode to finish, but that’s not his style, claiming both races with ease on his works 450 Honda. And to add to the glory, his elder brother Hunter locked up the 250 series with a 5th place finish in the first leg. With the title secure, he rode a…

Among this list must be numbered the venerable Manx Norton, the Excelsior Manxman, Velocette KTT, and Triumph GP, and these are all English. Add to that BMW Rennsport, Gilera Saturno, MV Agustas – all pricey European models indeed – and more recently Bultaco, Aermacchi, Yamahas in many different capacities, Kawasakis, Hondas and RG Suzukis. But there is one model that changed little in its post-war production, yet provided privateers with a competitive, reliable and reasonably affordable mount year after year – the AJS 7R. Actually the 7R was produced prior to WW2, but this was an entirely different animal to those built by AJS from the late ‘twenties. The model designation 7 and 10 was introduced for the AJS 350cc and 500cc OHV sporting models in 1926. A special racing…

• 1-12 August, 2023 – Bulli NSW Queen Elizabeth II visited Bulli Showground as part of her Australian tour in 1954. As a motorcyclist Herself, possibly the thought crossed Her mind, “This would be a jolly fine place for an antique motorcycle show.” Had she dropped in on the second weekend of August, 2023, she would have been very impressed with what she saw. The Bulli Antique Motorcycle Weekend has developed into one of the highlights of the year, and this year was a bumper. Unseasonably warm weather brought people out to the numerous beaches that line the eastern side of the road that stretches south from Stanwell Park. It’s always a busy road, especially on weekends, but this weekend saw a huge influx of bikes, many on club plates,…

• 17 July, 2023 – Bracken Ridge, Qld. A sunny Sunday morning greeted the crowd at the regular speed-way display in the carpark of the Bracken Ridge Tavern. The display included machines and memorabilia from the likes of the Australian Speedway Rider’s Association Inc., Classic Speedway Association Qld and the Vintage Speedcar Association Qld. Regular 4-wheelers on display included an orange humpy Holden saloon car, a couple of smaller speedcars and the bigger Petzyo Sprintcar displayed by Thomas Clarendon Blair. It’s worth mentioning some of the regular contributors Grahame Gardiner, Andy Nightingale, Darren Sonnenberg and Dutracing who were responsible for a large percentage of the bikes on display, all of outstanding quality. Andy Nightingale debuted a new restoration of an early 2000 Jawa representing the beginning of the laydown engine…

• 24-27 March, 2023 – Hadspen, Tasmania The annual rally of the AJS & Matchless Owners Club of Australia 40th Jampot Rally (Ruby Anniversary) was held at Hadspen, the location of the Jampot Rally in 2016. Originally the 40th rally was to have been held in Goulburn, NSW, unfortunately the death of one of the main forces behind the rally, Wayne Adams from a farming accident, led to the cancellation of that rally. The rally had entries from the UK, New Zealand plus Western Australia, South Australia and the Eastern Seaboard States of Australia. Friday was a short ride with only 3 riders taking in the historic villages of Evandale and Longford. Of those three Casey Overeem was riding the oldest bike at the rally, an AJS V twin model…

In his place, here’s a series of classic shots from Gary Reid’s ever-expanding collection of original photos from the ‘sixties and early ‘seventies. Nowadays this spot at the bottom of Bray Hill on the TT course is known as Ago’s Leap, and you can see why. The man himself is getting some serious air under the MV in the 1968 Senior TT, but so too are Alan Barnett (38) on Tom Kirby’s Matchless Metisse, the Swiss rider Gyula Marsovszky (Matchless, 2), and Griff Jenkins (Norton, 21).…

Ash’s Speedway Museum in Bathurst – dedicated to Solo World Champion and local Bathurst hero Bluey Wilkinson – ceased business at the end of July. This is beyond Ash Sutton’s control and is due to his lease not being renewed because of the expansion of an adjoining business, and no alternative site being available. It was one of the largest speedway museums in the world and the biggest in the Southern hemisphere, comprising 800 square metres of Solo, Sidecar and Dirt Track bikes, memorabilia, programs, race jackets, poster boars, kevlars, leathers, trophies, medals and caps. The display commemorated the likes of Gordon Gausco, Bob Sharp, John Langfield, Billy Sanders, Glenn McDonald, Bluey Wilkinson, Ivan Mauger and many others. The self-funded museum operated for 12 years and won Tourism and Innovation…

As one of the highlights of Harley-Davidson’s 120th year, the Milwaukee company has released two new lightweight models; the X 350 and the X 500, both powered by liquid-cooled parallel twin 4-valve engines made in China. They share similar chassis platforms, with a 41mm inverted front fork on the 350 and a 50mm fork on the 500, both with adjustable rebound damping and Monoshock rear suspension. H-D says the new models are specifically designed for the urban rider, with the engines tuned for strong mid-range torque, a conventional, upright riding position and a wide, well-padded seat. Seat heights are 800mm and 820mm respectively. The X 350 will be available in Vivid Black, Baja Orange, Atlas Silver Metallic and White Pearl, with an Australian ride-away price of $8,495.00. The X 500…

Ev Angel EV ANGEL was a nurse and treated fallen riders from time to time and was known and liked by all the top racers. She met Ken Blake when the Ron Angel tuning shop was in Burnley Street Richmond in the early ‘seventies. Ken and Ev went on to live in Kew, the scene of many fine post-race parties. She passed away peacefully at the home she shared with multiple state hill climb champion Nick Zeeman in the Gippsland Hills on the 4th of July. From Robin Lewis Sam Hughes In August 2023 CYRIL “SAM” HUGHES passed away at a nursing home in Campbell Town (Tas) aged 92, so soon after his great mate Ian Tilley. As a young child he often carried a “gollywog” toy around, so his…

Kawasaki’s stated goal was to produce a mega-bike with modern tricks, while retaining the charisma of the original ELR. In doing so, the 1052cc ZZR engine in the ZRX1100 was slightly detuned for more torque and less outright power, and when the 1200 version came about, it was available in two closely-related models in Australia; the ZRX1200S with its snooty half fairing, and the ZRX1200R with a bikini fairing strongly reminiscent of the original model. In some markets, there was also the ZRX1200C with no fairing at all. It’s the 1200R that concerns us here. In 1200 form, the water-cooled 1100 engine was bored and stroked for an extra 112cc and a 13% increase in power, but still mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Cylinder bores were plated. Removing the engine…

Quite a few of these refugees have come my way over the years, including a completely original Velocette MOV 250 given to me by a school friend whose parents simply wanted the infernal thing out of the garage where it had slumbered for decades. But these days, abandoned motorcycles are rare, like hacksaw blades that last more than one cut, or mail-order shoes that fit perfectly straight out of the box. So when I was contacted by a chap who said he wished to dispose of some motorcycles that he had stored for nearly forty years, my ears pricked up. “What sort of motorcycles?” I enquired, trying hard not to appear too excited, and fearing the worst. But the answer was not the expected – the front half of a…

Another night at Joe’s Another glorious August afternoon’s weather saw motorcyclists of all shapes, sizes, genders and ages roll up to Joe’s Diner for a celebration of motorcycling. Live music, a busy kitchen and a few vendors complemented the evening. Some very nice older bikes came along but it was again dominated by the newbies. Probably the oldest was a rather nice Triumph twin. Other kick start bikes included a chopped Harley, and my Silver Shotgun. The smallest was an immaculate Honda Z50 of which the owner had difficulty keeping the front wheel on the ground when he left for the day. There were Suzukis a plenty once again and all were immaculate with a Yoshimura Katana with iridescent pink-purple highlights and a bikini fared GS1000S as standouts. Gary Dolphin…

• 1-2 July 2023 – Collie Motorplex, WA Like many motorcycling organisations in WA currently in limbo over the ongoing ‘Public Liability’ issue with Wanneroo Shire Council and CARCO.com.au Raceway for MA sanctioned events, the ‘Historic Competition Motorcycle Club’ lost Round 3 which was supposed to be run at the venue for the first time in many years, and with Round 4 also to be run at CARCO, the Club was desperate to find an alternative venue. As luck would have it the weekend of 1st & 2nd July became available at the Collie Motorplex and the Club quickly picked up the weekend and Round 4 went ahead on the original Collie ‘Short Track’. There was a smaller than normal entry list but there were still some very talented riders…

• 5 August 2023 – Dayboro Showgrounds, Qld Dayboro Showgrounds was the venue for an early start. While many took the opportunity to camp there on the Friday night, I rode there in the early morning which was very foggy and colder than I had dressed for. It was a beautiful day for a swap meet with some interesting items on sale. All the way from South Australia were a couple parked next to swap regular Cob Smith. They had an interesting JAWA speedway machine for sale. It was built by John Bowles who was the JAWA agent in the Bendigo area and it was reportedly built circa 1980 from new old stock bits left over from the business when he retired. Allan Smith had a well-preserved skeleton of a…

• 2 July, 2023 – Brisbane, Qld Sunday 2nd July saw the Don Nicol Memorial Sidecar Circus “come to town” for another year, and despite the weather forecast threatening showers for the day, it presented as another absolutely glorious day for touring around the Pine Rivers environs. As a relatively new club member I knew nothing of the history of this great spectacle and event, but apparently Pine Rivers started conducting it many, many years ago as an opportunity for all the historic outfits in the club to gather and share the limelight in their own rally. The rally’s title was later altered to include “Don Nicol Memorial” to help pay respect to one of the early pioneers of the Pine Rivers area. Don was not only the treasurer for…