Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 119 i Old Bike Australasia

Like just about every keen road racer of the ‘fifties, Sydney-based Barry Hodgkinson aspired to race in the Isle of Man TT. But as the years slipped by, that dream seemed more and more remote. Barry was under pressure to quit racing and join his father’s law firm, but just as this move seemed imminent, along came the chance of a lifetime. More of that later. Born on 15th December, 1927, Barry, along with his elder brother Tony, discovered the joys of motorcycling when they bought 350cc BSAs and joined the Willoughby-Chatswood MCC in 1947. At first the riding was purely social, but before long the brothers were racing at dirt circuits like the Poplars in Blacktown and nearby Wynnstanes. In 1951 he entered the BSA for the one-off Clubmens’…

There was a second sibling – the HT (Hunter Trials) but this used a special lightweight frame and other bespoke parts, finishing up as the HT5 with around 400 built. The most famous of these was the one ridden to countless trials successes by Sammy Miller, who conducted a painstaking process of lightening that eventually dropped the weight to under 250 pounds (114kg). By 1951, financial control of Ariel had passed into the hands of the BSA group, but the venerable brand was permitted to retain its own autonomy to a certain extent, albeit with some component sharing, such as the front forks and hubs. There did however, exist an element of jealousy… The two new models, HS and HT, made their European public debut at the Earls Court Cycle…

Born to Edwardian upper middle class parents, it was unthinkable at the time that a young women would become a professional engineer. Her life was changed beyond recognition by the First World War. As the war progressed, the growing shortage of men saw women taking on “men’s” roles in industry, engineering, public services and management. The women were, initially, given low-level manufacturing and service jobs, but an increasing number of educated ladies climbed the ladder. At war’s end the returning men demanded their old jobs back and expected women to return to domestic duties. It’s difficult to put the Genie back in the bottle, and a hard-core of women wanted to continue in engineering, so they formed the Women’s Engineering Council (WEC) in 1919. Beatrice’s interest in things mechanical started…

All British Day 2025 By the time you read this, entries for the All British Day 2025 to be held at Echunga Showgrounds on Sunday 2nd March 2025 will have closed. At the time of writing there is a fine collection of British motorcycles entered, including AJS, BSA, Douglas, Norton, OEC, Royal Enfield, Sunbeam, Triumph and Velocette. The oldest motorcycle entered is a 1914 Douglas 2 ¾ HP and the latest a 1998 Triumph Daytona. Two 1927 models have been entered; an AJS H5 and a Norton Model 18. Interspersed between the oldest and latest motorcycles is an eclectic mix of makes, models and years, so there should be enough to whet the interest of those attending this ever-popular annual event celebrating British motor vehicles. A particular interest for the…

One of America’s best-loved and most famous motorcyclists, MALCOLM SMITH, passed away on November 26, 2024, aged 83 after a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. His list of achievements is almost endless and included seven ISDT gold medals, six motorcycle wins in the Baja 1000…and a trip to Australia in 1976. That year, the Canadian-born Californian accepted an offer to contest the Forest 300 two-day enduro run over a tight and punishing course around Dungog in the NSW Hunter region. The event was organised by veteran of the enduro scene, Winston Stokes, with a 250 Husqvarna provided by the event sponsor Sydney Radio station 2SM. It came down to a fight to the finish between Malcolm and Victorian Graham Smith, Australia’s top enduro rider, and, like Malcolm, a man who…

Barossa Vintage Collingrove Hillclimb • 6 October, 2024, Mount McKenzie, South Australia Good weather in the week leading up to this year’s event started to change as the days rolled closer. Windy conditions on Friday continued on Saturday, with a couple of heavy showers. I felt for our Treasurer, who brought up his 1935 MAC Velocette for Paul Walker to ride, and a tent for his overnight stay for a poor night’s sleep. Conditions improved throughout Sunday with the sun appearing and the wind dropping for our best-yet bike entry of 15. Bruce Davis, fastest bike last year on his 500 Matchless, brought his 1925 Velocette 250 two-stroke, which struggled to the top in 2.00.64, and also rode Matthew Hundertmark’s 600 Matchless, the sole outfit, with brand new passenger Emil…

Classic Riders Club Goulburn Annual Ride • 26–27 October 2024 – Goulburn, NSW. It’s been a big year for Goulburn, what with promoting the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Australian Grand Prix in the district, and the Australian Historic racing Championships at One Raceway, but under the stewardship of the indefatigable Dale Towell (plus helpers), the club’s annual ride took place, attracting around 50 starters. Saturday’s weather was a bit nippy as everyone gathered at the Goulburn Workers’ Arena for check-in and the judging of motorcycles which preceded the day’s ride. The morning leg was a 76km run out to the lunch stop at Tarago, which took in Bungonia, utilizing some great windy roads that were part of the 1914 Grand Prix lap. Lunch was at Tarago Public school where…

Velocette Good Companions Rally • 13-19 October 2024 – Kooralbyn Qld The annual Velocette Owners Club of Australia Rally is called the Good Companions. A very fitting name as Velo friends converge from all over Australia and overseas for a week-long event. With rides each day, it’s a full program of all things Velo. This year the rally was based at Kooralbyn in Queensland in the hinterland behind the Gold Coast, and central to what must be some of the best motorcycle riding country possible. The area is called the Scenic Rim for very good reason. The views are breathtaking and there are lots of quiet roads which meander through the hills. Everyone stayed at the Kooralbyn Resort which provided excellent accommodation and catering for the whole week. The rally…

Capel River Classic Show • 5 October 2024 – Capel, WA A late-1970s Japanese motocross bike and a pair of BSAs separated in age by more than 50 years have taken the top three awards at Western Australia’s Capel River Classic Motorcycle Show & Shine 2024. While a 1960s American icon took out the inaugural The Bike Shed Times Classic Car Award, it was Rob Winzar’s stunning 1979 Honda CR125 that captivated the judges. Rob’s other entry, a 1974 CR125, won the pre-1975 dirt bike class to give him a clean sweep in the off-road sections. Rob’s diminutive ’79 Red Rocket beat off a star-studded line-up of more traditional collectibles, while several customised machines also left the day with trophies and the admiration of an appreciative crowd. Busselton car-and-bike enthusiast…

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Born in London in 1920, Harold Lines enlisted in the British Army 1939 and was sent to Egypt where he became a despatch rider. The training of tearing through endless deep sand would stand him in good stead later. He was seriously wounded in Italy in 1944 and spent months in hospital before being repatriated. Following the war, he took up trials riding in England on his 350 Ariel, earning his living working as a technician at the famous Ealing Film Studios where he also acted as an extra and performed stunts. In the spring of 1947 Harold loaded up his Hillman Minx with the Ariel shoehorned into the back seat and took off for Europe where he raced for six months in motocross meetings in France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland…

HMRAV Shannons Southern Classic • 9-10 November, 2024, Broadford, Vic The 41st running of the Southern Classic took place in fine and dry conditions at the State Motorcycling Complex at Broadford, attracting an entry of 108 solo riders and 17 sidecar crews. There were strong fields of competitors with each capacity class having two qualifying sessions and four races over the weekend. The public attendance was good with the fence overlooking School House corner lined with spectators. In addition, there were Trophy races for the Fastest 30 Classic and Fastest 30 Post-Classic riders, won by Garth Francis (Norton Atlas 750) and Lincoln Wilson (Suzuki TR 750) respectively. Sidecar features were the Lindsay Urquhart Post-Classic Handicap, won by father and daughter team John Clancy/Laura Clancy (Honda 940), and the Ray Kelly…

Tas Petroleum Motorama • 26–27 October 2024 – Symmons Plains, Tasmania Perfect weather greeted the large crowd for the Tas Petroleum Motorama. Evolving out of the Longford Revival, this year’s event was entirely run at Symmons Plains to take full advantage of the facilities. Unfortunately the bikes were not able to be covered by the track insurance so even historic bikes were unable to go out on the track. The bikes made full use of the allocated garages. Caralynn Jamieson from Tasmanian Motor Transport was able to provide a large slice of the exhibits. She had another large selection from the Peter Bender collection plus a few from an anonymous collector. Most of the older bikes had great history, like a Brough Superior that had been imported into Australia to…

Broken Hill Rally • 12-13 October 2024 – Broken Hill, NSW The Veteran, Vintage & Classic Motorcycle Club of Broken Hill held their four-yearly rally in October 2024. Saturday saw the day begin with everyone meeting at Kintore Reserve for a ride out to the spectacular sculptures on the Nine Mile Creek road, and morning tea served up by club stalwart Paul Verburgt (Chook) and his mobile cafe. From there it was onwards and upwards to the evergreen Zinc Lakes complex for a show and shine followed by a BBQ lunch. Those with an eye for a bargain then went to club member Steve Trelevan’s place for a swap meet where some hard to find mainly Triumph parts were snapped up for very reasonable prices. Saturday night was free time…

Many years ago, one of the guys in our circle of acquaintances had a genuine Green Frame. This is the true story of how it came to be tracked down almost by coincidence after almost five decades. As is sometimes the case when chatting over coffee, talk turns to bikes we wished we had never parted with. In this the 50th year since the original Ducati Super Sport, out of the blue, someone says “So, whatever happened to Claude’s ‘Green Frame’? In fact, whatever happened to Claude?” “Last I heard, life got in the way – wife, family, work, career, work, more work”. Russ brings the discussion to a head: “I reckon if that bike actually exists, we should track it down and have a look at it.” While some…

Rob North Famous for the frames that he built for the works Triumph and BSA triples raced by the likes of Percy Tait, Don Vesco, Mike Hailwood, Gary Nixon and Dave Aldana, among many others, ROB NORTH passed away in USA on October 16, 2024, aged 83. He was born in Coventry, UK, and raced sidecars in the early 1960s, which led to him starting a business making sidecar chassis for road racing. His friendship with Triumph works road tester (and gifted racer) Percy Tait resulted in an introduction to Triumph competition department boss Doug Hele, where he was commissioned to build the frames for the Daytona 200 assault in 1970 and 1971. In 1973 he moved to USA, setting up a business called RN Fabrication in National City, near…

“Dutch ownership, American design and Japanese manufacture, the final incarnation of the Hodaka was named after an Australian marsupial that eats, roots and leaves. Naturally it burrowed down under to complete a lap of our continent. Some riders maintain that anyone who suffered a Hodaka any further than the corner store deserved the utmost admiration. Others respond to mere mention of the marque like an Italian teenager throbs to the sound of desmodromic valves. “Later Hodaka advertising in the USA claimed a journey of 10,000 miles (a nice round hyperbolic figure) around the world’s most desolate continent; as large as the United States with fewer people than two Californian counties. Having ‘lost’ a few days at Fitzroy Crossing, an outpost populated by the publican, the postmaster, three nurses and six…

In the case of Stuart Riley who owns the 1960 125 Sport Ducati featured here, it is small capacity Italian steeds that capture his attention. He does, however, own some bikes more suited to traversing the long distances of the Australian countryside. The 125 Sport was first seen in 1957 at the Bari Show on the southern Adriatic coast of Italy. It was to see production from 1958 to 1967. The new model sprang from the factory’s successes in the big long-distance public road races of the era, notably the gruelling Milano-Taranto. This began in 1931 as the Milan to Naples, and following the WW2, restarted as the Milano to Taranto, a distance of about 1300km running from the top to the bottom of Italy, which, apart from the refuelling/check…

October included everything from a Poker Run through the Adelaide Hills to a full 2-day program held at the historic Hart’s Mill in Port Adelaide. The “Classics at Hart” weekend included a public display of several hundred motorcycles of all ages and types, open to the public for an entry fee of only a gold coin donation. Classics at Hart was attended by approximately 1,600 visitors over the two days. Everyone enjoyed the excellent Spring weather, a variety of food and drink vans and the music provided by DJ, Jess Mallia and a live band, the Memphis Sons, who both really engaged the audience and the exhibitors alike. Attendees enjoyed great food and music and the sights and sounds of a range of machines from across the decades. The bonanza…

HCMCWA Interclub Championship Rd 6 • 13 October, 2024, Collie Motorplex Long Track, WA The day started with a slightly damp track following some overnight rain, but quickly dried and the day was perfect for racing. The P6 Formula 1300, P6 & P7 500 sponsored by Quantum Electrical & Technical Solutions got the day’s proceedings underway. Richard Langdon (Suzuki RGV250) took the win in the first race. Stephen Blount (B.R.a.T. Racing Honda VFR 400) took the wins in the second and third races. The Alert Driving Historic & Modern Sidecars saw Morgan Marshall/Matt Mcleish (Kawasaki ZX-10) dominate the day with three strong wins. Steven & Mark Hardwick (Bales Fibreglass Suzuki GSXR 1000) took the round win in the P5 division with Kevin Webb/Martyn Dunbar-Stuart (Honda 900) best of the P5…

Classic Riders Club of Goulburn Annual Tiddler Rally • 2–3 November 2024 – Goulburn, NSW. For bikes up to 250cc, the rally was based at Goulburn Workers Club (GWC) Arena grounds where around 53 Bikes and riders assembled on Saturday morning. Julie Croker kindly provided a wonderful evening meal in the GWC Bar and dining area on Friday for early arrivals. Ray Croker and Mischelle Lees the organisers of the Rally welcomed registrants and handed out Rally packs. People came from as far away as Newcastle, Nowra, Griffith, Cowra and Parkes. By Saturday morning an eclectic collection of marques was present including Motobi, DKW, KTM, Jawa, Bultaco, Ducati and Excelsior. At 0945 the field departed for the journey of approximately 95 Km to Crookwell Showground, taking in some lovely quiet…

Barossa Valley Classic Motorcycle Club 38th Annual Rally • 20 October 2024 – Angaston, South Australia After six month’s planning Sunday 20th October dawned fine, mild and sunny - ideal conditions. Mutual attendance at various clubs’ rallies has been a longstanding custom, and stalwarts John Moss and Andy Ewins from the Veteran & Vintage Motorcycle Club of Northern Yorke Peninsula brought their 1981 Triumph T 140 E 750 and 1955 Triumph Thunderbird 650, respectively. Most of the older bikes had great history, like a Brough Superior that had been imported into Australia to be raced at Sellicks Beach in South Australia. A 1948 Ariel Red Hunter was used by Pat Lyne for beach racing, hill climbing and ¼ mile runs. A beautiful Jowett Special sidecar was on display, built for…

Stinkwheel Rally • 7 October 2024 – Pine Rivers, Qld The first HMCCQ Stinkwheel Rally was held on 21st of July 2004. Twenty years since John Finglas mustered the flock and headed off, four members who were on that first ride answered the call once again. Terry Gollagher, Adrian Kerwin, Bill Cochran and Merv Kroll all participated whether it was on two wheels or on four. We started the day at the HMCCQ Clubhouse with a light breakfast. Some trailered their bikes in and I watched Des Janke use a crane and sling to unload his BSA Bantam off the back of his Landcruiser ute. A fantastic assortment of bikes was lined up outside the Clubhouse, from 50cc up to 750cc in the two strokes, aka Twoies, and quite a…