Issue 89

Old Bike Australasia

For motorcycle enthusiasts, young and old.

Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Old Bike Australasia
Jim Scaysbrook OAM Email: scaysbrook34@bigpond.com Tel: (02) 9672 6899 (bh) Mbl: 0411 443444 PO Box 95, Kellyville NSW 2155 Alan Cathcart, Gaven Dall’Osto, Stuart Francis, Peter Laverty, Des Lewis, Bob McGlinchy, Rennie Scaysbrook, Hendrick Schaap, P
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
A Silver Lining
By the time you read this, there will be less than 100 days of this wretched year left to run; a year none of us will ever forget. Not that there will be any magic transition from January 1st, 2021, but one can only hope. Amid the lockdowns, downturn
Old Bike Australasia11 min readAutomotive
Blow Your Own
Great article in issue 87 on the Honda SS125AE. I became the third owner of an SS125 after the first two got sick of falling off it. The front brake was minus the cable and after refitting it I found out why they fell off. The cast iron sleeve had be
Old Bike Australasia1 min readAutomotive
Festival Of Motorcycling Restructured
Rob Elliot, Secretary of the Vintage & Veteran MCC of South Australia advises, “The event originally conceived as The Festival of Motorcycling 2020, has had to be restructured due to the COVID-19 restrictions, which stops us holding all indoor activi
Old Bike Australasia4 min readTechnology & Engineering
Classic Cob
Cam Douglas from Tasmania has sent me his views on the possibility of motorcycle fires being caused by various ignitions. I quote his information as follows. “It’s certainly true that an ignition system in which the coil is energised when the engine
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Queensland says “Let’s Race”
Bucking the current trend forced by COVID restrictions, the Queensland Early Motorcycles Sporting Club (QEMSC) will be promoting the State Historic Championships on 10th and 11th November – a Tuesday and Wednesday no less – at Morgan Park Raceway in
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Matt’s Husky Heads To GOMA
The latest motorcycle to be nominated for the upcoming exhibition, “The Motorcycle. Design, Art, Desire’, which opens on 28th November at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, is the Australian Championship winning 250 Husqvarna formerly raced and still
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Wakefield’s Grand Plans
Operators of Wakefield Park near Goulburn, New South Wales, say they will soon be lodging a Development Application to the Goulburn Mulwaree Council to seek approval to construct a new 2-3 storey multi-purpose pit lane building to facilitate more cor
Old Bike Australasia1 min readAutomotive
Royal Enfield 650 success
The Royal Enfield parallel twin 650 is now the biggest-selling motorcycle over 125cc in the UK, as of June 2020, while the Interceptor 650 model has been the highest selling naked style motorcycle in the UK for the past 12 months. The Royal Enfield H
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Australian Historic Road Race Championships postponed
The eagerly-awaited 2020 AHRRC, set down for South Australia’s McNamara Park on November 12-15, has been postponed until 2021. The Mount Gambier Motor Cycle Club president Alex Trnovsky said in a statement, “Given the uncertainty surrounding the curr
Old Bike Australasia1 min readAutomotive
Ride Support launches
Rider Support Australia is a new service providing 24/7 Motorcycle Roadside Assistance Australia-wide. RSA offers two packages, Premium and Essential. For $119.95 per annum, Premium offers the highest level of inclusions and unlimited access to servi
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
The Bulli We Had To Have
The Bulli Antique Bike weekend was due to be held on the 29th and 30th of August, but due to COVID restrictions, this was of course, not possible. So rather than throw the towel in we became very 21st century and went virtual. This consisted of video
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Indefatigable Des
Des Molloy is well known to readers, with his never ending thirst for motorcycling adventure, usually on his faithful 600 Panther ‘Penelope’. Along the way, Des has generated enough anecdotes to fill a library, let alone a book, but he is more than a
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Townsville Track Progressing
Now 16 years in the making, work has commenced on Stage 1 of the new Drive-it NQ facility at Townsville. The first stage has been made possible by a $12 million Federal government grant to construct a 26,000 square metre skid pan for driver education
Old Bike Australasia1 min readAutomotive
Dave ‘TC’ Morris
One of the stalwarts of the Newcastle motorcycle scene, DAVE MORRIS, passed away after a long illness on 6th August, 2020, aged 87. Known to everyone as ‘TC’, Dave got his nickname from the television cartoon character Top Cat. An enthusiastic Life m
Old Bike Australasia2 min readAutomotive
Warren Hicks
WARREN HICKS, an early member of the VVMCCSA died in Melbourne on Friday 21st August 2020, aged 95 years. Warren was an early and very significant factor in the survival of pre-1930 motorcycles in this country – and particularly in South Australia. H
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Doug Chivas
Motorcycle racing identity DOUG CHIVAS died at his mother’s home on the New South Wales Central Coast on Thursday, August 20 after a several years-long battle with cancer. First bowel, then lung. Doug is probably the only racer to have driven in the
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
John Strauss
JOHN STRAUSS passed away on the 22nd of August after a long battle with cancer. John was a well liked member of several clubs and will be sorely missed. He was a regular attendee at our V&V annual club Swap Meet, selling original and reproduction BSA
Old Bike Australasia8 min readAutomotive
50% Sight, 50% Hearing, 100% Enthusiasm.
Glen had an illustrious competition record that included picking up 11 State Titles between 1963 and 1971, across a range of classes and in both solos and sidecars. He worked tirelessly for the Bunbury Motorcycle Club and the sport he loved. Never se
Old Bike Australasia6 min readAutomotive
MIGHTY MATCHLESS A Fleeting Example
Of course, the range of singles expanded somewhat when AJS became part of Matchless Motorcycles (Colliers) Ltd in 1931, and for a while the AJS and Matchless products retained their own identities and designs. But gradually a blending of the two occu
Old Bike Australasia11 min readAutomotive
UFO Alert
The arrival of WW2 saw Italy side with Germany and the factory contributing to the war effort. Nearing the war’s end, the eldest son Domenico, considered the main force behind the business, foresaw an unfavourable outcome and secretly planned to buil
Old Bike Australasia7 min readAutomotive
A teutonic Terrier
It would have been simple enough for a firm with the engineering nous of NSU – producer of the fabulous Rennmax twins that mopped up the 250cc World Championship for three consecutive years (1953-1955), knocking the previously dominant Moto Guzzis of
Old Bike Australasia7 min readAutomotive
A family affair Owen Park Wallan, Victoria
Ray Owen was among the country’s motorcycling royalty, having competed successfully in virtually every form of motorcycle sport; road racing, scrambles, speedway, hill climbs, grass track and short circuit. Aboard a spindly home-built device powered
Old Bike Australasia5 min readAutomotive
Make Haste, Slowly
In today’s world, ‘Trials’ is applied to a form of motorcycle acrobatics that defies many rules, gravity being one of them. The feats performed by a select breed on ultra-specialised machinery are simply awesome, as are the obstacle strewn courses se
Old Bike Australasia4 min readAutomotive
Getting a SWELLED HEAD
The year was 1959, and what was badged for export to the USA as the Indian Westerner, and later (following the AMC takeover of Indian in 1960) as the Royal Enfield Fury, was the sportiest-yet version of the model that had first seen the light of day
Old Bike Australasia11 min readAutomotive
Jewel In The Crown
To be fair, Blind Freddie could have recognised the RC30 as an instant classic from the moment it made its public bow. It’s a prime example of what Honda does from time to time; create something with a single purpose in mind, and spare no effort or e
Old Bike Australasia5 min readAutomotive
Burt’s other Bike THE WORLD’S FASTEST VELOCETTE
Burt Munro is best remembered for his 1920 Munro Special, “The World’s Fastest Indian” but he also had another claim to fame, “The World’s Fastest Velocette”. What is not widely known is that whilst he was working and competing on his Indian Special,
Old Bike Australasia1 min readTechnology & Engineering
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Old Bike Australasia3 min readAutomotive
The Long And The Short Of It
Yamaha has ridden this wave from the beginning, and for 2020 has an impressive line up of six models, starting with the D’Elight 125 and stretching to the TMAX 560. At $16,599 (Rideaway NSW) the TMAX 560 can’t be called cheap, but it is practical, an
Old Bike Australasia6 min readAutomotive
From Izhevsk With Love
In the shadow of the Ural Mountains, rivers run in all directions, and before the days of mechanisation, rivers were the vital links for industry. In the sixteenth century, the quaintly named Ivan the Terrible, first Tsar of Russia, and apparently a
Old Bike Australasia1 min readAutomotive
The racing Jemisons
Kay Jemison writes: “Little Charli, Bob Jemison’s 10th great grandchild sitting proudly on Bob’s beloved Velocette at the National Motorcycle Museum at Nabiac, NSW. Bob passed away almost three years ago and is sadly missed by his family. Bob raced t
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Holding Out
The star offering at the recent BONHAMS AUCTION in UK was the unique 1965 4 cylinder 125cc Ducati from the Morbidelli Museum collection. Prior to auction, a sale price of more than AU$700,000 was being bandied about, but bidding stalled at AU$605,000
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
More Heritage Preserved
To commemorate the staging of the first Australian Tourist Trophy race, held on Easter Monday, 13th April 1914, members of the Classic Riders Club of Goulburn recently erected a plaque on part of the old course at Collector. The circuit ran for 33 mi
Old Bike Australasia2 min readAutomotive
A DT1 With History
Mark Loiterton writes: The restoration of this motorcycle has taken time since it was gifted to me some 25 years ago. It was originally sold to Peter Middleton (a former local mechanic, aircraft engineer and later a TAFE teacher in Cootamundra) in 19
Old Bike Australasia1 min readAutomotive
Harpers Bush
The City of Blacktown in Western Sydney recently erected signage in recognition of an area now officially known as Harpers* Bush Reserve. Located on the corner of Holbeche Road and Reservoir Road, the 6.5 hectare site was owned by the late Gordon Har
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Gems from Washington State
“While scanning pictures of my Father’s and Grandfather’s photographs I came across a few that were of Australians and taken in Australia. There are six or seven taken at Rowville and Windsor race tracks, Bert Martin’s 61” Harley Sidecar, and one of
Old Bike Australasia4 min read
A Sprocketty Tale
In 1982 I was living in Glenbrook (Blue Mountains NSW) and scored a job as a station mechanic through the government employment agency in Penrith – in those days, via a 3 x 5 white card on the noticeboard – on Scott Creek/Willeroo, a run-down million
Old Bike Australasia4 min readTechnology & Engineering
Enigma1 On The Ton-up Stretch
(Velocette MSS: history, specs, pictures – CycleChaos) Through the laminated glass of my goggles visibility is good. I can see traffic is negligible, riding conditions good, and mild buffeting tells me that there is no wind: all preconditions to safe
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Family Fun At Collie
HCMC of WA 2020 Inter Club Championship Rd 2 • 22-23 August, 2020 – Collie Motorplex, WA The second of the four round Inter Club Championships took place at the Collie Motorplex long track. A very light drizzle left the track damp but after some stea
Old Bike Australasia2 min readAutomotive
Small Fry’s Day Out
HMCCQ Pine Rivers Stinkwheel Rally 2020 • 23 August, 2020 – Brisbane, Qld The Brisbane Exhibition (Ekka) holiday signals a special rally each year for the HMCCQ Pine Rivers Area. If my memory is correct John Finglas created an annual ride on this day
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Out Of Isolation
HMCCQ Fraser Coast Days of Glory Rally • 7-9 August, 2020 – Kilkivan Showgrounds, Qld Finally, our Days of Glory Rally arrived and due to COVID-19 isolation and not being able to ride bikes, everyone was keen to dust their bikes off and get away for
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
Eyes Right Reading And Watching
By Ian Falloon ISBN: 978-0-7603-6716-2 Published by Motorbooks 312 pages hard cover. Available from Pitstop Bookshop. Item Code: 58926 Ph: 1800 622422. Email: pitstop@woodslane.com.au Web: www.pitstop.net.au RRP: (Australia) $88.97 First published in
Old Bike Australasia1 min readChemistry
Oil Be Gone!
Oil Fighter is a new product from CRC designed to easily and quickly remove oil, grease and other stains from concrete and other porous surfaces – such as most workshop floors and driveways. It’s simple to use. Just wipe off any excess oil, spray it
Old Bike Australasia3 min readAutomotive
Good Gear New Products For All Bikers
– a shock cure I am an unashamed fan of the Yamaha MT-09 range, which encompasses the MT-09 itself, the retro-style XSR900, and the versatile Tracer 900. The triple cylinder 850cc engine is a masterpiece of modern engineering and the concept has been
Old Bike Australasia1 min readAutomotive
Ventura Packs For Latest Triumphs
The light, stable and incredibly versatile Ventura Aerodynamic Bike-Pack system is now available for the 2020 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro and Tiger 900 Rally Pro. The key to the Ventura system is the L-Bracket, which is made to measure to fit each model
Old Bike Australasia15 min read
Club Directory What’s On Where With Who
This is a free listing for all clubs and organisations, as well as a free directory of up-coming rallies and other events. E-mail details to: scaysbrook34@bigpond.com Denotes new or modified listing. Restoration advice & information freely available.
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
WHAT'S ON A FREE EVENT LISTING FOR CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT HEALTH CRISIS INDIVIDUAL EVENT LISTING DATES AND DETAILS COULD CHANGE Please check with the listed contact info for each event or stay up-to-date via our website at www.oldbikemag.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
The Eternal Triangle
They say there’s a black sheep in every family. This is patently untrue; sometimes there are no sheep in a family. However for the purpose of the metaphor, we may assume that Roger Jessop, fifth of the Jessop brothers of which Edgar was the youngest,

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