Issue 99

Old Bike Australasia

For motorcycle enthusiasts, young and old.

Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Old Bike Australasia
NUMBER 99 Jim Scaysbrook OAM Email: scaysbrook34@bigpond.com Tel: (02) 9672 6899 (bh) Mbl: 0411 443 444 PO Box 95, Kellyville NSW 2155 Alan Cathcart, Uli Cloesen, Gaven Dall’Osto, Peter Drakeford, Gary Edgar, Stuart Francis, Peter Laverty, Des Lewis,
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
An Electric Shock
For years we have been hearing that the time will come when there will be no more petrol or diesel-powered motor vehicles built – two, three or four-wheeled. More recently, the exact date being increasingly bandied about is 2030, just eight years hen
Old Bike Australasia8 min read
Letters To The Editor
l recently sent a photo of a BMW R5 that lives locally to a friend in England, simply because he has one, and l knew he would appreciate the pic. He was very interested in the photo, but especially in the tank. He claimed the tank appeared to have be
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
The Racing Boys
A popular and well-respected member of the strong motorcycling community in Goulburn, NSW, Wayne Adams lost his life on December 15, aged 73 in a tractor accident on his farm. Born in Sydney’s Northern beaches district, he completed a teaching diplom
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Countdown To The VJMC Rally
There will be a Show & Shine on Saturday 26 March 2022 at the Dai Gum San Golden Dragon Museum Precinct in the Bendigo CBD where vintage Japanese motorcycles from the 1950s to the 2000s, from concours to daily rides will be on display. We are happy t
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Old Bike Hits One Hundred!
I doubt that we will be receiving a letter from The Queen, but 21st April, 2022 is nevertheless an auspicious occasion. That’s the on-sale date for Old Bike Australasia issue 100 – sixteen years after the now highly-collectable issue Number One. To c
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Make It A Double
The previous weekend, April 1-3, is the rescheduled 2021 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships at Mount Gambier. Ken Redwood, Promotions Officer for HMRAV says, “I have picked up a little ‘on line’ discussion from some Queensland and NSW comp
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Rare Kawasakis highlight 2022 Shannons Insurance Broadford Bike Bonanza
In 1969, British rider Dave Simmonds won the 125cc World Championship riding the works Kawasaki disc-valve twin. He claimed his and Kawasaki’s first-ever Grand Prix win at the second round in Germany, and went onto take a further seven wins, includin
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Japanese Record Buster
It was based on the ‘Open’ class machines that were produced to boost entries in the premier class and it is believed only about 250 were made. At the recent Collecting Cars on-line auction, this British-domiciled example with only one mile on the od
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Historic Husky at Bathurst
This was the first Husqvarna to come to New South Wales, just in time for the 1967 Australian Scrambles Championships at the Mount Kembla circuit near Wollongong, where Daley won both 250cc and 350cc titles. Some years later, the Husky went to Melbou
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Royal Enfield reaches the South Pole
The team arrived at Novo in Antarctica from Cape Town for four days of acclimatisation, loading of supplies, checking equipment and the motorcycles. From Novo, they covered 3,200 kilometres over the next nine days, braving extreme weather conditions
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Bulli Gets An Early Start
“We invite owners of significant motorcycles and parts to submit these for the up-coming auction at the 2022 event,” says organiser Antony Gullick. “In 2021 over $300,000 of motorcycles and $100,000 of significant parts were sold, and we are confiden
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
The BSA Gold Star reborn
A statement said, “To stay authentic to its roots, the new Gold Star was designed and engineered in the UK. The new motorcycle incorporates BSA’s DNA and stays a Gold Star that is true to its lineage”. The new “Goldie” certainly looks the part, with
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Z 50th Anniversary
The first model to receive the Z label was the now-iconic Z1 900. To celebrate, Kawasaki is releasing two Z models, the Z650 and the Z900, in a special Firecracker Red, similar to the 1981 Z1100. The retro-styled Z900RS and the new-for 2022 Z650RS wi
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Noel Gavenlock
Noel was a very successful sidecar racer in the ‘sixties, initially on the dirt tracks around Newcastle and later on tar, riding an innocent looking but very fast and reliable BSA Gold Star. His elder brother Roy, who passed away in 2020, did much of
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Brian Duffy
Sydney born and raised, Brian moved to Narromine, NSW in his later years. With his sidecar passenger Max Luxton Brian was a familiar figure at Bathurst and Oran Park on a variety of outfits including a 650 Triumph and an International Norton. In 1970
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Rod Baran
Rod and his brothers were members of the St George club in Sydney and were regular competitors on Rod’s Norton twin outfit at Amaroo Park, Nepean and Londonderry dirt tracks. Rod was a Tech teacher who worked at the Sydney Railway workshops with Tony
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Denny Lenton
His racing career began in May 1956 when he took a girder-forked, 350cc Ariel, fitted with a megaphone exhaust, to Kedron Motor Cycle Club’s inaugural meeting on the Coopers Plains circuit west of Brisbane. The opening meeting attracted the cream of
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Norm Fraser
Born and raised in Newcastle, Norm became the man to beat on the Dirt tracks that abounded in the Hunter Valley and around New South Wales. Norm was not just fast, but tough and fiercely determined – a competitor who never gave an inch. His usual mou
Old Bike Australasia7 min read
Evolution Of An Aussie Racer
Bianca hails from Craigieburn in Victoria and works as an electrician by day, but after hours or on the weekends Bianca has oil in her blood. Her story holds the old adage true about letting youngsters have a go and give them lots of encouragement an
Old Bike Australasia8 min read
Rip Van Winkel
When the 1961 BSA Golden Flash was wheeled into the garage in 1973, it could not have known that this was to be its final movement for almost half a century. The quiet slumber in the benign Adelaide climate, gathering a coat of dust, preserved the bi
Old Bike Australasia12 min read
Fear And Loathing In LOBETHAL
In 1936, local car dealer Claude Black proposed an idea to run a motor racing carnival on a public roads circuit linking Port Elliot and Victor Harbor, 80km south of Adelaide, as part of the commemorations to mark the centenary of European settlement
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
When The Shooting Stopped The Peddling Started
Bicycles, small motors, and Italy’s post-war recovery. The challenges facing post-war Italy were numerous, not the least being to find a means of transport for the masses given that so much had been destroyed. While the bricks and mortar may have bee
Old Bike Australasia4 min read
Lightweight From A Famous Family
Remember also that much of MV’s success came in the 125cc and 250cc classes, thanks largely to brilliant riders such as Carlo Ubbiali, who, aboard the 125 and the newly redesigned 250 singles, had claimed both these classes in 1956. But in the smalle
Old Bike Australasia6 min read
Heddon Greta Kurri Kurri NSW
One reason for this flurry of activity was another looming date. April 2nd, 1959 was the day the much-debated Speedway Control Bill passed into law in NSW. This far-reaching statute effectively laid out the specification for all motor racing venues i
Old Bike Australasia11 min read
Improving on Excellence
While Tom Henderson ran the company, brother Bill proved to be one of the finest engineers in the USA’s early days of motorcycle R&D, and the quality of his designs arguably outranked anything yet made by a European manufacturer – even Belgium’s FN c
Old Bike Australasia8 min read
Maligned Triple Is a True Classic
Kawasaki always did things slightly differently to its Japanese motorcycle manufacturing counterparts. While Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha were making little bikes, Kawasaki went the other way with the BSA-inspired 650cc W1 twin. The company’s involvement
Old Bike Australasia8 min read
An Enduro Experiment
In production since 1964, their ‘Trail-Breaker’ model got them noticed because of the sheer uniqueness of its design. ROKON motorcycles use a combination of belt, chain and shaft drives coupled to gear boxes to drive both the front and rear wheels. O
Old Bike Australasia4 min read
Work Hard, Play Hard
The R7 is supposed to be a replacement for the venerable and highly successful (in the World Supersport series) R6, but with two less cylinders. The styling is deliberately very similar, and that’s no bad thing, because the R6 is a great looking spor
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
City Slicker
The electric motor is built into the rear wheel, and the power source is a Lithium-ion battery under the seat. Otherwise, it looks just like most other modern scooters, with largish wheels, very good brakes, a windshield, plus the requisites for urba
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Out’n’about
Brad Binder and brother Darryn may be entrenched in the elite MotoGP field for 2022, but both back home in South Africa, are keen on the classic scene. Along with their father Trevor, both lads will take part in the 2022 DJ Regularity Rally for pre-w
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Visit Warwick’s world
“These are not exotic overseas bikes ridden by star riders; they are the type of bike we all enjoyed during the years when I was riding regularly, specifically the ‘seventies,” says Warwick. “Now I would like to give the current generation the chance
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Old Gold Motorcycles
The long-established motorcycle wrecking used bike sales business Old Gold Motorcycles, at Londonderry in Sydney’s west, will cease trading in April. Owner Steve Leembruggen says the premises have been sold and he and his wife Pam will be relocating
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Bringing Back A Bantam
I’m a graphic designer and tinker with cars but this was my first bike resto. It’s a 1954 plunger frame D1 I believe. My grandpa (93) bought it for my dad (67) in 1971 when he was around 15. Dad painted it iridescent orange and purple in the ‘70s as
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
My £60 Vincent
My main machine was a 1964 Norton Atlas, which I rode at various times to Melbourne and north to Mackay in the 6 years I owned it, but back to the above-mentioned Vincent. I’ve always had a second bike. I had previously got rid of a 48 Inter and the
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
The Empire Strikes Back
The BSA Empire Star is a beautiful example of the classic Val Page design, produced from 1936 until 1939. It was available in 249cc, 348cc, and 499cc versions and incorporated a number of new features for the time. Bob MacKinney, a member of the Clas
Old Bike Australasia5 min read
Dreams Do Come True
Quite recently I had my 1971 Japanese-market Honda K1 CB750 (in the correct Polynesian Blue) parked at a local supermarket and when I came out with my Lotto ticket there was an older gent standing beside the bike. While I fielded tons of questions ab
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Flash Back
From Gary Reid’s immense collection of speedway photos come these two wonderful portraits which show riders with no less than six World Championships between them.
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Shannons Opens New Brisbane HQ
I had a good conversation with Phil Ross (Business Development Manager) who cited the challenges of getting approval for the auction house but in my mind it is a perfect fit with their classic vehicle insurance business. I also had a lengthy discussi
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Under the Chequered Flag
PETER MIDDLETON was born and raised in Cootamundra NSW and served an apprenticeship in the Motor Trade and the Aircraft Maintenance industries. His interest in motorcycles commenced around 16 years of age, when he joined the Cootamundra Motor Cycle S
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Third Time Lucky
• 12-13 February, 2022 – Sydney Motor Sport Park, NSW One of the first victims of the Coronavirus outbreak was the Festival of Speed, originally set down for 20-22 March, 2020 but cancelled at the last minute. Undaunted, the Post Classic Racing Club
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
State Titles Decided
• 1-2 January, 2022 – McNamara Park, Mount Gambier, SA Racing in Victoria has been rather sparse over the last few years courtesy of Covid. Fortunately, the borders opened for Christmas resulting in a number of interstate riders attending the SA Hist
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Rain Stops Play
• 21 November, 2021 – Collie Motorplex, WA Saturday was perfect and Sunday dawned bright and clear but with the threat of thunder storms and heavy rain from around midday. With that in mind Clerk of Course Keith McCullough and Steward Steve Scragg de
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
A Hawkesbury happening
• 12 December, 2021 – Pitt Town, NSW Traditionally the year-ending event, the Macquarie Towns Motorcycle Preservation and Restoration Club holds a ride through the five towns in NW Sydney that were established in 1810 by NSW Governor Lachlan Macquari
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Deck The Bikes With Bells Of Holly
• 5 December, 2021 – Strathpine, Qld Starters gathered at the clubrooms for the 2021 Pine Rivers Area Christmas ride. On reflection it has been a very successful ride year even though some events were cancelled and many postponed. Our chairman Jeff G
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
A New Home In Tassie
• 21 November, 2021 – Oatlands Oval, Tasmania After many years located just to the north at Ross, the TMCC’s annual Rally/Show gained a new home for 2021. The popular annual event moved to Oatlands after our event home of Ross had a change of directi
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
Girder Gathering
17 November, 2021 – Hadspen, Tasmania The Vintage Motor Cycle Club of Tasmania hosted a very successful and impressive Inaugural Tassie Girder Rally from 17th to 19th November for motorcycles manufactured prior to 1st January 1946. Entries were limit
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Two-score Celebrations
• 31 October, 2021 – Brisbane, Qld. Early in 2001 a few Brisbane Honda CB750 owners got together and decided to form a local club for these machines. In a few months they had gathered a few members and organised their first club ride with about six ‘
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Reading And Watching
By Mitch Bergeron ISBN: 978-0-7603-6190-0 Pblished by Motorbooks Hardback; 304 pages Available from Pitstop Bookshop www.pitstop.net.au Email: pitstop@woodslane.com.au Item Code: 56265 RRP: $69.99 Subtitled ‘All the milestone production models since
Old Bike Australasia4 min read
A FREE EVENT LISTING FOR CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS
6 March, 2022 – Wakefield Park Raceway, Braidwood Road Tirrannaville, Goulburn NSW. Hosted by the Classic Riders’ Club of Goulburn. Strictly motorcycles only, no trash or treasure. Uncovered sits $25, covered sites $35, shoppers and lookers $5. Call
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
New Products For All Bikers
For BMW models R 1200 GS/R/RS LC, Wunderlich have developed this stylish and resistant engine protection bar that guarantees to deliver what it promises – safe, light, low-maintenance. Made in Germany, this product provides perfect protection for the
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
A Sticky Wicket
“Why, G.L. (Gilbert Laird) scored at such a rate, those in charge of the scoreboard could not keep up with him, often falling so far behind an extra drinks break would be called to allow them to catch up. Gilbert was known as “The Croucher’ (so named

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