Issue 110

Old Bike Australasia

For motorcycle enthusiasts, young and old.

Old Bike Australasia3 min read
Editor’s Letter
While Australasia has a long and distinguished history of road racers performing with distinction on the world stage, winning World Championships in numerous classes, the same cannot be said for motocross, with a few notable exceptions such as Jeff L
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Old Bike Australasia
Jim Scaysbrook OAM Email: scaysbrook34@bigpond.com Tel: (02) 9672 6899 (bh) Mbl: 0411 443 444 PO Box 95, Kellyville NSW 2155 Gaven Dall’Osto, Bryan Fowler, Peter Laverty, Russ Murray, Rennie Scaysbrook, Peter Smith, Peter Whitaker. Gaven Dall’Osto, R
Old Bike Australasia10 min read
Letters To The Editor
I had a sad phone call recently when another friend broke the news that he had decided to sell his motorcycle collection. I had heard it all before and it immediately triggered the Neil Young song ‘Comes a Time’, again to mind. The sad thing is that
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
BSA International Rally Set To Go
Beginning on Friday 3rd November, Hahndorf in South Australia will be alive with BSAs in town for the 60th International Rally, based at Hahndorf Resort. A 24-passenger bus will follow the rally bikes on all of the scheduled rides. These rides will b
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
Out In The Shed
In recent years I have got to know Mark Dawson and was lucky enough to be invited recently to his “Man Cave” on the NSW Central Coast. It transpires that he is a native of the Bay of Plenty area on the North Island of New Zealand. Upon leaving school
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Subscription Enquiries
For all enquiries regarding subscriptions, please DO NOT CONTACT THE EDITOR. Contact NextMedia Subscriptions Department by email subscribe@mymagazines.com.au or by phone on 1300 361146 or (02) 9901 6111 Website: www.mymagazines.com.au Postal address:
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
The Lawrence Boys Scoop The Pool
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 othe
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Speedway Museum shuts
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
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
New Arrivals At Bathurst
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 M
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Festival of Motorcycling SA The countdown
New events as well as old favourites are part of this year’s Festival of Motorcycling which runs from 1st – 7th October. The program has been put together to appeal to a wide range of enthusiasts. The ride to the Vintage and Veteran Motorcycle Club’s
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Harley Downsizes!
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 pl
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Ken’s Trophies Back Home
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
Old Bike Australasia8 min read
Paragon Of Consistency
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
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
BUZZ BOX Under the Chequered Flag
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
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Salty Creek celebrated
Sugar Valley Library Museum in Cameron Park is a new facility located very near the site of the former Salty Creek Speedway at Edgeworth, Newcastle. Until 3rd December, 2023, SVLM will be hosting an exhibition to celebrate ‘Salty’, which ran from 195
Old Bike Australasia8 min read
The Boys’ Racer
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
Old Bike Australasia6 min read
A Line In The Sand
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
Old Bike Australasia5 min read
An Indian uprising
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 endi
Old Bike Australasia9 min read
An Elephant Rescue
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 t
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
A Stylish Scoot
The 2023 XMAX 300, at 183kg, is claimed to be the lightest of this brigade on the market, and that’s a big plus. It can be flicked around with abandon, with all the weight down low, and a seating position that is very well thought out. Whoever design
Old Bike Australasia4 min read
When size Does Matter
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 in
Old Bike Australasia7 min read
Nature Versus Motorcycling
There are famous circuits, iconic circuits, and circuits that have endured the test of time. Vineyards, near Windsor in Sydney’s west, is not one of these. But Vineyards, in its twenty years of existence, served its purpose as a training ground for s
Old Bike Australasia5 min read
Old BIKE Out’n’about
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
Old Bike Australasia5 min read
If I Am Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Should I Continue To Ride A Motorcycle
In Old Bike Australasia Issue 73 I wrote a Letter to the Editor titled, “How to Throttle Parkinson’s Disease” (henceforth PD or Parkinson’s). In it I extolled the benefit for riders with Parkinson’s of using a throttle lock when on country runs, to e
Old Bike Australasia4 min read
The Father of Longford
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
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Cool in Caboolture
The event’s main purpose was to provide the general public with a snapshot of Australian history, not just as a static display but a dynamic one with people in period attire demonstrating many trades, machinery and foods of a bygone era. Those of us
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Gary’s FLASH BACK
For those who fondly recall the spectacular racing outfits of bygone days, here’s a treat, courtesy of Gary Reid who recently purchased some original photos from the 1969 Belgian Sidecar Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The venue is one of the truly
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Chills And Thrills
• 8-9 July 2023 – Carnell Raceway, Stanthorpe Qld This year’s Big Chill race meeting, held in Stanthorpe mid-winter, attracted one of its biggest attendances to date, with over 100 competitors travelling from as far as Victoria and South Australia. W
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
Out Of Limbo
• 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 Mo
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Another bumper Bulli
• 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.” H
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Small Wonders
• 16 August, 2023 – Pine Rivers, Qld. The annual celebration of the smaller capacity motorcycle saw around twenty machines arrive at the HMCCQ Pine Rivers Clubhouse on a fine Sunday morning. There were the usual BSA Bantams alongside a Honda Solo, a
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Bargains Galore
• 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 f
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Fun In The Sun
• 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 th
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Classic Speedway On Display
• 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’
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
All Clear At Coffs
• 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,
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
The Circus Comes To Town
• 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 ar
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
A Fabulous Fortieth
• 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 he
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
Reading And Watching
A motorcycle adventure from London to Iran in 1973 By Anne Betts and Des Molloy ISBN: 978-0-473-67443-4 331 pages paperback RRP: $30.00 (Aust & NZ) To order visit: www.kahukupublishing.com Ernie is a 1957 Norton ES2, the sort you find enjoying a gent
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
New Products For All Bikers
Established in 1954 by Bob Wade, Blu-Chrome traded at 137 Eldridge Street Bankstown in Sydney’s west until last year, when the business relocated further west to Riverstone. The family connection continues with Bob’s son Michael still at the helm, as
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Next Issue Preview
Old Bike Australasia No.111 available on newsstands from 9th November, 2023 www.oldbikemag.com.au ■
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
What’s On
CLUB SECRETARIES: Because of our lead time for printing, please ensure your listing is received at least four months prior to the event. Email your event details to… scaysbrook34@bigpond.com Wagga Classic Motorcycle Club Annual Rally 7-8 October, 202
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Edgar Is On Holiday!
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 se

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