Issue 113

Old Bike Australasia

For motorcycle enthusiasts, young and old.

Old Bike Australasia2 min read
One Off The Bucket List
Last issue we featured the new Yamaha Tracer 7 in our Suitable Partners section. As usual, it was my duty to road test the model, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Returning from one ride, I suggested to Mrs Editor that she might like to take it for a sho
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
The Yankee
Approximately three years ago Brian Kelleher was down near Mittagong and was looking at a car to purchase, when he spotted an unusual motorcycle; a Yankee. He immediately thought this would make an interesting addition to his National Motorcycle Muse
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Old Bike Australasia
EDITOR Jim Scaysbrook OAM Email: scaysbrook34@bigpond.com Tel: (02) 9672 6899 (bh) Mbl: 0411 443 444 PO Box 95, Kellyville NSW 2155 CONTRIBUTORS Alan Cathcart, Gaven Dall’Osto, Stuart Francis, Ian Milton Peter Laverty, Mick Matheson, Russ Murray, Pet
Old Bike Australasia11 min read
Blow Your Own Letters To The Editor
Regarding your obituary in OBA 112 for Tim Gibbes, I have a good photo of Tim taken at the Tatra Trial in Poland 1959. I was one of a team of five from Britain who attended, being tasked with the transportation of the bikes to and from the event, org
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Don’t forget Townsville
In the OBA 112 editorial, I omitted to include the new 2.7km Townsville circuit at the Drive-it Calcium precinct off Manton Quarry Road. The track itself (shown right) has yet to be licenced by Motorcycling Australia, but the Road Racing Association
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Australian Historic Titles For Goulburn
15-17 November will see the 2024 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships conducted on the new One Raceway (formerly Wakefield Park) in Goulburn. Since its purchase by Steve Shelley in 2023, work has proceeded apace to bring the circuit and its
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Vintage Japanese Rally 2024
In March 1983, members of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club attended a show organised by the Motorcycle Riders Association of SA. It took place in the Rundle Mall, and we had about six bikes from the club there. The Club had been founded in the U.
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
FOMSA Takes Shape
The Classic Owners Motorcycle Club of SA has successfully staged a “Mill to Mill” ride in previous years, in 2024 this event will be part of the Festival of Motorcycling calendar for the first time. We are having a break from the ticketed Ride Week f
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Donington Arrives In Sydney
Melbourne-based auction house Donington has opened its new Sydney operation, based at Amaroo Park, Annangrove in the city’s north west. The new branch will be headed by Damien Duigan, who has an extensive background in the industry, assisted by Sam J
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Adelaide Comes Alive Again
Although primarily a car event, the 2024 Adelaide Motorsport Festival will again feature historic motorcycles as part of the three-day event, to be staged from 15-17 March in and around Victoria Park in the city. The on-track action will take place o
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Bimota Breaks Cover In Sydney
On Thursday 15th December, the wraps came off a pair of very delicious motorcycles – the latest result of the tie-up between the famous Bimota brand and Kawasaki Motors. The venue was Procycles at St. Peters, which will be the main Sydney outlet for
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Cannonball Rolls Again
After the successful running of the Indian-Pacific Cannonball Classic in 2022, Australia will have its second Motorcycle Cannonball in May 2025. This time the Event will run North to South and be called Southern Cross Cannonball Classic - The Outback
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Ducati National Rally Heads North
The Ducati Owners Club of Queensland Inc. is hosting the 2024 National Ducati Rally, which will be held at The Kooralbyn Valley, via Beaudesert, from 7-9 June 2024. This is a great opportunity for Ducati club members, riders and Ducati fans generally
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Anthony Gobert
One of the greatest talents in modern motorcycle racing, ANTHONY GOBERT, passed away on 17th January, 2024, aged 48. He had been in palliative care in Queensland recently and had suffered from drug addiction in the latter stages of his life. “The Go
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
John Dodds
One of Australia’s top road racers in the early ‘sixties, JOHN DODDS passed away in Germany on 27th January after a short illness. He had celebrated his 80th birthday in November 2023. A member of the strong Fairfield club in Sydney, John reached the
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
Kal Carrick OAM
A talented road racer, practical engineer and inventor, KAL CARRICK (Keith James Carrick) passed away on 24th October, 2023 at Crossdale, Qld aged 81. His early interest in modifying road bikes evolved to road racing, and in later years to classic ro
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Ivan Burkill
A measure of IVAN BURKILL’s popularity was the very large attendance at his funeral in Denman, NSW on 29th November, 2023. Ivan passed away on 16th November from cancer aged 73. For many years, Ivan was the Captain of the local Fire And Rescue, which
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Graeme Louis Ruby (Ruben)
RUBEN passed away on 27 October 2023 at home with his partner Gabby beside him. Born on 15th February 1948, Ruben’s childhood was spent in Coomealla and Dareton across the river from Mildura on a fruit farm. It was during his time in this area that h
Old Bike Australasia9 min read
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Though he admits to being a handful at school, young Greg Kentwell felt his penance was a trifle unwarranted when the family relocated from the city’s inner west out to Prospect Hill; then a lone mound of paspalum midway between Sydney and the Blue M
Old Bike Australasia9 min read
V For VINDICATION
Honda was firmly committed to its V4 concept, even though it was not without its problems, but in typical Honda style, all or most of these were overcome with time. Those lucky enough to own one generally marvel at the way the technology translates t
Old Bike Australasia5 min read
Underrated Shaftie
When it comes to classic Kawasakis, the GT750, which first saw the light of day in 1982, is rarely mentioned. Yet over forty years ago, that model represented an incredibly practical, go-anywhere motorcycle that had plenty of poke, handled well and p
Old Bike Australasia7 min read
A LE MANS LOVE AFFAIR “A big, thumping twin.”
You know, young, lean, fit, strong and sporty in your early adulthood until, by following an eminently sensible path of self-improvement through the years, you hit your early 40s wiser, more sensible and very capable despite carrying some extra girth
Old Bike Australasia5 min read
Gentleman Racer
Born in Viborg, Denmark, Rob developed an early love of all things mechanical and especially motorcycles. As a wide-eyed youngster, living near a registration inspection station, he lusted after the queues of NSUs, Adlers, and BMWs, and occasionally
Old Bike Australasia8 min read
The Emperor’s Short Reign
We have to go back to 1923 for the beginnings of the Horex motorcycle, or more accurately, motorised bicycle, when Fritz Kleeman began to install 63cc Gnom engines, made by Columbus-Motoenbau AG, into bicycle frames. The result was a device that pump
Old Bike Australasia5 min read
Moto Gully Bilpin Scrambles, NSW
In those days, aspiring scramblers in the state had a choice of just one venue – Moorebank near Liverpool – and its days were numbered. Then Mount Kembla in Wollongong opened and the sport received a much-needed shot in the arm and a major influx of
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
The X Factor
Harley hasn’t had a LAMS-approved bike, let alone two, in the local range since the demise of the Street 500 in 2021. This move surprised many, since the Street 500 sold well here and was competitively priced. And it had that badge. The new models ar
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
A Pie For Jack
Welcome to Old Bike Australasia Out’n’about – a forum of people, places, history and happenings. There was a great roll up to celebrate Jack Taylor’s 98th birthday at the Pie in the Sky restaurant on the Old Pacific Highway at Cowan, north of Sydney,
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Around The Clock At Sandown
The 2024 Australia Day long weekend marked the 50th anniversary of our 24hr record attempt which took place at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne which we hired for the 2-day event. We were using an RD250 Yamaha and a TX500 Yamaha with 2 teams of riders, 4
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
The Celebrity Scramble
There was quite a buzz about the 1964 NSW Scramble Championships, staged at Moorebank on 20th September. The Willoughby District MCC had secured sponsorship of the meeting through Craven Filter cigarettes, and secured the services of television star
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
75 Years For The Panhead
The riders arrived on Friday for registration at the Criterion Hotel which also provided an opportunity to catch up with fellow riders and enthusiasts, discuss the machinations of the Panhead along with any other projects currently being undertaken a
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Gary’s FLASH BACK
For 2024, Warwick Schuberg will be throwing open his amazing private museum located at Amaroo Park, Annangrove, Sydney. The dates, all Sundays, are 12th May (Mothers’ Day), 1st September (Fathers’ Day), and 8th December, from 10.30am to 2.30pm. There
Old Bike Australasia7 min read
An SR500 epic
The idea of riding our SR500s all the way from Townsville, Queensland to the 2023 Yamaha SR500 Rally in Bethanga on the Hume Weir in Victoria was first floated by Rick Carbis after riding to the annual SR500 Club Rally from Warwick in 2022. “Why don’
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Old Hands At Work
The SureFlight SuperBike Masters is a support category for three rounds of the ASBK, Sydney Motorsport Park, Phillip Island and The Bend. The category comprises Period 5 (Forgotten Era 1973-1982) and Period 6 (New Era 1983-1990). Within these are Per
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
Another Great One At Mt Gambier
The weekend after Christmas means just one thing to many an old bike racer. The Historic Motor Cycle Racing Register of SA runs what many consider one of the best all Historic bike meetings in the country. 2023 was no exception. At this time of year
Old Bike Australasia3 min read
A super Southern Classic
The ninth CAMS Southern Classic Festival attracted 300 entries from all over NZ. This event caters for 28 classes of solos and outfits, from Vintage Pre War to Period 95 Superbikes, 2 Stroke GP machines to F4 Buckets and a development class. These ra
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Another Barossa Blast
As in 2022, we had thirteen motorcycle entries. I was pleased that we had 5 entries in Period 3, 500cc, but unfortunately a couple fell by the wayside. Bruce Davis (500 Matchless) at 42.79 seconds was our fastest bike again this year, but couldn’t qu
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Italy’s Finest
After various venues, coping with Covid, and finding a new organiser, Benzina Stables in conjunction with Melbourne Ducati Riders undertook the Italian Motorcycle Festival held at Benzina Stables in Preston on a Sunday morning in November. Inside the
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Spring In The South Island
Mac and Carol McGarry, recently returned from living in Auckland, stepped into the breech to organise this year’s rally. The weather forecast for the lower South Island seemed to change every day, except Saturday 11th November, the predictions were b
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Head For The Hills
Far from the halcyon days of the huge classic rallies of the 1980’s, but not a million miles from Cowra and Mudgee the original sites for this rally, a smallish entry enjoyed good weather, terrific motorcycling roads and great company as has always b
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
The BSA World Comes To Hahndorf
The Rally was attended by 283 people with approximately 180 bikes. There were 35 people from overseas attending with some bringing their own motorcycles from the UK. In attendance was the BSA International Rally Secretary Andy Lorenz as well as peopl
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Good Gear
A couple of years ago after venturing on a bike trip to Glen Innis in winter, I reviewed a Macna Equator jacket (See Good Gear, OBA 103). It was fantastic for wet and/or cold conditions and hasn’t let me down since. This year with a pending trip to T
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
Passing The Century
This was the third Rally we have staged and it is based on the idea of a re-enactment of a time trial held by the original Cootamundra Motorcycle Club in 1912. Although we don’t run it as such, an enjoyable gathering of folk on motorcycles ensures a
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Tiddlers Rule
This event was exclusively for machines of less than 250cc and greater than 30 years old, with Rally Central at The Goulburn Workers Arena. Friday arrivals were treated to a delicious meal kindly provided by Julie Croker. On Saturday, around 60 bikes
Old Bike Australasia5 min read
Eyes Right
Researched by Murray Barnard The story of this epic trip in 1926/27 is a key piece of WA motorcycling history which needs to be told and preserved. Murray Barnard (Editor of the VMCC) has spent thousands of hours researching the original Tour and wor
Old Bike Australasia4 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 2 March 2024 – Echunga Showgrounds, SA The 40th running of
Old Bike Australasia1 min read
Next Issue Preview
Old Bike Australasia No.114 available on newsstands from 18th April, 2024 www.oldbikemag.com.au ■
Old Bike Australasia2 min read
A Meeting Of The Greats
Naturally a hero such as Edgar was feted royally during his visit, and he readily accepted an invitation from Soichiro Honda himself to visit the Honda works at Hamamatsu. Here he inspected the racing department and, being fluent in Japanese as well

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