BSA Gold Star features at Geelong Revival Launch

With a long history in motorcycling, Jeff has owned and ridden a number of British classics, and the 1954 model Gold Star currently shares garage space with a '55 BSA A10 Road Rocket and a late model Triumph Thruxton. Jeff also raced Bultacos and Montesas back in the day, but his long-time desire for a Gold Star was only recently satisfied.

"I just wanted a Gold Star," Jeff explained. But the path to ownership of the iconic BSA wasn't an easy one, and required the sale of a beloved A10 Spitfire to fund the purchase, which involved searching overseas as well as within Australia to find the parts required. Not being a matching numbers purist made Jeff's task a little easier, but it still wasn't a picnic.

"(My bike) was assembled from bits sourced all around the world," Jeff said. "The frame came from the United States. The engine originated in the United States, but was sourced within Australia. The frame was issued to BSA USA in 1954, and the engine was issued, from the BSA factory, according to the BSA Gold Star register, during 1956."

Getting the various parts together and to the riding stage took Jeff close to two years. "I put everything on it, to make sure everything was going to fit," Jeff said. "Then I started to strip it all down. And then the renovation started. You had the frame blasted and painted. Stripping the engine down and rebuilding the engine. Frame, gearbox and did all the tinware. So, it was the build, strip it, restoration - in that order."

The Gold Star's been complete and on the road for the past three years. With a view to making it a little more user friendly for the road, and a lot easier to start, Jeff fitted an Amal concentric carb, and a standard gear cluster in the factory 'RRT2' gearbox. Jeff's bike also runs a front fork upgrade and twin leading shoe "Duetto" front brake developed by 1950s BSA specialist, and ISDT competitor, Eddie Dow. Some replacement parts were sourced through a company called ABSAF, based in the Netherlands, which produces everything from timing covers, cams and pistons, right through to complete engines to suit BSA and Matchless models.

From its origins in 1937, the Gold Star had gone on to become one of the most potent BSA singles in the 1950s, and was available in road racer, clubman, trials, scrambles and touring variants. Available in 350cc and 500cc variants, the Gold Stars from the mid-1950s could top over 100mph with either engine size. The mid-1950s models, given the performance upgrades that came on line at this time, have also made these ones the most desirable and collectable of all Gold Stars.

While the Gold Star had a fearsome reputation in circuit racing, TT and other forms of competition in its heyday, Jeff explained that the Gold Star isn't really set up for the sprint work that will characterise competition at the JUST CARS GEELONG REVIVAL 2012. Despite this, Jeff will be attending this year's event, and will join other local members of the BSA Owner's Club in adding their bikes to what is expected to be a huge display of four and two wheel classics.

Jeff attended the Geelong Speed Trials in the past, and remembers seeing the likes of Jim Farquhar, whom set a course record on his Triumph, and local Geelong identity, Owen Yateman in action on his Matchless, amongst the competitors that made the waterfront event so popular. Like most classic bike enthusiasts, Jeff's looking forward to seeing what sort of two wheel exotica will come out of the woodwork for participation in the JUST CARS GEELONG REVIVAL 2012.

Motorcycles were a big part of the original Speed Trials, with two wheelers often setting fastest time of the day, especially in the latter years of the event, when the likes of Martin Hone, Hugh Anderson and Josh Brookes competed with some of the latest specification race bikes as well as classics.

With anticipation building for the JUST CARS GEELONG REVIVAL 2012, more and more expressions of interest are coming in from owners and riders of classic machines, so come December, there should be a smorgasbord of two wheel machinery to see, both on display and in action.

A revival of the famous Geelong Speed Trials, the JUST CARS GEELONG REVIVAL 2012 will take place this December 1 & 2. The event is expected to attract over 40,000 spectators and will also feature a special Concours d'Elegance, club displays, special Revival Tour, live entertainment, markets, a Gala Dinner and more.
For more information, visit the website - www.geelongrevival.com.au


Do you have a motorcycle or sidecar outfit that competed in past Geelong Speed Trials?

Send information (make, model and year of bike, when it competed, etc.) and high resolution images to [email protected]