Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza
The inaugural event, supported by Old Bike magazine and JUST BIKES, catered for all motorcycling disciplines, skill and enthusiasm levels in non-competitive action, with an estimated 1,000+ pre-1985 competition motorcycles either in action on the Broadford facility's mix of circuits, or on display around them.
"One of the main aims of this event was to actually reverse the process in the various divisions of our sport," Motorcycling Australia CEO, David White said.
"When people are finished with their competitive careers, the bikes often disappear into the shed, never to be seen again. Many people would still like to have a ride occasionally but baulk at the expense and effort of actual racing - that is, keeping their machinery competitive, the cost of equipment and so on.
"We saw this weekend dozens, maybe hundreds of examples of really interesting bikes that hadn't seen the light of day for years, back out on the track again, circulating at the pace that their riders feel competitive with. That's great for these riders, and for the spectators, who get a visual feast."
Sharing track time with the rookie and enthusiast riders in this event were some famous names from Australian racing history. Slinging a leg over a bike at the road circuit were Joe Eastmure, Alan, Graeme and Donnie Osborne, Ron Angel, Barry Smith, Rod Tingate, Vic Soussan, Bob Rosenthal, Steve Oszko, Lyell Williamson and Tasmanian, Scott Seabrook. That's a pretty impressive list by any measure, but two stars shone above the rest: our own 1966 250cc World Champion Kel Carruthers; and modern day swift miss, Mandy Beales.
After 18 years in the US, Kel came back to Australia at the invitation of Motorcycling Australia and Honda Australia for the Bonanza. Uncatchable in the Sixties on a Honda 4 works bike, this time around Kel rode his old Manx Norton with the famous number 6. The Manx had been completely restored by Canberra enthusiast Bill Stone, with major mechanical work done by brothers, Paul and Peter Dunster. The fact that Kel was the last to leave the circuit after the final 'Star Session' on Sunday showed the former World champ still has a passion for anything with two wheels and a racing pedigree!
Kel and his wife Jan were the guests of honour at a gala dinner on the Saturday evening, where Carruthers recounted the highlights of his long and stellar career to the 170 assembled guests. With MC for the evening, Jim Scaysbrook, leading the Carruthers Q and A session, great wine and food served to lubricate tongues and the social chat never stopped all night. Old friends were reunited and new ones made.
Symbolizing the next generation of classic bike competition, Mandy Beales' performance on Jerry Kooistra's classic Honda showed why she's a champion on the track, while her gracious treatment of fans and media throughout the Bonanza showed why she's fast becoming the popular face of female racing off the track.
Fastest Man on the track was actually a woman. While true racing wasn't on the agenda, Mandy Beales still turned the fastest time aboard the ex-Bill Horsman 350cc Honda. While the riders were a highlight for some, most of the 4,500+ fans came to see, hear and smell the classic bikes of yesteryear.
Four-time Isle of Man TT winner, Barry Smith, rode the DOHC 250cc Velocette built by South Australian Les Diener - the first time the bike has been seen in public since its return from Japan last year. This rare bike was one of many two wheel treats in action throughout the weekend. Event sponsor Honda Australia brought along two significant machines from their collection - the ex-Dick Man Daytona CR750 and the RS860 previously raced by Andrew Johnson and Malcolm Campbell.
While the road circuit was popular, Broadford's dirt tracks attracted the majority of competitors among the 450 entries. With a pre-1980 & 1985 MX track prepped perfectly (once a difficult section was taken out), a specific pre-1965 track that had a tricky dip into and out of the creek bed, a tight and winding enduro loop, a rough pre-1975 MX track through the trees around the old 'Channel O' area, a set of trials sections through the dry creek and the perfectly groomed speedway/dirt track arena at riders disposal, the dirt crowd really had it all. Riders with several bikes were hard pressed to make all sessions, especially if they had a road bike as well; but no complaints were heard about lack of opportunity!
The crowds hanging over the speedway fence were treated to a thundering display of Vincent sidecars, old Jawa solos and a great range of dirt trackers. The track was prepared beautifully by John Coleman, the complex's master of maintenance. Some of Australian speedway's hardest men, Peter Vipond, Neville Everett, Phil Georgeff and David Cottrell, gave no quarter in their runs, despite only being demonstration laps!
The motocross sidecar boys used the event for a bit of fine tuning for an upcoming meeting, with SA legend Murray Williams showing plenty of fire, battling all comers.
The MX GP track with its recently mulched surface was prime roosting material. Although the modern obstacles were disconcerting for many, when ridden in moderation, they coped. In this arena, the Metisse marque featured predominantly as these giants ruled scrambling (motocross) back in the Sixties. Nineteen different examples of the famous UK marquee fronted for action - a record for any event. As Metisse builder John Mathews stated "It was good to see them ridden in anger". The man who brought out the first Metisse to Australia and promptly caned the boys back home after five years in Europe, Ray Fisher, was the star attraction on his 650cc Triumph Metisse, along with Geoff Taylor on his original bike. Greg Leaney showed up as did the son of Karel Morlang on his Dad's Metisse.
Some rare motorcycle-engined cars made the trip to the Bonanza, too. Total enthusiast, John Coffin, cut some laps alongside Neil Videan's ex-Lex Davison supercharged Cooper Vincent and Garry Simkin's similar car, also ex-Davison.
Other attractions were the Trade and Club stalls, the swap meet and the lavish Gala Dinner on the Saturday night. This event alone turned out to be a great event as the food and wines were excellent and the decorated marquee fitted the extravagant occasion. Conversation was non stop all weekend as many couldn't resist the lure of one rare bike after another in the pits. While the Show and Shine was popular, the sheer number of bikes ridden and parked provided so much eye candy that you often didn't know what to take in first!
The atmosphere at the different campsites was laid back and the bonding process with the different tribes a success. - especially those frequenting the Hilltop Bar, which didn't close until the small hours. A barbeque for the many volunteers who helped make the weekend a success concluded proceedings, with special mention to the event organiser Peter Drakeford, who worked tirelessly for many weeks prior to the event, and Michael Pettifer, who arranged bikes for many of the former riders in the Star Sessions.
These sessions rekindled the flame for quite a few, former champion Alan Osborne saying he is now 'on the hunt' for a machine for the next running of the event. Osborne's sentiment was echoed by other competitors, virtually guaranteeing the future of the Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza as a regular fixture on the classic bike calendar.
Source: JUST BIKES, June 2009
