PREVIEW – 2020 BROADFORD BIKE BONANZA - JUST BIKES

PREVIEW – 2020 Broadford Bike Bonanza

The Shannons Insurance Broadford Bike Bonanza has become a must-do event for fans of classic motorcycles of all types. This year will be no exception.

Celebrating its twelfth year in 2020, the Bonanza is all about admiring and enjoying pre-1994 motorcycles of all types in a fun, non-competitive environment, with a mantra of ‘no racing, just riding’.

The Bonanza welcomes all motorcycle disciplines to the State Motorcycle Sports Complex at Broadford, with the road race, speedway, dirt track, motocross and enduro trails in action, so no matter what your fancy is, you’re sure to find something to enjoy your machine on, or just to watch. The road race circuit is open from 12 Noon on Good Friday (10 April) and all tracks open on Easter Saturday and Sunday (11-12 April) from 9:00AM.

Whether you’re participating or spectating, there’s plenty to enjoy, from the paddock area and static bike displays, to the swap meet and trade stands, as well as the ever-popular Gala Dinner, where special guests share tales from the good old days.

Going American

After celebrating the Honda CB750, BSA Bantam and the Vincent marque in past years, the 2020 Shannons Insurance Broadford Bike Bonanza will be all about Americana, as the theme is ‘American Iron’.

All pre-1994 Harley-Davidsons are welcome to enter, with a healthy representation of classic-era Indians expected, too. Classic Harley and Indian sidecar outfits are also welcome, with a few Harley Servi-Cars likely to join the fun. Hopefully, an example of the much rarer Indian Dispatch-Tow will also turn up.

Early (pre-’94) examples of Buell and Boss Hoss bikes may make an appearance, and organisers are hoping this year’s theme will also draw out defunct, rare and forgotten American motorcycle marques, like Henderson, ATK, Cyclone, Excelsior, Cleveland and more. Hybrid American marques, like Aermacchi-Harley and Hodaka, are welcome, too.

Speedway Stars

The speedway segment of the Bonanza continues to go from strength to strength, attracting past ‘stars of slide’ like Jason and Phil Crump, Phil Hearne, John Boulger, John Titman and Dennis Nash to name a few.

This year’s speedway special guest is Mitch Shirra, who starred in both team and individual speedway competition through the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, winning multiple British League and New Zealand Championships, Midland Cup and World Team Cup titles, as well as the New Zealand and Australian Long Track GP.

Shirra will be in action at the ‘Saturday Night Speedway Spectacular’ (11 April) and will also be a guest at the Gala Dinner in Broadford township that evening, where he’ll be joined by other Bonanza special guests (TBC at time of writing) for a Q and A session, some tall tales and a lot of laughs.

Get Involved

Rider entry to the 2020 Shannons Insurance Broadford Bike Bonanza is just $131/bike&rider (until 22 March, 2020) + $30 for an MA 1-event licence. Got more bikes? Not a problem: you can enter extra bikes for an additional $10 each. Sidecar passengers are $71 each (the $30 MA premium also applies to sidecar passengers without an MA competition or recreational licence).

After 22 March, entry is $171/bike&rider, with extra bikes $10 each.

For trade stands, swap meet sites and road race garage costs, see the MA website – https://www.ma.org.au/ (and click on the ‘BBB’ link) - for pricing and availability.

You can also camp at the State Motorcycle Sports Complex, for just $10/person per night, or $20/person for the weekend.

If you just want to watch, spectator entry is $40/adult per day, or $60/adult for a weekend ticket. Kids under 16 are admitted FREE.

For further details and updates, go to https://www.ma.org.au/