VJMC National Rally 2009

The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club's national rally has been a popular event on the classic motorcycle calendar for many years and the 2009 event proved to be the biggest yet, with around 250 entrants and a record number of bikes drawn to the picturesque Healesville racecourse in Victoria's Yarra Valley. This was the first time the VJMC National Rally has been held in Victoria since 1988. Situated just north of Melbourne, the Healesville location proved ideal for the many interstate and country entrants, as it allowed them to attend without navigating through the city. However, some did get a little lost as they tried to make it across Melbourne to the quieter roads of the Yarra Valley! Entrants came from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, and of course Victoria. The Healesville racecourse venue offered plenty of space, well-kept grassed areas suited to camping, and covered hard-stand garaging for bikes (more usually used as horse-stalls for the picnic race meetings at the course), plus covered areas for commercial displays. On top of that, the venue was very picturesque and is located in one of the prettiest parts of the State.

Held over the weekend of 24-25 October, this year's rally was the first to have a naming rights sponsor, with Suzuki Australia providing substantial support as part of its involvement in both modern and classic motorcycling events. Suzuki Australia General Manager - Motorcycles, Perry Morison, said Suzuki was delighted with the public interest in the VJMC rally and the classic and modern machines on display.

"Suzuki Australia has been involved in major events this year as part of the celebration of the Suzuki Motor Company's 100th anniversary and the Suzuki-VJMC National Rally 2009 was another showcase for our products and an indication of the enthusiasm that we all have for motorcycles of every era," Mr Morison said.

Rally organising committee chairman, Jeff Eeles, said Suzuki Australia's support had been a key factor in ensuring the success of the rally and providing a return to the local community, especially in the wake of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires, which saw the event postponed from its original April date to October.

"We were very grateful to the hundreds of VJMC members and other motorcycle enthusiasts who maintained their support for the rally. Many of them changed their plans from early in the year and travelled long distances to attend the rally," Jeff said.

The 2009 rally followed the basic format of previous events, with much effort put in by rally committee members on organisation of the rally rides, under the direction of Phil Watkins, and the provision of high quality trophies and prize packs for winners of the various display categories.

The trophies and prize packs were organised by committee member Tony Sculpher over many months leading up to the rally and were only possible through the financial support of Suzuki Australia and the generous contributions of other major manufacturers and suppliers to the motorcycle industry.

With all of this effort put into trophies and prizes, it was fitting that one of the VJMC's founding members, Mick Bulman of South Australia, should take out the 'Bike of the Rally' award with his 1960 Suzuki TA250.

Mick's Suzuki wasn't the oldest bike there - this award went to fellow South Australian Wayne Von Einem's unrestored 1959 Honda CB92R.

From the late Fifties through till the early Nineties, every major manufacturer and almost every variation on the theme of Japanese bikes, large and small, was represented. Probably the most valuable bike on display was Luis Gallur's 1992 Honda NR750, which won two awards.

Some of the best-known specialist manufacturers were well-represented by a trio of bikes entered by Greg Tuerlings - a 1981 Egli Honda CBX 1000, 1986 McIntosh Suzuki BR2, and 1975 Rickman Kawasaki Z1, all in superb and award-winning condition. And none of these were any reflection on the mouth-watering array of bikes of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties which represent the backbone of the VJMC and are the prized possessions of their many enthusiast owners.

The first full day of the rally, Saturday, October 24, dawned cold and foggy in the valley, but as the mist lifted, rally entrants and visitors were treated to a fantastic Spring day, with the temperature climbing well into the 20s by late morning.

The day's Long Ride of 160 km attracted about 100 bikes, which made quite a display as they formed up on the racecourse entry road and then headed out through Healesville's main street and onto the famed Black Spur tourist road. It was a relatively leisurely run for most of the Ride participants through the scenic roads of the Spur, with the impact of the February bushfires still evident in some areas. The ride passed through Narbethong and Buxton - both settlements badly affected by the fires - and on up the Maroondah Highway via Taggerty and Acheron, through to the ride stopover at Molesworth. After a short break, the riders headed off again in formation for Yea and the return run down the Melba Highway, turning off at Toolangi for a great ride down through the hairpin bends to Chum Creek and then back to Healesville. By the time the riders returned, the rally venue had taken on a picnic atmosphere, with hundreds of people already parking and walking through the display area to enjoy the Public Open Day. Volunteer members of the Healesville branch of the State Emergency Service assisted with parking and gate-keeping and the club was able to donate the proceeds from the public entry fee to the SES to assist them to re-equip after the effects of the bushfires.

For some riders, the rally venue was so busy that it was difficult to find a spot in the display areas to line up their bikes, but the bonus for visitors was to see - and hear - so many beautifully-prepared classics as they returned from the ride. There were almost twice as many bikes already lined up on display, and it was difficult to find enough time to view all the bikes that had been entered. For many visitors, it was an opportunity to see, hear and smell the bikes they remembered from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties - and judging by the many inquiries to club members, the rally should see a boost in the number of new members joining the VJMC and bringing out more Japanese classics for future events!

The afternoon's activities were enlivened by a special display by VJMC member and experienced stunt rider, Dave Russell, much to the appreciation of the crowd. Dave also brought along some of his collection of classic Suzukis, displayed alongside his Suzuki stunt machines.

Over in the exhibition area, Suzuki Australia's Peter Henrys was busy answering as many questions about the company's treasured classic Suzukis (which included a GT750 J-model, a T20 and an RG500) as he was about the selection of current Suzuki motorcycles. Other exhibitors included sponsor and specialist insurer Shannons, Andy White with the full Andy Strapz range, and Rohan James of Red Motor Bike. The rally trophy presentations and dinner were held at Healesville's Terminus Hotel, just a short distance from the rally venue, and awards included specially-designed VJMC Rally trophies plus prize packs of quality merchandise from the rally sponsors. All who attended the presentations also had an opportunity to bid on silent auction items.

Chief Judge Brian Cutler said that the judges in each category had noted so many fantastic bikes on display. "Some of the judges felt that the club might have to consider awarding honourable mentions in future events, but we just can't cover them all," Brian said.

The weather Sunday morning was a little greyer than the perfect sunshine of Saturday, but about 40 riders headed off on the shorter Rally Ride of about 50 km via Myers Creek Rd to Toolangi, then back through Dixons Creek and the Old Healesville Rd to Healesville. Like Saturday's ride, this one was enjoyed by attendees, too.

Rally entrants were also able to register for one of several rides offered by Suzuki Australia aboard a selection of current Suzuki road bikes. For some club members, it was the first opportunity to ride a truly modern bike - and an eye-opener to realise just how far bikes have come since the models owned by VJMC members first rolled out of the showroom.

Full credit must go to the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, who put together an outstanding event. The feedback we've received was overwhelmingly positive.

The VJMC is a worldwide club with branches in North America and the UK, as well as New Zealand. The aim of the club is to foster the preservation, restoration, riding and enjoyment of Japanese motorcycles more than 15 years old.

The Australian branch is a non-profit community organisation, with state branches holding regular meetings, rides and other social events throughout the year. New members are always welcome. For further details on the VJMC, including how to join, go to: www.vjmc.org.au