VVCMCC annual rally

Had a lovely time looking at ancient and beautiful (anciently beautiful?)
bikes on the weekend at the VVCMCC annual rally - although sitting behind an
old Ducati Scrambler during one of the rides was a bit hard on the ears
after a while!

I don't have the mechanical nous to even contemplate restoring an old bike,
but I know a few ppl here are into that sort of thing, and I am full of
admiration for anybody who (a) begins the task, and (b) completes it!
(especially (b) - incredible!). There was a 1914 Monarch in good running
order that completed a short ride on Saturday (there's a pic of it on my
blog for those who read it) - and there was a 1923 Rudge with footboards
carpeted in authentic 'grandma's hallway' carpet, and managed around 100kmh
(how the hell?)

Was a lovely weekend... I really love the look of those old bikes, but
there's no way in the world I would have one. All lever jokes aside (just
for a moment) I think you have to have a fire in your soul to undertake that
sort of thing - a fire that I will never have, coz my fire is all about
getting from one place to another without breaking anything if possible...!)

Oh, and I saw (in the flesh) the brilliant restoration job that Phil - a
very quiet ausmoto member -did on an old Triumph. He posted the photos here
a while back (google for the link, you net-savvy buggers, coz I have had a
couple of vinos), and I have to tell you, the bike is absolutely
magnificently awesome in the flesh! I think it was only the carpeted
footboards that gave the Rudge the King of the Rally award over Phil's
Trumpy. It was beautiful.

betty

 

As I turned off the Barton onto the Hume last Friday, a car with a trailer
behind passed me, so I decided to follow him and see what kind of bike was
on the trailer, He pulled off at the service centre at Yass and I followed
him and took some photos.
He told me that the 1923 J model Harley was original and it looked it, no
chrome or flashy bits
He was off to Corowa to The Great Race.
Proves that these bikes are still out there somewhere

 

Ah! so too did I stranger. I went to The Classics at P.I.
T'was a great meet and there too was one of those and one of those
also.
Plenty there, bikes everywhere. Strangely when I went to the 6hr there
in
early Dec there wouldn't have been a dozen bikes in the car park on
the
pit side of the track. Just goes to show where the interest of all
these
ageing bikers lie

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:53:39 +1100

A brough did 129mph on the Pendine Sands in, I think 1933. Go they
had, brakes however...

(I once chased a 20s AJS flat tanker along the Gorge Rd on the Baby
Beemer, I dunno we either of us did more than 80kmh but we were
hammering as hard as we could.)

You really don't want an pre-war anything. The amount of
manufacturing that has to be done is horrific. Not so bad having a
post war bike that's fairly common though.

Oh I don't know. There's significant pose value in an old bike. And
they do encourage a different mindset. (I've commuted on a 3 speed
150cc magneto Bantam, life is very different on one of those...)

The Baby Beemr used to get *massive* respect on the road. Smiles from
Hell's Angels, "please pull out in front of me, I will give way to
you" from riced up Hyundais, long conversations at traffic lights...

Dont' want a pre-war bike, one ride on one was enough for me. But if
a 50s Guzzi Falcone turned up in the garage one day I wouldn't be
hurrying to find the owner.

Zebee

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:19:22 -0800 (PST)

classics have always got a good turnout. It's the noise....

I still remember a mixed race at the Southern Clasic one year when
they ran the pre-war open and the 125 post classic at the same time.

Peter Westerman on his 500 International Norton banging fairings[1] with
a 125 Yammy 2 stroke. The deep roar of the Inter and the scream of
the twoey and no quarter asked or given.

Zebee

[1] in a manner of speaking as of course the Inter didn't have a
fairing. Knee to fibreglass more or less.

 

Something like this then Zeb would be allowed to stay in the shed.
http://vvcmcc.the-bar-end.com/vvcpastevents/trophywinners2011/image-html/011-Floyd-Primmer.htm

Bushy

 

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:43:10 +1100

Yup.

One turned up at the Italian Club Day on the Glenelg foreshore many
years ago, and was parked quite close to a 70s version.

The owners got to talking then both started the bikes up.

2 large singles idling very slowly, the sound was stunning.

Zebee