nuts & bolts OF ZEN & THE ART OF THE VELOCETTE NORTHERN RIDERS' CHOICE CONFESSIONS OF AN IRON CURTAIN COLLECTOR PEPPERMINT BAY RIDE PORT ARTHUR OVERNIGHTER BRASS MONKEY RIDE brough international diamond jubilee swansea ride woolmers convicts to classics national veteran motorcycle rally
S P R I N G E DI T IO N OCTO B E R 2 0 1 8
official magazine of
THE BRITISH motorcycle club of tasmania CONTACT Please address all correspondence including membership inquiries to: The BMCT Secretary postal- c/o South Hobart Post Office, Tasmania, 7004 e-mail- secretary@bmctas.com monthly meetings Last Tuesday of each month, 8pm. in the Social Club Rooms, upstairs at the Tas Fire Service building, Argyle Street, Hobart.
All welcome, please come along.
President
Gary Smith
M:0407870493
Vice President
Chris Owens
M: 0448 900 082 E: chris@designforpower.com.au
Northern VP
Mick Lemon
M: 0400 660 926 E: mick.pam59@bigpond.com
Secretary
Matthew Shepperd
M: 0417 001 426 E: secretary@bmctas.com
Treasurer/Public Officer
Nigel Reid
M: 0417 585 954 H: 03 6265 1237
Magazine Editor
Kent Moore
M: 0408 483 883 E: kentdmoore@gmail.com
Webpage
John Menezies
M: 0418 297 234 E: mezzabolicsteroids@gmail.com
Clubman Records
Rob Walch
M: 0417 514 450 E: robert@walchoptics.com.au
Librarian
Dan Murphy
Technical Officers
John Rettig Jim McCulloch Ken Hall Mick Lemon Grant Murray
Club Auditors
Casey Overeem Francis Hall
Committee Members
Rob Walch Richard Bullough Jegs Nuttall
H: 03 5267 2510 H: 03 6249 8731 H: 03 6265 9017 M: 0400 660 926 M: 0411 256733
www.bmctas.com
Nuts&bolts We are now three quarters of the way through the year and the weather is starting to become warmer and hopefully this will bring out more riders to enjoy our rides It appears to be a recurring thing but again several of our members have gone north to escape our winter and follow the sun. There are plenty of rides listed for us to enjoy over the coming months with a couple of slow bike rides in there for fun, bring out the older bikes the more the merrier. Our Christmas function is locked in to be held at Derwent Sailing Squadron in sandy Bay on Sunday the 2nd of December. Please note that you will need to book your spot at the Christmas function, this is for catering purposes, and there will be more information on this by email closer to date. The Ross rally is being held over the last weekend in November, we are planning to camp on Saturday night, this is a great time to catch up with other club members and fellow riders. More details will be given out in relation to catering and camp area in early November Our 2019 ride calendar has been prepared and is in a new format showing all club rides. Thanks to the members from the North of the Island is setting up the calendar . Please note our secretary email: secretary@bmctas.com Safe riding during 2018/2019 Gary Smith - club president See and be seen !
A few words about the club magazine... The content of the magazine is generated by its members and put together by the editor for publication. Club rides need reports and photos taken for every ride...., so at muster on the day of the ride can this be organised by the ride leader/organiser. Other articles must be a combination of text and photos/images seperate not combined in one word doc or similar. Text as images does not work so any scanned images of text will need to be typed up by the contributor. When submitting to kentdmoore@gmail. com please indicate in the subject line of your email BMCT article. Thanks!
OF ZEN & THE ART OF THE VELOCETTE
by BOB FINDLAY
Some may have read the book, “Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance”. It is a story, or an autobiographical novel, about a university (college, being the USA) lecturer in Philosophy who undertakes a motorcycle journey to assorted parts of the USA, including Colorado, on his BMW with his whiney and obviously bored teenaged son as pillion passenger. It alleges itself as a journey of self-discovery and a discussion of the meaning of “quality”, having been written in the latter days of hippiedom. But what has Zen got to do with a BMW; what has maintenance got to do with a BMW? Indeed, is there any need for a discussion of the concept of “quality” if one has a BMW? From what I understand of Zen Buddhism, quality and BMWs, nothing. Zen Buddhism, from Wikipedia: ”Zen emphasizes rigorous self-control, meditation-practice, insight into Buddha-nature, and the personal expression of this insight in daily life, especially for the benefit of others. As such, it de-emphasizes mere knowledge of sutras and doctrine and favours direct understanding through zazen and interaction with an accomplished teacher”.
colonials, not only to make money for the manufacturers, not only to provide amusement for assorted leatherjacketed thugs (thugee: another concept out of India), but more subtly and more cunningly and more surreptitiously to place the enduring mark of Britain on every continent. Not for the British the jackboot of the more unpleasant dictatorships, not for the British the placement of national flags in every house and the hand placed on the heart at compulsorily sung national anthems, but the oil-leak, that subtle ever-lasting imprint of the British Empire after every colonial desire has ridden off into the sunset of imperial ambition. The oil-leak stains, and it remains. The British motorcycle, an everlasting monument to Empire. And a sure connection to Zen. What bold Briton has ever expected to start a Velocette 500 first kick, has ever
tried to keep its primary chain-case oiltight? Success in these matters is only achieved by self-control and by advance-retard control and throttle control and choke control. The machine is designed very cleverly to not only demand that Bhudda-like meditative calm required to overcome appalling adversity but also requires one to have obtained the insight of the nature (zazen) of the Velocette, assisted where practical by an accomplished teacher (the bloke who told you to buy that Triumph 650 twin instead). Study of the sutra (workshop manual) will do you little good. That chain-case will never, ever, hold oil; and the starting procedure, whilst similar among all Velo 500s, has its own little peculiarities for each bike (the sutra only deals with generalities). And even in the one bike, it varies; no scientist has yet discovered the source of this variation.
MSS 500 Velocette seen from oil-tight side. Note shiny Velocette Venom silencer on grass after replacement by adequately rusty MSS silencer which came with the bike.. The inverse correlation between shininess and ease of starting was remarkable.
In Buddhism, a sutra is a canonical scripture. For the owner of a motorbike, it is the operator’s and workshop manuals. And definition of “quality”. Summat as both looks good and works with no bother. Like the Phelon and Moore Panther M100 and M120, and arguably an old-model BMW. If one rides a BMW one does not need rigorous self-control, apart from when managing the throttle. If one rides a Panther (M100 or M120), one has plenty of time to meditate as there is no need to manage the throttle. The British motorcycle industry was developed not only to improve the transport of Britons and assorted
I have started you on the zazen of Velocettes. Buy one; maintain one; and in due course you will become a Zen Master.
For example. My MSS Velocette 500 came to me with a 389 Amal Monobloc carburettor and it would start in moderation. As the fish-tail silencer had got rusty, I fitted a new one, found on ebay, for a Velocette Venom. The Velocette MSS is the fore-runner to the more highly tuned Venom. Would it run? It would start and then it would run and then it would stop running. Back went the rusty silencer. It started and ran and kept running. I hadn’t realised that quality of the rust on silencers was a deciding factor for starting the MSS Velocette; it is not in the sutra (come to think about it, my former 1959 MSS 500 in the UK had a very rusty muffler). Then I made the mistake of using black high-temperature exhaust paint to hide the rust. Ah well, I am not scraping it off. A bit of Zen will be needed there. The MSS Velocette is sutra’d to use an Amal 376 Monobloc carburettor. Again, ebay came to the rescue and the one that I bought was cheap and ready for cleaning. So I cleaned it. I ground down the flange for the intake on the head so that it was flat and wouldn’t leak air. I carefully ground a flat surface to the very thin edge of the float-bowl, so that wouldn’t leak petrol. I carefully ground flat another couple of surfaces where elderly Amal 376s are wont to leak petrol. Then I put it on the bike. Then, I put it on the bike.................. an exercise into the insight of one’s Buddha-nature. But first I had to remove the 389 Monobloc. This has a longer body than the 376 and therefore catches on the things that it had been designed not to if it were not fitted to a Velocette 500. To remove the Amal 389 Monobloc one must remove the petrol tank (but first the seat), remove the 389 and fit the Amal 376 carburettor and then fit the tank, followed by the seat. Whoever designed the fittings for that tank was perhaps a Zen Master seeking pupils. It is designed so that when it comes off, it has to be pulled back and lifted slightly at the rear end, simultaneously. Most times this doesn’t work, and the front of the tank catches the handle-bar brackets and the paint scrapes off. It also has a steel strap bolted on underneath and passing below the top tube of the frame; let us never, ever, forget that steel strap.
Perhaps it is there to stop the two sides of the tank from vibrating the tank into two pieces? Once I had got the 389 carburettor off, which was harder than it sounds as it has a longer body than the 376 and thus fouls the Velocette’s top frametube when sliding it back off the studs holding it to the cylinder head, I fitted my refurbished 376. That doesn’t foul the top tube, and indeed can be both fitted and removed without removing the tank. Then one fits the tank to the bike. First, tilt the tank gently forward and slide it into position, bearing in mind that the rubber grommets in the tank’s front lugs will fall out, that the handlebar brackets will scrape more paint off the tank, and then arrange yourself to be able to drop the rear lugs over the bolt holding the oil tank and the petrol tank’s rear lugs to the frame. The physical arrangement of oneself required to do all this is contrary to what follows. Replace the two rubber grommets from the floor (onto which they have fallen, bounced and rolled somewhere obscure) into the front lugs of the tank; then insert into the grommets the two bolts that hold the front lugs to the head-stock (you will need a light hammer to tap them through the rubber grommets when doing this) whilst supporting the tank so the holes in the grommets (which must be properly aligned and are rather tight on the headstock) don’t slip below the bolt holes in the headstock and whilst trying to lower the rear of the tank so that the lugs fit over the bolt holding the oil tank in place. That’s the easy bit. You will find that the tank fits very snugly round the headstock, so snugly that the speedo cable, throttle cable, clutch cable, choke cable, advanceretard cable and assorted wiring can all too easily jam tight between the headstock and the tank. So two more hands are needed to keep those clear before you start the procedure and thus you need to bend your body into two opposite directions at the same time and use the two hands extra that you don’t have. One should be a blackbelt in Yoga before one undertakes the adventure of gaining such an insight
into this personal expression of daily life. Oh, don’t forget to fit the steel strap back across the bottom of the tank and don’t lose the bolts to do so. They are of a particularly curious British thread, possibly cycle thread, so they are not easy to replace. And then one would like to start one’s Velocette 500 so as to ride it. That is often the case; why wouldn’t one? Which is the same type of question as to what is the difference between a duck and what is the sound of one hand clapping? Upon meditation and whilst attempting to seek enlightenment, I determined
that the reason for all this fuss has two roots. The first is the design of the fittings for the petrol tank. There are better ways of doing the job. The second was my desire to obey the Velocette sutra, to replace the 389 Monobloc with the 376 though it was tinged also with the scientific desire to see if the bike started as easily and ran as well as the MSS 500, fitted with a thoroughly worn-out Amal Monobloc 376 carburettor and very rusty muffler, that I had owned in the UK many years earlier. This led to my swapping carburettors; and to get the 389 carburettor off; I had to get the tank off to be able to lift the carburettor clear of all obstructions, which goes back to “quality” of design.
NORTHERN RIDERS CHOICE JULY A brilliant looking day it was too – but with just a little chill in the air ! Four keen riders there, Maureen, Paul, Henry and I. Great to have Henry along for his first ride with us on his stunning Norton Commando. A few of our “regulars” were not able to come this week due to various commitments, but we will see them back soon! A blast out to Deloraine via the old highway and the loop from Exton took us to the Diners for a warm drink and eat. Paul spent a while straightening his fingers out when we got there due to cramp from the cold and was happy to wrap his hands around a warm drink mug.
After a feed, we took Birralee road to Frankford, through Holwell Gorge to Beacy and then through the sweepers via Winkleigh to the Burt Munro – managing to wrap a few of our favourite roads into the ride. We all went home smiling – but I think Henry will be smiling the longest ! The
Norton had it’s first long ride – and it was Henry’s first big ride for years. As he headed off home from Burts – the exhaust note was just suburb – another very high standard motorcycle out and about in our area. Thanks Henry!
CONFESSIONS OF AN IRON CURTAIN COLLECTOR How I survived during the Soviet regime By Juris Ramba 2008 Looking back on the bleak days in Latvia prior to collapse of the Soviet regime in 1991, and how I survived them, we can now make jokes and laugh about it, but one would not laugh aloud at the time, at least not while the authorities or anyone you did not know well was listening. My first ride on a two-wheeler was a moped that I rode into the sea at the age of seven because I did not know how to stop the engine. My first encounter with a proper vintage motorcycle was at the age of 11 when I rode pillion on a 1938 Royal Enfield Bullet. The impressions were so strong that I traced, found, and bought this very machine when I was 23. This, I guess, was the moment when I can say I was bitten by the vintage bug. I passed my riding test at the age of 16. My eldest brother had a Vjatka scooter—a Russian copy of the Vespa—that he stripped down to parts so I could not ride it while he was away serving in the Soviet Army. What was I to do but reassemble it and start riding? When, in 1972, the police would not let me ride my bitsa bike built from JAWA and Pannonia parts because the handlebars were too wide, I took revenge by swapping it for a 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA, which I rode as I pleased, except in
the Kurland region where the Soviet’s SS20 nuclear rockets were deployed.
the time. There was no way I could earn enough to buy precious motorcycle parts in the U.K., so I resorted to making parts to trade. I put these gears through the stickiest grease I could find and brought them to the main customs office in Riga with a receipt I had obtained previously from a motorcycle spares shop. I explained that I had bought these Russian motorcycle gears to send to someone in the U.K. who had a few Russian bikes and badly needed the parts. My postage document was duly stamped, and I could proceed with posting the prohibited items. I knew that the Soviet customs authorities never liked grease, so when I offered to open the package and scatter the gears on the table for their inspection, the answer was, “No! Do not open it!” Even if they had required me to show these Sunbeam gears, I am sure nobody could tell that they were not from a Russian ISH 350 gearbox. In fact, nobody really cared what kind of gears they were. These were just stupid laws invented by the authorities to make life harder for those who aspired for change or something better in their lives.
My next move was to swap the Harley for a 1935 CS1 Norton. This machine had a very special appeal because I admired this legendary British company and its products. I read everything I could find about motorcycling, and, as a university graduate, I had access to Latvia’s international library services and could order books from all over the world. Because these books spent most of their allotted two weeks somewhere at the KGB screening rooms, I could only have one or two days to read them. I soon made an unofficial arrangement
with friends at a photographic lab to have the books copied cover to cover on photographic film so that I could print them later and become a source of information and product dating for me and my motorcycle club mates on almost any British or American machine that could be found in Latvia. There are lots of interesting stories about the ingenuity that was required to survive and succeed as a motorcycle collector behind the Iron Curtain. One such episode was when I made a Matchless Silver Hawk gear change gate and wanted to send it to a friend who lives in Edenbridge in the United Kingdom. I proudly brought this part to the post office attendant and she asked, “Wot is it?” “A motorcycle part,” I said, naively. “No way!” she said, “You are not allowed to send any motorcycle parts by post to capitalist countries!” “What can I send?” I asked. “Sporting inventory, fishing tackle, etc,” she replied. So, the next day I went to another post office with the same part bolted to a block of plywood. “What is that?” asked the attendant. “It’s a fishing rod holder,” I explained with a straight face. The parcel was posted with no problem, and I can only imagine the laughter on the
other end when my friend received his “fishing rod holder.” I received in return a kind letter from him, accompanied by a pair of special Velocette fishing rod grip rubbers. These, it turned out, were so much like footrest rubbers that I used them on my 1939 Mk VIII! There were some less successful cases prior to the fishing tackle episode. A friend of mine from Weybridge wanted to send me a surprise gift for Christmas. It was an original Brooklands can for one of my Nortons. It turned out a nasty surprise for him when the parcel was returned unopened with a stamp on it stating “CONTENTS PROHIBITED,” and to make matters worse, he had to pay 25 pounds return postage. I finally got that Brooklands can when I first visited the U.K. in 1989, and it now patiently awaits the restoration of my 1933 Norton International. Once I had several gear clusters made for 1920s and early ‘30s Sunbeams that I wanted to trade for much-needed parts for some of my own machines. Barter was about the only way to obtain rare parts, because one Pound Sterling was worth 200 Russian Roubles, which was a month’s salary for a factory worker at
Another silly episode took place with four tins of rather expensive Royal Blue cellulose paint that one of my Norwegian friends sent me for my 1928 Henderson De Luxe (It is pictured above prior to restoration). I received the parcel in an opened state. All the tins had been opened and someone had inspected the contents, probably by stirring trough it. One of the lids had not been replaced properly and as the parcel was turned over at the post office in Riga, the dark blue paint seeped out and painted the shelf and all the accompanying parcels as well. Fortunately, the official post office colour was blue at the time (today it is yellow). My Norwegian friend had put 20 plastic shopping bags into the parcel as packing material and to safeguard
against leaks. Most of these bags were now smothered with blue paint, and the most amusing thing happened when I had to pay the customs duty for the parcel. Instead of paying duty on the paint, I was told I had to pay the amazing amount of 10 Russian Roubles duty on each of the 20 plastic bags, which, at the time, were regarded a status symbol and were retailing at around 10 Russian Roubles each on the black market! I had to pay this duty regardless of the fact that most of the bags were now painted blue and quite unusable as “status symbols.” I learned my hardest lesson when someone sent me Ervin Tragatch’s motorcycle encyclopaedia and added a Vogue fashion magazine for the wife. I never received that parcel, maybe because the Vogue was forbidden material or it was just pinched as very desirable. I never again mentioned anything in my letters except information about the black art and magic of vintage motorcycles, which was a subject of no interest to the inspectors at the Russian post office. Just imagine that in these days all of the parcels I received from the West went first to Moscow then back to Latvia. But I had my happiest days when I found a fellow in the U.K. who was interested in trading old motorcycling books in the Russian language for recently published U.K. books about vintage motorcycles. The man was collecting information for the purpose of writing a story of the Russian motorcycle, but as far as I know he never finished it. At any rate, that was the start of my library, which has grown over the years, and may now be one of the biggest private libraries about vintage motorcycles in the Baltic countries. How, you might ask, were we able to restore vintage motorcycles when we were not allowed to own any machine tools? In fact, it was a criminal act for a private person to buy a modern lathe or milling machine. These were only available to factories under the control of “the proletariat dictatorship.” My solution to this problem was to find a genuine 1937 VEF lathe. This was the famous collet lathe on which the VEF Minox spy camera parts were machined in Riga before the war. I rebuilt this lathe to its original pristine condition, the difficulty of which probably few people can understand. It took me the whole winter to scrape 0.5 mm away to get the lathe bed straight and like
new again (pictured above). I will not dwell on all the other technicalities of how to rebuild a vintage lathe because it could go on for pages, but I can tell you that the job took two full years to accomplish before I became the proud owner of “my grandfather’s lathe,” which, as a vintage tool, would not be confiscated by the authorities. I even built my own enamelling stove, which I am still using today for baking enamel on frames, forks, and other parts. I built from scratch a sandblasting cabinet and a bead blasting cabinet, both with extrusion cyclones and dust separators. A piston compressor was replaced by a 30-year-old screw compressor which is still going strong after all those years. When Latvia became independent in 1991, I could finally start buying proper machine tools, and my workshop started really flourishing and expanding. It is still expanding due to my cylinder head rebuilding business, which is constantly growing. New modern technologies and tooling are added every year and only those “who have been there” can really appreciate what this newly-found freedom feels like. Think of it, the freedom to work with one’s own tools! Because I so much appreciate this freedom, perhaps my proudest accomplishment is that I was chosen in 2001 to do the restoration and bronze welding of the stars on the famous Freedom Monument in preparation for the 800th Anniversary of the City of Riga. For welding and brazing, I used my Henrob torch, the only oxyacetylene torch of its kind in Latvia at the time. Not only is this Freedom Monument (pictured here) important to me as a true patriot of Latvia, but it symbolizes my lifelong quest for the right tools for the right jobs. This was never easy under a system that questioned the actions and motives for everything we did, even when it only involved trying to restore the old motorcycles we loved. About the author: Born in 1951, Juris Ramba became Chairman of the Vintage Motorcycle Section of the Antique Automobile Cub of Latvia at the age of 27, the same year he became the only member of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club of Great Britain from the Soviet Union. From 1989 to 1992, he served as President of the Antique Automobile Club of Latvia, and in that capacity attended the First World Motor Museum Congress in Great Britain in 1989. Between 1985 and
1992, he organized a series of rallies for the Riga Motormuseum, and he acquired many rare motorcycles for the Museum, including a Vostok Grand Prix road racer. In 1990, he became a delegate to the Federation International de Motocyclisme where he served until 1994. After Latvia declared its independence in 1991, Ramba formed his own engineering company, Ramoto Ltd. From 1999 to 2003, he served as the Vice-Chairman of the European Motorcycle Union Vintage Working Group. From 2003 through 2007, he founded and organized the Round Kurland Rally for vintage motorcycles. He has a private collection of a dozen rare motorcycles, mostly of British and American brands. He has written for Motohistory on several occasions, and is pictured here on his 1913 Rex-JAP, a restoration previously described on this web site (see Motohistory News & Views 2/15/2007). Editor’s comment: I was on the Management Council of the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) during the Soviet era and when The Wall came down in 1989. Immediately following the collapse of
the Soviet Union, new faces began to arrive at the FIM, from Belarus, Estonia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, and other former members of the Union. One of the first of these newcomers I met was Juris Ramba, and I learned immediately that we shared an interest in antique motorcycles and motorcycle history. Ramba’s dedication to the movement, under the conditions described in his account above, is hard for most of us to comprehend. Now that he is free to travel and communicate openly
with other enthusiasts, he has become one of the leading lights for vintage motorcycling throughout Europe. He is a member of the European Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, he has visited meets in the United States and made many friends, some of whom have travelled to Latvia to attend his Round Kurland Rally. Even when restoring bikes under difficult circumstances, his workmanship is exquisite. In 2007, he received the prestigious Footman James Cup with
his 1913 Rex/JAP at the Castletown Vintage Rally held on the Isle of Man during TT week. And, on the 6th of this month he was awarded the Harry Mack Trophy (pictured above) by the Vintage Motorcycle Club of Great Britain. About these top awards, Ramba says, “These are the light at the end of the tunnel of my bleak times behind the Iron Curtain.” Juris Ramba is a man I feel honored to know. He should be an inspiration to us all.
PEPPERMINT BAY RIDE BY KERRY DICKSON The throngs gathered in Castray Esplanade (our usual meeting place is not suitable for the time being due to building construction in Kennedy’s Lane) and it looked like we were spread from one end to the other. Lots of bikes to be seen. Once the ride was underway it seemed only 16 bikes were free to travel to Peppermint Bay for a hot drink. The oldest bike was a 1930 Grindlay (look closely at the photo folks) and then ranging through the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s bikes before a giant leap into the modern era of motorcycles. Bikes on the ride: 1930 Grindlay 1948 AJS 500 1951 BSA 1953 Vincent Black Shadow Series 3 1966 Triumph Thunderbird 1967 Honda 175 1971 Moto Guzzi V7 Special 1971 Triumph Trident 1975 Norton 850 Commando 1982 Hesketh V1000 1983 BMW R65 2004 Suzuki Burgman 650 2014 Triumph Explorer 2015 Triumph Bonnie T100 2017 Triumph Bobber 2018 Suzuki GSXR125 We travelled via the old Huon Road, past Fern Tree to Longley (where the Grindlay decided it wanted a 5 minute rest), then on to Margate and down the Channel Highway to Woodbridge. It’s always a great venue to stop, chat, enjoy the views and enjoy a hot cuppa on a cold day. Actually, it wasn’t that cold, I’d even endeavour to say it was quite pleasant. From here the group split with those living south turning left and those headed back towards Hobart going right. A very enjoyable mornings ride.
PORT ARTHUR OVERNIGHTER BY GARY SMITH W e all met up at the fire station at 11am in preparation for the ride to Port Arthur The plan was to stop at Dunalley for lunch and ride through Nubeena to Port Arthur however it Was decided that there was plenty of time to ride through Nubeena on Sunday so we headed to the accommodation and settled in for the evening. Some of us decided to visit the McHenry distillery where we tasted really good single malt whisky and several different flavours of gin with several bottles being purchased. On the return journey to our accommodation we collected fire wood for the evening and this complemented the wood supplied to us by the park. Of course the mandatory drinks and snacks were had on the deck of our cabins but once the food was out we were set upon by a flock of parrots. Jan made the observation that the parrots preferred the chilli chips to plain BBQ At around 5pm the advance party moved to one of the BBQ huts on site to start the fire going and clean up the BBQs Annette had organized the food for both the evening meal and breakfast. Everyone pitched in and helped with the cooking and Kim took control of the fire. A great night was had with much chatter and a few ales and wines to top it off. We all met for breakfast at 8.30 Tony and myself cooked the eggs and Mat and the other lads cooked bacon and toast while others cleaned up the previous nights dishes. We head towards Nubeena at approximately 11am with the plan to stop at the pirates bay look out and purchase a coffee from the van that has been set up there; we spent some time there before we parted ways and headed home. A great time was had by all with everybody saying we must do this again. The attendees were Nigel and Vanessa, Gary and Annette, Dean and Suzie,
Kim and Steph, Howard and Lorna, John and Christy, Tony Smeeks, Kerry Johnson, Jan Blyton, Mat Sheppard and Mat’s cousin Shaun from Meander
BRASS MONKEY RIDE BY KERRY DICKSON
The alarm sounded, we peeked out the window and to say we were enthusiastic about the forthcoming ride would be a lie! But, we had put plans in place to DO THE BRASS MONKEY so away we left in the pouring rain. The promise of snow was an incentive to get in some ‘circle-work’ practice. Those intending to ride were to meet at the Fire Station but because we were travelling somewhat slower than everyone else we headed off a good hour earlier. We were half-way between Bothwell and Miena when I was almost scared out of the sidecar. Bill FRODSHAM rode past at a great rate but I have to admit his Trident sounded excellent. Then two more bikes rounded us up (not hard to do as we were only sitting on about 70kph), Andrews’ CATCHPOLE
& ELLIOTT. It was good to see them as we were beginning to wonder if we were the only people on this ride. The weather had cleared somewhat from Bothwell to Patricks Plains and then the drizzle/rain returned, the temperatures decreased even more, the higher up we rode. Kim & Stephanie CREAK, along with two friends, drove up which made for a good number of people in attendance. We were the first to leave home and the last to arrive at the Great Lake Hotel at Miena. One young fella ran over to us, he had a bemused face and stared in astonishment at the Zundapp. “I have two questions for you”, he said, “First off, what is it”? (this is a pretty standard question asked nearly every time the bike comes out) and “Second, how come you’re in the side car, I mean, you’re the wife and you’re out on a day
like this”? He couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. It was nice to get out of the wet clobber and enjoy the warmth inside the Hotel with its huge wood fire. Seven riders from the north rode up (down?) to Miena and by all accounts they had a much wetter ride than we southerners. Lunch was ordered and consumed, the sun tried to peek out once or twice, conversation continued as we tried to delay the inevitable – do it all again in reverse! Once we left the Hotel we turned left and headed out to Ouse River in the hope that we’d find some snow (it was there two days previous!) but unfortunately none was to be found. We turned around and began the long trek home. From
Patrick Plains to Melton Mowbray the scenery was stunning. The sun-lit hills, bright green in colour, against the plutonium sky looked sensational. It made the whole day worthwhile. That and winning the Brass Monkey ‘Photo Trophy’. Oh, and the fact that the old girl didn’t miss a beat. NORTHERNERS: Glenn OSBORNE BMW R90S Mike WELLMAN BMW GS Moira WELLMAN BMW GS Grant MURRAY early 80’s Triumph Bonneville John BROOMBY KTM Mick LEMON Suzuki V-Strom Paul SHIELDS Royal Enfield SOUTHERNERS: BILL FRODSHAM 1971 Triumph Trident Andrew CATCHPOLE BMW 800 Andrew ELLIOTT BMW R100RT Paul & Kerry DICKSON 1942 Zundapp KS750 Kim & Stephanie CREAK 4-wheeler
northern easter RIDE BY martin heatley Late mail - apologies to the the Northern Members this article was swallowed by the spam folder for some reason - found by accident and presented here with the same enthusiasm as the other articles - hope you enjopy!
I had missed the last couple of rides for a variety of reasons, sickness for one, total wash out for another, other commitments etc, so I was keen to go and besides the Norton had not been out for quite some time. Wayne was all set to go too but then a message late Saturday stated he was out. Oh and the weather forecast was for some showers and come Sunday morning it looked quite dismal, but we were still keen to give it a go. Nigel’s message was he was also keen to give it a go. I got the Norton out, gave it several kicks and no joy. Oh! Switch the ignition on and it fires up. Love the sound! With my gear on its off to the museum to meet Paul on the ‘pull over driver bike’ and Shon on the mighty BSA A10 Super Rocket soon to be joined by Nigel on the Cacophony of competing symphonies of the new Norton Commando - think Bach spiralling into Wagner, oh ones heart goes all a flutter! Then comes the big debate (which Trump did not send one tweet about) “Where are we going and which way?”. Nigel being the only grown up said Lilydale, with Paul chiming in with Coffee at Scottsdale. What not the sidling? No! Oh, not fair!! So Lilydale and so forth it was. Nigel lead, Shon, myself then Paul who was making sure no laws were transgressed in our endeavours. Yes the sky looked all doom and gloom and early on there was the odd damp patch on the road but all was good on the weather front. Alas not good on the bike front. Nearing Nabowla Shon pulls over. The BSA not going well, all doom and gloom after all, but four heads can solve or create further mayhem. This time it solved as the carburettor was found to be loose allowing far too much air in the mixture. Once the offending item was tightened up and we were away, by golly we are a brilliant group. Shortly after the BSA says no. Shon turns for home leaving just two twins and a four being two twins.
Onto Scottsdale for lunch at the Rhubarb as Paul’s choice was booked out. Good tucker and incredibly intelligent conversation so all seemed okay. Then the phone call of dread. Shon was not at home but semi stranded! Semi stranded as he had a safe place for a non going BSA but he was needing to get back home. Plans grown ups! We need plans! Nigel being a grown up, formulated said plan. We needed to go via Bridport and then down towards Lebrina past all the vineyards and Shon was there on the side of the road. Why was the BSA saying no? It only has a crack along near the base of the barrel. Completely stuffed then!
102 miles for the day. Nigel and Paul a bit further. So don’t judge the day by the clouds get out and live a little, you just may enjoy your self.
We three, we few, we dedicated group had an enjoyable ride, (sorry Shon) to the planned rendezvous in which me having the smallest and oldest bike picked up Shon and got him homeish. We then discussed all things cast iron and cracks and heat dissipation and expansion and alloys and prices and parts and bits and bikes etc. In other words an amazing intelligent conversation which solved nothing. Eventually home with only about three drops from the heavens and one sorry bike! Except for the BSA sulk a good ride with good people. Norton Mercury
MERCHANDISE CAPS & beanies
$15
POLO SHIRT
$25
POLAR FLEECE
$37
$20
MEDALION cloth badge
see gary smith for purchasing any of the club merchandise.. some items are available for purchase at the bar at meetings.
international diamond jubilee
brough superior rally by robert walch
The Brough Superior International Diamond Jubilee Rally celebrating 60 years since the foundation of the Brough Superior Club. This Rally is held in England every 10 years, and the 6th followed the same recipe as previously. That is, 10 days, 1 at Brooklands and 3 lots of 3 days in Dorset, Nottingham and Middle Aston respectively. There is some logic in this. Dorset was where Lawrence of Arabia (T E Lawrence a notorious Brough owner) lived and died, Nottingham is where Broughs were made, and Middle Aston is just a good venue for a display. This could well be a transition rally as many of the older members could struggle to get a leg over (a bike) in ten years’ time. I am forecasting that the 70th year rally will be different with increasing Brough numbers ending up outside the UK. However, irrespective of this, I have no doubt that the club will still be alive and possibly even healthier, as many of the non UK members are possibly the most enthusiastic!! The weather was generally pretty close to perfect except for the display day at Middle Aston on which it rained steadily and continuously all day. Numbers at venues 1 & 2 were about 50ish but at Middle Aston a stack more bikes came out of the woodwork. Most machines were beautifully restored, but every day users do still exist and deserve just as much appreciation. There were a few WEs there and one BS4 but the rest were almost exclusively V twins. It was a shame that none of the other weird and wonderfuls surfaced. Brough cars are also flash things. Based on American Hudson chassis and mechanicals, the bodies are classic flowing 30s British. I think there were 8 Brough cars at Middle Aston Our best rides were between venues. Eg Dorset to Nottingham took 9 hours and was an epic effort. Only 5 starters of which the 2 Tasmanian bikes had a trouble free run. A 3rd bike was from NSW and also ran faultlessly, although it did have trouble containing its vital fluids, using over 7 litres of oil and a
lot of petrol. The other 2 were pommy and one broke a throttle cable (minor and sorted quickly), whilst the other destroyed its cush drive and ended up in the van. Generally, I would never criticise those who trailered their bikes, as 2018 UK traffic is a tough ask for 30s machinery. Especially for their clutches. However the best part of the rally is meeting the punters. Diverse as
you would find anywhere, all with a common interest, and 10 days really gives you a chance to get to know everyone. Below are a few quotes from the rally: “We don’t have tools, we are French!!” …………… “There is no r in bath!!” Howard Wilcox “It’s still got oil in it!!” Barry Graham “The traffic may not be so bad if we go this way” John…..
“Taddington and Toddington are nearly the same” Nick Jeffrey “Here, take my glove and slap me” Nick Jeffrey “A V twin magneto is always a compromise” Dave Clark So, to sum up… This was a great event, probably a once in a life time experience, and, in my mind, measured by the sadness of saying good bye to everyone at the end.
swansea RIDE photos by kerry dickson
woolmers
convicts to classics by gary smith
I had been unable to decide if I should go to the Woolmer’s, Having talked to Wally Ingram about the trip and he had said that the Scott needed to be put on show .The weather on Saturday was bad, in fact bad enough to put the most hardened car driver off going out. I had loaded 2 bikes on to the trailer during Saturday afternoon and was still undecided about going, another phone call to Wally and we decided to wait and see what was happening on Sunday morning.
Sunday morning the weather had cleared and I was on my way out to Sorrell to pick up Wally and on to Woolmer’s. We arrived around 9.30 unloaded the bikes and helped set up the display, John Rettig, Chris Owens and Dave Moore had travelled on Saturday and stayed overnight at Woolmer’s. Murray Grant from the Northern membership had also assisted Chris set up on Saturday afternoon. The day warmed up and the public
arrived to inspect the bikes and cars on display and tour the homestead. There were approximately 18 bikes on display with a good number of cars also being displayed Entertainment was provided by a group from Devonport there were plenty of food sellers and stacks of prizes drawn at the end of the day. The event closed at 3pm
national veteran rally by john read, frances hall, ken hall
The National Veteran Motorcycle Rally for 2019 will be held out of Ulverstone from Sunday March 10 to Friday March 15, 2019. This will be the twelfth rally of this kind held on a biannual roster shared around the six states, the first having been held in 1997 at Cessnock in NSW. John Burke and father Max were the instigators of the event with invitations being sent to various likeminded owners of Veteran motorcycles. John and Max have a New Imperial 1916 and an AKD 1912 and have attended every rally since. Initially the event was controlled mostly by the big three states and it was only after considerable discussion and lobbying that eventually consensus was reached that the event should rotate around the states on a two year cycle giving all owners of veteran motorcycles the chance to take part in the home surroundings. So the sequence of locations has been: 1997 Cessnock (NSW); 1999 Orange (NSW); 2001 Qld; 2003 Beechworth (Vic); 2005 Barossa Valley (SA); 2007 Ulverstone (Tas); 2009 Albany (WA); 2011 Kingaroy (Qld); 2013 Forbes/ Parks (NSW); 2015 Ararat (Vic); 2017 Nuriootpa (SA) and 2019 Ulverstone (Tas). Veteran bike Tasmanian riders in Ken and Frances Hall, Dick Jones, Howard Burrows, Graeme Gullick, Bob Lawrence, Peter Hawkins, Ron Fellows, Denis Parry, John Orr (dec) and Joe Young have participated in many of the rallies and this time around Frances Hall is the Rally Director. The program of rides during the week
is planned to take in many of the interesting and scenic views within a 50 km radius of Ulverstone as experience has shown that rides greater than 50 km seemed to take toll on both machines and riders, and as one of the prime objectives is to enjoy and have fun, any greater distance detracts from the event. Sunday will see a short run from Ulverstone to Dave Perry’s tractor/ machinery sheds at Sassafras followed by a welcoming BBQ at the Surf Club – the headquarters for the week. Monday will see riders go west to Wynyard and visit Francis Ransley Museum. Tuesday is the challenge day with a trip to Leven Canyon with some wonderful hills and corners. Wednesday is a shorter day trip to Riana and back for a riders’ meeting. Thursday to Port Sorell via Moriarty to Chas Kelly collection with the rally dinner at night. Friday to Sheffield and final dinner that night. Already, accommodation is at a premium in Ulverstone and many will find that accommodation in close towns will have to be sought. There will also be a number of partners also taking part and for them we hope to have a bus or two to accompany the riders each day. The Rally committee this time around is Frances Hall, Ken Hall, Howard Burrows, David Moore, Graeme Gullick and John Read. There will be many helpers from around the state particularly in the north-west and anyone interested in helping, even for one day should talk with one of the committee as there is a need for corner marshalls throughout the week as well as other volunteering jobs. Already there is considerable interest from the other states with WA riders combining to send a container at least 20 ft with about 16 bikes and the likelihood of it growing to a large container. Last time at Nurioopta there were 141 rider entrants and a total of 180 bikes. There has been a slow but steady increase in the number of riders and bikes since 1997 when between 50-60 took part. The sight of 150 pre January 1st, 1919 motor bikes heading down the road, many without gearboxes and kick starters is something to be seen. Many of the bikes are of Australian origin as at that time many manufacturers were in Australia, particularly in and around Elizabeth St Melbourne as bike kits could be imported from England and the continent and put together with a
particular Australian bent. There are of course many bikes with English and American origin such as Harley, Indian, Henderson, Triumph, BSA, Rover, Douglas, AJS, Norton, Matchless, Rudge and many other obscure and now not known makes. Common engine makes were Minerva, JAP, MAG, Fafnir, Precision, apart from the known English brands and many others. Frames came from BSA, Chater
Lea, Healing, Matchless, Peerless, Brown Brothers. Sturmey Archer introduced their epicyclic hub gear in 1911. Healing a 3-speed countershaft gearbox in 1916 and Burman in 1920. But they all have somethings in common: two wheels, a motor and a very enthusiastic and usually knowledgeable rider willing to share the story of his or her particular bike.
This was the twelfth rally of this kind held on a biannual roster shared around the six states of Australia.
DERWENT SAILING SQUADRON MARIEVILLE ESPLANADE SANDY BAY PLEASE ARRIVE MIDDAY FOR A 12.30PM START Dress: Neat casual R.S.V.P.: Numbers to Mat Shepperd by November 18 - the latest!
M: 0417 001 426 E: secretary@bmctas.com
See you all there!
EGGS & BACON BAY SLOW BIKE - LUNCH
4
WHEELS IN THE PARK
TAROONA - TINDERBOX SLOW BIKE RUN
3
ST HELENS OVERNIGHTER NORTHERN MEMBERS
6
GATE, WOODBRIDGE
SLOW BIKE RUN
14
9
12
8
QUEENS BIRTHDAY
10
MOTHERS DAY
13
8
LONG WEEKEND
10-11-12
REGATTA LONGWEEKEND
10-11-12
14
- AIRWALK
DEC
D 1 TOY RUN
NOV
2
CHRISTMAS PARTY DERWENT SAILING SQUAD. SANDY BAY 12/12.30PM
11 N 4 GEEVESTON SLOW BIKE RUN
OCT
O 7 SWANSEA
SEP
S 2 RICHMOND
AUG
A 5 FERNTREE LONGLEY, MAR-
JUL
1 J ORFORD
JUN
J
MAY
M
APR
A 1 EASTER SUNDAY
MAR
M
FEB
F 4 GEEVESTON
JAN
J 7 RIDERS CHOICE
NATIONAL PARK HOTEL SLOW BIKE RUN LUNCH
17
18
DUNALLEY
21
23
WOOLMERS DISPLAY OVERNIGHTER TBC
19
MOLESWORTH, NN, BRIDGEWATER
15
PORT ARTHUR OVERNIGHTER
RIDERS CHOICE
17
HAMILTON BOTHWELL BRING A FRIEND
20
22
BRUNY ISLAND
RICHMOND SHOW
18
KEMPTON DISTILLERY LUNCH
18
21
SOUTHARM
24-25
ROSS RALLY OVERNIGHTER
SHOW DAY
28
30
26
22
24
27
29
25
25
28
BRASS MONKEY RUN
29
14
WEDNESDAY
17
WEDNESDAY
14
WEDNESDAY
14
WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY
17
MIDWEEK
27
30
25
28
31
26
29
24
27
27
AGM
TUESDAY
30
MEETING
BMCT SOUTH CALENDAR 2018
Combined VMCCT / BMCT Northern Section 2018 Ride Calender
Sun 2nd – Scottsdale Loop 8th/9th – Wed 12th Twilight Sun 16th – Low Head Fog 22nd/23rd & Bridport Lunch Ride. Meet at Westbury Horn Ride. 10am Hotel for Dinner 6.30pm Departure
Sun 30th – Old Bike Run. West Tamar & Beauty Point Fish n Chips
29th/30th
Sun 29th – The Great Brass Monkey Ride
30th/31st/1st/2nd – Easter Long Weekend. Sunday Riders Choice
9th -15th BSA International Rally, Victoria
21st/22nd – All British Rally, Victoria
Big Island Rallies
for a 10.30am Departure unless indicated otherwise. Midweek Rides, Riders Discretion - Every Wednesday 6pm 1 st Oct - 30th Apr. 11am rest of the year. Ride routes and length may vary at discretion of riders on the day taking into account the age of bikes that turn up and the weather conditions. See also our Northern Riders Group here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/NorthernTasmaniaVintageClassicMotorcycleRiders/
For more information contact - Glenn Osborne 0427740411 glennosborne74@gmail.com or Mick Lemon 0400660926 mick.pam59@bigpond.com . Meeting point for all rides is the Automobile Museum in Launceston
Tues 11th
Sun 25th – Ross Motorcycle Rally. 8am departure. Alternatively camp Saturday night Ross
December
Tues 13th
Sun 11th – Mt Roland/Cradle Mountain Run. 9am departure
17th/18th
Tues 9th
October
27th/28th – Overnighter to NW Possibly Corinna, Waratah or Smithton TBD
Sun 23rd – Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
Sun 4th – Old Bike Run/Display. Westbury Steam Spectacular. 9am departure
Sun 16th – Convicts to Classics at Woolmers. TBC
25th/26th – Launceston Museum Open Weekend. Bike Display Days/Ride. TBC
21st/22nd
23rd/24th
November
8th/9th
18th/19th
Sun 15th – Riders Choice
Sun 17th – Riders Choice
Sun 20th – Old Bike Run. 26th/27th West Tamar & Surrounds. Burt Munro's Cafe
Sun 21st – Old Bike Run. Lilydale & Surrounds
Sun 3rd – Old Bike Run. White Hills & Evandale
Sun 12th – Riders Choice
7th/8th
Sun 1st – Riders Choice
4th/5th
9th/10th/11th – Queens Birthday Long Weekend.
Sun 3rd – Riders Choice
12th/13th
28th/29th
Sun 25th – Old Bike Run. Blessington, White Hills, Evandale
Sun 7th – Gunns Plains & Sun 14th – Dual Sport Surrounds. 9am departure Ride. NE Explorer. 9am departure
Tues 11th
September
Tues 14th
August
Tues 10th
July
Tues 12th
June
Tues 8th
May
Tues 10th
Sun 6th – St Helens / Bicheno Run. 9am departure
Sun 22nd – Old Bike Run. Longford & Westbury Surrounds
14th/15th
Sun 8th – Deloraine 50's Diner. Mt Roland/Gog Range Loop
April
Tues 13th
Sat 17th – Dual Sport Ride. Devils Gullet/Lake Mckenzie. 9am departure
Sun 4th – VMCCT Annual 10th/11th/12th – 8hr Day Lunch Westbury Long weekend. Sunday Riders Choice
Wed 21st – Twilight Ride. Sun 25th – Holwell Meet at Riverview Hotel Gorge/Beauty Point for Beauty Point for Dinner Fish n Chips 6.30pm
10th/11th – NW Motorcycle Show Ulverstone. Sun 9am departure for day trippers
3rd/4th – Overnighter to Strathgordon. 9am departure
Sun 18th – Deloraine Street Car & Bike Show. 9am departure
Sat 13th – Run to Bridport Sun 21st – Old Bike Run. 26th/27th/28th – Australia Show & Shine. 9am Lilydale & Surrounds. Day Bike Display at departure Somerset Surf Club 9am departure
6th/7th
TBC – To be confirmed TBD – To be decided
March
Tues 13th
February
Tues 9th
January
Feed & Yarn Night at 'Cock n Bull' 6.30pm
6th - 7th
N : 21st 9am - Pyengana Show NW : 22nd - Riders Choice
NW : 14th - Deloraine 50’s Diner
19th - 23rd (Easter)
N : 14th - Deloraine 50’s Diner
13th - 14th
ALL : 16th / 17th 9am Craggy Peaks Overnighter N : 10th - Riders Choice (23 max) NW : 9 to 11th Sheffield Steam (Show) Other : 10-15th National Veteran Rally Other :
N : 17th 9am Deloraine Rods (Show) NW : 17th 9am - Deloraine Rods (Show / Slow Bike) NW : 17th - Turners Beach (Swap Meet) 16th - 17th
S : 17th - Kempton
16th - 17th
Other :
NW : 9th - Riders Choice
N : 10th - Riders Choice
8th - 9th (10th Queens Birfdee)
15th - 16th
Other :
N : 16th - Lilydale area (Slow Bike)
S : 16th - Riders Choice
27th - 28th
Other :
NW : 23rd - Sisters Beach
Other : 24th-27th Historics Winton (Vic) 22nd - 23rd
25th / 26th 9am Pyengana Overnighter
Other : 25th-28th All British Rally (Vic) 25th - 26th
ALL : 27th / 28th 9am Strathgordon Overnighter
Other :
NW : 24th - 9am Devonport (Show)
N : 24th - 9am Devonport (Show)
23rd - 24th
NW : 24th - Chudleigh Show (Show)
29th - 30th
Other :
N : 30th - Upper Esk and return
Other :
29th April - 4th May Targa Tasmania
30th - 31st
1st-3rd HOG State Rally (Port Sorell)
N : 24th - George Town Wings (Show) NW : 24th - George Town Wing Thing TBA - World Superbikes (Vic)
23rd - 24th
25th-28th Island Classic (Vic)
Meet : Saturdays - Hobart Fire Station, Sunday - Salamanca Place near Silos : 10am for 10:30am start unless advised : Gary Smith - 0407 870 493 / Chris Owens - 0448 900 082 / Matthew Sheppard - 0417
Other :
S : 2nd - Maydeena
1st - 2nd
Other : 19th - PVCCT Picnic at Ross
Other :
Other :
18th - 19th S : 19th - Channel / Cygnet (Slow Bike) N : 19th - Exeter Cafe (Slow Bike) NW : 19th - Exeter Cafe
N : 12th - Scottsdale Loop
11th - 12th
NW : 5th - Gunns Plains (Slow Bike)
S : 5th - Oatlands
4th - 5th
Other : 6th to 14th - Richmond Show Other : 6th to 14th - Richmond Show Other : 18th-24th Bike Bonanza (Vic)
N : 7th 9am - Dual Sport
S : 7th - Bruny Island
Other :
NW : 3rd - Westbury Hotel (Lunch)
N : 3rd - Westbury Hotel (Lunch)
9th - 10th (11th 8 Hours Day)
Other :
NW : 9th/10th - Ulverstone (Show)
9th - 10th (11th Hobart Regatta)
NW : 26th - Somerset Surf (Show)
NW : 28th - Riders Choice
N : 27th - Riders Choice
26th - 27th (28th Aust Day in-lieu)
Meet : Grand Central Market Carpark : 10am for 10:30am start unless advised : Mick Lemon - 400 660 926 / Grant Murray - 0411 256 733 / Glenn Osborne - 0427 740 411
North-West Meet : Ulverstone Wharf : 10am for 10:30am start unless advised : Jim MacDonald - 0419 643 714 / Ken Jupp - 6437 2209 / Noel Saward - 6496 1970
Northern
2nd - 3rd
S : 3rd - Orford
Other :
2nd / 3rd 9am Strahan Overnighter
S : 3rd - Geeveston Park (Slow Bike)
2nd - 3rd
Other : USA Day (Utas Stadium)
Other :
NW : 6th - Boat Harbour
Other :
19th - 20th
N : 6th 9am - Bridport Rods (Show)
Southern 001 426
June
May
April
March
February
January
12th - 13th S : 20th - Richmond, Brighton N : 20th - Gowrie Park via Gogg Range NW : 20th - Gowrie Park via Wilmot
S : 6th - Riders Choice
5th - 6th
2019 BMCT Ride Calendar
Other :
31st Aug - 1st Sep
NW : 4th - Riders Choice
S : 4th - Ferntree / Woodbridge
19th - 20th
S : 3rd - Tahune Airwalk (Slow Bike)
2nd - 3rd (4th Recreation Day)
Other :
Other : Westbury Steamfest (Show) (29th Devonport Show) 30 Nov - 1 Dec S : 30th Toy Run, 1st Xmas BBQ
Other :
Other :
24th - 25th
21st - 22nd
21st - 22nd
NW : 22nd - Riders Choice (Slow Bike) Other :
Other :
ALL : 23rd / 24th - Ross Rally
23rd - 24th
Other : 24th-28th Moto GP (Vic)
ALL : 26th / 27th 9am Stanley Overnighter
Other : 20th-22nd Baskerville Historics 26th - 27th
Other :
N : 25th - Launceston Museum (Show) NW : 25th - Launceston Museum
Other :
ALL : 28th - Brass Monkey Ride Great Lakes Hotel
27th - 28th
28th - 29th
N : 29th - Riviera Hotel, Beauty Point NW : 29th - Riviera Hotel, Beauty Point Other :
28th - 29th
Other : 1st - 4th Deloraine Craft Fair
Other : 3rd Gordon Fysh Tour (VCCA)
Other :
Other :
N : 29th - Distinguished Gents Ride
Other :
Other :
North-West Meet : Ulverstone Wharf : 10am for 10:30am start unless advised : Jim MacDonald - 0419 643 714 / Ken Jupp - 6437 2209 / Noel Saward - 6496 1970
Northern Meet : Grand Central Market Carpark : 10am for 10:30am start unless advised : Mick Lemon - 400 660 926 / Grant Murray - 0411 256 733 / Glenn Osborne - 0427 740 411
Meet : Saturdays - Hobart Fire Station, Sunday - Salamanca Place near Silos : 10am for 10:30am start unless advised : Gary Smith - 0407 870 493 / Chris Owens - 0448 900 082 / Matthew Sheppard - 0417 001 426
Other :
N : 15th - Cradle Mountain via Gogg
S : 15th - Westerway (Slow Bike)
14th - 15th
Other : 16th / 17th Bendigo Swap
N : 17th - Deloraine via Cluan
16th - 17th
NW : 8th - Levon Canyon BBQ Lunch NW : 15th - Railton (Show)
N : 8th - Riders Choice (Slow Bike)
7th - 8th
NW : 10th - Cradle Mountain
NW : 3rd - Riders Choice
9th - 10th
NW : 20th - Wynyard area
N : 20th 9am - Dual Sport (North)
S : 20th - Dunalley
Other :
Other :
Other : Sheffield Medieval Festival
14th - 15th ALL : 15th - Woolmers Estate Convicts to Classics
Other :
Other :
December N : 1st - Derby via Lebrina
Southern
12th - 13th
7th - 8th
N : 13th Evandale area (Slow Bike)
Other :
Other :
ALL : 17th / 18th Port Arthur Overnighter
17th - 18th
NW : 6th - Gunns Plains
November N : 4th - Riders Choice (Slow Bike)
October
S : 6th - Swansea
(4th Burnie Show) 5th - 6th
Other :
10th - 11th
N : 11th - Riders Choice
Other :
Other :
3rd - 4th
Other :
S : 21st - Riders Choice
20th - 21st
NW : 21st - Wilmot via Forth
N : 14th - Sheffield
13th - 14th
NW : 7th - Riders Choice
S : 7th - South Arm (Slow Bike)
S : 1st - Richmond N : 1st - Exeter/Bridgenorth (Slow September Bike) NW : 1st - Riders Choice
August
July
6th - 7th
2019 BMCT Ride Calendar
17/18 Port Arthur overnighter
16/17 Bendigo swap 14/15 Westerway Slow bike run
10/11
7/8
12/13
9/10
7/8
3/4 Ferntree ,Longley, Margate Woodbridge
1st Sunday Richmond Slow bike run
5/6 Swansea
2/3 Geeveston/air walk Slow bike run 30th Nov1st Dec Toy run Christmas function
21/22
23/24 Ross Rally
26/27
21/22
24/25
27/28 Brass monkey ride Great lake hotel
25/26 Pyengana overnighter Combined with Northern members 22/23
27/28 Strathgordon overnight
23/24
23/24
26/27/28 Australia day long weekend
Note: runs are subject to change on the Day
19/20 Dunalley
14/15 Woolmer’s Convicts to classics
20/21 Riders choice
13/14
6/7 South arm Slow bike run
15/16 Riders choice
18/19 Channel via Cygnet Slow bike run
11/12
8/9/10 Queen’s birthday weekend
20/21 Easter weekend
16/17 Craggy peaks overnighter Limited to 23people( Bob Findlay)
9/10/11 Labour day weekend Veteran rally 10th to 15th
13/14 Richmond show Finishes on the 14th
16/17 Kempton
9/10/11 Hobart regatta weekend Steam feast Sheffield
19/20 Richmond ,Brighton
1/2 Maydena
6/7 Bruny Island 7th Richmond show 6th until the 14th 4/5 Oatlands
2/3 combined Strahan Overnighter (northern) Wheels in the park Geeveston slow bike 2/3 Orford
12/13
Sunday Start point: Salamanca place near silos at 10 am Saturday start point: Fire Station Melville St
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
5/6 Rider choice
BMCT CALENDAR 2019 South
28/29
28/29
29/30
Mid week To be arranged
No meeting
26th
29th
24th
27th
30th
25th
28th
30th
26th
26th A G M
29th
Meeting
BRITISH MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF TASMANIA INC.
The Secretary, C/o South Hobart Post Office, South Hobart 7004 Tasmania Email: secretary@bmctas.com The British Motorcycle Club of Tasmania encourages the restoration and safe riding of British and other manufactured Motorcycles. Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at the Tasmanian Fire Station - Social Club Rooms - Argyle Street Hobart.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION I wish to become a member of the British Motorcycle Club of Tasmania (Inc.) and agree, if accepted, to be bound by the Rules, Constitution, By-Laws or Directions designed to further the interests of Club Members. This includes attending the next scheduled club meeting to introduce myself and be welcomed as a club member. Name: Address:
Phone: Mobile: Email:
British Motorcycles owned:
Other Motorcycles owned: Date: Signature: EFT transaction details: Annual Membership Fee: $40-00 Use surname only for identification
BSB: 807-009 Account No: 51101523
Office use only: The above named person is known to us and we believe him/her to be a suitable person to be elected as a member of the British Motorcycle Club of Tasmania (Inc.) Proposer: Seconder: Approved:
Ride safely, see and be seen Gary Smith