The BRITISH BIKER Summer by Gary Rizzolo

THE

BRITISH BIKER OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE BRITISH MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF TASMANIA inc.

sUMMER EDITION : November 2013

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“NO ONE KNOWS YOUR P A S S I O N L I K E S H A N N O N S.”

quote on 13 46 46.

official newsletter of

THE BRITISH motorcycle club of tasmania CONTACT Please address all correspondence including membership inquiries to: The BMCT Secretary c/o South Hobart P.O Tasmania. 7004 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.

office bearers President

Casey Overeem

M: 0418 128 787 E: overeemc@hotmail.com

Vice President

Gary Rizzolo

M: 0403 043 502 H: 03 6223 7809

North West VP

Ken Jupp

Secretary

John Rook

M: 0427 718 447 H: 03 6229 2961 E: bmctsecretary@hotmail.com

Tresurer/Public Officer

Nigel Reid

M: 0417 585 954 H: 03 6265 1237

Librarian

Dick Jones

Magazine Editors

Gary Rizzolo Rob Walch & Dan Butcher

M: 0403 043 502 E: gary@rizzologuitars.com

Webpage

Gary Rizzolo

M: 0403 043 502 E: gary@rizzologuitars.com

Clubman Records

Rob Walch

M: 0417 514 450 E: robert@walchoptics.com.au

Technical Officers

Ken Hall Jim McCulloch John Rettig Ken Jupp

H: 03 6265 9017 H: 03 6249 8731 H: 03 5267 2510 H: 03 6437 2209

Club Auditors

Francis Hall Casey Overeem

Committee Members

Peter Jones Adrian Prins Gary Smith JerryScott Wal Ingram

www.britishmotorcycleclubtas.com

Nuts&bolts This edition’s Presidents Report is finally being done by the President. Thanks John for filling in while I’ve been away and also thanks to Gary Rizzolo for chairing the meetings while my wife and I travelled Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. The year started off with the usual January and February rallies which were good trial runs for the upcoming Big Rally and were very well attended. A lot of focus was on the upcoming ‘Tassie Tour 2013’. The Tassie Tour (pre 1965 bikes) was a highlight for our club and was attended by around 120 people from all parts of Australia, 22 entrants being from Townsville. It was a most successful event thoroughly enjoyed by all those attending. Many thanks go to the rally committee who all contributed much to make this event what it was. It’s been a mixed bag as far as weekend rallies has been concerned. There were several overnight runs organised, but sadly, either due to inclement weather or lack of interest none of these went ahead. Let’s hope next year we can string a couple of these usually very enjoyable runs together. Some of the latest runs were reported to be very well attended and lots of fun. A recent one to Maydena – Tiger Trail was held in perfect weather although it was too good for the Tigers and none were spotted. Other good events included Geeveston/Tahune (although Peter Jones may not recall it as a good event), Derwent Valley Historic Railway and Strathgordon. Another highlight for the last quarter is the annual Ross Rally run by the Vintage club. It was anticipated to include camping at the oval the night before, but due to rain this was cancelled at a club level although a small number still pushed ahead. Weather wasn’t kind to the event for the first time in a decade but it was still quite well attended with approx. 250 bikes displayed. Congratulations to Graham Gullick (1905 ‘The Fairy’) and Gary Rizzolo (1970 Bonneville) who won their classes. Well done to the Vintage club for once again a very well organised rally. As the year comes to an end I would like to express our gratitude to the many members who have contributed much to the successful running of the club this year. Special thanks to Nigel for his continued contribution as Treasurer and also for the provision of the Fire Station Social Rooms and his dedication to opening it each week and running the bar. To Gary Rizzolo for the huge amount of work he puts in to the club magazine and also to Rob Walch for his many contributions as well as keeping club records, also the many others who contribute to the content of the magazine. To John Rook for the tireless work and energy that he puts in as secretary. All in all a good year for the club. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all, see you at the Xmas BBQ at Dave Moore’s on the 8th. Casey Overeem

BMCT President

From the Vice President: Huge thanks to Casey who has done a top job as President and for allowing me to take the reins. He is ably supported by John Rook, our illustrious Secretary. Nigel, as always, has meticulously kept the books. Gary Smith has been the backbone of the club even though he is trying to step away from duties. Rob Walch has been a fantastic team member of the editorial group along with designer extraordinaire Dan Butcher. I have enjoyed being the Vice President and being involved in the meetings, but mostly trying to live up to ‘Clubman of the Year’, a personal highlight, along with the ‘Tassie Tour’, the ‘All British Rally’ and receiving a trophy at Ross for the Bonnie. So probably one of the best years ever as far as I am concerned. Thanks to everyone for the great rides and camaraderie. All the best for the Season. Gary Rizzolo

Wanted Magazine editor for the

British Biker Experience in layout and InDesign an adavantage but not necessary. Applications in person or in writing to: The Secretary British Motorcycle club of Tasmania Email: bmctsecretary@hotmail.com Mobile: 0427 718 447 Ken Jupp, Northern Vice President of the BMCT was spotted at Hellyer College as part of a Students Photgraphy display.

Ride TO &

8 september 2013

Hollow tree bothwell

Shannon's

15 september 2013

BIKES BY THE BAY LAUDERDALE

Photographs by Ian Bonde

Distinguished Gentlemens' ride

29 september 2013

Owen Smith's

TRIUMPH cafe racer

A 2005 Thruxton purchased with the aim of customising it. Changes include: - aluminium ‘Sprint’ tank from TA Baker, Wales. - aluminium body work from MAS Engineering, Italy. - wider 4.25 rear rim spoked by Phil De Gruchy at Lightfoot Wheels, Victoria. - airbox cut away for pod filter installation. - Dynojet Stage 3 carburettor kit. 146 Main Jets and twin taper needles. - DNA pod filters- Pretech 6 pot front brake caliper. - stainless steel braided brake lines from HEL Performance. - heavy duty clutch springs (see Clutch article)- shod with Conti Road Attack 2 tyres. - SSB 400g lithium-ion battery.

Ride To

salmon Ponds 6 november 2013 Punters Peter Bender , Philip Clark Bantam, Nigel Reid Triumph America, Dave Branch Square 4, Jim McCulloch RE 350 Model G, Robert Walch Velocette MSS Visitors Dave Sowerby R65LS, Bert Pepper Yamahaha, Although cool this was the first fine ride day for what seemed like an eternity. The destination was Salmon Ponds and the route was to be direct via Granton and New Norfolk which is the way everyone went except Bert who detoured to the eastern side of the Derwent at NN and back via Bushy park. Jim McCulloch and Dave Branch were waiting for us at Granton and were then held up by some some Enfield carburettoritus but made it to Salmon Ponds ok arriving at about the same time as Bert. Robert Walch had a bit of a case of blocked filteritis at Sorrell Ck and returned to Hobart. Philip Clark’s Bantam ‘sung like a bird’ all day although it can be a bit challenging to get started at times. Rob Walch

‘Thanks Kerry, Thats a great photo. Interesting I fit in between Drunken and Admiral. I was in the RANR but did not not reach Admiral but drank a lot at times Ha!’. Philip Clark

Ride To

Tahune

Punters Jan Blyton New 3 cyl Triumph, Andrew Nicholls B33, Gary Rizzolo T120, John Rook old Thunderbird, Peter Bender AJS/Matchless 350, Francis Bender New Bonny, Kim Bolwell Honda 750/4, Ken Vout Triumph America, Nigel and Vanessa Reid Triumph America, Gary Smith B33, Peter Jones New Bonny, Robert Walch MSS Velo, Ian Bond Triumph ??, Owen Smith New Triumph Bonneville, Peter Hesman Rocket 3. The mild morning dragged big numbers out of the woodwork for a ride to Tahune via Ferntree and Lower Longley. 15 Bikes, 14 blokes and 2 girls There were good numbers of 1,2 and 3 cylindered older machines as well as 8 new Triumphs. Of note was Francis Benders spankers new Bonny. The Ferntree alpine bush and the lush green Huon Valley both looked beautiful due to the wetter than average spring. Post Geeveston Peter Jones underestimated a corner and ended up (upside down) in the ditch on the side of the road. The incident looked awful and could have been a catastrophe but miraculously Peter was soon on his feet and smiling. We surveyed the bike which seemed pretty well ok. Peter was quite shaken and decided to ride home. Jan Blyton went with him. Otherwise all reached Tahune safely and enjoyed a first class lunch. Again, quite a few of the world’s problems were solved (it is just as well we go on these rides). The return back down that magic 26km to Geeveston and on to Hobart was uneventful . Bob Clearey was spotted Velocetting about in Kermandie. Peter Benders 350s coped well and Gary Smith was heard saying “getting a B33 was the best thing I ever did”. Andrew Nicholls’ B33 performed like a modern bike and the various older twins and triple handled the ride like a walk in a park. It was also good to see so many new Triumphs out and, as long as their riders do not get bored by the slower machines, these will inevitably be the saviour of our club!! ROBert WALCH

20 November 13

24 november 2013

The Ross Rally

I think everyone was hanging off the B O M website all of Friday in the faint hope that the weather would clear for the 28th Ross Rally. For a fairly ordinary day weather wise, for me it turned out just fine as the 1970 Triumph Bonneville took a neat trophy and prize home. After the overnighter got cancelled, a break in weather meant a dash to Ross on Sunday. I joined up with Rob Walch on a Vellocette, Peter Bender and new member Andrew Sutherland both on BMWs and we took to the Mudwalls road which was perfect because of the lack of traffic and little or no rain. On arrival at Ross it was great to see a large turnout and many members of the BMCT milling about. We placed our bikes in the allocated year-group position and proceeded to check out the displays. We had a chat to Sanders Frith-Brown and got the OK for a visit, fantastic, and Howard was in his usual top form as chief of the microphone. It is a highlight on the BMCT Ride Calendar, an amazing event and one which should only become more fun next year with the overnighter included. Winning the Best Modern Classic 1967 to 73 was a real buzz and Graeme Gullick won an award for best veteran bike with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Fairyâ&#x20AC;?. featured below with the varnished wood tool box. Robs choice of the ride home through Levendale was quite dry and much less windy than the highway and without the traffic. To sum up , the whole day was nothing short of - Great FUN. Gary Rizzolo

WHAT IS IT?

Above: George Cresswell talks about his Velocette in Antarctica. Below: George has agreed to return in February with a slide show. Below Left: The last meeting for 2013 at the Fire station social rooms.

Layout design - Dan Butcher

BIKE

DoN LOWE

Don Lowe aged 21 on his near new 1951 Ariel Don Lowe, 58 years later in 2009. Same bike and same pose with just a few extra wrinkles. In fact the bike looks better in 2009 than it did in 1951!!!

Gary Smith

1973 Kawasaki 100, Suzuki 350 cc and then the Suzuki 185 all used as everyday commuters until I discovered women. My interest in old bikes started when I was a kid living in Roland near Sheffield and the old guy next door had two 500 BSA’s. He was known as speed Jordon [Jordon being his surname] because all the kids could keep up with him on their push bikes. In Singapore I came across the 350 Bsa which Hugh rode on the last Tassy Rally and of course the M20 which was saved from scrap yard. The Blue Star was purchased in Tassy along with the Triumph there was also a C 11 bsa in the mix as well.

BILL FRODSHAM Purchased in 1977, Bill’s early 70s T150 has clearly spent its whole life in the garage because although these photographs were taken in ‘79 the T150 looks the same today. Bill said “It’s done 100,000 miles and it still goes.” A well maintained bike with an eye on originality.

JamPot Rally 9 & 10 november 2013

Jampots & Girders Downunder Rally 2013 Ibis Styles Resort Hume Weir 138 Punters and 3 days of rides. BMCT Punters: Peter Bender 1950 AJS350, Martin Heatley Harris Matchless G80, Robert Walch 1948 AJS 500 and 1961 Model 8 350. Spring time around Hume Weir offers spectacular scenery. The weather was cool ( 20ish) and partly cloudy which was ideal for old bikes. The few showers were of no significance. Rolling hills, big rivers, a big Lake, historic towns, winding roads, lots of grass and contented cows set the scene. 2013 was organised by the Victorian section of the AJS and Matchless Owners Club and not a stone was left unturned. All states and the NT were represented plus a pom from Yorkshire. Runs, corner marshals, meals and catering all seemed to go without a hitch due to the cunning recruitment of the local Ulysses Club for marshals and Lions and Rotary Clubs for meals. All seemed to run on schedule, nobody got lost, break downs got picked up, non riders got bussed and photographers photographed. The quality and range of bikes was outstanding. Of special note were the Cowies 1912 Rudge and 1915 AJS and the Smyth 1929 AJS M10SR. But this is not to subtract from the other 20 or so flat tankers all of which were brilliantly prepared plus endless numbers of later singles and twins. The award dinner was jam packed with awards and raffle presentations which had to extend into the 100s. The keynote address was by Colin Stevens who gave us an insight into his family and AJS pre and post 1934. ROB WALCH

HUME WeiR

L to R: Roland Heatley, William(Martin and Ruthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son in Pram), Martin and Ruth Heatley with Peter Bender in between.

Ride to

10 November 2013

Strathgordon

To say that a ride was magnificent is a pretty big call even though we have some excellent rides in and around Hobart, but this ride was way up there. We gathered at Kennedy Lane in the usual fashion and it was a little overcast and threatening rain, which only eventuated later in the afternoon. We set off towards New Norfolk and agreed to meet at the Possum shed for coffee and refreshments. The riders were: Bill Frodsham 71 Triumph Trident, Gary Rizzolo 70 Bonnie, Gary Adderton MV Agusta, Jack and Kath England Mod Bonnie, Ian Bonde 04 Thruxton, Graeme Gullick BMW, and Jerry Scott Mod Triumph. It was fairly cool riding and the Possum shed was a welcome stop and we sat outside with coffees and chatted. I was looking forward to Strathgordon as I had only been there once in about 1969 and later in 71 to Lake Pedder.

Bill and I pushed on after being escorted to Maydena by Gary Adderton and talk of no fuel after Westerway saw us dutifully fill up for the journey. The road headed past the pub and into the rainforest where it did get a little drizzly. But what a road, a grey ribbon running straight through a dense canyon of trees and shrubs either side which then opened out into the Florentine valley and a quartz based landscape with mountains flanking us on one side and then the other. At one stage I saw Bill’s brake light come on (something you don’t see often) and a wallaby shot across the road, so much for ‘they only come out at night.’ We stopped at Frodsham’s Pass and took a couple of photos. Bills great grandfather and father were surveyors. Bill’s father did the surveying for the lake and dam with a young Bill tagging along, so I was honoured to be in such esteemed company. Gradually the lake came into view and the road weaved

and skirted Lake Gordon and Lake Pedder until Strathgordon appeared out of nowhere. We slipped around to the Chalet and settled in for a cuppa tea, a great homemade burger and fabulous views of the lake. After lunch we rode to the Gordon dam in time to see a group, who had been abseiling the dam face, packing up and heading out. We stood in the centre of the dam soaking in glorious sunshine and marvelled at the amount of work and tons of concrete that supported us as we gazed down the valley. The ride home was just as good as the ride up but with a bit of drizzle in and among the tall trees. What a magnificent ride to an amazing part of Tassie; a great day that was more than worthwhile. Gary Rizzolo

BRITISH MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF TASMANIA INC. The Secretary, C/o South Hobart Post Office, South Hobart 7004 Tasmania

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. Name: Address:

Phone: Mobile: Email: Family Membership:

YES / NO

British Motorcycles owned:

Other Motorcycles owned: Date: Signature: Annual Membership Fee:

$35-00

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:

long weekend

port arthur overnight

5-6

taroona blackmans bay, tinderbox

kempton, bothwell hollow tree

OATLANDS

DEC

ollie bollen festival tba

11-12

mt wellington bbq p jones

Camping on carpark area

22-23 ross rally

BENDIGO SWAP MEET

geeveston tahune

maydena tiger trail

15-16

westerway hamilton

CHANNEL CIRCUIT

richmond

ALL BRITISH RALLY-newstead vic

25-26-27-28

ferntree longley woodbridge

midweek

meeting

no meeting

agm

Note: Run destination subject to change on the day. Sunday start point is Kennedy Lane 10am. Other days meet at Fire Station, Melville Street (outside). Note: If Salamanca is not accessible. Meet at Fire Station

TOY RUn TBA - christmas bbq

D 6-7

NOV

strathgordon

N 2

OCT

O 5

SEP

S 7

AUG

A 3

JUL

lower marshes jericho

queens Birthday long weekend

sorell lewisham dodges ferry.

7-8-9

JUN

Easter weekend

18-19-20-21

channel circuit

orford

bream creek show tba

15-16

dover via police point

MAY

M 4

dunalley

A 6

APR

8-9-10

Richmond Bike show/display

M 28-1-2

MAR

national park

oatlands via evendale

FEB

Australia day Long weekend

SWANSEA/SOUTH EASTERN RALLY - SAT

south arm

jan

25-26-27

18-19

bmct 2014 calendar