Fred Howie Trophie

Article by John McNair

THE FRED HOWIE PERPETUAL TROPHY IS AWARDED EACH YEAR TO THE PERSON HAVING ENTERED THE OLDEST BIKE AT OUR ANNUAL NATIONAL RALLY. FRED HOWIE RAN AN ENGINEERING BUSINESS IN THE INNER BRISBANE SUBURB OF WOLLONGABBA FOR MANY YEARS PERFORMING ENGINE REBUILDS, BORING AND MACHINING FOR ENTHUSIASTS BOTH IN THE TWO WHEEL WORLD AS WELL AS THE FOUR WHEEL WORLD.

During a discussion with Brisbane VJMC member Graeme Knight in the mid nineties about Fred’s visit to the historic Brooklands Race Track in the UK the idea came up for the trophy. The Brooklands circuit was a concrete track near Weybridge in Surrey, England. The circuit was a 2.75 mile or 4.43klm banked track made out of concrete. Brooklands opened in 1907 and was the world’s first purpose built motor racing circuit. The grounds also contained an airfield and by 1918 was Britian’s largest aircraft manufacturing complex, producing legendry aircraft such as Wellington, the Viscount and the VC10. The circuit hosted its last race in August 1939 and today part of it forms the Brookland Museum, a major aviation and motoring museum, as well as a venue for the vintage car, motorcycle and other transport related events. It was during a visit to the UK that Fred visited the historic track where he found that part of the track was still there, although in a state of decay. Fred found a loose piece of concrete that had been part of the track for many years and he brought it back home with him. Fred wanted to support the VJMC Rally with a trophy and thought, what better way to preserve this piece of Brooklands history. Fred cut out the timber for the trophy then machined the wheel into the timber. He then inserted the spokes and plaques to finish off this beautiful trophy, and it was his wish that the trophy be awarded to the Oldest Motorcycle at each VJMC National Rally in the years to come. Fred retired about 15 years ago and moved to the country village of Roadvale about one hour south west of Brisbane. The first winner of the trophy was Doug Beak in 1996 with a 1961 Suzuki TA250. This rally was the first to be held in Queensland and was held at Bribie Island just north of Brisbane. In the years since, the trophy has been won with a varied array of early Japanese motorcycles from Tony Sculpher’s 1956 Honda SA250 Dream in 2017, Frank Loveridge’s 1959 Merguro 250ST in 2018 and Mick Bulman’s 1959 Lilac in 2003. Others included Jim Loveridge’s 1958 Honda 250C71, Geoffrey Ellis’s 1959 Yamaha YDS1R in 2016, Paul Rowling’s 1965 Honda 250 CB72 in 2015, Ricky Grima’s 1958 Honda C71 in 2002, Alan Shire’s 1962 Honda CB72 Racer in 1999 and many others. The Fred Howie Trophy continues making history each year at the VJMC National Rally when yet another winner holds it for the next year.