Old Bike Australasia

The KTM Konundrum “Too big to fail” is an expression that gained particular prominence in the Global Financial Crisis of 2007. Put simply, it implied that big banks and financial institutions were more than individual entities, so vital that to allow them to collapse would send shock waves throughout the entire global economy. Which it did, despite pleas for government support. One argument against such bailouts was put forward by economist Alan Greenspan who said, “If they’re too big to fail, they’re too big.” We are now facing a similar meltdown in the motorcycle industry, with KTM, the seemingly irrepressible juggernaut that grew from humble beginnings in rural Austria to be the shining light in virtually every form of the sport except speedway, halted in its tracks and placed in…

Remembering Tony Regarding Tony Edwards (Under the Chequered Flag, OBA 118), I grew up in Brisbane and got to know Tony through my father when they both worked a Markwell Brothers. My father machined the alloy barrel for Tony’s 350 Matchless and Tony always said he was the best machinist in Brisbane. When Markwell Brothers imported a G45 Matchless, Tony was under the impression that he would be racing it, so when Markwells sold the bike he was fairly unhappy and left them to start his own shop. When I was 15 Tony gave me a job at his shop on Kingsford Smith Drive in Mayne. There I crashed a customer’s outfit into a truck and Tony saw the accident. Luckily I was not badly injured and was expecting a…

Five quid Harleys When one looks into old Harley WLAs for sale nowadays, they are around the $30,000 dollar mark. The WLA is a Harley-Davidson motorcycle produced to US Army specifications in the years during and around World War II. My brother Ted rode a WLA as a Don R dispatch rider in an anti-aircraft unit - the 16th HAA Unit - in the late 1950s. I was a young motorcycle hoodlum about that time, and me and my mates all rode British machines - in my case a BSA Golden Flash, and my mate Eddie had a 500cc Matchless single. We thought nought about the big ole slow ex-army Harleys, and there were not many later model Harleys in Australia at that time. However we had heard on the…

One man’s shed Over the Christmas break I managed to get some time in with some interstate travelling and visited some other folk involved in the motorcycle scene. One lucky enthusiast had a range of Vincents, a V Twin Matchless, an Excelsior Manxman, a 7R AJS and a Manx Norton. I was fortunate to be able to take a few photos and spend a bit of time admiring the range. The lucky owner explained that he grew up in Melbourne, but has not lived there for years now. He explained that in his early years money was short and he had a number of learner’s permits without ever getting much in the way of his own vehicles. Eventually he acquired a GSX 750 Suzuki and fell in love with the…

To celebrate the 50th running of the VMCC’s Easter Bathurst Tour, a gala dinner is being held at the Bathurst RSL Club on Thursday 17th April. Organiser Hans Sprangers says it will be an informal evening, beginning at 6pm. “We have a room booked in the RSL club where everyone can order and pay for meals as they wish,” says Hans. “The evening will recognise the people who have been behind this rally through the last fifty years, and we will have some presentations to them.” The Easter Tour commences on Sunday 13th April with a ride out to Trunkey Creek Hotel for lunch and concludes on the following Sunday with a short ride to O’Connell. Enquiries: Clyde Ikin Ph: 0401 773 042 or email: mailto:Bathursteastertour@gmail.com Subscription enquiries For all…

The 2025 Bridgestone Festival of Speed will take place at Sydney Motor Sport Park on March 8th and 9th. The ARDC will be holding a practice day on the Friday 7th. Classes run from Period 2 (including Class C) to Period 7, Buckets Motolite, Superlite, Commuterlite, Productionlite and Unchained F1, plus Historic and Modern Sidecars. “Racing format has changed from previous years from 1 qualifying and 3 races per category to 1 qualifying and 5 races over the two days,” says PCRA president Ken Lindsay. “This is an attempt to offer competitors and spectators better value for money. Spectator entry is via a cash donation at the pit entrance. There will be a “donation barrel” positioned prominently. Camping is available at the circuit. “Our major sponsor is again Bridgestone, but…