2018 AMCA Australian Antique Motorcycle Weekend
Words & Photos: Dave ‘Baldy’ Hellyer
The second annual Australian Antique Motorcycle Weekend was held over the weekend of the 25-26th August at the Bulli Showgrounds, just north of Wollongong.
Event organisers, the Antique Motorcylce Club of America - Australia (AMCA), attracted a mouthwatering variety of antique motorcycles, all 35 years of age and older, to the first show in 2017 and the variety of bikes on display in 2018 was just as impressive, if not better.
Variety Plus
As attendees and participants alike wandered amongst the venue’s various ‘spots’, motorcycle manufacturers represented included Triumph, Norton, BSA, Royal Enfield, AJS and Matchless, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Indian, Laverda, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki; which are the sort of marques you’d expect to see. But it’s what you wouldn’t expect to see that makes the Australian Antique Motorcycle Weekend such a great event. I’m talking rare marques like ACE 4, Vincent HRD, Minerva, Zenith, Douglas, Precision, Velocette, Maico, Excelsior, and even Brough Superior, as well as a collection of Speedway bikes.
It’s this sort of diversity that the show both promotes and focusses on – it’s really an umbrella event for all makes and models. British, European, Japanese, American, or anywhere else for that matter, are all welcome as long as they’re old enough.
The bikes represented an impressive display of motorcycle history, advancements, style, performance, patina, longevity, loyalty, mechanical expertise and, last but not least, budgets.
If you’ve been toying with the decision to buy a vintage motorcycle, the Australian Antique Motorcycle Weekend was a great place to be. If you’re coming down with the “vintage bug” that has caught so many, you would have been in good company at this show, as there were plenty of opportunities to ask owners, enthusiasts and riders of the various makes and models on display - those already bitten by the bug! - all those questions you’ve been so keen to ask.
Not Just Bikes
The enthusiastic crowd that had gathered by midday on the opening Saturday of the event was a sign that a successful weekend was to be had.
Aside from the awesome bikes on display, there were parts and memorabilia, also subject to the 35 years and older rule, and a swap meet with a wide variety of motorcycle-related goods. As you would expect, with plenty of wheeling and dealing took place throughout the weekend.
One of these vendors was particularly noteworthy as he had a 1916 model Thor on display that he was seeking parts for. For those unfamiliar with the name, Thor was an American motorcycle brand, first produced in 1903 by the ‘Aurora Automatic Machine Company’ of Aurora, Illinois. Mostly forgotten today, this company nevertheless had a significant influence on the American motorcycle industry as they happened to have Oscar Hedstrom, Al Crocker, and Bill Ottoway on their payroll in the early days. This trio of talented individuals should be much more familiar as all three ended up quite famous for their involvement in the progression of Indian Motorcycles, Crocker Motorcycles and Harley-Davidson, respectively.
I did mention earlier the motorcycling history on display, and this Thor was a great example. Being a 1916 model, it’d be from the last year of Thor production (ironically, Aurora wound up Thor production as the brand was being outsold in the market by the likes of Harley and Indian). But being “newer” doesn’t mean parts are any easier to get for a motorcycle like this. Finding genuine parts for a motorcycle that is over one hundred years old is a tough task, but that’s part of the vintage bug!
Invest and Learn
By the time the event’s motorcycle auction got underway later on Saturday afternoon, the crowd was shoulder to shoulder in the undercover pavilion at the Showgrounds, with a huge interest in the results. The auctioneer, Andrew Tyson, kept the bidders keen and bids coming in. And when the last lot crossed the blocks, more than $250,000 had changed hands.
Two Harley-Davidson models attracted the highest bids: a 1946 EL61 Knucklehead went for $78,750, while a 1953 FL Hydra-Glide with a measly 28,000 original miles on the clock sold for $65,100! Both these bikes are proven investments.
Another weekend highlight was the variety of tech seminars presented by subject experts.
Firstly, there was Don Dzurick, AMCA Chief Judge. Delivering a seminar on how the AMCA judging system works, Don explained that AMCA bikes are evaluated on a 100-point scale against what the bike looked like when it left the factory. As applied to the bikes on show at Bulli, this criteria brought interesting results, but it’s based on the tried and true model of the AMCA in America.
Don has travelled from the USA to attend both Australian Antique Motorcycle Weekends and is sure to be welcomed back as he’s great company and his love and knowledge of vintage motorcycles is infectious – I’m sure he’s got the vintage bug, too!
Of the other seminars, Dennis Quinlan covered chronometric speedometers, Peter Wilson talked soldering and silver soldering, Chris Zoch detailed magnetos and generators, David Pagano explained and demonstrated simple metal fabrication, Brian Martin and Miro Radojcin covered wheel building, Jason Baverstock talked speedo/tacho restoration, while Bob Brookland demonstrated the art of hand pinstriping and Bill Brice shared his amazing Australian vintage land speed record experiences.
Antony Gullick discussed geaboxes, specifically doing without them, and the interesting subject of “riding a veteran motorcycle”. That should be simple enough, right? Err, not when you have to deal with the constant adjustments of throttle, timing and air-fuel mixture required with a veteran, not to mention the effort required to get a bike without a gearbox going, the hand-pump oil systems and more. Spend a few minutes trying to master a veteran motorcycle and you’ll realise those “modern” riders (I’m talking those on anything built after World War II) have never had it so good, while anything built after the AMCA’s 35-year cut-off period may as well be out of a Buck Rogers film!
These tech seminars were a terrific addition to the weekend, with all that information and hands-on knowledge presented by the speakers worth the cost of admission alone: a great effort by the presenters and a credit to the organisers.
Finally, the keynote speech for 2018 was presented by by Old Bike Australasia editor and successful racer, Jim Scaysbrook. But ‘keynote speech’ makes it sound too formal: it was really a great yarn as Jim outlined his experiences riding with the late and legendary Mike Hailwood on a Ducati 750SS at the Castrol Six Hour and Adelaide Three Hour. Jim also raced the 750SS at Bathurst in 1978 and won the 750 Production race with a new lap record that stood for several years. The Ducati, on loan from Motorcycling Australia’s museum collection, was on display over the weekend, too - what a great bike and what a great experience shared by Jim.
Second Event was First Class
AMCA Australia President Tony Blain, one of nine hardworking people that were involved in organising the second Australian Antique Motorcycle Weekend event, confidently stated that “we have increased on last year’s attendance” as the 2018 show wrapped up.
“We have had over 3,000 people attend, which is exactly what we hoped would happen,” Tony explained. “People have come from all over the country and even overseas.
“We are locked in for the next five or six years, on the last full weekend in August, at the same location - Bulli.”
Vincent treat at Australian Antique Motorcycle Weekend 2019
With great bikes, a swap meet, historic motorcycle club displays, trade stalls, tech seminars, bike auction, AMCA judging, demonstrations, a peoples choice motorcycle show, camp sites, tasty tucker and beverages, the Australian Antique Motorcycle Weekend also has a great bunch of people to mingle with; people who have an absolute passion for vintage, veteran, historic, and classic motorcycles.
Beyond all these attractions, there’s an extra reason to come to this year’s show, as the most valuable motorcycle ever sold at auction – all $1.6 million of it - will return to where it set a national land speed record 66 years ago.
In 1953, a 1951 Vincent Black Lightning became part of Australian motoring history after Mascot–born speedster Jack Ehret rode it into the record books. Over two runs on a quarter mile stretch of road near Gunnedah, NSW, Ehret averaged 141.5 miles per hour [227.7kph] to set a new Australian land speed record.
This globally important, record-breaking motorcycle will be at Bulli on 24-25 August, 2019, for all to see and, more importantly, to also hear. Don’t miss out!
Remember the AMCA puts on a show where all makes and models 35 years old and older are welcome. See you at Bulli.
AMCA Australia also encourages you to become a member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America where you will enjoy a host of benefits. Check: amcaaustralia.org for details.
