PREVIEW - 2020 All British Rally
Please note the original article was published prior to the announcement of restrictions from the Federal Government in re: COVID-19.
As a result, this event will be postponed until further notice.
For those with tickets, see below the press release from the President of the BSA Motorcycle Owner's Association, Rick Gardner.
An annual institution for British bike fans, the All British Rally® is set for another big year in 2020.
Presented by the BSA Motorcycle Owner’s Association (BSAMOA), this year’s 44th annual All British Rally® (ABR) is scheduled for 24 – 27 April and will continue the successful formula that has made it the largest all-British motorcycle rally in the southern hemisphere.
For British bike buffs, every ABR® is heaven, but this year’s 44th rally is tipped to be a special one, as the BSAMOA are introducing new elements aimed at giving rallygoers more bang for their buck.
Newstead Base
As with past ABRs, Newstead in country Victoria (approx. 140km northeast of Melbourne) will be home base for the event.
The Old Newstead Recreation and Racecourse Reserve will be the hub for the three-night campout, British bike display, regional rides, swap meet, trade stands, event merchandise and more.
Gates open from 12 Noon on Friday 24th April, with plenty of campsite space and provision for campfires (subject to CFA approval), firewood, showers and toilets on site, a licensed bar on Friday and Saturday, as well as food and coffee all weekend.
For 2020, the BSAMOA have upped the ante on the food, with an expanded and improved menu, while the entertainment is getting a makeover, too.
Soul and Substitutes
On Friday 24th, Vince ‘The Prince’ Peach will make his ABR® debut. The host of ‘Soul Time’ on PBS (the longest running soul music programme in the world), Peach will spin a selection of classic and northern soul tracks throughout the evening. He’s a British bike owner, too!
On Saturday 25th, The Substitutes will play the best British music from the ‘60s. With a lineup that has played with the likes of Eric Clapton and Roy Orbison, The Substitutes cover not just The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but also The Animals, Small Faces, The Troggs, Manfred Mann, The Who, Dave Clark Five and The Yardbirds, to name a few. The Substitutes will definitely bring the party to Saturday night!
Maldon en Masse
On Saturday 25th April, the traditional ABR® ride to Maldon will see rally entrants flood the main street of this quaint country town with hundreds of British motorcycles. If you can only make it for a day of the ABR®, make this the day, as it’s Brit Bike nirvana!
The run from Newstead to Maldon is a short 28km round trip, so even the oldest British iron can handle the journey. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities for entrants to extend their ride and explore other roads in the region throughout the weekend.
Enter and Win
All makes, models and eras of British bikes are welcome to attend the All British Rally, with trophies to be won across a number of categories for registered entrants who ride to the event.
Pre-paid entries – before 6 April - for this year’s 44th ABR® are only $60.00 per person ($15 for kids 5 – 15), which includes rally entry for British bike owners, badge, Saturday lunch and entry to the gate prize draw. Pre-paid entries can be booked online at: bsa.asn.au
Entries received after 6 April or at the gate are $65.00 per person, with access to all the facilities, but no guaranteed rally badge or gate prize entry.
This year’s gate prize is a 1994 Triumph Sprint 900. An unsung gem from the Hinckley-era, the bike is in very good condition, with panniers and a sheepskin seat cover included, and is also eligible for club registration.
If you don’t own a British-built bike, you’re still welcome at the ABR®, with a separate parking area for cars, caravans, campervans and non-British bikes adjacent to the main campsite.
For further details on ABR® entry and all the event Ts & Cs, go to http://bsa.asn.au/ or call 0418 350 350.
