REPORT – 2019 All British Rally
Words and Photos: Mike Ryan
This year’s 43rd edition of the All British Rally (ABR) was widely agreed to be one of the best ever. With 908 entries, that’s hardly surprising.
That ongoing success is largely due to the efforts of the host club, the BSA Motorcycle Owners Association (BSAMOA), who created the rally more than four decades ago.
Beyond the sheer numbers of British bikes, bike owners and enthusiasts that turn up each year, what makes the ABR special is the variety of bikes you encounter.
Some may think a British-only bike rally would lack diversity, but they couldn’t be more wrong. BSA is well represented, as you’d expect, but Britain’s long history in motorcycle manufacturing is reflected in brands like Norton, Triumph, Vincent, Ariel, Matchless, Velocette, Royal Enfield, AJS and Sunbeam being spotted at the rally, as well rarities like Seeley, Rickman and Silk. This year, one of the rarest bikes in attendance was a 1920s-era Grindlay-Peerless v-twin.
The types of machinery on show are diverse, too, with everything from small commuter bikes and scooters to scramblers and street trackers, competition bikes and long-distance tourers, as well as sidecar outfits of all shapes, sizes and purposes. Spend an afternoon wandering through the ABR campgrounds at the Old Newstead Racecourse and you’ll get an education in all things British motorcycling!
Another great thing about the ABR is its ongoing authenticity to the bike rallies of old. The current rallies may see more than a few bikes trailered in, but a healthy proportion of ABR entrants still do the ride-and-tent thing, and for many, riding to the event and spending the weekend camping with mates is the highlight of their motorcycling year.
The BSAMOA make sure there’s more than just a chance to pitch a tent and have a chinwag at the ABR, with trophies to be won across a range of categories, stallholders on site with all manner of bike-related gear for sale, a swap meet at the campground, as well as a live band, food and coffee. Local service groups provide the tucker, so the ABR is good for these organisations and the Newstead community, too.
Each year, there’s a bike to be won by rally entrants as a gate prize, which has been a popular attraction. This time around, it was a ’55 Matchless G80, which went to stalwart ABR attendee Graham ‘Ned’ Holloway. On crutches at the event, Holloway couldn’t enjoy his new toy immediately, but says he plans to ride it to the 44th ABR next year.
Rides around the region are an ABR staple, too, with the Saturday trip to Maldon a particular highlight. This year, more than 200 riders made the short 14km run to the quaint country town and practically filled a full block with bikes.
Bike highlights? Ask 100 different people that question this year and it’s likely you would have got 100 different answers. But for many, the famous Jack Ehret Vincent Black Lightning was hard to top. As previously reported in JUST BIKES, this machine set an Australian Land Speed Record in Ehret’s hands and has a long history in this country. When it sold at a Las Vegas auction last year for more than AU$1.1 million – setting a new world record price in the process – it was thought it would go to the USA or UK, but finding the buyer was a Australian Peter Bender was a pleasant surprise. What’s even more surprising is that Bender isn’t afraid to get the bike out to shows and ride it like it was intended.
Classic racing fans would have also been google-eyed at the sight of an AJS 7R race bike that was being road-ridden, while a brilliant JAP v-twin-engined speedway outfit was a favourite amongst the sidecar fraternity.
Got the urge to get to next year’s 44th ABR? All you need is a British bike and a desire to spend a great weekend with like-minded owners and enthusiasts. Held annually each April, entry details, updates and further event information on the ABR can be found on the BSAMOA website – bsa.asn.au.
Thanks to Alan Howlett of the BSAMOA for assistance with this article
