REPORT – 2019 Shannons Insurance Broadford Bike Bonanza
Words & Photos: Mike Ryan
Anyone who thought last year’s tenth anniversary Shannons Insurance Broadford Bike Bonanza (SIBBB) would be impossible to top were proven wrong. The 2019 running of this now well-established Easter event at the Victorian State Motorcycle Sports Complex in Broadford was better than ever.
Many people shared JUST BIKES’ opinion that the eleventh annual Bonanza was a ripper, particularly the road race circuit, which was buzzing all weekend and had an epic display of Honda Fours and other attractions in the adjacent paddock, while the speedway circuit just goes from strength to strength.
This year’s event saw 430 entries received, equating to 630+ riders, many of whom took the opportunity to camp at the circuit over the weekend. Spectator turnout was impressive, too – on a par with last year, if not better. For SIBBB spectators, the beauty of the event being at Broadford is that all the tracks are within walking distance of each other – even if that up-hill-and-down-dale walk got a bit tiring by the end of the weekend!
Variety Plus
For those not familiar with the Bonanza, it’s open to all motorcycles on a sliding 25-years-and-older rule, which this year equated to nothing newer than 1994. This approach ensures it doesn’t become an “old blokes” event, with fresh blood and fresh bikes welcomed each year to ride the various tracks at Broadford.
All the riding is exactly that: riding, not racing. The SIBBB is a non-competition event, although based on JUST BIKES’ observation of the speedway circuit this year, some of the riders there stretched the definition of that rule!
JUST BIKES spoke to SIBBB assistant co-ordinator, Peter Drakeford, who shared our sentiments on the success of this year’s classic celebration.
“It was pretty hard to top last year’s Bonanza, with all the stars we had at the speedway and the road area, too, but this year, the speedway and dirt track guys outdid themselves again.”
Peter added that the ongoing success of the speedway section of the event was largely down to Rick Wason: “He’s been a dynamo. He’s mad keen on the sliders and speedway. He knows everybody and it’s through his enthusiasm that everybody comes out.”
Three generations of the Crumps – Phil, Jason and Seth – were on track this year, as well as the likes of Clarry Jones and Mitch Shirra, to name a few.
As popular as the speedway circuit was, there were just as many attractions at the road race circuit this year, too; like the Ron Angel competition bike display and the million-dollar Vincent Black Lightning (see JUST BIKES #349), but the event is built upon - and thrives on - grass roots involvement.
“It’s basically an enthusiast’s event - that’s what it’s all about,” Peter explained. “Guys polish up their old steed, get it ready for the event and ride there, or get their old race bike out, freshen it up, do a few laps, have a cup of tea and chat with their mates, then do it all over again.”
For many, the SIBBB is a chance to catch up with friends they don’t see at any other time of the year, so it’s as much a social event as it is a motorcycle event.
Attractions beyond the riding include the swap meet that runs all weekend and a special gala dinner on the Saturday evening, where the event’s special and invited guests share a few yarns about the good old days.
Honda Heaven
With the 50th Anniversary for the Honda CB750 this year, SIBBB organisers called on owners of classic Honda fours to bring them to Broadford. Those owners responded, with dozens bringing their bikes out for the weekend. An added treat was a parade lap of the road race circuit and a gathering on the start/finish line for a group photo.
SIBBB organisers welcomed all Honda Fours to this year’s event, so a walk up and down the lines of Fours on display showed 350s and 500s amongst the 750s. Those who had entered for track time took the opportunity to run laps in their respective classes, too.
However, as special as this gathering of Honda CB750s was, there are some that are extra special. As evidence of this, SIBBB organisers managed to prise the CR750 out of Motorcycling Australia’s collection for the weekend. One of only four built, this bike had originally been shipped to a WA-based Honda team.
Other 750 Four rarities included a pair of the ‘sandcast’ early production models amongst more than a dozen other examples of the classic K-Series CB750, all of which were virtually spotless restorations.
The Honda Fours weren’t just limited to the paddock, though: there were examples in action all over the complex, from the speedway circuit to the road race track.
If you’re looking to join the Honda Four community, there’s a chance to pick one up for just $50 via the Honda CB750 Owners Club of Australia. As previously reported in JUST BIKES, the club are raffling off three Honda Fours this year to raise money for the Black Dog Ride. The bikes on offer, all 1972 models, include a CB350, CB500 and CB750, and have been completely restored by club members and Pud’s Four Parts in Yarram, VIC.
Sidecar Spectacular
Beyond the Honda Fours, the other big attraction this year was the sidecars. Organisers made a concerted effort to encourage outfits to get involved this year and those efforts paid off, with outfits of all shapes and sizes in action on the road race, trials, speedway and MX circuits – and even the enduro loop.
“It was just fantastic to see sidecars in every discipline,” Peter enthused.
On the road race circuit, the sleek Irving Vincent outfits attracted attention – as they always do – but there were plenty more to see and hear there, including the LCR outfts of Shane Soutar.
On the speedway circuit, a couple of Vincent-powered outfits were an aural feast, but these were made to look slow by a twin-engined Triumph outfit that was very quick on its demonstration laps.
However, in terms of getting ‘bang for your buck’ from your SIBBB entry, no-one exceeded the efforts of Helen Mattock. From South Australia, Mattock and partner ran an EML Yamaha trials outfit on the trials course, enduro loop, speedway/dirt track circuit and MX circuit. They might have even turned a couple of laps on the road race circuit, too!
Speedway Special
On the speedway track, the Saturday evening Speedway Spectacular attracted what some estimated to be the biggest crowd this element of the event has ever attracted.
SIBBB regulars Jason and Phil Crump were joined by Seth Crump, making three generations on the circuit, joined for parade laps by other speedway luminaries, too.
Clarry Jones, John Titman, Dennis Nash, John Boulger and Phil Herne were on the list, along with others that hardcore speedway and dirt track fans would be much more familiar with.
At the Gala Dinner on Easter Saturday, some of these speedway legends were amongst the special guests, all interviewed in a casual manner by MC Peter Drakeford in an evening that proved to be a lot of fun for audience and participants alike.
Angel Fleet
After wowing the crowds at last year’s SIBBB, the Ron Angel display of vintage race bikes was back again this year, with a slight tweak to the display allowing more room around each bike, so punters could check out this menagerie up close without tripping over each other.
Ron’s display showcased famous and forgotten marques, as well as rarities, like a Kawasaki KA1 125 works bike, ’79 Yamaha TZ-F 350, ’56 Moto Guzzi 350 Bialbero (that was a World Championship winner with Keith Campbell in the saddle) and its “Bigger Brother” in the Otto Cilindri 500cc V8.
This year’s display also included a very tidy MZ 250 from 1964 and a ’73 Paton 500, one of only two built, that was on the road race circuit in the hands of Tom Bramich’s dad, Darren.
The Jawa V4 that blew everyone’s mind last year was back, along with others from the collection, like the ’62 Manx Norton that’s been virtually unbeatable in P3 competition for the past two years.
That’s the other thing to note about Ron’s collection: while some of them are temperamental, all of them run – Ron would start up one every now and again to prove it - and many of them are still raced in historic competition.
Ride, Relax, Repeat
As much as we’ve been banging out about the marque anniversaries, special themes, rare bikes and special guests at this year’s SIBBB, most of the people who were there will tell you the best part of the weekend was the time they spent on the track themselves. Sure, it’s good to spectate, but it’s much more fun to get involved.
If your calendar for Easter 2020 is looking vacant and you’re looking for somewhere to ride, put the Bonanza in your calendar now. The coming months will give you plenty of time to get that pre-1996 project up and running… or maybe source a new one through JUST BIKES!
