Australian story

[raypond]

There must be something in the water in Wangaratta (where Doug, the subject of the doco, lives) as it has more than its fair share of interesting motorcycling people for a town of 20,000.

Barry at the 'Vintage Motorcycle Swap Shop' should charge to get into his business - it's as good as a motorbike museum. He displays about 100 bikes (and reckons he has more than that a in mysterious 'other shed'), mostly English and '60s or earlier and many very rare and curious machines (Ner-a-Car anyone?). God knows where he really gets them from but he has lots of strange stories and is always vague about a bike's origins.

Fred is the finest machinist I ever met (and an arrogant prick) and has a very nice Ariel Square Four. He also has an Ariel Red Hunter that he literally did a ground-up restoration on. He rode it to the end of his street to check that it worked and was perfect and ever since it has been parked behind his couch in the lounge room. I've seen it. He apparently wants to be buried with it.

Peter had (sadly he died last year) an immaculate BSA Gold Star outfit. He would ride it (slowly) to bike shows all over the country, win the trophy for best outfit, and then ride (slowly) home again.

Another Peter has six pre-war Triumphs. Each is superbly restored (by him) and on full rego. He'll happily ride any one of them to a rally or show pretty much anywhere in the country. Trailering bikes is for wimps.

Buster was the World 125cc GP Champion on his Morbidelli. Hell of a nice bloke and he'd bring the bike to the show I mentioned earlier.

Just out of Wangaratta in Chiltern is Charles - the world's leading authority on New Imperials. He literally wrote the book on them. He also manufactures beautiful reverse levers for classic bikes.

And just down the road at Yackandandah is Leigh who raced the world's fastest BSA bantam. Don't laugh - it'd do 100mph.

Funny old world.

[SteveD]

This url might have it available for our NH cousins.

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/ ... efault.htm

[Sibbo]

And just down the road at Yackandandah is Leigh who raced the world's fastest BSA bantam. Don't laugh - it'd do 100mph.
.

I'm not laughing , I grew up with racing Bantams

[Steve78RS]

Actually Grant , i reckon the son was quite happy to see Dad away on his bike ...as a boy .Some Dad's are better out of the house .

Gidday Sibbo,

Yeap I suppose so mate, I also heard his son say that the house was quieter and more relaxed with him away, that I find a bit sad and probably deep down the son was wishing he was on those trips with his dad, bonding and not left behind or the whole family off doing something fun together away from the shitty home & busy work enviroment, i find that selfish that only one gets to go, each to their own I guess but not for me....

That does it Grant. I'm not going to Nimbin. You've opened my eyes to the selfish life I've been leading these last years. It's time to invest in a sidecar.

Cheers from OZ

[grant81rs]

Actually Grant , i reckon the son was quite happy to see Dad away on his bike ...as a boy .Some Dad's are better out of the house .

Gidday Sibbo,

Yeap I suppose so mate, I also heard his son say that the house was quieter and more relaxed with him away, that I find a bit sad and probably deep down the son was wishing he was on those trips with his dad, bonding and not left behind or the whole family off doing something fun together away from the shitty home & busy work enviroment, i find that selfish that only one gets to go, each to their own I guess but not for me....

That does it Grant. I'm not going to Nimbin. You've opened my eyes to the selfish life I've been leading these last years. It's time to invest in a sidecar.

Cheers from OZ

Now Stephen let me clear something up here please

On the TV show the old fella had a map of the world up on his wall and he proudly stood there and said, "I've camped and ridden on every continent around the world" there were heaps of marker pins dotted all over the map right across every bloody country, now that sort of thing to do takes time and money and with time someone has to miss out if it was done solo and bet it was the kids and they probably seen their dad as a groovy old motorbike adventurer but they would of also thought "why can't we go to" guaranteed......
There are the types of trips I was talking about "Selfish", not ya weekend trips for a couple of days, shit everyone needs a little timeout now and then.

[Steve78RS]

Just messing with ya Grant.

I watched the show with interest last week and didn't really form a connection with the old guy. As others have said, he is fiercely independent and was confronted by others who held out a friendly hand. Un-selfish behaviour is not part of his DNA. Very old school but many of his generation were. The new-age, metro-sexual, family friendly male who rides an old BMW is a very balanced individual I say.

Cheers from OZ

Steve

[grant81rs]

Just messing with ya Grant.
. The new-age, metro-sexual, family friendly male who rides an old BMW is a very balanced individual I say.

Cheers from OZ

Steve

Best sentence I've read in a long time that one , now go back ya bike and get it ready for Nimbin and make sure you drag that hard working Mal along for the fun to