Like Rumplestiltskin waking from a Covid Coma, Victorians are ready to rock and roll. And what better place to restart our road riding repertoire than Gippsland in autumn.
Words: Roderick Eime Photos: Roderick Eime, Ces deSouza, Peter Washington
Poor Victoria. It may be the home of AFL and the birthplace of Australia’s coffee culture, but 2020 saw the southern state endure the harshest lockdown restrictions with the crippling 112-day isolation pushing folks to the brink.
Work has given me four days off in a row. So I rallied the troops for a weekend of cautious legal speed limit adventure riding. I am not sure if it's David's mystery road navigation techniques or the fact it's getting cold but only a few were keen.
Celebrating more than 70 years in continuous production, Italy’ iconic Vespa still cuts a stylish line through the world’s back alleys and side streets.
Words: Roderick Eime
When Audrey Hepburn’s character, Princess Anya, wobbled and swerved her way around the busy piazzas in the 1953 classic romantic comedy, Roman Holiday, little did she know what a cultural icon she was about to create both for herself and the machine.
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| Read the full story in Issue 177 of HEAVY DUTY MAGAZINE |
Tyred and Tested
Commissioned for Costco
Classic Corollas in Daring Desert Dash
A dozen well-worn little Japanese sedans and coupes will tackle some of Australia’s toughest outback tracks in the name of fun, camaraderie and charity.
Image: 2020 participants celebrate in SA's Flinders Ranges. In the foreground is 'Uncle' Ken Adams' Car 7 'Matilda' a 40yo Corolla that has taken part in 10 events. (Roderick Eime)
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For media enquiries, please contact Ron Rogers rogsr@bigpond.net.au || 0418 853 020
Copyright released, high-resolution images from 2020 can be found here: http://rodei.me/CC20_Media
Where the public can see the 2021 Corolla Caper cars
Note: times are approximate
Saturday 26 June:
Gepps Cross Kartmania 08:00
Gumeracha 09:00
Birdwood 09:15
Mannum Ferry 10:00
Tintinara 15:00
Sunday 27 June:
Lameroo (refueling) 10:00
Pinnaroo 11:00
Renmark (refueling) 13:00
Tuesday 29 June:
Broken Hill/Silverton 16:00
Wed 30 June:
Silverton all day
Thu 1 July:
Broken Hill/Silverton 10:00
Yunta 12:00
The switch to a custom exhaust system is probably one of the most frequently considered and executed aftermarket modifications for any bike owner. But what things do you need to consider? Will you get a big power boost from a fancy new exhaust system?
Join MotoFest Wauchope this year, for the 5th Anniversary Celebration of our Motorcycle Friendly Town of Wauchope. The annual Moto Fest Wauchope is on Saturday the 11th of September 2021 at the Wauchope Showgrounds $10 entry kids under 18 free with an Adult.
On site Camping Available from $10 per site per night, Book them thru the caretaker at the Showgrounds on 0475111074. It's going to Be HUGE this year with things like the Motorcycle Show N Shine, Motorcycle Gymkhana, Tattoo Show, as well as Vendor Stalls. Ride in by the PMQ Classic Motorcycle Club, Plus Lots Lots more yet to be announced so save the date and get yourself along to #motofestwauchope
We invite all Japanese motorcycle clubs and all scooter clubs to display at the 2021 event.
Bulli Showground has been booked and we look forward to welcoming enthusiasts to the event. Any change due to Covid 19 will be advised on the AMCA Australia website, Instagram, Facebook page and by email to our database.
If you would like to be included in our contact list please email VL Phill at AMCA.AusWeb@gmail.com.
Our fearless correspondent, Paul Davies, doesn't let a bit of wild weather dampen his enthusiasm for motorcycle touring.
I was on time. Waiting with coffee in hand at the predetermined cafe. The bearded one pulled into the service station across the road and pumped up his tyres, left his lights on and drained the battery.
My dear Uncle Ken, now 87, was a pioneer of the automotive aftermarket business, starting with a humble wrecking yard on Port Road at Beverley in Adelaide's early industrial heartland.
The first enterprise, Main Motors, grew to become Mainstyle, a network of retail outlets along the lines of today's Supercheap Auto or AutoBahn.
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| An early newspaper advertisement c.1966 |
Here are some of his recollections:
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| Ken Adams |
In the late ‘50s and the early 60s, the typical new car purchased by the average Australian was very basic.
There were none of the creature comforts we are so used to today.
Some of the more expensive models like Wolseley 6/80s, Austin Princess, Mercedes, etc. did have a radio and possibly a heater. However, if the average motorist wanted to hear the news or music, they had to buy an expensive radio and have it fitted.
Even if available, the early automobile heaters were very basic. For example, a heater core was placed under the vent which opened in front of the windscreen or a hole cut in the firewall with a 3-inch tube running up to the radiator bringing in warm air. I could go on at length describing all of the primitive heaters manufactured at the time, enough to fill a book.
One of the innovators was Reg Tilley who designed a rudimentary, under-dash heater for 48 Series Holdens in the '40s.
There was even a bar-type heater which quickly proved itself dangerous and quickly drained the car’s battery.
In my opinion, the best one at the time was the English-built Smiths fan-driven heater. It was round with little doors which fitted under the dash but was fairly expensive.
Towelling seat covers were a must followed by clear plastic ones. If you could afford it, a lay-back seat was a bonus for camping. These were distributed by Wiltshires.
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| This beautifully accessorised 1963 EJ Premier is owned by Peter Barbadonis |
Other exterior accessories available at the time included the very popular sunvisor. These were made in a metal mesh and sold in all colours. If you could afford it, a metal one painted in the same colour as your car could be purchased.
The first windscreen protectors were large and clumsy mesh things that were later replaced by more practical plastic ones.
Then there was the vinyl roof and rear-wheel spats which covered the opening in the rear mudguard. Some of these fancy items were vented. You could add whitewall tyres or chrome wheel trims of all shapes and sizes. The cheaper aluminium ones went under the hub cap while the full covers came in many designs. Some even looked like wire wheels. Mag wheels came much later.
For an interior with all the comforts of home, you could get a Venetian blind in black or white, but they often rattled.
You can argue whether it was classy or crass, but a fluffy rear deck mat with a nodding dog or cat was seen on many cool cars as was an electric, blue-bladed fan on the dash. (We think the brand was 'Marenu')
To be continued
With last month’s news of Holden delivering zero vehicles in the month of January, it would seem the last nail has been driven home for the once iconic Aussie badge.
If you were going to cite your best-remembered police bike, most of us would cite the big Harley-Davidson as the most iconic in this genre. But you might be surprised that some of the bikes ridden by the boys in blue were not the muscular Highway Patrol machine of legend.
