“It’s a tight squeeze getting them in; we can’t have sidecars anymore because those don’t fit in.”
Eighty-odd British, Japanese, American, and European motorbikes, including scooters and mopeds as old as 97 and owned by some of the 220 members in the Nelson Classic and Vintage Motorcycle Club, will pack into the Richmond Badminton Hall for a sleek display on January 10 and 11.
Co-organiser and club member Paul Farrar says the sole purpose is a social event for members, followed by the public opportunity to perhaps take a trip down memory lane and rev up ideas for a future pride and joy, and extra funds and younger bikies to become members, as the club’s average age is 75.
“We’ll get two or 300 of the public through, and it’s a good chance to reminisce and see history, have a look at the bikes that you might have had when you were younger, or might have dreamed of owning when you were younger,” he says.
“It is also a good chance for [club members] to have a good time, because people come up to you and start talking bikes.
“The other thing we do with the public is we have a public vote for their favourite motorbike… each member has got their own favourite bike and the favourite brand, so a public vote avoids any bad feeling among certain club members.”
Paul says a sausage sizzle, club memorabilia sales, a stall run by Golden Bay motorcycle enthusiast and author Des Molloy, and chairs for those who get tire-d are also there to accommodate the motorheads.
A swap meet for mostly motorcycle-related collectibles also starts up on Sunday morning. The Classic Bike Show runs between 9am and 5pm both Saturday and Sunday, and adults are $5, with children and club members free of charge.
