Ray Owen Concours
This event keeps getting better every year. It is a credit to the Tamborine Area of the HMCCQ and it does the late Ray Owen name proud. This year’s chosen marque was Indian and a large display from circa 1902 through to the present was sponsored by Indian Motorcycles Brisbane. There was no time to sit idle with the show bike display, huge swap meet, vendor tents, food vans and a show and tell motorcycle on stage every half hour. The only non-motorcycle related presence was that of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation. The Ray Owen is run in support of this charity and money raised from their sales tent along with a donation from the event takings goes towards rehabilitation equipment. During the trophy presentation, Vicky James (the FundRaising Manager) brought along a Quickie ‘Tilt in Space’ wheelchair to show where last year’s funds went.
The motorcycles on display were varied with a good cross section of history from the veterans to the ‘80s. I was particularly interested in the replica Roper Steam-powered velocipede on display. It was built by Myron Givets as a retirement project and was all fired up and steaming away. The accompanying placard stated that the Sylvester H Roper was a contender for the very first powered bicycle. This was a replica of Sylvester’s second version which was designed in 1884 especially as a pace vehicle for bicycle racing on banked tracks. Apparently, it was at one such event while on a speed run (where he was clocked at over 40mph) Sylvester suffered a heart attack, rolled to a stop and passed away on the side of the track. Could this have been the first motorcycle fatality?
The Veteran motorcycle display was again well represented. An immaculate bright yellow BSA outfit with Automobile Association livery also caught my eye. The Competition section was very healthy and these normally well trashed species were amazingly presented to a concourse standard. The Owen family also had some of Ray’s trusty Triumphs on show along with a few photos and Ray’s racing bib. It is always wonderful
to see the family still supporting the event in Ray’s absence.
I was also most impressed with the trophies this year. They were all hand crafted from recycled motorcycle parts and more of a sculpture than a trophy. If I were to give a trophy for the best trophies it would be to Tom Gilroy from Purpose Built Moto who made these treasures. The presentation is one of the highlights of the day. The tireless judges all pool the results and then plant blue rosettes on the winning motorcycles and red ‘Highly Commended’ rosettes for the runnersup. The winning owners are then asked to assemble near the presentation stage. Mike Hannan (2019 HMCCQ Club Champion), Lindsay Donai (Tambourine Club President) and Ken Butler (HMCCQ President) presented the trophies.
My highlight of the presentation was that of the Best Sidecar. A bit too difficult to ramp up onto the stage with his Indian 4, Ian Rennie entered the presentation area beside the stage with Pat Owen (Ray’s wife) in the chair.
It was a lovely gesture. It was an awesome day once again and thanks must go to the many Tamborine Area volunteers and of course the sponsors California Customs, Shannons, Indian Motorcycles Brisbane, BSA Transport, Rebel FM and the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation.