Talking to Tom
The indefatigable Gaven Dall’Osto has penned a few words (with photos) from a talk given by Tom Williams at the recent Ducati B&B Rally.
Along with over 100 Ducati enthusiasts, I was lucky to share time with Tom Williams, guest speaker at this year’s Bevel & Bull Rally at Tenterfield. Tom somehow balances work, family commitments and most weekends is Clerk of the Course at road race events across Australia including all rounds of ASBK, and Deputy Clerk of the Course at international events such as MotoGP and WSBK. We were therefore very fortunate for him to make time for this special event. Mind you, Tom is a very passionate bevel Ducati owner himself so the temptation to ride to the event may have been the clincher. Tom’s motorcycling career began in his mid-teens briefly with BSAs before he purchased a near new 450 Desmo in 1975 (which he still owns). Tom joined the DOCQ in 1978, just months after it was founded, and was granted Life Membership in the ‘nineties. He dabbled in racing before he became involved in officiating, starting with low key DOCQ BEARS meetings in the ‘80s and progressing to his current FIM Superlicence status, where he’s earned the respect of riders, team managers and fellow officials. He’s twice been a finalist in the Sports Queensland’s Volunteer of the Year Awards, is on the Motorcycling Australia National Officials Committee, ASBK Management Team, Qld. Road Race Subcommittee, and is one of Motorcycling Australia’s road race Track Inspectors. Long-time friend Kevin Trevarthen interviewed Tom as he probed an insight into the characters, workings and interesting stories behind the scenes of racing events over the years. Spectacularly they were both perched out the front of the dinner guests on their Ducatis which were angled appropriately to the audience and to each other. Kevin was mounted on his trusty ’73 750GT and Tom on his ’75 750SS which they’ve both owned for nearly 40 years. The fairytale setting was further enhanced with the dinner guests surrounded by over 40 other bevel Ducatis in the venue. Fantastic stories complimented a night of Bevel magic.