Penrite Bonanza looking sharp
The 2014 Penrite Broadford Bike Bonanza, to be held over the Easter weekend April 19-20, is shaping up to be a massive dual celebration of two of the iconic events in Australian motorcycling history. The Castrol Six Hour Race tribute has drawn legendary names and famous motorcycles representing each of the 18 events held from 1970 to 1987. Triumph Australia’s Cliff Stovall has overseen the recreation of the winner of the very first event – the T120R Triumph Bonneville ridden by Len Atlee and the late Bryan Hindle, and Atlee himself will demonstrate the bike on track over the weekend. Ten years later, in 1980, the race winner was the sensational new Honda CB1100R – a motorcycle created with the specific intention of taking the Six Hour crown – and the actual machine ridden to victory by Wayne Gardner and the late Andrew Johnson will be there, ridden by Andrew’s son Shannon Johnson. As well as the action on the tar circuit, the 2014 PBBB will see a huge celebration of the much-loved BP Desert Rallies, which began in 1971. Instigator of the event, Don Gibb, attended the recent PBBB media launch and inspected a sample copy of Roger Harvey’s new book which records the history of the race. A strictly limited number of these books will be on sale at the Easter weekend. On Friday evening, a welcome get together for those associated with the desert rallies will be followed by a similar casual function for Six Hour folk. Event Organiser Peter Drakeford is urging those who wish to attend Saturday night’s gala dinner to get in early. “Because of circumstances beyond our control, we will be limited to around 100 guests at the dinner, which has always been sold out in previous years at 140. I know there will be quite a few wanting to hear Alan Cathcart’s interview with Graeme Crosby, and to enjoy the fabulous spread put on by our friends at Tahbilk, so please book early.” See the Motorcycling Australia web site www.ma.org.au for full details, entry forms and dinner bookings, or call Peter Drakeford on (03) 9684 0515 or 0422 299003.