Perfect end to the year
2013 SA Historic Motorcycle Road Race Championships
28-29 Dec, 2013 – McNamara Park, SA
This year we were blessed with ideal conditions for one of the true premier race meetings for the Historic road racers in Australia, with 170 entries and good grids for most groups. The period 3 500 race having 20 starters, as healthy a group of 500 classic bikes you will see in Australia, with many Manx Nortons, Matchless G50s, Gold Stars and of course many specials too. It is quite apparent that the Historic racing scene is like a big family, but going one step further, there are many family groups that go off racing together, brothers, dads and sons, husband and wife, dads and daughters too. In fact at this meeting there were 20 lots in this ‘true family’ group. Australian P3 500 Champion Jack Wright, with dad Adrian is learning the skills of fettling Manxes. Luckily with his trade background and access to a serious workshop, not much bothers Jack. Adrian is no slouch at all mixing it well in the group that races in Jack’s wake. A Matchless family is the Coghills, dad Andrew with sons Tait and Aljohn. This weekend the Matchless’ were not ready so 3 RS125 period 6 bikes were rolled out. They had a ball with no one dominating the results or the fun. Brothers Ahern, Joe and Danny were, as always, part of the furniture with over 20 years of being there every year. The snortin’ Norton was to be Joe’s ride for the weekend having secured the Australian title earlier in Perth was parked with bearing trouble after securing pole position. Joe was offered 2 G50s; mine and Ken Lucas’. Joe fettled Ken’s bike but just couldn’t sort the carburetion in time so rode mine to get 2nd in the Unlimited championships and 3rd in the Bob Jolly Memorial race. Kate and husband Kevin Youngson share a gaggle of 2 strokes that they pedal around all weekend. All well presented and enjoyed by both of them. The other main area of husband and wife/bloke and partner involvement comes in the sidecar ranks, with Colin and Barbara Magnay, Tim and Michelle Loone, John and Chrissie Clancy and Gene Lopeman and Vicki Butler. More partnering family wise is seen in the sidecars with Doug and Brad Gorrie, Bruce and Graham Marston, Geoff and Zane Dodds, Peter and David Large, (Chris Large on another outfit). Many an individual on the sidecars also runs a solo, like Bruce Marston, Tim Loone and Peter Large. Father and daughter pairings saw Kelly Ryan race in her first senior meeting having had a go