Power Rally
18th Yesterdays Power Rally
18 January, 2014 – Milang SA
For a number of summers now I’d given thought to enter this annual event at Milang on the Fleurieu Peninsular south of Adelaide in the District Council of Alexandrina. To follow the atrocious +40°C temperatures through the preceding week the more than comfortable conditions in the mid to high 20’s by comparison felt much more comfortable, thank goodness. The Featured Motorcycle Marque for this year’s event was the Douglas which drew a selection of only five ‘Dougie’ machines ranging from the early ‘twenties era to one mid-fifties Mk V model 350. Independent judging found the unlisted 1924 TS Model 2¾hp 350cc model owned by Mr Douglas Hill, a gorgeous impeccably restored example an outright award winner – the owner having ridden the machine a short distance from nearby Goolwa. Of those other class entrants the award for the ‘Best Unrestored Motorcycle’ was presented to the South Australian Police Historic Society (Inc) for its worthwhile presentation of the 1974 Police Honda 4 ridden from the Historic Police Museum to the event by Sargent Dennis Urrgang (Retired). The award on offer for the ‘Best Restored Motorcycle’ was awarded to my 1954 Replica 500cc AJS 10R Project Machine.
Several 25lb Field Gun Firing Demonstrations took place throughout both days, presented in full military costume by devoted Members of the National Military Museum, although the local galah population I can say didn’t take kindly to these frequent explosive demonstrations. The more than encouraging aspect of this type of event is the constant regular visitor stopping by one’s attractive exhibit showing genuine interest in the items on display and ever eager for several moments chin-wag.
The crew of capable volunteers headed by President Roger Miller can be justly proud of the efforts provided for the huge entry list of cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and tractors, along with the very popular line up of all manner of station engines. Takings at the entrance gate from the general public were up on past years with the committee more than satisfied with their overall endeavours.