Pine Rivers HMCCQ

Mostly Ariel Rally

16 November, 2014 – Pine Rivers, QLD

HMCCQ Pine Rivers recently had their annual ‘Mostly’ Ariel Rally. I say ‘mostly’ as other makes are very welcome which is a nice touch. Fine weather prevailed as we all gathered at the North Pine Country Markets. 11 Ariels gathered with 28 bikes of other makes. The rally saw us all transverse the hills via Scout’s Road, Narangba , through ‘The Farm’, Rosberg up Campbell’s Pocket Road over Mt Mee and for a regroup at Dayboro. Leaving Dayboro it was the Cobble Creek circuit then through to Samford around the backblocks to the smoko point at Undambi Rotary Reserve on Mt. O’Reilly Road. Ariel stalwart Barry Deeth sacrificed a ride to do smoko duty with his wife Ida. No one left hungry believe me. Representing the family on Barry’s square four was son John and his wife. The rally then proceeded back to the North Pine Country Markets.

I selected a pair of interesting bikes for further study on the day. These belonged to the late Jack Hannon who was a motorcycle dealer and racer from Stanthorpe many years ago. The bikes were recently acquired by HMCCQ members and road registered. One was a road bike of his the other is one that Jack raced. The race bike started life as a 1938 Ariel VH500 Red Hunter, still had his race number (60) and still carried many of the original race parts. New owner Sherri Woods from the Ipswich area has changed as little as possible for road use. The engine was detuned to run on pump fuel, new tyres, a horn, headlight, mirror and tail light were added for road compliance. It still has its Norton gearbox and many custom lightweight bits. Anything that could have been made from aluminium and drilled full of holes, was. This included the allaluminium exhaust system which