Spring surprise

Back in the 1940s growing up in the back blocks of a farm on the north coast of NSW, I had heard of Bathurst where they raced motorcycles – the other end of the world. However by 1952 the decision was made to attend the Easter races, the mode of transport being a 1925 Essex Super Six car with possibly the worst engine ever with the power of a fizzy drink. In those days the highway mainly followed the railway line and was mainly gravel. I purchased a couple of army stretchers, borrowed a tarpaulin, a primus, a few pots and pans and a kettle and we were away. It took two days to reach Sydney, by which time the big ends were starting to rattle so it was off with the sump, remove some shims and replace the same. We had a look around Katoomba on the way to Bathurst, then descended Victoria Pass in a car with two-wheel mechanical brakes. We arrived at Bathurst in almost dark and went to the top of the mountain and camped in a picnic shelter for the night. The next morning we found two suitable trees in McPhillamy Park, stretched a rope between them and threw our tarpaulin over it and pegged it down. This was to be our home for the next week, and what a week. We were the first there. Eventually it was time for practice and they drove the sheep out of the pit area. There were no buildings whatsoever and no safety fences. Each day we drove down and parked in the pits for a close hand view of riders I had only seen in pictures. The most beautiful motorcycle was a Vincent Black Lightning ridden by Jack Forrest which did 150 mph through the speed trap. Harry Hinton’s 500 Manx Norton did 134 and the Walsh Bantam topped the 100mph mark – not believed by the BSA factory.

The real reason that inspired me to write this letter was the recent story in OBA of the Gilera Saturno. Keith Tolmie rode the Gilera in 1952 and crashed halfway along Pit Straight. I have a picture taken on my Box Brownie camera of the bike lying on its side with a badly bent front wheel and the spring of the rear suspension hanging out. However they must have had a good spares kit as the bike was on the grid the next day (Saturday). Frank Boldi rode the bike in 1955. I hope this sets the record straight. Walter Higgins Kendall, NSW