The blue smoke run

HMCCQ Tiddlers and Twoies Rally

12th August 2015 – Samford, Qld.

The annual Wednesday Brisbane Exhibition holiday has seen a regular rally organised by the Pine Rivers area of the HMCCQ; the brain child of John Finglas who thought it appropriate for members to drag out their two stroke motorcycles and fill the air with the tell-tale sound and haze of blue smoke. For the last couple of years John has passed the baton on to other club members to organise. Last year saw a clash of dates so it was decided to combine the two strokes with veteran/vintage bikes. The result was a successful rally and healthy banter between the two factions. Both consume oil in different ways, but that’s where the similarity ends. The veteran/vintage guys were keen to return and so they did. When Ralph Roles took the reins this year he noted that the Northern Rivers Classic Bike Club’s ‘Tiddler Rally’ was their most popular event, so he chose to include 4 strokes of less than 200cc. This led to the decision to change the name to the ‘Tiddlers and Twoies Rally’. A fine day saw the arrival of three Tiddlers and 22 Twoies and three veterans. The Samford Showgrounds were the start point and everyone and each owner was presented with a printed sticker for their bike. Under the two stroke category there were three BSA Bantams, three Jawas, a James, two Francis Barnetts, a Vespa, a Bultaco Alpina, and two Adlers. In the later Japanese era there were four Suzukis and five Yamahas. The Tiddlers included a BSA Scooter and from the Japanese era we had a Kawasaki and a Yamaha. That left Dave Dettmar’s 1927 AJS, his 1924 Rover and Chris Cuyler’s 1928 Matchless for the veteran/vintage category. Unusual motorcycles include Merv Kroll’s 1959 BSA Sunbeam scooter. Sporting lovely metallic green paint and fitted with a mini ‘Globe’ sidecar I thought it a Vespa at first glance. Merv’s unit was fitted with an electric start, 250cc parallel twin 4-stroke engine. Glen Allen’s Yamaha 100 YL1 twin was also a standout and in immaculate condition. The route was 137kms over Clear Mountain, around Lake Samsonvale through the upper reaches of the Caboolture River, up Campbell’s Pocket Road then down Mt Mee to Dayboro for lunch and fuel. After lunch it was a relatively flat run back to the Showgrounds and we were lucky to make it before a show of lightning and then a heavy shower of rain was released from the heavens. Everyone had fun even though a few bikes had issues but that’s why we have a backup trailer. Thanks must be extended to Ralph, the marshals and backup team.