All British Rally
BSA Motorcycle Owners Association All British Rally
21-22 April, 2018 – Newstead, Victoria
Run annually since 1977, this event just seems to go from strength to strength. This year a whole new bunch of motorcycles were on display demonstrating there is a never-ending supply of old bikes being restored and extracted out of sheds to come to this Rally, which has its headquarters at the old Newstead Racecourse. Of course the weather plays an important part and this year it was perfect. As usual spectators jammed the main street of Maldon for the Saturday after the bikes did their run from the Rally site. It was estimated between 600 and 700 bikes from pre first world war models to the “last hurrah” of the British motorcycle industry were on display. The club always has a very desirable door prize and this year one lucky contestant went home with a BSA A65 Firebird Scrambler.
As always I heard stories of recent restorations and talked to others about family bikes being handed down through the generations, one in particular being the 1917 Regnis owned by Brendon Cain. Brendon’s father found the bike under a shearing shed in country Victoria and now Brendan has it in unrestored condition complete with oil and grease gathered over 100 years to give it a fine patina. To add atmosphere to the day a local motorcycle spare parts shop had a musician playing on the street, all adding to the ambience. The local businesses did a roaring trade serving food and refreshments to the spectators and riders. Although the bikes, and their owners, get older with each event, I think the All British Rally is here to stay well into the foreseeable future.