Goulburn Swap 2019
The Classic Riders Club of Goulburn conducted their annual swap on Sunday 20th January which saw some 250 site holders with 1,400 buyers coming through the gates. There was a good variety of American, European, British and Japanese machines and parts on sale. The swap in 2018 was conducted on two hot days especially so on the Sunday. This year was much cooler with drizzling rain late Saturday and early Sunday before it cleared and a good trading was had. Goulburn Swap is improving with finer points of the Nabiac Automotive Swap being copied. A display at the swap was organised by The Antique Motorcycle Club of America which included Harley Davidson and Indian machines. One of these was a 1914 Hedstrom 7 H.P. which is considered to be Indian’s first real twin. The owner is Indian enthusiast, Peter Birthisel. This machine is of considerable significance to the Goulburn District. It transpires that this is believed to be the machine ridden in the firstever Australian Tourist Trophy event conducted on Easter Monday 1914. There were three of these machines imported into Australia by Rhodes Motors and each was entered in the event to be ridden by Victorians. They were Jack Booth, Harry Jenkins and Eric Tyler. The event was promoted by the Sydney Bicycle and Motor Cycle Club and run between Yarra, Broadalbane and Collector over three laps each being 33 miles. There were 46 entries of which 32 started but only a dozen finished. Tyler led the race until a stone jammed under the mudguard. This then allowed Jenkins to come to the lead and win in 2 hours, 52 seconds, some 6 minutes ahead of Tyler. Wayne Adams of Goulburn has compiled and edited a book titled The Racing Boys which is about motorcycle racing in the Goulburn District up to 1930. He tells me that one of the riders, Bernard Radless, from South Australia, fell and broke his wrist. He then tied the injured hand to the handlebar and completed the race. Wayne goes on to explain that the three Victorian Indian riders were very professional and had a mechanic and others acting as pit crew. After this race there was an Indian Dealership, Cleave Bros established in Auburn Street, Goulburn.