Southern Hemisphere’s leading classic motorcycle collection grows
The small provincial city of Invercargill runs on agriculture, and to a lesser extent the tourism that comes alongside its proximity to some of the country’s most unspoiled natural landscapes. Tucked away in a streetscape of heritage buildings lining one of the small city’s main thoroughfares is Classic Motorcycle Mecca, a hub for anybody who has ever experienced riding on two wheels.
After opening Bill Richardson Transport World – the largest private automotive museum of its type in the world – in late 2015, owners Joc and Scott O’Donnell heard about the huge collection of motorcycles that had been assembled by American ex-pat Tom Sturgess in Nelson. After a self-described “rush of blood to the head” they purchased the and shifted the bikes south. Classic Motorcycle Mecca opened in mid-2016. The classic motorcycle museum, with the tagline ‘Ride into Yesterday’, has not only created a place for enthusiasts to revel in the legacies of their favourites, but has also added to the heritage of the inner-city. Two beautiful period buildings in the innercity were restored to their former glory. Inside visitors will find a celebration of all things motorcycle through the ages, showcasing the heritage of marquee names, with bikes spanning as far back as 1902. (Classic Motorcycle Mecca is home to not one but two bikes of that year’s vintage: a Motosacoche and a Peugeot.)
With the second phase of the collection’s redevelopment now complete, it is now hailed as New Zealand’s largest and most diverse collection of classic motorcycles. Alongside the initial offering of bikes – which focused mainly on vintage machines manufactured throughout Europe, Great Britain, and the United States – the redevelopment has also seen the beginnings of a Japanese collection, as well as motocross and speedway bikes. Highlights among the new inclusions are Ivan Mauger’s 1977 Speedway World Championship bike, the 2017 Brough Superior and a Honda CBX 1000.
“We realised that we needed to diversify the initial collection, but that meant we needed more space to showcase the bikes. Late last year work began on the neighbouring building. It’s turned out beautifully – even better than we could have hoped,” Transport World executive director Joc O’Donnell says.
The display inside is less museum and more emporium; virtually nothing is tucked away in a stuffy glass display case but each item is, instead, parked on the polished wooden tongue-and-groove flooring. The decision to let visitors get up-close-and-personal with the bikes, despite their incredible history and value, was a conscious one, O’Donnell says.
“Motorcycling enthusiasts know exactly what they like,” she says. “We wanted people able to really experience those bikes, many of which simply are not available to see anywhere else. We’ve even had people lie down underneath the bikes to take photos – and we love to see people engaging with the collection. The detail, workmanship and patina of each bike is completely individual and tells such an important part of their story. We wanted to not only preserve those stories, but share them too.”
Another priority for the extension was to offer visitors a more engaging experience. As well as a broader scope of motorcycling themes – for instance, a section on the local ‘Farm Jam’ event, which attracts some of the world’s biggest names in BMX, FMX and MTB – there is now also a greater focus on interactive displays and family-friendly exhibits.
The celebration of a wider range of interests will continue at Classic Motorcycle Mecca, with the opening of a new George Begg display in early 2020. A homage to a golden age in motorsport, it will include vehicles built in Begg’s legendary workshop, as well as motorcycling memorabilia and more.