Classic Cob
From the shed
Ian’s father James Claude Cameron opened a pushbike shop in Maitland around 1900, and around 1905 ventured into the motorcycle scene. Early model motorcycles were FN which J.C imported from Belgium. He also purchased a new 1905 FN car. J.C. was heavily involved in the cycle racing scene and races for those were also conducted at the Maitland Showground oval before the start of the motorcycle races. J.C. also formed the Maitland Motorcycle Club in 1910. As a young child Ian attended the meetings and rang a bell when they had one lap to go. He also walked the main street on Saturdays with a ‘sandwich’ board, ringing a bell and calling out “Speedway tonight”.
For many years the firm represented Bennett and Wood from whom they obtained both bicycles and motorcycles. The original shop, was at 438 High Street, West Maitland, which had a large Bennett and Wood sign and above that in large letters, ‘Speedwell House’. They were later Honda agents and around 1958 he sold a number of the Honda Dreams one of which was later ridden in the Muswellbrook 7 Hour Race. However, they also sold BSA, particularly Bantams, Triumph and at least one 250 NSU that I am aware of, and later Yamaha which were supplied by McCulloch. Gordon Hellyer started work there after leaving school in 1949 and continued through to the shop closing in 1989 with only two short breaks, one for his National Service in the early 1950s. However he was not the longest employee. Colin McKenzie stated with J.C. at 14 and continued through with Ian until he was 68 old; 54 years with the firm selling spare parts at the front counter. Maitland was hit by a large flood in January, 1955 and they later moved from High Street to the former Savoy Picture Theatre in Elgin Street.
Ian travelled overseas to the Isle of Man in the early 1950s. During his trip he was inspired to the extent that on his return he built a 125cc D.O.H.C. engine, making the patterns and all the parts himself. He also built a six-speed BSA Bantam for Colin Munns who worked for him. He used two engine sprockets and two clutch chain wheels with the engine sprockets having a different number of teeth and free running on an extension of the engine shaft with a splined dog used to engage one or the other. This allowed the rider to use the standard three speed box with the attachment as an overdrive fourth gear or to use the three gears before flicking back to bottom and into the high range and then back up through the three gears, giving a choice of six ratios. Ian had a freight company consisting of five Scania semi-trailers, trading as Frozen Freights. Two of these he built as refrigeration units.
From the time of his childhood at the speedway until about two years prior to his death, he acted in an official capacity at club, state, national and international levels. He was an A.C.U of NSW delegate in 1960 before becoming Honorary Secretary to the A.C.C.A in 1966, continuing in the Secretarial position until 1982. In 1975 Ian became the first Australian delegate to the Federation Internationale Motorcycliste (F.I.M.) after the ACCA severed its connection with the ACU Great Britain and affiliated directly with F.I.M. He served in this position until 1982. In 1979 he was elected as Road Racing Commission member at the F.I.M. Congress held in Montreux, Switzerland and remained in that position until 1983. He was also an official voting delegate representing the A.C.C.A. at the Congress. As a C.C.R. member he attended the Spring Meetings in Geneva each year in February/March as well as the F.I.M. Congress in October and also the eventual C.C.R meetings
during the year and some Road Racing World Championship events.
In the Queen’s Birthday Honours 1985 he was awarded the Order of Australia for his services to motorcycling sport. He was a life member of the Maitland Motorcycle Club, a foundation and life member of the Auto Cycle Union of NSW and a life member of the Auto Cycle Council of Australia. With the ACU Northern Centre he held the positions of President, Vice President and Secretary. A motorcycle track near West Wallsend was named Cameron Park. Although the track is no longer there, substantial housing was established and is now the suburb Cameron Park, postcode 2285.
Tony Fitzpatrick, Gordon Hellyer’s son-in-law worked at the shop from 1971 to when it closed in 1989. However in December 1978 he had a serious motorcycle accident. He had not been married long when he purchased his present residence from Ian. Payments were deducted from his salary. Whilst recovering in hospital Ian came to visit. Tony was worried about the instalments and Ian advised him not to worry as it would all work out later when you return to work. Gordon Hellyer was extremely fond of Ian and a comment made to me was that he was like a second father.
JC was a foundation member of the Maitland Rotary Club as was Ian who was Secretary from 1956-63. After he died the Rotary Club recognised his service by granting a posthumous award of the Paul Harris Fellowship to his widow, Edith. When Ian passed away from pneumonia in 1989, a Harley Davidson Pup was left to the Newcastle Vintage Motorcycle Club, a single cylinder FN to Eric Miller, and an SS80 Brough Superior to his lifetime friend Ken McDonald – father-in-law to the late Dirt Track star Greg Primmer. ■