Paradise on a sickle
• 20-30 March, 2022 – Ulverstone, Tasmania
As far as classic rallies go, it doesn’t get any better than this. Two years of hard work went into the gap between the highly successful 2020 Tour and this year’s event, and the Committee did a brilliant job. The sheer logistics of conducting around 120 classic motorcycles and their riders around the Apple Isle is mind-blowing, with back-up vehicles, a van to transport everyone’s gear between overnight stops, organising meals and accommodation plus numerous social events just part of the story. The event started and finished at Ulverstone near Devonport, and as always riders came from far and wide, including overseas. In many cases (including mine), bikes were provided by local enthusiasts, notably Peter Bender who trotted out Vincents, Brough Superiors and other marques from his incredible collection. Many thanks to committee member John Rettig who provided a BMW for
Sue and I to savour the fabulous roads of the Tassie Tour. Unfortunately the Covid restrictions put paid to the plans of quite a few overseas visitors.
The array of motorcycles entered was truly astonishing, with BSA the dominant brand but not by much, with 21 Vincents in the field of Pre 1970, bikes. Day 1 sent the field for a short familiarisation run to Sheffield and back to Ulverstone, with the Monday run up to Stanley on the north coast, with brilliant weather which unfortunately disappeared overnight for the 220km run to Strahan on the west coast. After a rest day culminating in a wonderful Tasmanian seafood BBQ, the Tour headed east for an overnighter at Tarraleah before the short run down to Hobart for the weekend.
Saturday was a rest day prior to the Gala Dinner where guest speaker Bob Rosenthal entertained the audience ‚
with tales from his racing career, with John Rettig skilfully conducting a wonderful interview for an appreciative audience.
The second half of the Tour commenced on Sunday 27th up the east coast, stopping at Bicheno, Coles Bay, Launceston and back to base at
Ulverstone – with around 1,200 km clocked up by those who did the full distance.
Tasmania is truly unique in its selection of fabulous motorcycle-friendly roads, and Tassie Tour utilizes most of them. Compared to the pot-holed roads of much of the mainland, the Tassie tarmac is exceptionally good, wet or dry. And with the bikes in this year’s field ranging from 1918 to 1970, most coped admirably.
Now planning for the 2024 Tassie Tour begins, and it’s sure to be another sell out. Because of the limited accommodation available for around 200 overnight guests in the island’s towns, spaces in the Tour are strictly limited and as always allocation fills up soon after entries open.
A truly amazing event, superbly organised, and as the programme modesty states, “The World’s Greatest Motor Cycle Rally”.