32nd Annual Australia Day Rally
24 - 26 January 2009
celebrating
"50 Years of the Bonneville"
Final Word
By Rally Director, Steve Davey
Previous rallys have been followed up with a special Rally Edition of the club mag. This year the committee decided not to do a special magazine but to donate the money saved to the Victorian bush fire appeal. The February mag listed the trophy winners and I gave a verbal wrap-up of the rally at the February meeting, but a few final words are in order.
This year the rally moved to a new venue and had a record attendance with 185 entrants. The venue at EPIC had served us well in the past, with the shady trees and the area around the Orana Bar a big plus. Unfortunately the cost of hiring the tables and chairs for the Presentation Dinner had become excessive ($2000 from Kennards) plus restrictions on selling grog and bringing in external caterers forced the move to another venue.
Most feedback on the Carotel was very positive with the lack of shade the only downside, plusses being the better dinner venue, range of on-site accommodation, the pool and the space. Certainly next years rally director has much to ponder on.
The Rally is written up in Issue No. 12 of "Old Bike Australasia", see page 82 "A Capital Time", where Jim Scaysbrook’s comments on ‘slick organisation’ and ‘well-oiled machine’ were appreciated. However, I must admit there was the odd crisis, but all the problems were sorted behind the scenes with most people none the wiser.
The plusses included:
• Tick of approval for the new venue
• Good rides
• No accidents
• Minimal breakdowns
• No one got lost
• Good food
• The weather was kind to us
• Demo bikes provided by Triumph Australia and Eurotune Motorcycle.
• We didn’t make a loss.
Much of the above was due to the excellent marshalling and to all the hard work put in by members of our club.
Thanks again to one and all.
Thanks to our SPONSORS: (listed alphabetically)
Australian Ariel Register
Canberra Motorcycle Centre
Eurotune Motorcycles
Mike Gilmour
NRMA Classic Vehicle Insurance
Shannons
TJ's Tyres & Accessories
TRIUMPH AUSTRALIA
Some PHOTOS from the 2009 Rally can be seen HERE
TROPHY WINNERS for 2009
BEST VETERAN (to end of 1918) BEST VINTAGE (1919 to 1930) BEST PRE-WAR CLASSIC (1931 -1945) BEST POST-WAR CLASSIC (1946 - 1960) BEST POPULAR CLASSIC (1961 - 1970) BEST CHERISHED CLASSIC (1971 - 1978) BEST MODERN (1979 onwards) BEST OUTFIT - SPONSOR: TJ's Tyres & Accessories BEST MILITARY - SPONSOR: TJ's Tyres & Accessories MOST DESIRABLE BONNEVILLE - SPONSOR: TRIUMPH AUSTRALIA BEST ADLER SPONSOR: VV&CMCC ACT Inc. BEST TRIUMPH SPONSOR: Eurotune Motorcycles BEST TRIUMPH TWIN SPONSOR: Mike Gilmour BEST BSA BEST HARLEY DAVIDSON BEST INDIAN BEST NORTON SPONSOR: NRMA Classic Vehicle Insurance BEST AJS/MATCHLESS SPONSOR: NRMA Classic Vehicle Insurance BEST ARIEL SPONSOR: Australian Ariel Register BEST JAPANESE SPONSOR: Canberra Motorcycle Centre BEST EUROPEAN SPONSOR: Shannons BEST BRITISH SPONSOR: Shannons BEST RESTORATION Peter Barges Perpetual Trophy BEST LADY RIDER KING OF THE RALLY SPONSOR: TJ's Tyres & Accessories |
Some PHOTOS from the Rally can be seen HERE
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