Lower Hutt Classic Motorcycle Show

On the weekend of 26 and 27th May the biennial classic motorcycle show was staged in the Lower Hutt Horticultural show. This event, organised by the Wellington Classic Motorcycle club, usually draws a large crowd and this year was no exception. The final count of door numbers is not available but it will beat the last show of 2000 punters through the doors. This year the receiving charity was Plunket.

Most of the bike clubs in the Wellington area put on a display and obviously we were asked if we would. So it was just a matter of ringing up the local members of the NZAJSMO Register Wellington Area to gather up some AMC bikes for display. Some of the other clubs to take part were the Triumph Owners, The BSA Owners, the 67 club, Retro Choppers, BMW Owners, the Vincent Owners, the VCC Bike section plus many others. In all about 130 bikes were on show. Also were “Dick and Des” of "The Last Hurrah" fame with the 2 bikes they rode following the Silk Road (Beijing to Holland) in 2005. “Penelope” (a mid 1960s Panther) was voted the peoples choice.

We were allocated a space to display our bikes but arrived to find the BSA crowd had commandeered the space so when they weren’t looking their bikes were moved back and the space reclaimed.

Several prospective and a few new members signed up so it was a good opportunity to publicise the register. A number of members were noted to be cruising through and even Malcolm McDonald from Nelson rode up on his 1955 rigid frame G80 for the weekend. The crowd certainly were keen to see the bikes and discuss their misspent youth.

Thanks to Tony Bernstein (1929 AJS), Des Vinten (1953 Matchless twin), Alan Sutherland (1952 18S), Barry Groucott (1952 18S) , Ian McDonald (1961 twin Deluxe model) and non member Richard Davies (1953 twin) for displaying their bikes. I put my 1952 Matchless competition up as well. Barry also had a display of his racing days in scrambles events in the1950s in the Hutt Valley on the AJS he owned at the time and this certainly attracted much attention.

I also thank Barry Groucott who volunteered to staff the stand for much of the weekend.

Peter Simpson