History

In 1962 a meeting was held with several members of the Veteran and Vintage Motorcycle Club present. Mr. Wally Woolatt presided over the meeting, with the aim being to discuss the feasibility of forming a Classic Section of the V.& V.M.C.C. Several ideas were considered, and a working committee was elected to sort out any teething problems. It is not recorded what those problems might have been but they must have been insurmountable, because at the very next meeting a new club was formed, completely independent of the V.&V.M.C.C., and on the 21st. August 1962 the first meeting of The Classic Owners Motorcycle Club was held in the Hackney Hall, Hackney.

The Club quietly prospered for the first few years with membership hovering between 20 and 40 for the first few years, rising to over 50 in 1970, remaining fairly constant in the 70 to 90 range a few years, and then increasing again in the late 1970s to 113 full members. In the 1980/90s the membership remained fairly constant at around 100 members. Since then the club has made steady progress to the point where membership in 2009, for the first time in the Club's history passed the 200 mark. Steady interest is being shown, particularly in the area of enquiries being generated by our internet web-site.

A stalwart of the club in it’s early days was Jim Thurmer, who owned a motorcycle shop on Main nth. Rd.

Medindie. Although there is nothing left to remind us of it’s existence today, in it’s heyday it was the place for motorcyclists to be ,as makes like Velocettes and Scotts graced the showrooms. Jim kindly allowed the Club to use these premises for the club meetings during it’s formative period.

One of the early Patrons of the of the club was a Mr. Jack Kaines, who owned the old mill building at Birdwood, in which he housed his motorcycle collection. This venue just grew and grew until today it is the home of the National motor museum.

In it’s early days the Club was affiliated with the Auto Cycle Union of Aust., and many of the members were active participants in Scrambles, Road trials, Observed trials, and Road racing. As the age of the membership increased there was less activity in the competition arena, and our affiliation with the A.C.U. ended, however for many years the Club ran checkpoints at the Advertiser 24 Hour Trial, culminating with us manning the main check, point up to the time of us withdrawing from this venture.

The Club has been involved in many displays and demonstrations over the years. The first was held in the Estonian Hall in Nth. Adelaide in 1971 where over 100 machines were put on display, which included a brace of racing Tilbrooks. This was followed in 1972 by a show at the Torrens Parade grounds, where again there was over 100 machines exhibited, included were vehicles from the Eric Rainsford collection, and the unique Zeta from Lightburn. In 1974 the show venue was moved to the Tramways Hall at Hackney where another successful display was arranged, although this time assistance from the V.&V. M.C.C. was forthcoming. (It is ironic that this venue should be used by the Club, as the first ever meeting of the club and indeed many other early day meetings were held on these premises.) This show was repeated in 1976. In 1978 another combined show of C.O.M.C.C. and V.&V.M.C.C. clubs was held ,this time in the Woodville Town Hall, where 140 machines went on display.

In addition to these shows the Club has mounted displays at the Barossa Vintage Festival, Sunnybrae Farm Display Days, and demonstration rides at the Adelaide International Raceway, and Mallala Motorsport Pk. The Club’s most recent show was at the 2003 Adelaide Motor Show where an assembly of highly desirable, and rare, well restored machines were displayed.

The Club has in recent years exhibited many interesting machines at the Strathalbyn Annual Show, and intends to continue to maintain this practice to boost it’s public awareness .

The club has been involved in staging an Annual Rally at various locations in the state. Some of these rallies have been very well attended by both exhibitors and visitors alike, however in the past, interest in holding this event waned, to the extent that recently the Rally was not held. However in more recent times, interest has been re-kindled to the extent that an annual rally has been held on the Fleurieu Peninsular, with the home base being the Glenbar complex located on the outer fringe of Strathalbyn. Although the entrant list is not as large as it was in the early days of the Mildura Rally, the members who attend the Strath Hub Rally enjoy the good riding roads that the area provides.

The main emphasis of the club these days is the monthly General Meetings, and the various Club rides. These rides consist of a week-end ride, usually the 4th Sunday of the month, Mid-week rides held for retirees held on the 1st Wednesday and 3rd. Tuesday of each month, and the Mo-ped ride held on the 1st Sunday of every 2nd. Month.

Over the years the club has built up an impressive library collection, consisting of books, videos, and D.V.Ds, for the members to refer to and to borrow.

This has been a short history of the Club, which has placed it in good stead to continue well in to the future.

This archive was compiled in October, 2009 by

Ken Hartland

President

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