National Motoring Heritage Day Tooborac Motorcycle Run Sunday October 18

Story and images by Jimmy Linton, Classic Motorcycle Club of Victoria

Following on from last year, this May the Classic Motorcycle Club was gearing up for a motorcycle display at the Tooborac Hotel to mark the Association of Motoring Clubs’ (AOMC) National Motoring Heritage Day (NMHD). The 2025 display was done in conjunction with the Bendigo Historic Motorcycle Club, whereas this year’s would also include support from the Norton Owners Club Victoria & the Moto Guzzi Club of Victoria.

Unfortunately, the event planned for the 17th of May was cancelled a few days out due to the forecast of inclement weather for the day of the display. Fast forward five months, and we could not have asked for better weather than what we had on the 18th of October when the NMHD motorcycle display at the Tooborac Hotel finally went ahead.

Last year’s event attracted about 30 bikes, so this year with a couple more clubs involved the Committee was hoping to have a few more bikes and their owners turn up. By 10:30am the number of bikes on display had passed 30 and continued to grow as more and more solo and groups of motorcyclists showed up. By the time the raffle and awards were drawn just before 12:30pm, over 100 motorcycles had been counted, and even more were rolling in as the awards were being announced.

The attendance of members from the four Clubs involved, members from other clubs, as well as the public that had heard of the event and came for a look was just fantastic. The motorcycles on display included ones from the 1930s through to the 1990s, with multiple marques represented. There was a great cross section of concourse looking machines, well maintained and clearly ridden bikes, and those with a healthy covering of ‘patina’. With so many bikes on display, there was something for all to admire, as well as the opportunity to talk to the owners.

Prior to the announcement of the awards, five $50 vouchers that were kindly donated by the Epping AMX Superstore and a couple of Dan Murphy gift cards from the CMCCV were raffled off, which was open to all who had a bike on display.

The categories and award winners for the day are listed below. The first five awards were judged by CMCCV Committee members, the last being voted on by those in attendance:

• Best Motorcycle – pre 1960:           1955 Vincent Rapide D Series – Ernie Clarke

• Best Motorcycle 1960-69:               1960 BSA Gold Flash – Jim Watson

• Best Motorcycle 1970-79:               1972 Norton Commando Roadster 750 – Colin Borthwick

• Best Motorcycle 1980-89:               1980 Suzuki GS1000S – David Pettifer

• Best Motorcycle 1990-99:              1998 Honda Valkyrie – Greg Costello

People’s Choice:                                1930 Koehler Escoffier 350cc – Greg Myers

Greg’s Koehler Escoffier (350cc long stroke) was an absolute standout of a rare (only ~7 built) French motorcycle that was in concourse condition. It clearly attracted the eye of many at Tooborac and was great to see Greg there with his grandson Harry.

In addition to the above awards, the Tooborac Publican kindly presented two owners each with an eight pack of Tooborac beer for bikes that appealed to him:

• 1960 BSA Gold Flash – Jim Watson (Jim kindly donated his beer back to the CMCCV

to be raffled at the October general meeting).

• 1955 Vincent Rapide D Series – Ernie Clarke

The announcement of awards was followed by lunch inside the hotel, or a gourmet pie form the pie shop that the Hotel is renowned for.

Activities like the Tooborac motorcycle display don’t just happen, so I want to acknowledge and thank the following organisations and people:

• The AOMC for the financial contribution to this NMHD event that aims to promote and display Australia’s strong motoring heritage. Also, for accommodating the need to move the event in May when the weather intervened.

• The Epping AMX Superstore for the $250 worth of gift vouchers that were raffled to all who entered their machines into the display.

• The Tooborac Hotel & Brewery for supporting the event, awarding a couple of prizes and the great hospitality and food provided.

• Pete Mathews for coordinating the AOMC’s support and promoting this NMHD event.

• The members of all clubs that came along and put their machines on display, as without member involvement these events don’t happen.

The plan is to do this event again next year, so keep an eye out for the notification in Sprocket. It would be great to once again see such a variety and number of old and not so old motorcycles on display at one location.

The NMHD day at Tooborac attracted over 100 motorcycles of all makes and models. The perfect weather certainly helped and it was an extremely successful day.

The runaway “Peoples Choice” award winner at Tooborac. The motorcycle is a French-built, Koehler Escoffier, believed to be one of only 7 built and definitely the only one in Australia, if not the only one left in the world. The bike is shown here with its proud owner, Classic Motorcycle Club of Victoria member, Greg Myers.