RALLY REPORTSARIEL NATIONAL
92 :OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA
Ariel RallyJudging Results
Australian Ariel Register (AAR)
25th National Rally
- 23-26 March, 2018 – Traralgon, Victoria
Celebrating AAR’s
Silver Anniversary
Report Chris Hillbrick-Boyd
This year’sAAR National Rally was
labelled “Ariel Power in the Valley
Rally” and was located in Traralgon in
the picturesque Gippsland area of
Victoria. Over 70 keen AAR members
from Victoria, South Australia, New
South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland
and the A.C.T. made the journey. The
Ariel marque ranged from a 1915
Ariel Roadster 500 through to several
1958 Ariel models. Two very early
Ariels, flat tankers, were part of the
Rally. The Rally HQ was based at the
Big 4 Park Lane Holiday Park whose
owners were very helpful in catering
for our groups’ accommodation and
some BBQ meals.
The Friday short fettling ride of
approximately 75 km in warm dry
weather took riders on some quiet
roads to view a coal-powered power
station and the Loy Yang open cut
mine, then back to the rally HQ and a
welcome BBQ dinner. The smallest
Ariel bike made, the Pixie, did not
make the full circuit and came back in
style on the back-up trailer. Saturday
brought some showery weather for
the ride to Heyfield where a local
charity group provided us with a deli-
cious morning tea in a local park. The
lunch stop was Bonny Brae, a farm
stay/function centre, where the judg-
ing of machines took place in steady
rain. Amongst the Ariels on display
were some local’s unusual Ariels that
were ex short-circuit racers which he
demonstrated with his granddaughters
as the “monkeys”, much to partici-
pants enjoyment. On return to Rally
HQ the AAR AGM was held on site
before moving to the Century Inn for
the Rally Presentation Dinner. Local
LaTrobe Shire councillor and motorbike
enthusiast, Darren Howe, opened the
Presentations part of the evening.
A swap meet of all things Ariel
started the Sunday activities. This time
the ride headed into the hills behind
Traralgon in showery weather, with a
long and short ride on the windy, wet
roads that combined at the village of
Erica, then headed for the Walhalla
Goldfields Railway Station for lunch.Walhalla is a popular tourist
destination town and the cricket pitch
and field on top of one of the steep
hills is a unique feature. Some of the
supporters rode the Goldfields train
back to the next stop where the bus
picked them up for the return trip to
Traralgon. The ride back to Rally HQ
was dry, an enjoyable ride for all.
A Sunday evening Farewell BBQ waswell attended by approximately 80
participants who were exchanging
names and arrangements for the
2019 AAR Rally at Huskisson, NSW. All
agreed the AAR Rally Committee from
Traralgon and Melbourne did a superb
job; special thanks go to Matt Gellert
and his dad Noel, Greg and Vicki
Vardy, Ken Ingwersen, and Ken and
Jan Kennedy (deceased).■CLASS RIDER/STATE BIKE
Vintage Ariel Alan Stratton (NSW) 1930 Model F 500
Pre-War Ariel Single Peter Ferguson (Vic) 1939 VH 500
Pre-War Square 4 Chris Ridsdale (Vic) 1934 4F Square 4 600
Post War Ariel Single Peter Young (Vic) 1949 NH 350
Post War Square 4 Bruce Webb (NSW) 1958 Mk2 Square 4 1000
Post War Ariel Twins Gary Stratton (NSW) 1952 KH 500
All Ariels not incl above Bill McKee (Qld) 1956 Square 4 1000
All non-Ariels Tim Said 1950 Matchless G3 350
Most Original Ariel Rod Barker (SA) 1930 Model F500
Lady Rider on an Ariel Michelle Lees (NSW) 1949 NH 350
Furtherest Ridden Ariel Rod Barker (SA) 1930 Model F 500
PERPETUAL TROPHIES
Most Desirable Ariel Chris Ridsdale (Vic) 1934 4F Square 4 600
Presidents Choice Peter Ferguson (Vic) 1939 VH 500
Oldest Bike & Rider Merv Means (NSW) 1946 VG 500Ariels at Rosedale on the Saturday run.Two Flat Tankers in
action: Brian Fleming
and John Deeth, both
from Queensland.