Old Bike Australasia – July 21, 2019

RALLY REPORTS HAMILTON

100 :OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA

Hamilton Rally

• 5-8 April, 2019 – Hamilton, Victoria

State against state

ReportRay Goulter PhotosRay and Julie Goulter

This mini-rally, although held in
Victoria, was organised by the
Velocette Owners Club of Australia
(SA), and proved to be a very
enjoyable several day’s riding around
the roads in that neck of the woods.
Most rallyists arrived on the Friday;
from SA, Victoria and even from
northern NSW. Those driving or riding
down from SA had some difficulties
with high winds creating dust storms
that at times reduced visibility to less
than 300 metres. In fact, one major
road north of Adelaide was closed. The
nearer we got to Hamilton the less
dust there was. The total number of 25

machines comprised 18 Velocettes of

different models plus seven other

makes, and 35 rallyists in total.

Day 1 saw us riding from Hamilton

and doing a circuit that included the

Lava Blisters at Tumuli, Macarthur,

Hawkesville then lunch at Port Fairy,

returning to Hamilton via Bessiebelle,

Hometon and Condah. Total distance

covered was 168 miles. There had

been rain around, especially the

morning, but we were fortunate

enough to skirt around it with only

a few km of rain to contend with.

Day 2 was a ride to Dunkeld then

to Willaura and on to Ararat for lunch.

We then rode to Halls Gap via

Moyston and Pomonal. Halls Gap has

a famous ice-creamery which was

well patronised by us. The route back

to Hamilton was via the Grampians

Road and Victoria Valley. A total of

174 miles covered with great riding

weather all day.

Day 3 we travelled to Cavendish

and Vasey for the trip down through

Coleraine via the Coleraine-Balmoral

Road. It was then on to Casterton for

lunch via Merino and Henty. Some rain

at Casterton as lunch ended held us

up for a short time then it was

straight down the Glenelg Highway,

with some more rain, and back to

Hamilton to give time for everyone

to pack ready for departure the next

day. 131 miles covered.

All in all an excellent few days

with some new friendships being

forged and others catching up with

old friends again. Such are Velocette’s

“good companions”! A farewell

function was held on Sunday evening

at the Caravan Park, with “Pud”

Freeman presenting the VOCA SA

Meritorious Award to Julie and Ray

Goulter for their work in assisting with

the organisation of the 2019 VOCA

Good Companions Rally to be held at

Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills this

coming November. VOCA SA is again

organising another Velocette mini-

rally to Hamilton again next year.

First muster on Saturday morning.

Under the canopy at Halls Gap.

Morning tea at Cavendish on Sunday.