TUNING RIDE ON THE GOLDIE UP THE GREAT NORTH ROAD
Recently I related how Gerry Smith and I had ridden across the Nullarbor in April 1951. Gerry was on holidays and after some days in Adelaide he returned to Perth.
As soon as I could I sold the AJS. A close friend, Ron Bradbury, had shipped my 1950 350 BSA Goldstar to Adelaide. Prior to dispatch, Bill Anderson with my permission raced the bike at the Yanchep TT - 8th April 1951 where he crashed it and dented the tank.
Ken on 350cc BSA Gold Star - Woodside - South AustraliaI joined the Atujara Motorcycle Club in Adelaide. It was astounding the members who were either "big names" or went on to become big names. Dennis Minnett (ex England) - well known Brooklands/TT rider, Laurie Boulter - later killed in IOM, Rex Tilbrook - manufacturer of the Tilbrook sidecars/125 race bikes, Jim Silvey - top scrambles rider, and Les Diener - very well known successful rider/tuner 250 Velocette. It was a great club, with great camaraderie, and I believe it still is. The highlight of the year was the annual "Advertiser" newspaper 24-hour ReliabilityTrial. Not for me this type of event as I had recent bad memories of the "Prince of Darkness".
A story worth telling is riding the Goldie up the Great Northern Road (main road to Port Augusta) past Parafield Aerodrome about 30-miles from Adelaide. This ride was for the purpose of tuning the bike in preparation for Woodside and later Gawler airstrip road races. In company of a friend, Brian Floyd (Ariel), we had passed several riders and mechanics also doing tuning and high speed runs. Some miles further on, having found a quieter section of road (less traffic), It was time to prepare the Goldstar. I should say that the Goldstar was both my personal transport and race bike. Change the silencer for a megaphone, other adjustments etc. Now it was ready! I did an almost top speed run to the north checking road conditions, then a full bore run back towards Adelaide, made a U-turn for another high speed run north and back to where Brian was waiting for me.
Imagine my surprise - shock - horror when slowing to stop, I looked around and there was a South Australian Motorcycle Police Patrolman on a 650cc Thunderbird Triumph right on my tail. I felt sure he would 'throw the book' at me. On stopping he came alongside me.
"How fast was it going?" he said.
Utter despair gripped me and I thought there was no use in denying I was speeding. I thought he would probably do me for excess noise too, and maybe even dangerous riding.
"About 85/90 mph." I said in reply, since I was using a rev counter - no speedo.
"I thought so." said he, "My Thunderbird was showing 95mph, and you were pulling away from me!"
Speedos were optimistic then and still are now.
Next thing he said was "Have you seen Jack Pengelly anywhere, he is supposed to be out here too?"
I said that I had not.
Then to my surprise he put the Triumph in gear while saying "he must be further up the road" and rode away.
My mate, Brian, was incredulous at the turn of events , while I was dumb-struck too. It turned out that the motorcycle patrolman was a close friend of Jack Pengelly's, but he sure 'shocked the hell' out of me. I duly raced at both Woodside and Gawler race meetings with moderate success. Maurie Quincey was a star of these races, also Bert Flood on his 125cc Lambretta, and Alan Wallis (later long serving ACCA National Secretary) on the works Tilbrook, which he still has.
Ken D. (VMCCWA Member #479)
