More than 200 vintage motorcycles from all over Australia are in Bathurst for the 40th anniversary of the first visit to Bathurst by the Vintage Motorcycle Club of Australia (NSW).
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The club has visited Bathurst each year since the rally was first held in 1974.
The participants pump several hundred thousand dollars into the local economy during the eight-day rally.
A lot of people stay on in the area after the rally is finished to do some sightseeing.
Rally director Don Liddle said 222 bikes have been entered this year, with riders, their partners and, in some cases, whole families coming along for the ride.
The first rally Don and his wife Colleen organised 40 years ago had just 38 riders.
“It really has grown over the years, which is very encouraging to us,” he said.
“Some of these blokes I’ve known since I went to school with them. A lot have motorcycle racing backgrounds, a lot don’t.”
The first rally came about when the club received a request from the Auto Cycle Union in 1973 to put on a display at the Easter bike races at Mount Panorama.
Vintage motorcycle enthusiasts have travelled to Bathurst this year from Queensland, Canberra, Victoria, Western Australia, and all over NSW.
The group has made the Big 4 Caravan Park its home base and each morning head off on a day ride, keeping to the back roads.
They kicked off last Sunday with a visit to the National Motor Racing Museum and Ash’s Speedway Museum, followed by a series of organised day trips throughout the week.
Today riders will make their way to Tarana via Oberon; tomorrow they will head to Burraga; on Sunday the group will travel to Forest’s Reef via Blayney; and on Monday many will leave for home.
“It’s all good fun,” Mr Liddle said.
He said the oldest motorcycle taking part in the rally is a 1908 Triumph. Other beautiful old motorcycles include a 1914 BSA, a 1928 Triumph and a 1929 Indian Scout. Mr Liddle is riding his 1953 Harley Davidson.
“It’s an old-fashioned rally. We are just a bunch of fellas who like riding old motorbikes,” he said. “Look around. Some of us are as old as our bikes. These were the bikes we rode when we were young.”
Mr Liddle said rally participants range in age from 30 to 85.
“Young fellas who grew up coming on the rally are now bringing their own little ones,” he said.
The rally is self funding, and any money that is left over at the end, the club gives to charity.
This year they are donating $1000 to the Salvation Army.