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Motorcycle Club Newsletter Autumn '01
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RUN DETAILSIt’s all happening down at the Ace, as mentioned, with a few Aussie Ton-Up visits recently and it looks like there will be a couple more planned to be there for this years ACE day in September? It’s so nice to hear such great feedback from O/S and we really appreciate their warm & friendly reception. Hopefully they will soon be receiving a copy of Les’ Ton-Up ½ our mega production video, which will give our UK friends an idea of what goes on over here (hope they’re not disappointed). Recent correspondence with Linda included the excellent current issue of ACE CAFÉ NEWS and some flyers on other events.
Contact the ACE or visit their website www.ace-café-london.com to see the latest on what’s going on in the UK.
News from our good friend Ton from the Netherlands (Triumph Owners Club) tells all is well in sunny Holland. You may have read in past issues of our news on Ton’s ongoing dream/plan to put together a Triton, well its seems his dream has begun with finally the purchase of the start of his project. This consists of basket case Norton Dominator 99 in a 1960 Slimline frame – he also has a pre-unit T110 engine & gearbox to form the heart of his street racer. Ton also sent some pics of their recent annual Café-racer day, which certainly shows how active their scene is. Big thanks also to Ton for the "You can always trust the trusty Triumph" Christmas card. Hopefully Ton will also be receiving our half hour video production soon to give him an idea of what we get up to.
We received some more info from UK artist Roy Barrett and some prices & availability on his legendary limited edition prints, all signed & numbered. Some of these designs are true Ton-Up / Rocker classics, like ‘Three Minute Heroes’ (i.e. record racing), Juke box boys, ‘ACE Café’, ‘Flying Tigers’ etc – wouldn’t ya’ love to collect the whole set? Check them out for yourself… more here
SUPPORT YOUR SCENE
Jake HepCat’s Gig Guide is one of the last remaining fanzines going round on the scene. We just received the most recent issue in the new format that’s jam packed with all things cool. This includes news & info on everything from swap meets, Jukebox/Pinball auctions, rock’n’roll festivals, band/CD reviews, and of course an extensive Gig guide & ‘wots on’ (that includes interstate) on anything that’s happening around town and worth going to. So make sure you write to Jake & subscribe to this excellent mag if you’re keen to know what’s going on. It’s great to see him putting in the effort for all the rockin’ fans.
Ferris Wheels classic motorcycle adventure safaris have again been keeping us informed on what’s going on. You may have seen the recent SBS programme ‘Grey Voyagers’ with Mike Ferris & the group touring around Nepal with 75-year-old Doug Sunderland and their ‘adventures’. Well this is the sort of excellent journey you’ll have if you undergo a Ferris Wheels tour. These very interesting, exciting and reasonably priced tours include Royal Rajasthan, Himalayas, Turkey & Nepal and are about 21 days long each. Recent attempts by Mike Ferris to organise a Tibet safari have fallen through with the Chinese administration unfortunately seemingly succeeding in destroying the Tibetan roads, accommodation, food & culture. Looks like the next plan, instead, is a tour of South America through the Andes & Peru – but this is still in its early stage yet. These tours are all on the Indian Enfields and all costs are inclusive. Write to Ferris Wheels for info on these very appealing adventures – tell ‘em you’re a Ton-Up.Ferris Wheels MC Safaris
P.O. Box 743
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Tel: 02 9904 7419
Email: safari@ferriswheels.com.au
TON-UP-NEWS (LOCAL)
The Barrachos Bowling Tournament kicked off this year again in usual cool style, this time the venue has been changed to Mascot, Manhattan Bowl – a much better venue with a lot more friendlier and helpful staff. It’s still too early to determine any current lead between the 6 teams, but it looks like this years gonna be another close one. We still are currently looking for one boy (Ton-Up-Boys team) and one girl (Devil Dolls team) for a regular once a month (1st Thursday) commitment to join our teams. It’s just a bit of fun – so why not join up?
Last years Tournament ended in December back at the Duke at Enmore for the final celebrations and the legendary Trophy Presentation awards night. Unfortunately the Ton-Up-Boys team was robbed again of what is rightfully ours – but keep trying boys (& girls) we’ll get it back this year. Big congratulations to the Gutter Turkeys for taking the 2000 Tournament and the Trophy – it was a long hard year – but you finally did it. The final scores for 2000 are:
Gutter Turkeys 8180
Secta 7 7565
Ton-Up-Boys 6359
Devil Dolls 4852 (ha ha)Big thanks to Beccy for work behind the scenes and if you’re keen to join up, let us know – (we need 2 more consistent players)
It’s nice to see our club get some overseas exposure as we did in a recent issue of Classic Bike (Oct 2000), which you may have seen. The great full page photo was taken at Mt.White by the O/S journalist on one of our Rockers Rides. It features Ray & Ian in the foreground and lots of other familiar faces in the background. It’s interesting by how many O/S friends noticed this picture and told us about it (considering we get this mag up to 2 months after everyone else). I assumed the article was on the club, but when I finally read it I was surprised that we didn’t even get a mention anywhere. So all these O/S people must of just noticed the small glimpse of the patch on Rays shoulder and recognised the club. Strange the journalist didn’t give us a mention considering it was our annual club rally and he just spent the whole day riding around with us?!
Unfortunately not much news this time around on the Ton-Up-Racing team (except for the poker night). Ray’s still hard at work in the shed welding, grinding, drilling & hammering from a string of mechanical problems & bad luck, that include the most recent ‘snapped rod through the crankcase stunt’, at his last race. It’s a real shame considering he was doing so well at the last report (leading division 2!) Onya Ray – we’re still really proud of you & look forward to seeing you doing a few laps real soon. It seems Spannerman Baz couldn’t wait any longer & was spotted at Oran Park on the track amongst Norton Manxs, Tritons, Velocettes etc floggin’ the B’jesus out of his poor old 65 Triumph Saint road bike. With taped up headlight, racing numbers, (Robbie’s) regulation full leathers and the biggest grin from ear to ear – he had an absolute ball. Considering he obviously was there just for a bit of fun, he didn’t do too badly at all! I think last time Baz raced was about 1978 in New Zealand, and within a day his saint was back to standard trim ready for the next TUB ride (That’s how they did it in the old days!) Well done Baz – you’re a legend.
Unfortunately, looks like Bathurst won’t be on again this year – not sure why considering they had the interest & backing. After last years great meet it sure is a major loss. Wonder how our mate Craig’s doing in the National Sidecar Championships? We hear he’s been down to Phillip Island trying out the circuit – looking forward to a report Craig!
For all Fans of fine Rockabilly it was sad to hear that Wes and the Sonic Aces called it a day late last year. This great band played excellent Rockabilly music consistently all over Sydney and will be greatly missed. Interesting to see what Wes does now, as he’s always got some plan up his sleeve – we hear possibly Swing maybe his next project?
‘NET NEWS …
Big thanks to Rizzo, our very own Ton-Up-Boys website is now finally coming together quite nicely. Still always interested in any other input & contributions – anything from photos, stories, pictures & drawings, especially from all the ‘net heads’ in the group. You can email Su direct with any contributions at rizzo1@start.com.au or just do ya’ self a favour and check out all the good looking and familiar faces on our cool site (you might find yourself!). Also, check some of the other great motorcycling links under www.dropbears.com
(A comment from Riz … the TUB website is intended to not only broaden our audience with this fabbo newsletter but also a great way of further showing what we are all about highlighting all the great characters and bikes that form our group – so get contributing or else you’ll just get a lot of Rizzo’s mindless ramblings about Barbie dolls and other crap stuff)Looks like the Legendary ACE Café in UK has received a couple of Aussie Ton-Up visits recently with Karl & Del being their for last years ACE Day and our South Coast connection ‘Lester Von Weirdo’s’ Mum & Sister visiting later in September. All reports show the very warm and welcome reception from people like Mark & Linda Wilsmore and others, and how they go out of their way and take time out for the Aussie visitors. Read on for Karl & Del’s review of their recent journey to the UK & the ACE. Mark even went to the extent of opening the ACE especially for Les’ mum and show her around because it was the only day she could make it. Now that’s sincere devotion & kindness! Les’ mum writes:
A Visit To The ACE Café. By Les’ Mum.
“In September 2000, while on holidays in London with my daughter, Julie, I had been asked to visit the Ace Café & buy an Ace T-shirt for Les. Finding the Ace wasn’t very easy. The London phone book proved negative. Asking around one person suggested it had burnt down, another suggested it may be out of town. This proved to be right & we finally got a phone number for Mark only to have him tell us it only opens week-ends. When we explained we had come all the way from Australia & were returning before then he offered to come in & open the shop just for us. After an hour long all station train journey & a short walk, we arrived at The Ace – grateful to see Mark waiting for us.
After a welcome cup of tea we were given a tour of the premises including boxes of memorabilia & a look at the detailed plans for the new Ace. At present it only occupies a third of the building but as the leases expire Mark plans to re-furbish the whole building, which he owns. After a photo or two, me in front of the pin-up board (that figures) & Julie talking to Mark, I noticed a Sydney Ton-Up T-Shirt on the wall. Then we made our purchases & it was back to the train for the long haul back to London. Mark proved to be a genuine host”
With some Ton-Ups always travelling around the world some place – it’s nice to receive some correspondence or postcards to let us know what you’re up to and what’s going on. Thanks to Lizzy who again sent us a postcard of the new Bonnie from her regular visit to the UK last November and also to Dave M & his cheeky card from his visit to Canada. Lizzy also brought back a bag full of goodies for us to have look at. This large package included everything from the Birmingham International Motor Bike Show guide, Triumph owners’ club magazines, Norton postcards and 2001 range sales catalogues for Triumph, Ducati (including the new Monster S4), Indian and CCM dirt bikes – Thanks Liz – great reading. Let us know if you want to have a look!
It seems Tassie is the place to go after both Ian & Bec, John & Niki (& Adrian & Su in April) all visiting this beautiful place. John & Niki did 2 magical weeks in January.
TON-UP-NEWS (AUSTRALIA)
Our friends Marty & Di from Brisbane called to let us know about a new Rockabilly venue happening that sounds really cool. Reviews from a recent show that featured Sydney’s, Rock Cat Rock were quite impressive with the band physically unable to continue with the ongoing encores requested by their newfound Queenslander enthusiastic fans.
These shows, held once a month by DJ Nikki and the Rebel Rockers, are at the Daisy Hill Community Centre (104 Chatswood Road, Daisy Hill). Upcoming shows include Rock Bottom James and the Detonators (CD Launch) on Friday 16th March ($10) and the Rebel Rockers 15th Anniversary with NSW Central Coast boys The Creepers on Friday 21st (?) April ($12). For more info rebelrockers@ausnet.com.auWe received more correspondence from WA this time from George C from Perth who’s an original rocker and has been riding the old Brit bikes for about 43 years! Its good to see it runs in the family as his son Quinten’s also in the scene – being involved in the local Rock&Roll Club, the Aces & Eights and the drummer for the local Rockabilly group. George still hoons around on his classic Beeza 54 Road Rocket and sent some cool photos of both himself & Quinten and an article on himself from a recent Ozbike magazine. Great to see the original lads still going strong and riding the classics.
Our Broken Hill connection Peter S has again sent one of his regular contributions and a brief run down on how things are going in that part of the world seems all is well with their occasional Saturday night parties at Cliffs, the regular local Sunday rides and already clocking up 30k on his new Thunderbird (including runs to Adelaide & Mildura). Although Broken Hill is a long way from Sydney – its great to see Pete makes an effort with his occasional input and correspondence for our news. He’s enclosed another of this ‘Rocker’ poems for our inspirational reading – Thanks Pete!
With the Tassie/Sydney connection just getting stronger with our alternate visits that saw Ian & Bec headin’ South last Sept. on motorbike for a couple of weeks. Rod from Tassie then came to Sydney briefly in October which had a small local get together at the Duke and Ian taking him for a day cruise in his immaculate FB Holden around the sites of Sydney, for something a little bit different. Then it was Sydney’s turn again with John & Niki touring Tassie for 2 weeks in January – unfortunately unable to get a spot on the boat for the bike, they had to settle for seeing the sights in a 1973 VW Beetle. Now it looks like we’re expecting a visit from Tony in Mid March and then its Arby & Rizzo’s turn to head south for a look around in Mid-April. One of these days we’ll have to organise some sort of combined meeting – maybe half way? Thanks to Rod again for 2 more of his excellent custom compilation tapes - & a big thanks to Tony & Sheila & all the boys for their warm hospitality whenever we visit.
We received a new enquiry from Susan B in Vic who sounds to be a fairly devoted Rocker/Ton-Up type and is interested in knowing more about our group and any likeminded people (esp. in Vic). With bikes like BSA C11G and ’72 Trumpy Daytona to her credit, she’s keen in finding a Beeza 350 Gold Star or 500 Goldie (ain’t we all!) and would especially like any information or tips on purchasing these bikes. Maybe if someone’s owned one they could write in with some ideas – (how about the ol’ ‘Backfire’ column?). We sent Susan some past issues of our news to look at so hopefully we’ll hear from her again. We occasionally get asked about a Vic Ton-Up branch & with a fair bit of interest down there now, hopefully it won’t be long?
Speaking of Andrew in Vic. … just received a recent letter to let us know he’s moved from Frankston and is now in Baxter. Seems all is going well although sounds like he’s missing the ol’Tassie boys. Andrew’s always keen to hear from any other Vic Ton-Ups, so don’t be shy to call him up for a chat. Looks like he’s got his eye on the new Bonnie … sounds serious! Thanks for the letter mate!
If you wish to be reminded of any upcoming runs or advised of any adhoc events that may come up, the Ton-Up-Boys now run an email service. Please reply to arby@start.com.au with your email details so that you can be kept up to date.
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