The 45th annual All British Rally, held last weekend, brought classic vintage British motorcycle enthusiasts from as nearby as Yandoit and as far as the Apple Isle into Maldon’s Main St for a day of riding revelry.
Owners and aficionados swapped rebuild war stories and gushed over rare models and pristinely preserved motorcycles of all sorts. The full canon of vintage British bikes was all on display; Norton, Triumph, Royal Enfield, BSA, Velocette – all the big hitters.
Vintage riding gear, worn by many attendees, was also on display, as well as an impressive array of goatee beards, moustaches and suitably coiffed hairstyles. Queues for the prized bakery wares wound their way right up Main St while providing plenty of opportunity to connect, while the addition of live music made for a festive feel.
Women motorcyclists were a rare sight, but one such motorcyclist was as enthusiastic, educated and impassioned as anyone else. Frances Taylor-Marshall was present with her Rocket 3 BBA model motorbike. Frances first came to the idea of riding after reading an article in The Age about five women motorcyclists and what had bought each of them to the pursuit.
With three small children at the time, Frances vowed to join that club by the age of 50. As she inched closer to her self-imposed deadline, she hadn’t yet found the time to do it, but with the big day looming, she bought her first bike. Now aged 65, Frances and her partner are dressed the part and are a deeply embedded part of the vintage motorcycle community. As she prepared to move on from the event, she admitted the extent of her passion. “I may have a few more of these in the garage,” she said, holding up 7 fingers.
Photos: Tarrangower Times
As the day wound down and the motorcyclists cruised off into the horizon, everyone agreed that the rally had been a ride-away success.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 28 April 2023.
