Mark Blythe, Tarrangower Times
In the best Melbourne Truth fashion, grab ‘em with a killer headline, then let them down slowly. What really happened was, as usual on the weekend of the All British Rally, Maldon was chuffed to have its annual ‘impromptu bike show’.
Well over a thousand bikes, overwhelmingly British, (those Royal Enfields are fooling no one, you realise?) took over Main St. Maldon for approximately three hours. They mingled with the locals, enjoyed our food, drink and hospitality and were an absolute delight to host, as always. For a lot of the people who soaked up this fantastic event, they will remember that once upon a time this scene was Elizabeth St. Melbourne, every Saturday morning. Serried ranks of bikes lined for two whole blocks. Oh the sound, the smell, the spectacle and here it was taking place in our Main Street.
So Maldon only sees the end result of months of preparation, not to mention 46 years of history.
But what is the back story of the All British Rally?
This rally started in 1978 when bike rallies ruled, and it has become one of the oldest and most popular on the Australian motorcycling calendar.
The [Tarrangower] Times managed to get hold of club President Ricky Gardner and a few others to interrupt their insanely busy schedule and open up about the history of, and what goes into, turning this concept into reality.
A tireless 11-person committee starts working on the rally, probably while the previous one is still running. They have a preferred policy of using local food vendors and contractors wherever possible. A little-known fact about the club is that they have footed the bill for some very useful and substantial infrastructure at the Newstead Racecourse, where the rally is historically held – namely, new toilets, the gatehouse, the BBQ pavilion and a huge brazier. They also pay a percentage of the proceeds for the venue use, not just a flat fee to the Reserve Committee. Generous, to say the least.
Club members run the merchandise shop, which was doing a roaring trade while the [Tarrangower] Times was there. Club members also run the bar; they obtain the licence and engage the licensed security personnel to ensure all runs smoothly.
It doesn’t sound like much if you say it fast. Nine hundred people were expected to arrive by Friday evening, and judging by what the [Tarrangower] Times witnessed, they were not too far short of that by 11am.
Finally, no story of the All British is complete without the tale of the Four Amigos. Just four men have attended all 46 rallies without missing one. Four out of the thousands who have attended over the years, they are Ray (78), Leroy (71), Doug (70) and the baby of the group Malcolm (69).
Roll on All British 2025, is all Maldon can say.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 3 May 2024.
