This weekend marks a significant occasion for the Tasmanian Motorcycle Club.
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Motorcycle commentator and journalist Ken Young will launch a book called “100 Clicks” The History of the Tasmanian Motorcycle Club on Saturday.
The 283 page read is a measure of one man’s commitment and enthusiasm to capture the club’s past since it’s inception in 1905.
This has been a long journey for young, a TMCC life member, who is particularly proud of the fact that the book has been put together by Tasmanians in Tasmania.
In 1905, motorcars were being outsold by motorcycles which provided, as an example, an easy means for doctors to do their rounds but soon the desire to compete in a competitive way was being examined.
On the August 18, 1905, a meeting was held where it was decided to form the Tasmanian Automobile Club (TAC) for both car and motorcycle owners, however, in 1920 the motorcycle fraternity decided to break away to form the Northern Tasmanian Motorcycle Club.
Seven years later the word “Northern” was dropped to form The Tasmanian Motorcycle Club (TMCC), which still exists today and is based in Launceston.
There has been conjecture over the years as to who holds the title of the oldest motorcycle club in the world, but after extensive research by Young he believes the TMCC is the third oldest wordwide – a great achievement.
Events in the early days took on a range of activities from social (smoke nights!) to competitions such as hill climbs, reliability tests, economy runs, grass track racing and later beach racing at Greens Beach for example.
In 1929, Reg Hay established a new Launceston to Hobart record of one hour and 56 minutes on his solo bike, which was amazing considering it was a gravel road.
The club produced many stars who became household names over the years names such as the Kings, Gordon Fysh, Trevor Jowett, Eddie Bonner, Jock Walkem, Ike Chenall, Ian Tilley, Dave Powell and in more recent times Malcolm Campbell.
The list is almost endless and should include Martin Coombe who, apart from being competitive rider, was the man largely responsible for the establishment of racing at the Longford road course in 1953.
There was no race meeting in 1954 but the following year saw the great world 500cc champion Geoff Duke compete at Longford on his four-cylinder Gilera recording a top speed on the flying mile of 240km/h.
The book will be launched at the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania and I recommend it as it’s a great insight to the history of the club and the community in general.
Copies will be available for sale from the museum, the Ross Historic Motorcycle show on Sunday and Motor Cycle City next Saturday.
THANK YOU AND FAREWELL
TWO well-known Supercar drivers and a media personality will end their involvement with the championship at the Newcastle street circuit this weekend.
Ford driver Jason Bright has announced his retirement from driving after this meeting, ending ongoing speculation as to what his future would be.
The 44-year-old started racing karts in 1988 and soon progressed to circuit racing.
Going into this final meeting he had contested 570 Supercar races – scoring 20 wins, 88 podiums and 17 pole positions.
He also won the Bathurst 1000 in 1998 with Steven Richards and the Bathurst 24-hour race in 2003.
Nissan driver Todd Kelly has started in 574 Supercar races – scoring 19 wins, 58 podiums, seven pole positions and won the Bathurst 1000 in 2005 with Mark Skaife and the 24-hour race with Bright in 2003.
Greg Rust, 47, has been a regular and popular commentator for a number of years on different television networks, after starting his commentary career at Oran Park with me back in the 1990s.
His replacement in pit lane will be Mark Larkham.