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Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Hardex on February 18, 2009, 08:57:54 pm

Title: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: Hardex on February 18, 2009, 08:57:54 pm
Hi
Did anyone attend the 70's mini bike reunion in Melbourne a week or two ago? I am led to believe it was a hugely successful event, so much so that they will hold another one in two years time.If anyone has info or photos of the many mini bikes that were on display and some of the riders that attended on the night ,I would sure like to see them.Hope this topic hasn't been dealt with already  ???
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: VMX247 on February 18, 2009, 09:34:48 pm
Hi
Did anyone attend the 70's mini bike reunion in Melbourne a week or two ago? I am led to believe it was a hugely successful event, so much so that they will hold another one in two years time.If anyone has info or photos of the many mini bikes that were on display and some of the riders that attended on the night ,I would shore like to see them.Hope this topic hasn't been dealt with already  ???


That would of been a great off beat story for the VMX Magazine to cover.  8)
Way Cool  ;D
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: albrid-3 on February 18, 2009, 09:55:03 pm
I was told that their was 300 guest attended plus bikes on display
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: miniwheels on February 19, 2009, 09:37:51 pm
Yeah was a absolutley a bottler of a nite, over 30 odd Vintage mini's on display , 200 odd ex racers/riders, heaps of old racing film footage shown throughout the nite, memorabilia a collector would kill for, there were many great racers in attandence but just to name a few Derim Porter, Ricky Murphy, Lucas Reynolds, Les Barefoot, Darren Cheney to name a few (sorry If I missed someone),all ex Aussie champs on the mini's. There was also a Special presentation to Wes & Val Davis for all there input during those great days , Wes was the President of the VMBA.
A big thankyou to Rosco Holden, Les Barefoot, Al Nicklos & Karsten Jorgenson for doing the hard yards on getting the reunion up and running, I think VMX will be doing a story on it in one of there next issues.
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: VMX247 on February 19, 2009, 10:04:59 pm
quote=A big thankyou to Rosco Holden, Les Barefoot, Al Nicklos & Karsten Jorgenson for doing the hard yards on getting the reunion up and running, I think VMX will be doing a story on it in one of there next issues.

great stuff, can't wait. ;D
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: JC on February 20, 2009, 11:00:39 am
Guys,

I seem to recall a minibike model sold in USA in early 70s that had a one-piece seat-tank-rearguard which looked like a Rickman. It had a Fuji or Hodaka engine & I seem to recall it was on the cover of MiniCyle Mag (which superceeded MiniBikeGuide) about 1973 when they tested it (actually 2 of them I think).

I have never seen that bike/model/make again. Does anybody know what it might have been? Or have pics? (Anyone got a collection of old MiniCycle mags?)

TIA
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: goldyracer on May 01, 2009, 11:59:48 am
Hi All

I have just joined the forum and found this would like to know when its going to happen again as i rode in Vic from 1972 though to 1975 and we moved to Qld I have lots photos as well super 8 movies from Wallan and all tracks in Melb it wouldbe good to catch up with the old people I raced with.

Lewis Hoskins
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: JohnnyO on May 01, 2009, 12:36:53 pm
JC i think i just found that mag you're talking about. The bike on the cover is a Kami and they tested 2 of them, 1 looks like a Rickman. The models are JX and MX and they use a Fuji engine. It's in the july '72 Minicycle mag.
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: 505 on September 20, 2009, 08:12:34 pm
I raced in VMBA from about 1976 to 1981, I rode SL70s, XR75s, YZ80s , RM80s & a couple of borrowed 100s. I can remember racing against Karston & Ross Holden. I wish I had known that the reunion was on, I was in Melbourne about that time & it would have been great to see what all my old mates were upto 30 years on. My race number was 505 same as my user ID, I wonder if anyone remembers me?
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: Hardex on September 21, 2009, 05:45:34 am
I see vmx ran a great story on this event in the latest issue .Darren Cheney's DG and PK xr75 were great looking bikes (just like all the bikes he has restored) Apparently one of Darren's bikes still had wet paint on it and he was a little upset as he felt the bike wasn't up to scratch.I would like to have seen Darrens xr75 that is the fastest xr75 in Australia on diplay,He spent something like $10,000 on the motor and it has some amazing engine work done to it.Hope the boys run another event soon. Thanks VMX for doing the story us old guys are soooooo stuck in the past.
Just a couple of shots of my humble little xr75 ko
Cheers
(http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/hardexgun/DSCF2408.jpg)
(http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/hardexgun/DSCF2410.jpg)
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: vmxrider on September 21, 2009, 09:32:01 am
Do these guys still race their minibikes?. There was a pretty active scene a few years ago linked with VIPER. Nothing beats the sound of a start grid full of angry little XR's.
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: Hoony on September 21, 2009, 12:01:44 pm
the mini's are no longer running with VIPER, but i did see a few Xr75's running down at Mirboo North with the VCM.
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: miniwheels on September 21, 2009, 03:20:07 pm
The guys still race the angry XR's but it's not as big as a few years ago unfortunitely (probably due to the price of parts for XR's that are out of control now) ,they still have the World Vintage Mini Bike GP at Boagy's every year which is the VCM's last round.I remember at Ravenswood, Broadford & Barrabool we used to have over 20 odd riders about 10 years ago bangin bars on these little classics and some very quick riders that can still ride em like they did back in there helicon days ;D
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: 505 on September 22, 2009, 10:57:04 pm
what issue number of VMX was this coverd in as I want a copy & my local shops have sold out so I need the issue number to order online
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: vmxken on September 23, 2009, 08:07:10 am
Issue 38

Thanks

Ken
Title: Re: Mini Bike reunion From the 70's
Post by: Peteryz125wr on January 17, 2010, 08:03:01 pm
I found this site last week and cant believe it I had an XR with Betors FMF swing arm DG gold wheels and Whitintong motor I was lucky to get parts from Erik at Eriks Minibike centre from Ken De Carly's old Xr.  I cant believe I missed this heard a whisper about the reunion in Jan last year but didnt follow up great  to see Wes and Val Davis get honored I was lucky enough to grow up  spending weekends with this great family just to throw a few other old names up Rob Mc Donald, Glenn Kambouris( sorry for spelling) Paul Jorgenson,Marty Craggil,Peter Webb,Matt Muirhead of Premier Racing who also sponsored Tony Davis on an FMF CR125 these guys all raced at Laverton ( Werribee Minibike Club)I spent a couple of years helping out at Laverton after some guys from the local bike industry got it up and running again as a pay as you go concern but she was never the track she was, just good to she its still there and some more old timers got in to keep it goin after a few of us moved on.