OzVMX Forum
Marque Remarks => Suzuki => Topic started by: oldmotoxer on November 02, 2007, 09:02:10 pm
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I have photos of the 1976 Qld unlimited MX titles held in Rockhampton Qld that I wish I could share with everyone but the have been in the Album so long they just wont come out :-\ Anyway take it from me there was some great racing with Sam Kendal taking the victory on an RM that weekend, does he still ride VMX or other? I also have pics of the first RM370 that I had seen and was the first open class MX bike I had seen actually and with it being the current model I was very impressed. Unfortunately the track didn't favor an open class bike and the Phil Phew sponsored 370 rider didn't have a very good weekend. Does anyone else remember riders from that series and if they still ride?
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I believe the Phil Thew rider would have been none other than Peter Boyle.. I was at Tivoli that year to see Gaston Rahier and the new RM's. The other PTM rider I remember was Stu McLaughlin. Phil Thew Moto was where I purchased my RM80 in '77 followed by the RM400 in '78 both of which are still going well to this day 8)
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Thanks for the memories; I'd love to see those photos.
I remember Peter Boyle and Stu McLachlan - if memory serves they were #55 and #151.
I was only 16 when I first talked Mum into taking me to watch MX at Tivoli.
Peter Boyle was brilliant on the RMs and was my hero at the time (remember I was a kid)...
He regularly won by huge margins and it was these events which inspired me to take up racing.
I couldn't get the YZ 80B to fly through the bush like Boyle but I tried hard!
Doc, I recall watching Gaston Rahier at Tivoli in '78 or '79; are we mixing up the dates or did he visit Oz more than once?
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Wombat, yup! Peter Boyle was #55 and Stu #151
I saw Rahier race at Tivoli the day after he held his MX school also at Tivoli.
It was very late in the year and now come to think of it, I do have my dates confuddled..I don't think it was 76 at but infact it would have been December '75. The only oz to hold a candle to Rahier on the day was Vic Allen on a 250 Bultaco..he actually beat Rahier in 1 of the over open heats but it was on the 125 that I remember him most..he slayed em'! He and a fast Japanese rider of whom I can't recall a name.. :-\
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IPhil Thew Moto was where I purchased my RM80 in '77 followed by the RM400 in '78 both of which are still going well to this day 8)
fork, thats a radical jump Doc RM80B to RM400C talk about progression !
i had an RM80B as well great bike.
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:D nah Hoony, use your head and not your fist the salesman (Big Ron Johnson) told me when he delivered it. Not a childs toy he said.. >:( I was over 15!! I knew everything and I was indestructable! :D I nearly killed myself the first night when I snuck it out at 10pm and took it up to Nudgee..full moon..nice flat area, what could possibly go wrong.. :o apart from everything!! and everytime I opened the throttle I shat myself. Come to think of it, not a lots changed except my underwear :D
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yeah we all did those silly things back then, i too used to ride at night.
i think every 15 Y/O thinks they have a superman Cape attached.
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Oldmotomxer. Think I met you boy yesterday. Does he have a broken foot??. Suppose I'll have to get off my ass now and ring you now so I can come and look at the photo's. Darcy :)
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Oldmotomxer. Think I met you boy yesterday. Does he have a broken foot??. Suppose I'll have to get off my ass now and ring you now so I can come and look at the photo's. Darcy :)
Not unless he has broken it in the last few hours dkupf :) Spent all afternoon with him out at the bike tracks out past Plentiful Creek, Nth of Rocky trying to do my self a mischef on the RM400. I wish had his confidence, Oh to be 23 again ;D I sent you an Email the other day dkupf, did you receive it?
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I believe the Phil Thew rider would have been none other than Peter Boyle.. I was at Tivoli that year to see Gaston Rahier and the new RM's. The other PTM rider I remember was Stu McLaughlin. Phil Thew Moto was where I purchased my RM80 in '77 followed by the RM400 in '78 both of which are still going well to this day 8)
Thanks for the correction Doc :) I wasn't sure about the Phew and as you have pointed out its actually Thew. How about the rider of the day on that particular day, Sam Kendal, any thoughts? As a kid back then I use to work in a bike shop on the Central Qld coal fields called Bob Osbourne Suzuki so RM's were well and truly in my blood and watching these blokes ride them the way they did only served to reinforce that ;D Bob was a great promotor of the sport of MX and bike riding in general back in those days and a great bloke toboot, was a sad day when he passed away, F@#% Spanish dancer!
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Oldmotoxer I remember seeing advertisments for Osbournes Suzuki around that era. I was still at school till the the end of '78 but well into bikes before that. My first job was with Bert Kingston..I was the guy who had the wonderful job in the loft of packaging up the big bore (Cobra) kits that were really popular at the time. The Red Devils had been released and looked beautiful on the showroom floor and I quite easilly could have ended up with a garage full of red instead of yellow.
dkupf maybe it was oldDT's boy you met ?? I believe he has a broken hoof. Reminds me of a time I thought I was talking to you at a meeting only to find you were working 600k's away :D I do it all the time :-\ but I still swear you have a clone!!!
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Doc, that day at Tivoli with Rahier....Vic Allen was in fact a Scotsman who rode GPs for Bultaco. He was rocket fast but all over the shop. I saw him crash his brains out at Saddleback in '77 in a crash that took out half the field. He got up and passed nearly everyone to finish second to the great Gaylon Mosier. He rode out here a few times.
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Yer got your phone number just havn't got off my ass and used it, Sorry, Met a young bloke in Shoppingfair on thursday with a broken foot(dropped a landcruised diff on it) He said he and his oldman owned a rm400 and a pe400 and lived out Byfield way so though it might have been your son.Darcy
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Thanks Firko, I didn't really know anything about Vic Allen and I must admit I am still quite ignorant. (he was the Brit MX champ at the time but I still thought he was Oz for some reason...doh..I really should have listened more instead of drooling all over the new RM's) I do remember watching him (Vic) and like you said, he was fast but not smooth and appeared to be riding above himself 99% of the time. Gaston on the otherhand barely put a wheel out of place although he rode many extremely rough alternate lines.
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Doc, I'm told that Rahier was a small of stature sorta little bloke who had trouble touching the ground when aboard his works bike, is that right? It obviously didn't affect his riding ability though if he was, he was a fantastic rider!
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Yep, he was tiny.
I remember thinking he stood on the pegs because that's the only way he could reach them!
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yeah, Gaston the Great was pretty small..he's the one wearing the Suzuki jersey :P
(http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5499/pic116rg5.jpg)
$5.00 per rider and 50cents for spectators! I miss the 70's :D
(http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/9237/ghtssw8.th.jpg) (http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ghtssw8.jpg)
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Thanks Wombat and Doc, yep he was a little bloke alright but a great ambassador for the sport of MX by the looks of it too.
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Don't forget the other star who raced for Phil Thew Moto in the late 70's.. Hard riding and hard partying Noel Harker raced and worked for Phil Thew. He's still racing today on a 490 Maico in the Qld Thunder X series...
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I saw Rahier in NZ in late '75, he was short and had his bars pulled WWAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY back but he was so fast and so smooth.
Every one copied him, pulled our bars back and stood up all the time. We all wondered why the front end kept washing out. Turns out he had his bars so far back so he could reach them. A 6 foot rider looked really silly, standing with with his bars down around his knees...............................
Brent
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I saw Rahier and Neil Hudson at Tivoli in '76. Rahier's works 250 Suzuki was so fast he pulled a huge holeshot against Hudson's 400 Maico. Hudson won that day and Rahier was riding with an injured wrist and pulled out of the moto's. He was very fast and smooth on the big Maico beating all the top Aussies. I still have the Gaston Rahier World Champion poster that he signed that day.
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Maico31..I did not know that about other PTM rider..did or does Noel Harker run an engineering business? I had my RM400 gears backcut by a guy by the same name many years back and they've never been any trouble since. Bushy bearded bloke. The shop was at Newstead/Albion and from memory he charged me bugger all, about $50-$60 all up.
As I've said both my RM's came from Phil Thew Moto but my local shop and parts supplier was either Reece Hampson at Northside Suzuki or Robby (1 arm) at Mayfairs Windsor. It was almost ritual to hop a train to visit either shop on a Saturday morning pocket money burning a hole in my pocket. Does anyone remember the name of the Japanese factory suzuki rider who visited with Gaston in late '75/early '76??
Here's a clickable photo from that particular moment in history with Rahiers wrist heavily bandaged. Sure to jog a memory or 2 ;)
(http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5463/hudsonrahier1976xe5.th.jpg) (http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hudsonrahier1976xe5.jpg)
Brent, I feel Gaston's pain..I crashed my brains out at Connondale for that very reason on a borrowed PE400..I stuck it into a righthand corner and my left hand couldn't reach the bars or the clutch when things got a little uglier than normal ::) normal bar position for me is same rake as forks pulled back about an inch and nothing over 800mm wide or I'm in trouble ;D
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Doc, Noel started Australian Dirt Bike Wreckers at Kuraby i think it was, then moved to Slacks Ck and sold it to Ray Buchanan who had it for several years. It is now Full Throttle Motorcycles. They used to have heaps of VMX parts but all the good stuff went a few years back. I'll see if i can find the name of the Jap rider. I remember a bunch of Jap mechanics running round in Suzuki overalls working from a couple of very large wooden crates of factory spare parts.. Wonder if any got left behind? (parts, not japs)
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Akira Watanabe guys? Gaston was runner up to him 78
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Thanks for that..must be a different bloke I'd say..the mechanics did look pretty flash..like foreman material!!..almost seemed a crime to have factory RA parts in such an 'uncontrolled environment' but knowing those little Jappy chappies every last titanium split pin would have been accounted for :-\
Beaudy! Thanks Pokey! I always had bulk trouble with his name ..no wonder I had it banished from my grey matter :)
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Don't think it was Watanabe that came to Aus, think it was Sugio or something like that. I'll try and find the program or magazine report.
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yeah the wierd bit is that a bloke by the same name did a lot of road racing stuff a few years later. not sure if it was the same guy but seems its common practice for japanese to have the same names.
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That makes sence 'cause they all look the same! Hey... maybe they're all clones, that would make alot of sence! Maybe thats why they didn't mind doin' the Kamakazi thing, just spat out another clone! Btw, im not racist, i hate everyone equally :D
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A little more trivia for this thread: I was looking through my old 'Mr. Motocross' program from '78; it's the Tivoli Qld round.
Came across many names familiar to all (J.Leisk on mini bikes) and including Noel Harker as mentioned by Maico 31.
Don't forget the other star who raced for Phil Thew Moto in the late 70's.. Hard riding and hard partying Noel Harker raced and worked for Phil Thew.
He's listed as #54 riding a 250 Suzuki for Phil Thew Moto.[/color][/color]
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Wombat, #54 is the number noel rides with now on his Maico. I would've raced at that Tivoli meeting also.
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Well I'll be buggered...I just checked your forum profile so I know what name to look for in the program.
If I'm on the right track I find a J. Kittle listed in the B grade unlimited race; six laps consisting of 11 riders.
It has you down as # 09 on a 250 Yamaha; sponsored by Donny Pask at Mermaid Beach.
Is that you?
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Yes Wombat that's me..back in the good old days
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Maico31, the more I think about this the more I'm sure we've actually met; it was at Conondale a few months ago.
Brett Bull is a mutual friend and he introduced us.
A few weeks later I called to ask your opinion re the $8000 Maico for sale in Bendigo; remember I e-mailed a photo of that flash yellow jobbie?
There can't be too many John Kittle Maico devotees in SEQ?
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Yes Graham i remember. Did you buy a Maico? The one in Canada? Shouldn't you be at Conondale...
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hi maico 31 did you know noal harker many years ago as a boy 1975 i had a mate who worked at annand & thompson yamaha at buranda who send me down to phill thews for some phill spew stickers when i walked in and asked for some phill spew sticker noel was there and he smiled and said to phill this kid wants some phill spew sticker . old phill got up and said what did i want. i said that the boys and a& t sent me down he laughed .i think both stores had a good rivaliy. but that harker he could do some great wheel stands he would go to get lunchs on a large road bike with a box on the carry bag and call at a& t stir them up then they would egg him on to pull a wheel stand so he would leave go down logan road come back under the bridge and go passed on the back wheel all the way down to deason st unreal to see for a 15 year kid.arr the good old days.ed
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Is it possible that the RM370 rider at the Qld Titles at Rockhampton was (Redlands based) John Walmsley?
I too as a kid used to go to Phil Thew's Suzuki shop in Wellington Rd East Brisbane for bits for my TS185 and remember well being served by Noel Harker and Phil. It was great they set up there as it was much closer to home that having to go over to Mayfairs on Bowen Bridge/Gympie Road for parts.
The reason that Gaston had a damaged wrist was because the day before the Tivoli racing he had been doing some riding for the cameras promoting his visit and crashed.
I also remember watching Gaston doing some demo riding on an RM at the Ekka speedway track between heats one Saturday night. I reckon his speed around the track there would have had him going pretty well against the speedway bikes - very impressive.
Just also remembered the wheelie guy at the Ekka with stage name "Alberto Bonsarelli" (like Vincent Fonsarelli from Happy Days). He rode a TT500 around on the back wheel a lot out on the infield and did a few stunts.
Does anyone know who that was?
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Maico31, that Canadian Maico ('78 Magnum 440) should be setting sail any day now; I'm sending the money tomorrow having only just received my import approval.
I think I mentioned this bike was built by the same bloke who built the tidy #23 Maico on the front cover of the latest VMX magazine?
Fortunately I'd bumped into his web site by chance in the weeks prior to the magazines release - he tells me the phone has been running hot since the magazine article came out.
He's had several offers on 'my bike' since then.
No Conondale as yet, I'm spending the meantime arranging knee braces and helmet and leathers and ...........everything required for a fresh start in '08. :D
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Feetupfun and PERM250 it's good to hear your stories from the 70's. That rider at Rockhampton probably was John Walmsley, i remember him being Qld #1 in '77 on an RM370. The wheelie guy at the Ekka was a stunt man who also went under the name of Johnny Fogwell and made a few distance jump record attempts over cars as well. Phil Thew Moto was a great shop and had all the latest trick stuff. They also sponsored some of the best riders from the era like Randy Jones on RH Suzukis, Peter Boyle, Grant Macrae, Noel Harker and Stuart Mclauchlan on RM Suzuki's. Unfortunately Phil Thew passed away a couple of years ago after a heart attack while spectating at the Masters Games MX at Reedy Creek.
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That Johny Frogwell used to do the show curcit in the late 70's under the name of Johny Leap The Frog. I met him out west in Blackall (Central Westen Queensland)1976 seemed like a decent sort of guy. Darcy
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dkupf I remember him as 'Johnny Wonder'; but 'Johnny Leap the Frog"!?? are you sure?
I'm pretty sure Johnny Fogwell has moved up to the sunshine coast.
He lived across the road from me until he sold up about three years ago; he owned the bike shop in town for a while.
We only chatted a few times but he seemed a friendly down to earth bloke - and fit.
Every now and then he'd blast around his track on his dirt bike in a fast but controlled style. 8)
I'm told he does bike stunts for movies but I've no idea if there's any truth in that.
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i saw Jonny Fogwell down here in Vic with Gary Wells (US stunt rider) attempting the world ramp - ramp jump record, i have it on dvd after transferring it from Super 8 film, Fogwell was on a XR500 Wells was on a CR250. Fogwell overjumped and landed past the ramp at the base and the front wwhell collasped on impact, he went down hard but got up OK, it was no declareda record as he did not ride it out.
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Is Noel Harker the same bloke who ran a top fuel Kawasaki drag bike 10 or 15 years ago. His brother raced a funny car and runs Harker Transport. Same bloke?
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Hi Firko, Noel has 2 brothers Steve and Brad that are into drag racing, they are the guys you are talking about. One of them lives in the states full time drag racing. Not sure about the transport company but could be them.
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Firko that's the guy I was referring to! The guy that did my backcutting was indeed the Noel Harker that ran the kwack dragbike. His engineering shop was at Albion/Newstead down the streets behind the Breakfast Creek Hotel. I first met him at Brisbane Kawasaki maybe 20 years ago. 2 Noel Harker's??..I'd estimate the one I knew of would now be 50-55ish. Not really important but just seems too much coincidence. Would either of these gents be the ones in question? Brad Harker on left and Noel Harker on right?
(http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/images/aus1/Aus2003-s260403-04-05.jpg)
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Doc that's Noel Harker on the right, he races a 490 Maico these days.
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Doc, I was halfway thru typing a query into the kiwi livewire forum, as they have a thread about QE2 Park, which is one of the venues Gaston Rahier rode on his tour of 1975. As I was typing, I remembered the name of the mystery Japanese works Suzuki rider that accompanied Gaston on his eye-opening tour - Jimmy Ozaki ! Yes, I have a memory ! What a waste of substance abuse THAT was ! Actually I seem to recall Jimmy was a name the commentators gave him for the tour, and it was more like Masanori, but I'm betting that's the guy.... :D
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:D well there ya go! Jimmy!..I must have had my Gaston goggles on cause I be buggered if I could remember! thanks
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Feetupfun and PERM250 it's good to hear your stories from the 70's. That rider at Rockhampton probably was John Walmsley, i remember him being Qld #1 in '77 on an RM370. The wheelie guy at the Ekka was a stunt man who also went under the name of Johnny Fogwell and made a few distance jump record attempts over cars as well. Phil Thew Moto was a great shop and had all the latest trick stuff. They also sponsored some of the best riders from the era like Randy Jones on RH Suzukis, Peter Boyle, Grant Macrae, Noel Harker and Stuart Mclauchlan on RM Suzuki's. Unfortunately Phil Thew passed away a couple of years ago after a heart attack while spectating at the Masters Games MX at Reedy Creek.
I just found this photo of John Walmsley on an RM370. I think it was 1978 at Maleny but not too sure.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Certainly looks like Maleny. Where did you find the photo? I was probably there that day. Could be '77 as it has 370 on the seat, they were a 400 in '78. Got any more??
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The Maleny track was a personal fave! Does it still operate in any race capacity?
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Certainly looks like Maleny. Where did you find the photo? I was probably there that day. Could be '77 as it has 370 on the seat, they were a 400 in '78. Got any more??
I took that photo. I think that day I was the pit crew for John Walmsley and George McKenzie.
The only other photo I could find that I think was taken on the same day has been published in VMX Magazine so I'm not sure if I can post here or not. I can't remember what Ray Ryan told me at the time. Can someone please advise if it is OK.
The other photo has what looks looks like a YZ400D or E ridden by a rider sponsored by Beenleigh Yamaha. I don't know his name but he had very long black hair and was quite slim. The photo is in VMX 2003 #21 page 78. Ray has put Conondale as the track in the photo caption probably because that is what I put in the notes with the photos but I'm not sure.
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If you took the photo there should be no reason you can't post it.
I'm aware of two blokes sponsored by Beenleigh Yamaha at that time but there may have been others.
Brett Bull and Mark Penhaligon; but both had blond hair.
What race number is on the bike?
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Sorry Wombat the number is obscured by some bunting and the riders right calf. I saw this guy at many race days around then always with the Beenleigh Yamaha jersey. Someone will probably remember.
I'll post the photo when I do some more scans.
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Hey guys, that was Wayne Jenkins with the long black hair. Rode for Beenleigh Yamaha in motocross then went road racing. Wombat that track at Maleny is long gone, there is a housing estate there now.
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Hey guys, that was Wayne Jenkins with the long black hair. Rode for Beenleigh Yamaha in motocross then went road racing. Wombat that track at Maleny is long gone, there is a housing estate there now.
Thanks Maico31. Heres the photo.
David
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