Malcolm Fraser

[ozktm151]

There is a photo of the late Malcolm Fraser on a KTM published in the Canberra Times today. Says its a 500 but I think it is a 250 GS6. There are photos of him riding Bultacos. I believe he had a good relationship with Bert Flood and Floodie in his inimitable style got some great publicity with a federal MP riding a bike from his newly acquired stock. I reckon this was around the start of 1977. Story goes that they put him on a 400 MC5 and he found it a bit more spirited than the Bultis he had been riding.Anybody who rides a bike esp a KTM has to be ok so RIP Malcolm Fraser

[huskibul]

    Pretty sure he used to have a 73-74' Matador - would be a be a bit of a jump getting off a 250 enduro on to a 400 mxer ! from memory 60 minutes or someone like that done a story years ago on him which had him riding the bully on his property

[GMC]

Got a vague memory he rode a 'demo' lap on the 'Channel O' track at Broadford for the opening of the televised series in late 77.
Think he only rode the start straight and went round the first couple of corners before wandering back to the start, just as well as we would have all been bored shitless waiting for him to do a whole lap.









And from elsewhere on here...

1975 Bert Flood International at Wallan
Not often you get the Prime Minister of the day presenting the trophys
Malcolm Fraser, Bert Flood, Vic Allan

[80-85 husky]

truly a powerhouse of a man....trust the ABC to mention the pantless episode in there "vale" report fuggin hopeless.....

[ozktm151]

Should have known you would have the photos Geoff. Well done.

[David Lahey]

Great to see those photos again. Thanks Geoff

[Mike52]

Pity he couldn't hang on a little longer he could have dedicated the memorial to the BALIBO 5.

[N22]

Vale "Malcolm".
How times seem to change,but really they stay the same.From a bike perspective,we won't ever see another PM at a dirt bike event.When Malcolm came to power all bikes had twin shock suspension with 4inches of travel,and when he lost to Hawkie,they had linkages with12inches,but everyone had the same,as long as you bought a new bike every year.The Wool market must have been pretty good if he could afford a KTM to chase the sheep with.

Growing up at that time everyone knew who the PM was,and he was respected.The Cold War was still hot,the Vietnam War was finally over(we had been out of it for a few years),the Hilton Hotel got bombed(by persons unknown),and the PLO had a thing about Planes.Not much different from today really.

We used to make planes,trains,and automobiles back then,and they were good,well maybe not the Holdens.All the Rugby Boys had HQ Utes,and the front ends used to fall out of them on the rough roads,at least my XC Ford ute would let me know by putting the shock mount through the bonnet first,and the solution for the windscreen issue,was always put the raincoat on before the rain started.

We fixed the bike oil leaks by buying Japanese,and it was becoming more acceptable to have a Toyota or Mazda ute to get to the races,at least you would finish all your heats and get home without replacing the clutch in either.

But hey they were the good old days,and I won't mention the forum that was popular back then!

[Tex]

Whitlam and Fraser both gone now. No matter what your politics, it'd be hard to argue against the charisma and conviction of both of these former leaders, and their deserved places in modern Australian history. The current crop of "leaders" just aren't in the same league if you ask me.

Tex

[pancho]

 Those who watched the ABC interview with big Mal must have been impressed  (as I was) with his comments re modern politicians from both major parties.

 In a nut shell "Never really worked in a real job, got where they are after studying law then straight into working in research or such for a family friend/ MP then getting gifted a safe seat, Both Parties."
 
cheers

[80-85 husky]

too true, none of them can get a real job so they enter politics

[bigk]

Not a fan of politicians but maybe they are smarter than most of us? Where else can you do a piddly five years on a back bench then "retire" with a $60K lifetime pension and still be able/allowed to work in any other vocation to your hearts content? if you're that way inclined, why wouldn't you?
K

[Mike52]

Not a fan of politicians but maybe they are smarter than most of us? Where else can you do a piddly five years on a back bench then "retire" with a $60K lifetime pension  why wouldn't you?
K

Old fashioned idea but Self Respect is one that comes to mind

[bigk]

No doubt they can justify all of that in their own minds & feel content in knowing that they've "helped" the country & it's citizens (themselves). I was nearly sick the other day when I heard that Julie Bishop offered to pay the Indonesian government for the life imprisonment of the 2 on death row, meanwhile there's a kid dying somewhere coz the government won't subsidize the life saving drug they need. It's all fuc#ed up!
K

[GMC]

Should have known you would have the photos Geoff. Well done.

Great to see those photos again. Thanks Geoff

Thanks guys but I just stole them from Google.

Whitlam and Fraser both gone now. No matter what your politics, it'd be hard to argue against the charisma and conviction of both of these former leaders, and their deserved places in modern Australian history. The current crop of "leaders" just aren't in the same league if you ask me.

Tex

Agreed
So glad Latham didn't get in, he would have been a real embarrassment.

It's easy to hate Politicians but I think there are a lot of good ones, biggest problem is they have to kiss arse to get anywhere because the public only vote for what they want to hear