The Orange Country Bike Rally
Orange classic bike club is a branch of the CEMCC and a pretty active one . They ’ ve been running this rally for over 30 years . I ’ d attended a few of the early rallies in my previous go at the classic bike scene and I was keen to give it another try and get my ’ 48 Enfield out on its first rally . Around 130 other people had the same idea so a good rollup . It also offers a nice stopover on a classic riding weekend and a few later model club plate bikes turned up as part of a bigger long weekend returning to Sydney and the coast through the Bylong Valley way .
The rally is based at the Canobolas Scout Camp just west of the city on Lake Canobolas . Apart for a big dining area the place offers bunk style accommodation and plenty of camping space as well . I chose to camp . It ’ s good to have most of the entrants on site for a wander around the machinery and meeting some new people .
The attraction for me was the promise of riding the country lanes through the small villages to the south of Orange . That didn ’ t quite work out as planned as a key corner marshal went AWOL on the Saturday ride and the Enfield was subjected to 100ks riding the main highway through Bathurst to Blayney for the morning tea stop at my 75kph cruising speed . People on faster bikes probably didn ’ t mind at all . At Bathurst people were stopped at various intersections waving arms around and scratching chins wondering where to go next . Pretty soon we had it sorted and the rest of the day went well along the type of roads I ’ d been looking forward to . The quality of the food put on by the P & C associations was outstanding .
We covered over 250k which was a pretty good test for the old chugger and it did the job well . It has now clocked over 1000ks trouble free since taking to the road in the middle of last year .
Plenty of prizes handed out at the dinner too and the Bike of the Rally prize went to a freshly restored 1939 Matchless G80 . It was a lovely bike and one of several pre-war bikes on the run . Plenty of older bikes turned up including another pre-war J2 Enfield and a terrific Constellation which had me jealous , so plenty of company .
I ’ m keen to go again .
Chris Haywood