PAMS Motorcycle Across Australia JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT
Australia , 1950 . Most interstate roads were
little more than sandy , boggy tracks ; said to be not the place for motorcycle or a woman ... One such woman , and a motorcyclist , was to prove all naysayers wrong , in fact she left a legacy that many today consider to be a thing of legend , something to aspire to ...
Winifred Wells , just 22 years of age , was that woman . For her it was just a bit of fun , for others it was the greatest inspiration . On December 26 , 1950 , Winifred set off from Perth , the western most city in Australia and headed east , eventually reaching Sydney , Australia ' s mostly easterly city , then turned around and rode home , taking just 21 days .
Consider this , twenty-one days to ride from one side of the continent to the other and return , in the middle of Australia ' s scorching summer , on your own and on what was mostly described as , " merely bush tracks , through sandy , waterless wastes ,” her life depending " on the reliability of her machine ". Almost 9,000 kilometres on a Royal Enfield Bullet 350cc .
Averaging 500 kilometres per day , Winifred soon found herself in one of the most remote areas in Australia , and possibly the world , at the time ; the Nullarbor Plain . Entering the vast treeless expanse , she set camp and described it as , the " loneliest hole you ever saw , but I wasn ' t scared ". Completing the Nullarbor crossing , Winifred went on to Adelaide , reaching the South Australian capital on New Year ’ s Day , 1951 . After a short time with the local Royal Enfield distributor she headed on towards Melbourne and
ultimately Sydney . Reaching Australia ' s largest city just 4 days later . A comment of the time stated , " our hopes are high that this gallant little soul will win out ".
With temperatures well above 40 degrees Celsius Winifred returned to Adelaide after just one day in Sydney , ready for the torturous return ride across the Nullarbor . As scheduled , Winifred returned to Perth , just 21 days after setting out , a feat that made headlines around the world in the motorcycling community . In doing so , Winifred became recognised as the first woman to cross Australia by solo motorcycle , leaving a legacy that will forever remain ...
And why did she do it ? " Just for the heck of it !"
In honour of the feat , a fellow Royal Enfield rider is taking on the challenge , following the exact same route , at the exact same time of the year ; just 67 years later .
Brian ( Beetle ) Bayley , aboard his 2016 350cc Royal Enfield Classic ( named Winnie ), is leading a ride across Australia to honour Winifred and to raise funds and exposure for the Royal Guide Dogs of Victoria . Departing Perth , as Winifred did , taking up to 28 days to ride the over 9,000kms to Sydney and return . The ride can be joined at any one of the 6 Stages , or you can choose to do the whole event ; choosing to join will mean you ’ ll be helping to change someone ’ s life forever .
The ride will take you to some of the most fascinating , beautiful & iconic places in southern Australia . You ’ ll
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