Vintage bikes on show

VINTAGE BIKES ON SHOW: The 2022 Mount Gambier Classic and Vintage Motorcycle Show will be held next month with organiser Tyrone Mustey eager to welcome back Victorian enthusiasts.

Charlotte Varcoe

VINTAGE motorbikes will be on show for the community next month while also raising funds for the Cancer Council.

The Mount Gambier Classic and Vintage Motorcycle Show will be held at the end of July with registrations for entries now open.

Now in its eighth year, the classic motorbike show is expected to attract vehicle enthusiasts from across South Australia and Victoria with organiser Tyrone Mustey calling it a very popular event.

First organising the event after meeting a young man who had been affected by cancer, Mr Mustey said it was then he realised he had to do something to help.

“I was receiving spinal surgery in Adelaide and met someone who had suffered from cancer and that was when I wanted to do something,” Mr Mustey said.

“I decided to mix in my love for motorbikes and fundraising and came up with this idea.”

Being interested in motorbikes since the age of 16, Mr Mustey said any and all vintage bikes from 1985 and older were welcome.

“We have around 10 or 12 bikes that typically attend every year and the rest is a turnover of everything from dirt bikes to race bikes which is just great,” he said.

“We generally appeal to an older age demographic simply because of the style of bikes and it really is a good social event with some people who attend every year using it as a bit of a catch up as well.”

Mr Mustey said this year organisers were aiming to appeal to more Victorians to come across and participate after being locked out of South Australia in previous years due to Covid-19.

“The event is to the point now where people are getting their bikes out of storage and starting to think about which ones they are going to put on show,” he said.

“Last year we had strong entries from Adelaide as well so it has become more exposed which is great because motorbikes are a niche market so we will never get huge numbers but we get enough.”

He said the community response each year remained positive with children and families of all demographics and ages enjoying the weekend experience.

“The kids who attend are always so well behaved and their minds are blown when they find out how old some of these bikes actually are, they just can’t comprehend it,” Mr Mustey said.

“The parents are also brilliant at making sure their kids don’t touch the bikes and we have not had any major issues with that.”

The event will be held on July 30 from 9am until 6pm and again on July 31 from 9am until 2pm.

Entries will be $5 each with children under the age of four able to access the event for free.

It will be held at the Mount Gambier City Hall with registrations available online.