Congratulations to team Harley Davidson. The 60 strong team managed to pull together and get the win over the Indian's in an epic battle fought out at Corryong on the 23-24th of January. Stay tuned for image galleries and full results.
Harley Wins Great Race 2010. (Just!)
For eighteen years Aussie Classic Harley and Indian enthusiasts have been recreating the rivalry that was so much part of motorcycling in the Twenties, Thirties and Fourties of last Century. Harley-Davidson versus Indian.This year the Great Race was held for the second consecutive year in Corryong home of ‘The Man from Snowy River’. Corryong is situated in North East Victoria close to the NSW border.
After two days with temperatures up to 38 degrees, 120 Harleys and Indians manufactured before 1958 covered some 550 kilometres, a journey that was to take them to Cabramurra the highest town in Australia. This is after many rode from either Melbourne and Sydney and were to ride back home afterwards.
Saturday saw the bikes depart Corryong and travel down the Victorian side of the Murray River to Dederang via Yackandandah for lunch. Most riders completed the time trial with out accumulating too many penalty points. Machine preparation of the fifty year old plus machines has improved immensely over the years and there was only to be three retirements for the entire weekend.
The Dederang Hotel provided a terrific country style lunch. Only 12 months ago the Hotel had been threatened by some of the worst bushfires in Victoria’s history. The afternoon ride back to Corryong was on the Murray Valley Highway a delightfully smooth road to suit rigid frames and Springer front ends.
Saturday evening was to become what is normal Great Race fare. Plenty of cold beer a sumptuous dinner and tales galore of the days ride. Sunday morning was to do it all over again this time into the best mountain roads Australia has to offer. The rolling Race was again at the Tooma Hill with bikes to reach a 100 kph down the hill without assistance from the engine an exhilarating experience. Here the Indians were to wallop the Harleys with no fewer than eight bikes in the top ten. The afternoon was to see many riders miss the last checkpoint a factor that was to weigh in heavily on the final result.
This year saw a record 120 entries including Kiwi regulars Paul Hanes and Paddy Snowden. Gary Stark from the Stark Family was also a starter. Gary’s Grandfather was an Indian Dealer from 1917. His Father Bob has been instrumental in keeping the Indian name to the forefront of the Classic Motorcycle movement. Gary has his own Indian parts business. He was amazed at the miles Aussie riders do, not hesitating to do a 1000 km ride to an event.
At the Gala Dinner it was a happy Harley camp that heard they had won the event by 17 points despite their debacle at the Rolling Race. Believe there is going to be a lot of Harleys being tested on downhill runs over the next 12 months.
This was the Eighteenth Great Race and the event continues to go from strength to strength. Most riders return each year with many having done 16 or 17 events. Three have completed every event. This year there was no less than six father and son teams participating. Can’t wait until next year!
DR