Nigel Green squelched his way around the ABR to bring you news of the southern hemisphere's biggest bike event...

The 33rd running of the All British Rally® (ABR) saw the organising club, the BSAMOA, retain its well deserved reputation of Champion Drought Breaker with a deluge of biblical proportions that threatened to drown the judges on Saturday afternoon as they tried to pick 36 sponsored class winners from over 400 bikes on site.

The hideous weather and infamous recession certainly restricted attendance when compared to ABRs 31 and 32 but still nearly 1000 British bike enthusiasts came through the gates to confirm the ABR as the Southern Hemisphere's foremost British Bike Event.

eBSAy BSAs

As ever the ABR was graced by attendees from nearly every corner of Australia (and at least one visitor from the UK) but a special commendation must be made to the group of guys from the British Motorcycle Enthusiasts Club who rode their Brit bikes all the way from Western Australia, some 3350kms (2100 miles) - fantastic effort boys!

For a number of years one of the ABR highlights has been the Saturday night gate prize draw for a motorcycle. As in previous years a local constable is drafted in to make the draw unimpeachable and Phillip Long's name came from the hat to be the lucky winner of a brand new Royal Enfield Electra, which will join the BSA M20 in his shed. However the best bit of this story is that Phillip's ticket to the ABR was a birthday present from his wife - how good is that?!

The whole event has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with Brit bikes old and modern happily parked side by side.

The ride-outs are popular and very well attended and trophy winners must be ridden through the gates - no shiny trailer queens here (or their bikes either har-har!). Trade sponsors have displays of their wares on the footy oval next to the catering and vital beer tents.

Live music on Saturday night was followed by much yarn spinning round the campfires until the wee hours. Brit bike heaven!

The BSAMOA is already planning next year's event at Campbells Creek, the formula is clearly hugely popular if the Grin Factor is used as a measure of success, let's hope the Weather Organising Sub-committee is on the ball next year!

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Nigel Green, BSMOA

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Nigel (you may know him as Melbourne Metisse from the message board) also picked up the Best Modified prize for his 1970 MRD Rickman Triumph Metisse; well done, mate. Here's the full list of prize winners:

Class: Sponsored by - Winner's name - Bike:

Best Pre War Model: Carberry Motorcycles - Les Bowen, Colac, Vic - 1934 Sunbeam Lion

Best Velocette: Central Motorcycles - Tim O'Brien, Hamilton, Vic - Thruxton

Best AJS/Matchless: Classic Style Australia - Geoff Lenton, Geelong, Vic - AJS 16M

Best USA Export Model: Cobs Classic Cycle Spares - Troy Thomas, Adelaide, SA - RE Interceptor

Best Pre Unit Triumph: Early Triumph Motorcycles - Jim Zarah, Clayton, Vic - 1955 Tiger T110

The Trusty Triumph: Early Triumph Motorcycles - Neville Humphries, Geelong, Vic - 1951 Thunderbird

Best Pre War BSA: EMU Engineering - Mark Campagnolo, Geelong, Vic - WM20

Best Post War Model: EuroTune - Noel Ruedin, Echuca, Vic - 1946 Velocette MAC

Longest Distance Pillion: Get Routed - Christina Meredith, Whyalla, SA - 1969 BSA Rocket 3

Best Bike Ridden By Female: Girl Rider - Debbie Green, Bacchus Marsh, Vic - Velocette MAC

Best Ariel: Headworks - Doug Laird, Mildura, Vic - 1952 VHA

Best Military Spec: Ken Roberts Vintage Tools - Vic Jackway, Mount Gambier, SA - BSA WM20

Best Norton Commando: Lightfoot Engineering - Darren Nichol, Boronia, Vic - 750 Fastback

Best Norton: Lightning Products - Kevin Pitman, Hamilton, Vic - Commando MkIII

Best Presented: Instruments Lionel Otto Instruments - Chris Risdale - 1934 Ariel Square Four

Best 2 Stroke: Manx Classic Spares - Greg Hinchcliffe, Ararat, Vic - BSA Bantam / Dusting outfit

Best 70's Model: British & American M/C Parts - Darren Bennett, Sydney, NSW - Triumph T'bird Special

Best BSA: Modak Motor Cycles - Chris Hall, Ballarat, Vic - 1951 C11

Best BSA Rocket 3: Monza Imports - Terry Riley, Sydney, NSW - BSA R3

Best Single: Motorcycle Trader - Ron Pollock, Hamilton, Vic - AJS 18S outfit

Best Triumph OIF: Murrays Britbikes SA - Clive Ross, Croyden, Vic - Triumph Bonnie Royal Wedding

Best Painted Tank: Ray Fowler Painting Services - Rod Bailey, Uraidla, SA - BSA Spitfire

Best Modified: Rideaway M'cycles - Nigel Green, Research, Vic - 1970 MRD Rickman Triumph Métisse

Best Rally Bike: Shannons - Russell Arnold, Blackburn, Vic - Velocette Venom

Longest Distance Female: Shannons - Maureen Bennett, Dubbo, NSW - 2000 Triumph Bonneville

Longest Distance Male: Shannons - Paul Depluiver, Donnybrook, WA - BSA Royal Star 850

Best Vincent: Transport Books - David Scott, Swan Hill, Vic - 1950 Comet

Best Trident: Tri-Spark Digital Electronic Ignition - John Cooper, Blackrock, Vic - T160

Best Hinckley Triumph twin: Triumph Australia - Warren Babington, Geelong, Vic - Thruxton

Best Hinckley Triumph triple: - Triumph Australia Rick Gardner, Ascot Vale, Vic - ST Sprint

Best Triumph Pre-'88: Union Jack Motorcycles - Peter Wilson, Hamilton, Vic - 1925 Triumph Model 'P'

Best Custom: Valley Badges - Charlie Radnay, Geelong, Vic - 2001 Triumph Bonneville America

Best BSA Twin: BSAMOA - Geoff Carson, Swan Hill, Vic - 1969 Royal Star

Hard Luck Award: BSAMOA - Bill Gilbert, Rockingham, WA - BSA A65

Best Veteran: BSAMOA - Graham King, Ballarat, Vic - 1909 Triumph

Youngest Rider: Ray Scherek Perpetual Trophy - Georgia Fraser (18), Clifton Hill, Vic - BSA Bantam