ABOUT 100 motorcycles, from classic to modern, made the trip from Maffra to Dargo recently for the 28th annual Harold Parsons Memorial Ride.
Organised by the Maffra-Sale Motorcycle Club, the popular ride commemorates legendary Australian motorcycle champion Harold Parsons.
Parsons set 24 world records in the early part of last century on a triangular course between Sale, Stratford and Maffra.
He broke all records from 300 miles (480km) to 1100 miles (1760km) and from six to 24 hours riding a 600cc Indian motorcycle.
Along the way, he won a swag of titles in four states of Australia.
Among his achievements were riding 200 miles in 200 minutes and 10 miles in seven minutes in 1916, riding an Indian bike with sidecar from Melbourne to Sydney in 21 hours in 1918 and, in 1920, clocking up 1114 miles (1782km) in twenty-two-and-a-half hours.
Harold Parsons died at Epping in May, 1921, when he collided with a horse on a Sunday morning test run.
He was just 28 years old.
Today, his name is attached to a memorial park in Sale, opposite the showgrounds, where the 1920 record attempt began.
In 1981, Maffra-Sale Motorcycle Club long-time member Ian Kennedy devised the format for the Harold Parsons ride now held each year.
The event's popularity stems from the fact that it is run as a reliability ride and not a race.
"This is a run for all types of motorcycles," Ian said.
"Riders choose their own average speed, then have to maintain it during the day.
"This year, entrants ranged from one learner who had only travelled 1100km on her bike to riders over the age of 70."
Ian said riders started at Maffra and met in Dargo for lunch before the return trip via Briagolong and Boisdale.
"With 100 bikes and sidecars ranging in age from 1928 to 2008 arriving in Dargo all within 30 minutes, it proved quite a spectacle for the locals," he said.
Neville Christie, of Moe, won the vintage bikes section with his 1929 Indian, just beating Geoff Marriage, of Toongabbie (1944 Harley-Davidson).
Classic bike winner was Graeme Glover, of Sale (1960 Velocette), Graeme Maddocks, of Morwell, won the post-classic section on his 1993 Harley-Davidson, while Graeme Greed, of Benalla (2005 Suzuki), topped the modern section.
It's been a busy couple of months for motoring enthusiasts in Gippsland.
In February, Maffra hosted the seventh annual Gippsland Classic Motorcycle Rally, which saw 85 historic bikes completing a two-day ride around the Wellington shire.
Early last month, an open day for the current British-themed display at the Maffra Shed drew almost 900 visitors and 120 British vehicles.
Two days later, more than 200 vintage and classic cars taking part in the RACV Fly the Flag rally visited the motor museum and stayed overnight in Sale.
More than 400 residents turned out to look over the group of more than 100 cars.
For more details on the club, phone Ian on (03) 5147 2118.
