Classic Cars and Coffee - Sunday 31st December 2023

As expected, the New Year's Eve Classic Cars and Coffee was a huge event. I chose to ride my 1954 DKW motorcycle so I could avoid the long queues of cars trying to get in. As I rode along Stirling Highway towards UWA there was a stream of classic cars driving on towards Fremantle - obviously having seen the queues and decided to give it a miss.

Slipping through the traffic 

Japanese classics

Moto Guzzi Eldorado. These are magnificent bikes.

Very handsome Velocette

The great grandson of my DKW RT250 - MZ ETZ250 from East Germany. 

A very old Brough Superior outfit

Another Moto Guzzi Eldorado. This too is an ex-police bike from Los Angeles.

Monkey bikes

Show winner for the modern dreck award - Rolls Royce piece-of-shit. They really are an eyesore.

DeTomaso GT4

Classic 1980s motoring and extremely rare in this condition - Datsun 120Y

Very unusual - Gwyne 8. 

Morris 8

Cadillac Eldorado

And an Oldsmobile in the rear

Quite an unusual Volvo

1953 Cadillac

Japanese sportscar royalty - Datsun 240Z

Holden EJs, EHs and FCs

1966 Renault Alpine A110

Bubblecar row - Isetta, Messerschmitt and Heinkel

Trojan (UK) built Heinkel Kabine

Messerschmitt KR201

This was the most interesting display of the day

About to set off

Budget motoring of the 1930s - Austin 7.

Recreated Messerschmitt Tiger

Morgan Plus 8 

Chevrolet Corvette. The pioneer of fibreglas bodywork.

And with that we finished 2023.

Vintage Scott Bonnar Reel Mower

I have recently been clearing out the home of my aunty, who has been forced into a care home. It's a very sad business. As I've been going through her papers (she was a hoarder) I occasionally come across interesting old papers. Here's a 1968 Scott Bonnar reel mower owner's instructions. I can remember these old machines and I used one many years ago when I worked part-time as a lawnmowing contractor. Some of these old machines are indeed collectors items these days.

Classic Cars and Coffee Sunday 22nd October 2023

Dear car and bike enthusiasts

Welcome to our update on all things Classic Cars and Coffee. Well Spring has definitely sprung and the weather has turned a lot warmer, it bodes well for a fantastic Spring/Summer season for Classic Cars and Coffee and our spin off events. This Sunday is a very special one with the postponed October CC and C taking place, along with our great drive and lunch event "Swan to Swan". Swan to Swan entrants will have a special area reserved (Carpark 4) and depart on a scenic cruise through the hills, eventually arriving en masse to the stunning destination of Oakover Grounds. Here we will all have a lovely lunch and entertained by Ezereve as we chat about all things cars related! Limited spots are available and can be reserved here but hurry as we will cut off entrants on Thursday; https://classiccarsandcoffee.com.au/swan-to-swan/
See you there

Motorcycle Display in Chania, Crete

Chania is a city on the north-west coast of Crete. The old town is centred on the Venetian harbour, a lovely old-town with architecture dating back to the 14th century.

The Venetian warehouses

As we explored the old town we came across a notice that there was a classic bicycle and motorcycle display. We were lucky enough to be there on the last day of the display.

The exhibition was held in one of the Venetian warehouses that has been converted into a theatre / exhibition hall.

In the forecourt outside the hall was a fine display of lightweigh 50cc European motorcycles, including a Kreidler, Horex and Zundapp. These machines are never seen in Australia. I photographed all of them in detail but unfortunately my phone was hijacked and I lost almost all my photographs.

Crete in summer is extremely hot so the exhibition opened at 7.30pm and closed at midnight. What a great idea and something we in Australia should consider during the heat of summer.

The vintage bicycle display

Vintage bicycles

Around the time of the First World War the militaries of Europe began to use bicycles to "mobilise" their armies. It was better than marching!

Celebrating the centenary of BMW

Two early girder frame BMW models

Some BMW history: https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2023/01/bmw-isetta-saviour-of-company.html

1937 BMW R12 in Germany military spec

BMW with front shield

1962 BMW outfit

The beautiful Jawa from Czechoslovakia:
https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2022/07/1950-jawa-350-motorcycle.html

The scooter corner (from the Chania Motorcycle Club Facebook page

Lambrettas and their derivatives

NSU Prima based on the Italian Lambretta

The moped section

DKW Hummel 'tin banana'

The Hummel is a beautifully stylish machine that really should have been more successful than it was.
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/04/1965-zweirad-union-dkw-hummel-range.html

1970 Gilera 98SS

1954 Horex Regina from Germany

Two DKWs - one civilian and one military in the German section

1954 DKW RT250H just like my example:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/03/1954-dkw-rt250-h-motorcycle.html

Another DKW in unusual colour scheme

The world's most successful scooter - the Honda Cub, sold in the millions in every market on earth

Honda 50cc motorcycles

Honda 500 Four

The British section

Matchless and Nortons in the British section

Norton

1929 BSA H28

The Chania Classic Motorcycle Club put on an absolutely fantastic and professional display. It was really excellent and it appears from their Facebook page they do this every year. My only regret is that I lost 90% of the photographs I took when my phone was hacked. For more information about the Chania Classic Motorcycle Club, check out their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064406690425