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

Arthur Grady Day & Fremantle Heritage Festival 28 May 2016

The Arthur Grady Ride and Display is an extremely popular event with over 200 bikes from all eras taking part and lots of interest from the general public. The event celebrates the feats of Arthur Grady who in 1924 became the first person to ride a motorcycle around Australia. He set off from the Fremantle Town Hall returning five months later to a rousing reception and a place in the history books.

The day will feature a running replica of the bike Arthur rode on his epic adventure as well as lots of information and pictures of his ride.


The City of Fremantle closed William Street (the road around the Town Hall so that in addition to the bikes in the square, William Street was filled with displays by the Machine Preservation Society, the Hand Tool Preservation Society, the vintage Commercial Vehicle Society, the Bus Preservation Society, the vintage pram society, vintage bicycle club of WA, SIVA and many other clubs.

The centre of the event remaina the motorcycles and the area directly in front of the town hall was set aside for pre 31 bikes.


Running order for the Day

• 08:00hrs – 11:00hrs Bikes/displays may be set up in Kings Square (see below for Trailer, van and ute parking instructions ) There will be three main sections in the Square Pre 1931, 1931 – 1988 and 1988 – present
• 10:00hrs Ride from Hilton Park Bowling club leaves for Kings Square (see details below)
• 11:00hrs All utes, trailers and vans (any other vehicles not on display) clear of Kings Square
• 11:30hrs Arthur Grady Ride Departs Kings Square (pre 1955 only)
• 12:30hrs Arthur Grady Ride Returns to Kings Square
• 12:30hrs – 15:00hrs Display in progress enjoy the displays, BBQ and camaraderie

Parking Instructions
Any one bringing bikes/displays/other vehicles to Kings Square on trailers, in vans or utes that will need to drop off in Kings Square prior to 11:00hrs

Trailer parking/high vans – At South Fremantle Oval (permit and instructions from info tent in Kings Square)

Vans and utes – Queensgate carpark (permit and instructions from info tent in Kings Square)

Hilton Park Bowling Club
Hilton Park Bowling Club will be open from 08:00hrs for trailer, ute van parking for people who would rather park outside of Fremantle and take a short ride into town. There will be an organised ride departing Hilton Park to Kings Square at 10:00hrs arriving in time to join the main ride around Fremantle at 11:30hrs.

The Arthur Grady Ride
This year will see the return of the Arthur Grady Ride. The ride is open to all pre 1955 motorcycles.
Riders to assemble in William Street (beneath the Town Hall Clock) the ride will depart at 11:30hrs. We will ride out of Fremantle along the river to Leeuwin Barracks, returning via Victoria Quay, Cliff Street, Marine Terrace, South Terrace , The Cappuccino Strip, return to Kings Square. A route Sheet will be available on the day.

If you have further questions please contact:
Alex Marshall
Ph: 9432 9716 (office hours)
Mob: 0405 307 126 (any time)
e-mail: alexm@fremantle.wa.gov.au

VMCCWA Swap Meet 2016

It's been a few years since I've been able to attend the Vintage Motorcycle Club of WA's annual swapmeet at the Cannington exhibition centre because of classic car commitments. This year, although I attended the start of the German Car Day I did not go on the run, so I had time to pop over to Cannington.

Veteran BSA

Ariel and Matchless

BSA scrambler row


The magnificent Scott Flying Squirrel. These magnificent British motorcycles were powered by a two cylinder, water cooled two-stoke engine. No other motorcycle sounds like them.

Ariel



Indian and BSA in military spec



Although I arrived around 10.45am many of the bikes in the exhibition had moved on and there were fewer sellers than previous years.

This veteran Yale motorcycle drew a lot of attention running outside the exhibition hall.

A bargain for the odd-scoot fan - four dismantled Puch scooters. If I didn't have so many other projects on the go....

And speaking of Scotts - two Scott restoration projects at $5000 and $8000 respectively.

The Scott engine is reminiscent of the DKW two cylinder engine. It is now believed that DKW's 3 cylinder two-stroke was developed from the Scott 3 cylinder engine.