Old Thumpers get back on track

Following last year’s rescheduled Old Thumpers, the classic scramble roared back into its traditional March slot last Sunday.

Less than four months after November’s event, the vintage motorcycles, along with their riders and supporters, descended on Allan and Shelley Palmer’s farm in Ōnekakā.

While modern motorcycle technology continues to push boundaries, Old Thumpers celebrates engineering from a by-gone era: all participating machines must be pre-1980s, twin shock, air cooled, and fitted with drum brakes. The event doesn’t feature wheel-towheel, flat-out racing; it’s all about showcasing old bikes, sharing experiences with friends and having fun – lots of fun.

Epitomising the spirit of the annual meet, the three Griffith brothers – Aaron, Karl, and

Shane – have been bringing their classic bikes to Old Thumpers for more than 20 years.

In between races, The GB Weekly caught up with the trio of enthusiasts to find out what draws them back year after year.

“Vintage is so cool – much more fun than modern racing,” said Shane, who hand-builds, restores and maintains a fleet of 10 vintage motorcycles at home in Marlborough. He brought four of them to this year’s event –three Yamahas and a Honda.

Younger brother, and Ōnekakā farmer, Aaron admitted to some sibling rivalry, light-heartedly claiming “the youngest is the fastest”, but stressed that Old Thumpers was not about winning races. “It’s all about the social side of things.”

For the eldest, Karl, Sunday marked a return to action after a four-year hiatus following a serious accident. It’s a reminder that the sport is not without its risks; in fact, all three Griffith brothers have at one time been airlifted from the track. “We’re big supporters of the Westpac Helicopter,” said Shane.

Their support crew, aka wives and partners, were all sporting matching Team Griffith T-shirts as they refuelled the riders with sandwiches and Jet Planes, “the only food required on race day,” said Shane’s wife Zarna.

Making himself heard above the roar of the bikes, PA announcer Paul Sangster helped to keep the riders on schedule and regularly reeled off the long list of sponsors who make the event possible. He could even be heard down at the distant start line where, as always, official race starter Steve Webster was on duty. “This is my thirtieth in 29 years. I missed the first one,” said Steve, while keeping a row of revved-up bikers behind the bungy cord.

At the end of the morning session, Ben Smith, who along with his partner Lola Clouston and the Old Thumpers committee organised the event, was pleased with the number of entrants, which he said was “around 80”. He understood that problems with the Cook Strait ferries had reduced the number of North Island riders, but said some had flown down and were participating on borrowed machines.

Over a lunchtime pit stop, Bruce Ferguson – one of the few North Island entrants to make the journey – said he had booked the ferry crossing “months ago”. Travelling with his wife Coral, a caravan, and two of his classic BSA motorcycles on a three-week holiday, the “superveteran”...

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