NEWSTEAD was invaded by bike enthusiasts at the weekend, when the BSA “All Brit” rally dropped in to town.
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The four-day rally was held at the Newstead Recreation Reserve and is the largest gathering of British bike enthusiasts in the Southern Hemisphere.
More than 1000 riders lined their vehicles up in the main street of Maldon on Saturday for the public and other bike enthusiasts to view.
Event organiser and BSA founder Ray Fowler said it was the 37th annual gathering of British bike riders.
“I don’t think you would have seen a better gathering of British bikes,” he said.
“Some of the rarest bikes in the world are in Australia.”
Marcus Dollar travelled from Tatura for the rally and said he had been attending the event for about eight years.
“It is the best and biggest rally in the Southern Hemisphere,” he said. “I just love it.”
Mr Dollar said his 1939 Goldstar bike was exceptionally rare and had a gold badge attached to its petrol tank. He said he had been riding bikes his entire life.
“It is in my blood,” he said.
“My dad used to round up cattle with a bike and that was when it was unheard of.
“I guess I just followed him.”
Frankston’s Ian and Bernadette Eldridge attended the bike rally for the first time 20 years ago.
Since then the couple’s sons Rex, 6, and Ned, 4, have joined them.
“They love it,” Ms Eldridge said.
“We have a side car and the boys ride in that. It has become a bit of a family thing.”
Rex said he was looking forward to riding his own bike when he got a bit older.
He said he liked riding in the sidecar with his brother. “It is fast and bumpy and fun,” he said.