Vintage ride set to star in bike show

A vintage motorcycle will take centre stage close to 100 years since it first wowed crowds in Dunedin.

A 1925 Douglas CW350 will be on display at the Southern Motorcycle Show taking place on February 1 and 2 .

Otago Motorcycle Club member Mark Burrows said the motorcycle was imported directly from the British motorcycle manufacturer’s factory by Dunedin dealer W.A. Justice and Co, so that it could be showcased at the 1925 New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition.

This world fair was held from November 1925 to May 1926 on reclaimed land at Logan Park.

Technology being one of the 1925 exhibition’s central themes, the Douglas CW350 was accordingly kitted out with cutting-edge options.

These included a gas headlamp and tail lamp, a speedometer, a kick-start, chain drive, a clutch and a three-speed gearbox, placing it at the forefront of innovation for motorcycles of that era.

Douglas motorcycles were manufactured by the family-owned company in Bristol from 1907 to 1957.

They were highly regarded, winning motorcycle competitions such as the Isle of Man TT races.

Renowned for reliability, they were used by armed forces in World War I.

"They were used by the armed forces all around the world."

When the exhibition came to a close in 1926, Dunedin local Jack Leslie, who lived in Opoho, purchased the Douglas.

After World War 2, Mr Leslie returned to Dunedin with one leg amputated.

"He got his leg shot off and came back and had a wooden leg."

Undeterred, he was often spotted astride the bike, propelling himself forward with his remaining leg while releasing the decompression lever to get the engine going.

In the 1960s, the current Dunedin owner bought the Douglas from Mr Leslie, who was said to have shed a tear or two as he handed it over.

Since then, the motorcycle has stayed in a local private collection, meaning it has had just two owners throughout its 100-year history.

This vintage motorcycle was just one of hundreds of extraordinary machines that would be part of the inaugural Southern Motorcycle Show, Mr Burrows said.

One unique machine that will be on display is a Ziodirog, created by Roger McMillan, of Wellington.

"It looks like it is made from a Meccano set with a Ducati motor on it.

"It is a space frame with unusual steering, called hub centre steering."

The show will also feature custom chopper bikes created by people in the vibrant local bike-building scene.

Motorcycle enthusiast groups, including the Otago Ducati Official Club, Dunedin Moto Guzzi Owners Group and the Otago Classic Japanese Motorcycle Club, will showcase classic machines.

Dunedin motorcycle vendors will display the latest models, such as street, racing and electric motorcycles.

Mr Burrows said being part of the organising committee had reinvigorated his enthusiasm for classic motorcycles and he was looking forward to the show.

"It will be quite spectacular."

Motorcycle show

Star Insure Southern Motorcycle Show

Charitable fundraising event

February 1 and 2

Saturday, 9.30am-5pm

Sunday, 9.30am-4.30pm

Edgar Centre

Organised by Rotary Club of Dunedin South and Otago Motorcycle Club

sam.henderson@thestar.co.nz