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West Australian
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Untold History: The glorious trailblazing days of the Harley Scramble
Bill Watson admires the beloved red 1960 Maico sitting in his garage workshop and summarises the secret of being a champion motocross rider. 'Don't follow where the sheep go,' he observes. It was simple really, he said. Make sure you don't get bogged down and slowed down in the tyre tracks left by other riders. Choose your own line. It is advice the 96-year old has followed himself over many years. And it stood him in good stead over the course of his highly successful riding career. Mr Watson's record includes twice being runner-up Australian Motocross Champion, WA State Motocross Champion six times and podium finishes in the blue-ribbon WA event, the Harley Scramble, including when it was run on the legendary Rope Works circuit in Mosman Park. And next month he will take part in a special event to celebrate the Scramble, considered the birth of Australian motocross nearly 100 years ago. John Steyntjes, a past rider and author of the Australian Motocross History website, wrote that Aubrey Melrose and Roy Charman had taken part in an emerging new sport called 'scrambles' during their stay in England in 1927 and 1928. They came up with the concept of an event in Perth and convinced the Harley-Davidson Motor Cycle Club of the merits of the idea. Shortly after returning to Perth from overseas, Melrose and Gavin Casey rode their motorcycles to Mosman Park and mapped out a circuit wedged between Cottesloe and Leighton beaches and the Swan River around Buckland Hill. They called the circuit the 'Rope Works Course' after the nearby rope factory. The original course ran on the peninsula between the ocean and river to what was known as Billy Goat Farm for a lunch stop, before looping back to Buckland Hill in the afternoon. The first Harley Scramble was held on Sunday, June 17, 1928. The circuit had been shortened to about 4km so most of the racing was visible from one vantage point, Mr Steyntjes wrote. Marked by arrows, the total distance was about 16km with the winner being 'the rider who gets to the finish line the quickest without missing any of the course'. The first event was called the 1928 TT Scramble. But the reporter at The West Australian gave it the name The Harley Scramble (after the hosting club). The name stuck. More than 5000 people attended the first Harley Scramble. Riders took off two at a time at one minute intervals (this was gradually reduced to 10 seconds in the future) with the fastest riders at the rear of the field, Mr Steyntjes wrote. The circuit was mapped out in a natural valley of grass and sandy terrain with a high sandstone ridge along one side. 'The track wound back and forth across the flats to up and down the steep cliffs (called slides) providing spectacular climbs and descents to a series of short straights along the opposite side of the valley that included a quarry section to add more variety to the circuit,' Mr Steyntjes wrote. He wrote that according to The West Australian 'the course included 75 different bends, 25 hairpin turns, eight slides, seven sharp ascents and about 200 smaller bends'. 'For the greater part, the track is only about a foot wide.' The event was so rough on the bikes that riders even took to storing spare wheels and chains around the track. 'In the early years of the event, rope gangs were placed at the top of the highest hills, armed with ropes and grappling hooks, to haul stricken riders to the top if they lost momentum on the climbs and to avert blocking the riders behind them,' Mr Steyntjes wrote. This was no longer needed as the bikes became more powerful. Most bikes in the early years were Harley-Davidsons. Ken Vincent won the inaugural event in 1928 on his V-Twin Harley-Davidson four-stroke. The bikes were for many years street machines stripped down for the event. 'Brakes were optional, but lights and mudguards and rear vision mirrors had to be removed before racing,' Mr Steyntjes wrote. The event went from strength to strength, regularly drawing crowds in the many thousands. Perhaps the high point of the Rope Works circuit came on July 3, 1955 when more than 20,000 people went to watch the combined Harley Scramble and Australian Motocross Championships. This was the era when Mr Watson rode in the big events. He was working in Kalgoorlie as a fitter and turner when he developed his love for bikes, and joined the Goldfields Motorcycle Club in 1947. And he was soon attracted by the prospect of riding in the Harley Scramble. Even getting to the start line could be a challenge, and he recalled how it could mean riding out of Kalgoorlie on a Friday night after finishing work, arriving early in the morning in Perth. Saturday would be to scout out the circuit and prepare the bike for competition. Then came racing on the Sunday. 'The story was don't follow the sheep,' he told The West Australian. 'Where the ground gets chewed up you go somewhere else,' he said. After the event it might mean getting back on the bike to ride through the night back to Kalgoorlie — still with no lights on his racing machine. 'I had an army kitbag that would sit between my arms with all the gear in it and on the handlebars,' he said. 'Get home about 3.30 in the morning, have a shower and get a clean pair of overalls on so you can go to work on Monday,' he said. Mr Watson rode the Harley Scramble six times. Keeping fit helped a rider make it to the finish of the testing event, he said. It has clearly paid dividends. He has continued riding, and in recent years took part in 'Super 70s' events. 'I would race in with the 70-year-old kids,' Mr Watson said. 'I won that a few times and got some places.' His most recent event was just last year at Wandering. 'If you relax and let the bike do the work it doesn't wear you out,' he said. 'And you pick the smooth paths. I always had a reputation for having the hot mix people out there making a track for me to ride on.' Over time urban development and the Harley Scramble at the Rope Works became incompatible. The end for the circuit came in April 1964 when the Mosman Park council called time on the Rope Works Course. The event was then run in Rockingham, Narrogin and then Mount Brown in York. There the Harley Scramble continued to be one of WA's premier motocross events through to 1978. The event was then held at Belmont and then on to Gidgegannup and in 2028, it will be 100 years since it was established. June 2025 will mark the 70th anniversary of the combined Harley Scramble/1955 Australian Motocross Championships. The milestone will be celebrated on June 13 and 14 with the screening at Camelot Arts Club in Mosman Park of a documentary about the Harley Scramble produced by Mr Steyntjes: Harley Scramble: The Birth of Australian Motocross. The event will pay tribute to the late Peter Nicol, a five-time Harley Scramble winner. Some champion riders including Mr Watson will take part in a panel discussion and there will be a vintage bike display. For details, visit
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Amazing Race Finale Recap: Which Team Outran the Competition to Become the Season 37 Champs?
Twelve long legs and 10 countries later, The Amazing Race finally has a new set of champions! Thursday's finale saw the remaining teams land back in the States, as the season concluded in a very stormy Miami. But since Wednesday's episode ended in a cliffhanger, which team was the last to arrive to the mat in Portugal? Despite Jonathan and Ana's broken mosaic tile in Porto, they were still able to find Phil ahead of Josiah and Alyssa — a real bummer for the 52% of TVLine readers who thought the married nurses should win the season. But if there's ever another all-stars or returnees edition, let's hope we'll see Josiah and Alyssa back at the starting line. More from TVLine Did Law & Order's Maroun Exact Deadly Revenge for Her Sister's Murder? Read Finale Recap and Weigh In! Georgie & Mandy's Emily Osment, EP Talk Threat to First Marriage (Chris Gorham!) and Season 2 Plans Law & Order: Organized Crime Recap: Why Is Stabler Purring? and Other Episode 6 Thoughts For the twelfth and final leg of Season 37, Jonathan and Ana, Carson and Jack, and Han and Holden headed to Miami for a Scramble full of water-based activities. In Sail, teams had to sail around a marked course at a yacht club; in Soar, they were tasked with hydroflighting above the Biscayne Bay; and in Save, they had to complete a rescue training exercise, which included jet-skiing out and rescuing a (dummy) victim floating in the water. Ana, who almost drowned as a child, still had reservations about being in the open ocean, calling it one of her biggest fears. To her credit, she admirably conquered that fear throughout the entire run. Every team struggled during the hydroflighting challenge, though Han's surfing/balance skills once again came in handy for the siblings. (How cool did that look, though? Adding it to my bucket list, ASAP!) Not only did the players have to get up and stand on the hydroflight, but 60 seconds!? That seems like an eternity! Jonathan and Ana wrongly assumed the task would be more of a heights-based thing, so the mostly terrified Ana stepped up for their team… and took a few mouthfuls of saltwater after some gnarly diggers. Throughout the leg, Jonathan and Ana slowly fell out of the competition. And for everything positive that Han and Holden accomplished, it seemed they just couldn't complete things fast enough in order to stay competitive with Carson and Jack. (A little fender bender on the road didn't really help either.) Carson and Jack were the first to figure out that they needed to get to Domino Park in Little Havana, where they received another clue directing them to Ice Palace Film Studios. The teams were then presented with one monster of a puzzle. In pure Race fashion, teams had to match up the people, places and things they experienced with the game-changing surprises they encountered throughout the season (the Driver's Seat, Fast Forward, etc.). The puzzle also spelled out 'Amazing Race' using 3-D puzzle blocks and photo pieces. This one was not a walk in the park. Carson and Jack maintained their lead, completing the puzzle and racing off to the finish line at LoanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins. By the time the race came to an end, it was no surprise when Carson and Jack were declared the official winners of The Amazing Race. Han and Holden took second place, leaving Jonathan and Ana in third. So what did you think about the s big finale? Did the right team win? Vote in our polls below, then light up the comments section! Best of TVLine Mrs. Maisel Flash-Forward List: All of Season 5's Futuristic Easter Eggs Yellowjackets Recap: The Morning After Yellowjackets Recap: The First Supper
TimesLIVE
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
VW unveils special race car livery to celebrate 50 years of Polo
Volkswagen has unveiled a new harlequin-inspired race livery to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Polo. The colourful design, chosen by fans via a global online poll, made its public debut at the UK's recent spring Scramble event at Bicester Heritage. Emblazoned across a Polo R World Rallycross (WRX) show car — a replica of Johan Kristoffersson's multi-title-winning machine — the eye-catching livery blends nostalgia with motorsport heritage. The design pays homage to the quirky 1990s Polo Harlequin edition, combining original colours such as Chagall Blue, Flash Red, Ginster Yellow and Pistachio Green in a bold, 1980s-style pop art pattern. Volkswagen presented four livery options in the poll, with the winning scheme now set to feature on a series of Polo rally cars for commemorative events later in the year. 'The Polo is a model that resonates with many people for different reasons,' said Mike Orford, head of PR and communications at Volkswagen UK. 'They might have been fans of the Polo rally cars as they dominated world championships over the years, their parents might have owned a Mk1 or Mk2 Polo, or it might have been the car in which they learnt to drive. Whatever the reason, the Polo is a special and enduring model for Volkswagen and that's why it is great when we get to celebrate these milestone moments in such a colourful way. 'We're really looking forward to seeing this one-off livery in action later in the year as the birthday celebrations ramp up.'
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Bicester Scramble Turns A UK Airbase Into The Latest Must-Go Car Show
Scramble turns the Bicester Motion industrial estate into a truly eclectic car show. Car people like to get up early on Sunday mornings. Escaping the city before traffic even has a chance to stir, they hit the open road and head to a car gathering that, in the UK at least, is usually hosted at an old World War II airfield. Last Sunday was the turn of the Bicester Scramble to lure in car fans from all over the country. The Scramble is held a handful of times per year at Bicester Heritage, a business park geared towards the car industry – complete with small test track, workshops, a functioning airfield and plenty of extras under construction. Bicester is quickly becoming the heart of the UK's 'Motorsport Valley', where in close proximity you'll find most of the world's Formula One teams, plus the factories of JLR and Aston Martin, and facilities belonging to everyone from Rimac to Polestar. And while Bicester Heritage acts as a quiet and calm but highly productive group of car-adjacent businesses during the week, the Scramble sees thousands of gearheads descend. The former WW2 airbase is home to dozens of companies that work in the UK automotive and aviation ... More industries. Even the drive up from London is an event in itself. I was overtaken by a beautiful Porsche 356 Speedster as I stopped for fuel, and later spotted a pre-war Bentley and a Lotus Esprit on the highway, and was left slack-jawed by a million-dollar Porsche Carrera GT, albeit headed the other way. These are the mornings car lovers live for. The 06:00 Sunday alarm might be unpleasant, but with the sun burning off the early morning mist, the WhatsApp group chat buzzing with plans to meet up with friends, and supercar owners clubs gathering at nearby service stations for a coffee, it's impossible not to get excited for what's to come. My own caffeine pitstop complete, I drop the roof of my Mazda Miata and head for the show. Approaching Scramble, the outskirts of Bicester are soon filled with automotive exotica. At one point I'm followed by a 1960s Ferrari, and as I find my way to the airfield parking lot I pass what feels like dozens of candy-colored Porsches. More examples of 718 Spyder RS than I've ever seen before. Bicester Scramble is one of those car shows where the Instagram hashtag #alwayscheckthecarpark couldn't be more accurate. Classic car restoration companies open their workshops for the show. Parked up, I head into Bicester Heritage. Opened in 2013 and more formally known as Bicester Motion, the estate describes itself as 'a world-leading community of business, inspiring and preserving the past, present and future of automotive and aviation technology.' The site covers over 400 acres and during the war acted as RAF Bicester, home to squadrons of Supermarine Spitfires and Bristol Blenheims. Today, the many buildings and hangars that made up the airbase are home to more than 50 businesses, ranging from restorers of classic Bentleys, to makers of automotive artwork, The Road Rat magazine, Hedley Studios (formerly The Little Car Company), Electrogenic, Polestar, Motorsport UK, Hagerty and Zero Petroleum, makers of carbon-neutral fuel. Most companies who operate here take part in the Scramble, with restoration workshops opened to reveal what's going on within, producers showing off their latest wares, and Polestar organizing test drives of their new models. The airfield parking lot is often almost as good as the show itself There's live music, plus numerous food and drink options, and it's an event where dogs and children are welcome. Scramble is mostly a static show, since the test track is used for parking, but the airfield remains open – I happen to know someone who arrived by plane to jump the line – and the atmosphere is still held high by the occasional revving of an engine to an eager crowd. The wild McMurtry Spéirling was on display, the electric single-seater with a fan system that creates enough downforce to drive upside down. Since it had just smashed the TopGear Test Track lap record, it was displayed on the motoring magazine's stand, alongside the very first Aston Martin Valhalla and the electric MG Cyberster. The sunny spring weather made April's Bicester Scramble feel even more special. Even from just those three cars, the eclectic nature of the Bicester Scramble is clear. Yes, you'll see dozens of Porsches in the parking lot. But in the show itself you're just as likely to stumble across a Citroen 2CV or an immaculate BMW M3 E30 as you are a GMA T50 or Volkswagen Beetle. Instead of lining everything up neatly, the joy of the Bicester Scramble is how the cars are seemingly scattered about at random. You'll spot a Porsche 356 poking out from behind a tree, then be drawn towards a Ferrari 246 Dino in the doorway of a showroom, before being distracted by a rally-spec Volkswagen Polo. Strolling about the Scramble on a warm spring morning, pointing out all manner of cars and chatting about them with your friends, is one of the great joys of the British automotive calendar. I met up with a friend who hadn't been before, and who quickly likened it to a mini Goodwood Festival of Speed. High praise indeed, but it really is that good. Star cars for this show include the 'Wings' collection of special-edition Aston Martins built to commemorate aircraft like the Concorde, Spitfire and the UK air force's Red Arrows display team. The team at Bicester Motion did a great job bringing a selection of these ultra-rare cars into one place. Other highlights included a pair of British winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the form of the 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 and the 2003 Bentley Speed 8, pictured below. A Le Mans-winning Bentley joined the show Although prices have kept up over the years, to £26 (about $35), if you arrive early and plan to stay for the 10:00 am - 04:00 pm duration, it still feels like good value, given the breadth of vehicles on display. With work underway to dramatically expand the site, adding a hotel, exhibition center and test tracks, I can't wait to see what else Bicester Motion will have to offer in the years to come.
