Oyster Bay Motorcycle Club

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Easily the most successful dirt bike club in Sydney, with an unbroken 30 year history of events in Motocross and Enduro, and in earlier years Dirt Track and Trials as well.

The following is what we know. Please send us information to fill in the blanks or photos and stories of your memories to     geoff.gradden@sigrail.com

The letter below was received from Glenn Dunn, one of the founding members:

Mid January 1973 six people met on the front yard of 104 Como Rd Oyster Bay (the original registered address for the club) after a morning ride through National Park. We had met Harry Macklin of Macklin Motor Cycles he suggested we form a club and patronise his shop to receive a discount. The idea was talked about and agreed on. The founding six are:

No1 Patrick Lay Triumph 500 Foundation Club Captain

No2 Emanuel Van Gaskel Yamaha DT2 250 Foundation Treasurer

No3 Paul Jones – Suzuki 180 Trail

No4 Greg Kilham – Mini Moke

No5 Mark Ellis – Can’t remember

No6 Glenn Dunn – Yamaha DT3 250 Foundation Secretary

These I am not sure of but pretty close,

No7 Elaine Young Yamaha DT -175

No8 Sandy Delahunty Yamaha DT – 175

No9?

No10 Barry Acton Yamaha DT2 250 Foundation President

These numbers were derived from the receipt number when membership was paid. Our first President was Barry Acton even though he was not in original six his number is/was 10; he joined in the first week.

A little history as follows,

Week 1 - 10 Members

Month 1 - 36 Members

Year 1 - 135 Members

We met EVERY Sunday Night at Oyster Bay Community Hall and filled the hall often with 100 plus members, family and friends. We had a close association with St George MC (big sister), Liechhardt Annandale MC, Blacktown MC and Lower Blue Mountains MC. and conducted many events in different categories.

Within the first year we had joined the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) and the Auto Cycle Council of Australia (ACCA) who were the governing bodies in those days. Our delegates were Pat Lay and Glenn Dunn.

Our Club Championship consisted of Short Circuit, MX and Enduro events. Nearly every competitor had one Bike for all events, we would ride our road registered trail bikes (fully kitted) to an event strip them down attach our numbers and race all day.

When it was all over put Blinkers and number plates back on and ride home, then go to the meeting. Our club was blessed with a couple of marriages between fellow members.

Thank you for continuing our club we had enormous fun and pleasure within our competing years.

Glenn Dunn    

Club Officials

Competitive Awards

Club Champion: has since 1982 been decided at the Club Championship weekend in Nov. each year. 1982 was at Bargo, and all others since have been at Yerriong near Nowra except for one around 1994 at Louee Station near Mudgee. Points are awarded for Motocross, Enduro and sometimes Trial, Gymkhana, Dirt Track and other events, and the club champion is the rider scoring the most points over the weekend.

Steve Walter Enduro Champion: Points are scored for outright placings in OBMCC enduro rounds, 3 for 1^st, 2 for 2^nd and 1 for 3^rd.

Formerly the Macklin Trophy, was renamed for Steve Walter as Macklin Motorcycles no longer exists. Steve Walter was an OBMCC Junior and Senior rider, A4DE Silver medalist and tireless worker with his family for the club. Steve’s life was tragically cut short by cancer at the age of only 18. Steve loved Enduro competition, and NSW Junior Enduros were started by Alan McGuirk and OBMCC from an idea of Steve’s when he was in remission and still a Junior.

McFarlane Enduro award: Dave McFarlane is a life member of OBMCC, past Club Champion, NSW and Australian champion, multiple A4DE NSW team member and Gold medalist, multiple ISDE Australian team member and Gold medalist, and he and his family donated this award to go to the rider scoring the most points in the OBMCC Enduro series in one year. Riders of any senior grade are eligible.

Competitor of the Year: Awarded to the rider scoring the most points overall in Motocross and Enduro rounds. Both Senior and Junior riders are eligible.