Clubs Australia announced some time ago that the 100^th anniversary of BMW motorcycles and Motorrad was coming up in 2023. The BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria wanted to celebrate this once in a 100-year event in a memorable way. The question was what, which, where, when and how. The club had previously held a celebration (75 years of motorrad in 1998) so we knew that there would be a vehicle display at the very least.

1. Opportunity to join the German Auto Show

We considered various venues and options, but could not land on anything compelling.  As club delegate and secretary, Jacques van Niekerk had become friends with Graeme Bell and Jo Mawson, he suggested that we should speak to Jo to explore the possibility of  combining our club’s celebration of this once in a 100 year event with the German Auto Show. Our president, Bob Leggatt, invited Jo and Graeme to our annual BBQ meeting in January 2023 and introduced them to our club’s committee members. The DCM was planning a day at Calder Park in August 2023. We spoke about what value it could bring to have motorcycles join an automobile event. We spoke about this and thought a joint event would be an ideal solution to celebrate in style.

Jacques van Niekerk, Secretary and CA Delegate

2. Site Visit

As the BMWMCC committee member living closest to Calder Park, Bob Leggatt got the job of attending the site inspection. He later reported “I met up with the gang trackside and was surprised at what a friendly and welcoming group they were. I asked what space was available for the bikes, Jo stretched her arms out and said “you can have all of this”. He was amazed. Other clubs who were part of the inspection team were also interested in motorcycles and what this could contribute to the event. The inspection team agreed that we would be able to line up all of our motorcycles along the bitumen strip, member’s bikes on one side and our club marquees on the other.

3. Planning

We had no idea of what exactly we would be doing, just what sort of display we would be able to build, but at least we would have plenty of room to do it.

Now, what to show, it was decided that we could show off all our bikes. BMW had a long history of building bikes, over the years there were many different models, many different designs and engine sizes. Wouldn’t it be a good idea if we could show an example of every model. How could we fit them all in, how could we sort them into some meaningful sequence. Having looked at the club’s list of the various models, President, Bob, stepped in and decided this was too big a task. The decision was then made to make the display of the evolution of the iconic boxer engine models, showing the change in engine, frame and suspension designs throughout the past century. This was considered to be a more achievable and practical approach. Bob then took over as event organiser.

Taking a decade-by-decade approach, a long list of members bikes was perused to select a special number of bikes that filled the criteria. Fate must have smiled upon us, as one of our members knew of a very original and unrestored 1923 R32 (500cc), the first model of motorcycle that BMW ever built. It was sitting in a private museum in a not so far away country town, and yes, the owner would be willing to display it on the day. Next was to convince a dealer to loan us the latest model 2023 boxer of some description. During a courtesy visit to BMW Doncaster, they agreed to supply us with a R-nine-T 1200cc model, thus the two bookends of our special display were formed.

Starting with the 1923 R32, we followed with a
1934 R17 (750cc) a pressed steel frame , this example fitted with sidecar
1935 R5 (500cc) very handsome and sporty tube frame model
1941 R75 (750cc) a military sidecar model especially built with extra low and reverse gear
1950/60s R69s (600cc) heavy tube frame for sidecar work and leading link front suspension
1970 R75/5 (750cc) a new approach, lightweight frame, electric start and 12v electrics
1975 R90s (900cc)  a high performance sports model, disc brakes and race winner
1985 R80 (800cc) an upgraded model, mono shock rear suspension and cast wheels
1999 R1100 (1100cc) a  whole new model- engine, frame and suspension and electronics
2007 R1200R (1200cc) engine upgrade & new frame and suspension
2020 R1250R (1250cc) updated and upgraded 1200 model
2021 R18 (1800cc) a cruiser model, the biggest BMW ever
2023 R-nine-T (1200cc) a retro styled custom bike, based on R1200

4. On the Day

Bob Leggatt arrived on the day, right on time for muster, only to find the whole place in full swing. The area reserved for the 100th display was now taken up, there were bikes parked everywhere. Bob reported, “I hastily tried to gather together my special list of display bikes and get all the strays parked elsewhere, I just about did it, with a little help from a willing volunteer, just the odd one out of place”.

80 bikes were on display, including our special line-up, many customised bikes, including a 1930’s replica streamliner, 2 JPS specials, several sidecars, 2 1950’s racing bikes. A line-up of GS dual purpose models from the earliest (1980) 800cc to the latest 1250ccc model. About 80 club members pre-paid and many more came through on the day. Old friends turned up for this special occasion.

Our own presentation, as well as the GAS ‘Best of Marque – Motorcycle’ award (presented to the owner of the 1941 R75 military sidecar outfit) we had 3 awards of our own which took the form of a book featuring 100 years of BMW motorcycles, The People’s Choice award went to the owner of the 1935 R5, for a beautifully restored machine which had been in his family for 80 years, our own ‘Best of Marque’ went to another member who brought along three bikes, (a sidecar outfit towing a trailer with another bike on it and also managed to bring a third machine as well), the ‘President’s Choice’ award went to a beautiful 1963 R69s and Tillbrook sidecar.  2pm, the day was over so quickly, many hands turned to help with the packing up.

Bob Leggatt, President & event organiser.

The girl’s point of view

Leading up to the German Auto Show, we decided that the club would design a special range of merchandise to commemorate the BMW Motorrad 100-year Anniversary. Using 2 logos provided by the BMW Group we produced T-shirts, polo tops, mugs and stickers with the 100-years anniversary design. We invited Doncaster BMW Motorrad to partly sponsor the merchandise, which they did in return for displaying their name on the clothing. Their support was greatly appreciated. 

A number of female club members provided assistance at the merchandise stand for the duration of the show, selling plenty of clothing and encouraging those who missed out to order online on the club website. While at the merchandise stand from start to finish, the day was a feast for our eyes, watching bikes arrive, many carefully unloaded from their trailers and rolled into place for the special display. Many club members attended, also carefully parking their bikes opposite of the display bikes. What an incredible mix of machines and eras. It was wonderful to see so many people milling around the bikes for the entire day. Perhaps many people attending the day did not realise the diversity of motorcycles produced by BMW over so many years, though this is well known by BMW Motorrad enthusiasts. We felt the day was enormously successful and positive thanks to the hard work and inclusivity of the BMW Drivers Club of Melbourne and the volunteers from all the clubs which participated in the event.

Lynne Rosenthal, Committee Member

BMW Motorcycle Club Victoria