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The Ruptured Budgie Rally
A story about the Ruptured Budgie Rally.The Moto Guzzi Owners Clubs in the eastern Australian states usually hold a rally every year.
Victoria has (or had) the ‘Rattly Tappet Rally’ (name self-explanatory), New South Wales has the ‘Ragged Fringe Rally’ (Guzzisti being on the Ragged Fringe of motorcycle owners) and Queensland has the ‘Ruptured Budgie Rally’, which takes a bit of explaining.
Amongst the older Queensland Guzzisti, the Moto Guzzi eagle is fondly referred to as ‘The Budgie’.
When it was decided to hold a rally, someone said “What’ll we call it?” Somebody mentioned the Budgie and people were non-committal until Thommo (Pete Thompson – see mate, now you’re famous!) suggested “How about the Ruptured Budgie?”. The name stuck.
Anyway, every third weekend in May at a place called Mingoola on the Qld/NSW border, Guzzisti (and riders of lesser marques) gather on Biker’s Island to celebrate another year in the life of the greatest motorcycle company on the planet. One of the best things about it is its natural bush setting.
They don’t even have mobile phone coverage that far out! There is a catch getting onto the island though. You’ve got to ford a creek.
It’s got a rocky bottom and a couple of holes, which have caught people out. Best one so far was the Buell rider doing a ‘flying W’ over the bars. Of course there are always plenty of volunteers to assist in recovering the bike(s). Once on the island, it’s party time. There’s usually four or five different beers, spirits – and of course, the rallygoers favourite – Stones Green Ginger Wine.
Saturday afternoon is the bike gymkhana, Saturday night is the concourse, where the best looking Guzzi at the rally is selected by the crowd.
Also on Saturday night is the big multi-draw raffle. John Sample Group, Australian importers of Moto Guzzi, donate over $1000 worth of Guzzi gear and Tom Newell, Qld Guzzi dealer (and guru) also kicks in. After that, the serious drinking commences and that’s when you get to see Stones bombs and UFOs.
Catering for the weekend is by the Tenterfield Lions Club and State Emergency Service and profits went to the Mingoola School. So if you’re ever in Oz on the third weekend in May, entry is $20 which includes camping and rally badge. Further info at http://www.motoguzziclubqld.org/our_rally.htm
Cheers Bill
"There is a catch getting onto the island though. You’ve got to ford a creek."
Thank you to Bill for submitting another terrific story...how many of you have seen anything as unique as that? If you want to feature your Guzzi and/or your event...drop me a line at joe@guzzista.com ...or click the link at the top right of the page, join Squadra Guzzista and you can create your own pages! Enjoy SQUADRA GUZZISTA? Recommend us to your friends! Click here Recommend
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| Gary_Guzzisti | Ruptured Budgie | 5 | May 19 2008, 8:22 AM EDT by Guzzista | ||
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Thread started: Oct 5 2007, 5:30 AM EDT
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Wicked, wicked, wicked!!
Love the bush, love it love it love it miss it miss it miss it If I'm ever down under I will most certainly try and make this one- this one looks right my creek :) Good on ya mate ! Gymkhana: is that when you lot display your riding skills whilst on the crest of a Titanic sinking Hangover? |
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| Guzzista | The Ruptured Budgie Rally | 2 | Oct 7 2007, 5:16 PM EDT by Guzzista | ||
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Thread started: Oct 5 2007, 4:41 AM EDT
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Amazing Bill, I've never seen anything like it! Who thought this one up? At the same time I can't think of anywhere else with better sounding names...Toowoomba? ...Mingoola? ...and what the heck is a gymkhana? I'm not surprised the emergency services are involved...those stones bombs must be a laugh for a bunch of bevvied up blokes!
Great story, love it...thanks again! Joe |
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