Entries are now open for the 28th annual Laverda Concours, the biggest motorcycle show on the eastern seaboard, with trophies and cash prizes up to $2000 for the best in show.
Event manager Mark Strachan says that despite being run by the Laverda Club of Queensland, the concours is open to all makes of motorcycles, trikes and scooters with 60 trophies up for grabs at the event in the Cleveland Showgrounds on July 17 2016.
Mark expects up to 8000 people to attend with 35 trade and motorcycle club stalls and plenty of free parking for motorcycles and scooters.
The Laverda Concours moved from under the Storey Bridge seven years ago to the larger Bayside venue where they now charge a $10 entry fee (children under 15 free) with profits going to the Make a Wish Foundation for children.
He says they donated about $10,000 last year to the worthy cause.
“For us, it’s always been about children’s charities,” Mark says.
There will also be trophies available at the dyno supplied by Micks Bike & Car Tyres for the most horsepower for machines under 750cc, over 750cc and V-twin motorcycles.
The show has plenty of food and beverage stalls and the crowd will be entertained by the popular Dave Ritter Band. No dogs or cars are allowed.
Dave Ritter BandMark says the Ducati Club of Queensland started the concours about 30 years ago, but didn’t want to continue, so the Laverda Club took over and has been running it ever since.
The 55-year-old former club president describes himself as a “Laverda tragic”.
“I love them because they’re so robust. They last for a long time,” he says.
“We have one club member who had an RGS that had 350,000km on it and inside the engine was still on specifications.”
Of course, Laverda Club members will have a display of their bikes at the concours.
Mark Strachan with Red Cawte of Redax and Mark’s JotaMark will show his 1981 Laverda Jota 1000 which he bought the bike in 1994 as a former race bike with 33 wins from 35 races.
He has spent about $25,000 restoring and modifying the bike through Redax Laverda at Camira including carbon fibre tank and panels, a complete engine rebuild, GSX-R 750 wheels, bigger brakes (320mm discs) and programmable electronic ignition.
“There’s hardly anything original on it,” he says.