The Obi Obi Motorcycle Show returns on Sunday (September 10, 2017) after a successful inaugural year event attracting more than 1000 people and almost 100 motorcycles on show.
Organiser Steve Walker says the funds raised will help the ongoing upkeep of the 103-year-old community hall on the motorcycle-friendly Obi Obi Rd.
“It was such a success that we are running it again,” he says.
“The bikes were a wonderful mix of the outstanding and the everyday, and a surprising number of the outstanding ones were ridden in.
“I’ve never before seen a Vincent B series Rapide ridden to an event, or an early ’50s Indian Chief Roadmaster. I’ve never heard of a 1949 Magnat Debon before, let alone seen one ridden down 20 kilometres of back roads to an event.
“Mind you, I’ve never seen an Indian Papoose lifted out of the back seat of a car before either, and it’s been along time since I’ve seen a Lilac.
“A couple of ’70s CB Honda twins arrived, a 175 and a 350, bringing back a lot of memories for me about how common they were, and how rare now. Nice little bikes.
There were bikes of all styles and sizes, all with very proud owners. It was surprisingly hard to convince some people to put their bikes on show, with them saying they were just out for a ride, or the bikes were not good enough, or they would put them in next year when they were finished.”
Victory’s generous weekend test ride offer worked well for one punter, who entered a test-ride High Ball and won Best Victory, collecting the trophy and the sponsored $100 Victory gift voucher.
He told the organisers it wasn’t his bike after they gave him the prizes.
Many of the people who organised the Obi Obi Motorcycle Show also helped run the popular Mapleton bike shows through the 1990s, raising more than $20,000 for the Mapleton community.
Have you seen the Obi Obi Hall?
Sportster rider Steve Walker, of the Obi Obi and Kidaman Creek District Community Hall Events Committee, says many riders will have ridden past the hall and probably not noticed it.
“I am sure that you have ridden past it, although as it is at the start of the braking area for a right angle bend with no safe run-off area, so you may have been too busy for sightseeing,” he says.
For more views of the hall, check out the following video that features local band The Rain performing their catchy song Cold Comfort.
It features the line “there’s just five more miles ’til I’m empty” and lead singer Kelly Cork riding a Velocette through the scenic country between Kenilworth and Mapleton.
Kelly runs a bike and general engineering workshop in Maleny.
Steve says the Obi hall has come a long way since being derelict only four years ago, but needs attention to get it through the next hundred years.
It’s been the backdrop for many motorcycle photo shoots including the Harley-Davidson Switchback in 2011 before restoration began.
Switchback at the Obi Obi Hall