BIKERS revved their metal machines in celebration of the Classic Motorcycle Club of Natal’s (CMCN) 40th anniversary on Sunday, 11 April.
The group commenced festivities by heading out on their annual Century Run. The Century Run consists of a ride by members on their bikes around the Bluff and environs. The ride aims to combine ages of bike and rider to exceed 100 and awards are made for Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum but those who are unable to exceed 100 nevertheless are awarded Participation certificates. The ride ended back at the club where members enjoyed a social braai day at the clubhouse.
The club was born in February 1981 when Mike Lang placed an advert in the Durban newspapers inviting interested individuals to attend a meeting to form a classic motorcycle club. About 20 enthusiasts gathered in the car park at Albert Park at 2pm on Saturday 21 February 1981. After a very social afternoon, it was agreed to meet again in March at the same venue, on the third Saturday of the month.
By the third meeting, there were a lot of new faces. At this time the park authorities also informed us that we were no longer welcome. All the members who joined and paid the R10 annual subscription at Albert Park are considered founder members.
The next meeting was held at the Mayville Hotel and was our venue for the next few years. In 1986 CMCN moved to the Buff to their newly built clubhouse. The newly constructed clubhouse allowed the club to grow to its current membership of 290 enthusiasts.
Members meet on the first Saturday of each month to compete for a coveted trophy for various categories of motorcycle. The make and theme of the motorcycles change from month to month. A monthly breakfast run is a popular event, taking routes to different venues.
The highlight on the Classic Motorcycle Club of Natal’s events calendar is their Natal Classic, a reliability and regularity trial over a total distance of about 500km for motorcycles that are at least 20 years old. The event takes place in the Central Drakensberg Mountains following a route through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park going as far as Clarens in the Free State.
Bikers also look forward to the Durban-Johannesburg rally, a world-class event attracting riders and machines from around the world and it was a sad day indeed when the race was banned. Resurrected in 1970 it became a rally or regularity trial rather than a race.
“There’s nothing quite like riding a motorcycle. It’s the greatest feeling ever. However, it is getting more and more dangerous to be on the road. Nevertheless, we persevere because it certainly is our passion,” said the club’s patron Alan Young who has been a part of the club for 38 years.
“The club currently has about 180 registered bikers. We’ve got motorcycles dating back to 1908 right up to modern super bikes. You don’t have to own a bike to be a member. You just have to have an interest. A classic motorcycle is a bike that is over 25 years old. Younger bikes are becoming more and more classic as the years go. We have a lot of modern classics here today which is becoming the future of the club,” said chairman of the club, Wayne Bagley who rates the Brough Superior, as the ultimate classic motorcycle brand due to their overall quality and speed.
The Classic Motorcycle Club of Natal meets for monthly meetings, rides and competitions at their clubhouse situated on 137 Tara Road. For more information contact Wayne on 072-298-3653 or Alan on 082-465-8273.
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