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VJMC MAGAZINE NATIONAL RALLY REPORT EXTRACTS

Not sure what the VJMC National Rallies are all about? Our last three National Rallis have been quite different. Please see the reports below extracted from the VJMC Magazine. Many more are available on the Members Menu after logging into this site. 

VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB - AUSTRALIA

Welcome to the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club (VJMC) - Australia.

The VJMC is a worldwide club with four separate branches; Australia, New Zealand, North America and the United Kingdom. All VJMC branches have the common aims of fostering the restoration and riding of older model Japanese Motorcycles. Some enthusiasts are members of more than one branch of the VJMC.

In Australia, the VJMC is a not-for-profit, community association operated by a committee of volunteers in an informal and friendly manner. Our primary objective is one of fostering the preservation, restoration, riding and enjoyment of ownership of Japanese motorcycles more than 15 years old. There is no requirement to own a motor cycle and the club welcomes any rider to it's events whether on a vintage Japanese motorcycle or not. The club caters for families where possible by offering a family membership.

See our Forum Preview page for more photos and insights into our club activities.

The main activities of the VJMC in Australia are:

1. local rides and events
2. the production and distribution to financial members of the VJMC Magazine
3. organisation of an annual Rally/AGM
4. representation at swap meetings and historic race meetings
5. display opportunities
6. putting members who have given permission in contact with one another.

Many members have toured with the VJMC in recent years to significant motorcycle sites in Japan. This report on the 2017 VJMC Tour to Japan appeared in VJMC Magazine number 147. 

A shared Technical Information and Library service is also available for members. The VJMC Australia has in excess of 2,000 members in all Australian states and territories and more than 30 regional representatives to act as contact points for members.

The club is registered with ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) as an Australian Registered Body and thereby authorised to participate in Historic Registration schemes in all Australian states and territories.

The 2020 VJMC National Rally in Toowoomba was cancelled due to COVID-19 however we held the VJMC National Rally Virtual Show & Shine and the VJMC Club Magazine reported on the 2019 VJMC National Rally held on the Gold Coast, Qld. The next VJMC National Rally will be held in Bendigo, Victoria on the 15th to 17th of October, 2021.

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HISTORY OF THE VJMC WORLDWIDE AND IN AUSTRALIA

The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club originated in the USA in the late 1970’s when Barton Taylor decided that regular collectors' clubs did not cater for the growing numbers of older Japanese bike enthusiasts.

By 1982 there was a ‘chapter’ of the USA club in the UK and in Australia. Both the UK and Australia decided to form local club branches in their own right and the VJMC Australian Register was formed in South Australia. The new club issued it's first magazine and attended it's first bike show in Adelaide in early 1983.

VJMC - Australia co founder Len Collins with the first VJMC display in Rundle Mall Adelaide in March, 1983.

The Australian branch was set up as a register in 1983 with the following aims:

1. Promote the restoration and use of Japanese motorcycles that are more then fifteen (15) years old or are of marques no longer in production
2. Provide a central clearing house for information regarding technical data and spares available and pass this information to members.
3. Liaise with the overseas branches and with similar clubs in Australia and New Zealand to exchange information and ideas
4. To track down supplies of spares and use the power of membership numbers to gain discounts or beneficial services to members
5. To produce a quarterly newsletter in which all members can place advertisements or articles without charge
6. To foster a club-like atmosphere which will enable us to organise future events such as rallies, and to gain sufficient members to enable area meetings and social events to be arranged.

Those aims are still the aims of the club today.

Kawasaki 900s at the 2008 VJMC National Rally at Mt Tambourine, Qld.

The Australian branch had members from Japan and New Zealand in those early years but in the early 1990’s New Zealand members formed their own branch which still operates. The UK branch also spawned branches in many European countries. Some VJMC Australia members are also members of other branches.

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