Rain, floods and a global pandemic sought to derail Australia’s premier vintage motocross event in 2020, but it’s back and it’s coming to Dargle Motocross Park, 12 to 14 March 2021.
Situated in Lower Portland on the Hawkesbury River just an hour out of Sydney, ‘Dargle on the Green’ has played host to the OzVMX Resto Expo since its inception in 2017 and last year aside, it’s been going from strength to strength. Unbelievably, not all the dramas of 2020 can be blamed on COVID-19, with the event initially postponed due to flood damage. Once rescheduled, OzVMX Resto Expo fell deep into pandemic territory and when the third attempt to hold it was waylaid by another outbreak, organisers conceded they were giving up on 2020, but they certainly didn’t give up on their event.
Vintage motocross has been a bit of a dark horse in enthusiast circles. Bikes that couldn’t be given away a few years ago have finally found their collectability, rare machines from forgotten manufacturers have been pulled from dusty garages for restoration and the racing bikes of yore, once thought of as obsolete, are now revered as works of art.
The OzVMX Resto Expo seeks to shine a spotlight on ‘Moto-Art’, the intricate, admired and in some cases, technologically revolutionary racing machines that motocross riders of old used to ply and plough around dirt tracks across the nation. Those that restore these bygone machines are encouraged to bring along their motocross ‘Moto-Art’ and enter in the Shannons Show n Shine, not only showcasing their machines, but the skills and know-how that went into bringing these bikes back to life.
Although the Show n Shine stretches over Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March, the three-day event is far from a static event. All entrants, not just Show n Shine participants, can purchase a Recreational Riding Pass allowing them to ride up to three tracks, depending on the age of their bike. Only non-registerable, pre-2000 bikes are allowed in the event, making it a true mecca for vintage motocross aficionados among us.
Camping facilities are available for the duration of the event, so get in there on Friday to relax before things really kick off. Food trucks will be on site, the licence is BYO and a live duo, FinKt, will be providing the evening’s soundtrack. Saturday night brings more festivities with a 90s themed party and classic hits cover band Smokin’ Rosie, making this more than a bike show; it really is just one big social event, something that’s been sadly lacking from all our calendars over the last year.
Add to this the Swap Meet, Minibikes Heroes Come n Try, motocross memorabilia display and auction, plus a two-part ‘Promotors Cut’ session with Vince Tesoriero, the founder of the Mr Motocross series, and you’ve got the vintage motocross must-see event of the year.
There is still plenty of room in the unreserved camping area and entries are per person, not per bike, so bring the whole collection.
For ticket prices and information, visit OzVMX here.
