Victorian motocross rider Ray Fisher added two more National titles to his trophy cabinet at the 1968 titles, winning the 125 and Unlimited classes at Collie in Western Australia.

Ironically, on 20 October 1968, Fisher created double history – becoming the first rider to win a title on a Japanese two-stroke machine and the last to win a title aboard a British four-stroke machine – on the Collie circuit, which was at a disused coal mine site, 125 miles south of Perth.

Fisher ran away from the small field on his Ron Angel-tune Kawasaki in the 125cc class and won the Unlimited title on a Matchless Matisse.

He could have well won the 250cc class too, but the big end bearing “let go” on his 250 Metisse Kawasaki and South Australian Rob Voumard won the title on his Pitman’s-sponsored, GYT-kitted DTI Yamaha.

WA rider Gordon Renfree had troubled Voumard before crashing his Husqvara 250 but he made no mistakes in the 350 race, winning his fourth Australian motocross title.

It was a good day for the South Australians, who made the most of the day with many of the NSW/Queensland contingent electing not to travel to WA and NSW sensation Matt Daley, unable to ride following injuries he received at the Queensland titles.

Another croweater Dave Basham won the 500cc Australian Championship aboard a 360cc Greeves.
Basham showed that two-strokes were getting the edge when it outpowered as well as outhandled Fisher’s Metisse to take the 500 title.

Basham was leading comfortably in the Allpowers final when his chain came off. Fisher and Ritchie Kings (WA) then took up the running.

In the final run to the line, Fisher’s Doyle-prepared Matchless outgrunted King’s similar machine, to give him his seventh Australian championship.

It was his last, as the day of the two-stroke was at hand!