Breeding ground for Australian champions

history of HARLEY SCRAMBLE - chapter 5: BREEDING GROUND FOR AUSTRALIAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONS

Photos: [Left] The Harley Scramble produced multiple Australian motocross champions in the 1950-60s, including Charlie West, the Nicol brothers Peter and Alan, and Gordon Renfree; [Top right] from the very first Harley Scramble in 1928, thousands flocked to the Harley Scramble to watch their heroes in action; and [Bottom right] four of Western Australia’s top motocross riders in the 1960s – Glen Britza, Charlie West, Gordon Renfree and Bob O’Leary.

Australia’s first motocross legends and their bikes

In the beginning, finishing the Rope Works circuit was a big achievement

Due to the nature of the Rope Works circuit and length of the race (approximately 100 kms with a lap distance of 4.2 kilometres taking around 2 hours to complete), the conditions were always extremely hard on riders and machines.

For a rider to have any chance of finishing in the leading group, they had to be extremely fit and their machines had to be very well prepared. The course was particularly hard on suspensions, gear boxes and clutches with the rate of retirements being very high.

From the very first event in 1928 and over the years it was considered an achievement just to complete the distance of the race. Some riders after several attempts were never able to finish the event.

In the pre-war years, some riders were known to place spare wheels, chains and other spares at strategic parts of the circuit just to record a finish. Outside assistance was allowed until the mid- 1950s when the faster and lighter purpose-built motocross bikes were manufactured.

One year, Eric Ashton – a regular competitor in the event – after blowing a front tyre in the latter stages of the race removed it from the rim and without removing the wheel jammed the tyre up to the top of the forks and placed the tyre around his neck and rode the remaining laps on a bare rim in a crouched position to record a finish.

Some 50 years later, Australian Motocross legend Stephen Gall would do the same and go on to win the 1980 King of the Cross at Southern Cross in WA.

Photo: [Top] Riders struggling to reach the top of the sandy climbs during the 1964 Harley Scramble. From 1928 through to the mid-1950s when factory motocross bikes were first manufactured, riders placed spare wheels, chains and other spares at strategic parts of the circuit just to record a finish. Just like Stephen Gall did at the 1980 King of the Cross in Southern Cross, in the early years of the Harley Scramble Eric Ashton also finished the race holding the front tyre (Peter Kitchingman) .

Harley Scramble legends across five decades

Harley heroes who won the event more than once

Between 1928 and 1964 at the Rope Works circuit in Mosman Park, these riders won the outright Harley Scramble more than once:

5 – Peter Nicol (1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957)
4 – Les Clinton (1939, 1940, 1946, 1948)
3 – Aubrey Melrose (1929, 1931, 1935)
3 – George Scott (1949, 1950, 1952)
2 – Roy Charman (1930, 1933)
2 – Jack Kiely (1932, 1937)
2 – Charlie West (1958, 1959)
2 – Don Russell (1961, 1964).

Keats Wilkinson won the Junior class for bikes 350cc or smaller in 1939 and 1940, the two years before World War II – the only time the Harley Scramble was divided into two classes.

Over the years it became a tradition for the reigning Harley Scramble champion to race with a red scarf around their neck, similar to the No.1 red plates used around the world today for motocross and supercross champions and round leaders.

Three riders regularly wore the red scarf – winning back-to-back events: Les Clinton (1939-40), George Scott (1949-50) Peter Nicol, who was the only rider to win three years in a row (1953-55) and Charlie West (1958-59).

Photos: [Top] The late Andrew McFarlane (QLD) proudly displaying the three red plates he won for winning Grand Prix rounds during the 2005 World MX2 Championship season – By Geoff Meyer; and [Bottom] Amazingly, the Harley Scramble (1928 to 1964) had a similar concept with the reigning champions wearing a red scarf around their necks, similar to WA motocross champion Don Collins in this photo.

View Harley Scramble documentary

View 3M Harley Video – Extract of five-times winner Peter Nicol

View 40M Harley Documentary – The Birth of Australian Motocross

Harley Scramble heroes winning multiple events

Photo: At the combined 1955 Harley Scramble / Australian Motocross titles at the Rope Works in WA, Peter Nicol was the outright and 350cc winner (WA, BSA)

Peter Nicol (1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957)

In 1951, at age 20, Peter Nicol became the youngest rider to win the Harley Scramble – going on to win it five times (1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957) – the most of any rider.

The young Coastal Motorcycle Club captain won his first Harley Scramble on a 350cc Royal Enfield, winning his second on this bike in 1953. He won back-to-back events in 1954, this time on a Matchless 500, making it three in a row in 1955 when it was combined with the Australian Motocross Championships.

Nicol won the Harley Scramble, National Unlimited and 350cc classes all aboard a BSA 350cc machine – a street machine which he converted for motocross when his brand new 500cc motocross bike ordered by sponsor Mortlocks did not arrive on time for the event.

Nicol was faster than the 500’s too. But for some reason, he was not entitled to claim this class as well as the Unlimited.

His record fifth title came in 1957, which he won on his new 500cc BSA motocrosser. Nicol was a new breed of racer – a white collar worker who was a draftsman with the Fremantle Council. What set him apart was his fitness – where he trained regularly at the Fremantle Police Gym (now PCYC) – and his interest in all aspects of the mechanics and bike performance.

Les Clinton (1939, 1940, 1946, 1948)

In the late 1930s, Les Clinton was the outstanding rider to emerge in the Harley Scramble. Earlier on he rode a 1000cc Harley Davidson, later switching to the lighter English machines.

Clinton won his first Harley Scramble in 1939 at age 17, successfully defending his title in 1940. Then after World War II, and a five year break, won his third title in 1946. In 1948, at age 26, Clinton won the Harley Scramble a record fourth time.

Amazingly, he won all events on the same Harley Davidson machine.

Photo: Les Clinton won all four Harley Scrambles (before and after World War II) on this 1000cc Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Aubrey Melrose (1929, 1931, 1935)

In 1931, 30-year-old Aubrey Melrose became the first rider to win multiple Harley Scramble events, winning the 4th Harley Scramble showing the heavier Harley V-twin riders what a lightweight BSA 250 was capable off.

He won his first Harley Scramble on a Harley Davidson in 1929 and went onto win the event for a third time in 1935 on a BSA.

By 1937, Melrose had placed seven times in the event and in 1949 he contested his 17th consecutive Harley Scramble. After motocross, Melrose went on to become a very successful race car driver, with the Harley Scramble winner’s trophy – the “Melrose Cup” continuing to be named after him.

Photo: 1931 Outright winner of Harley Scramble – Aub Melrose riding a BSA 250cc OHV (Alan Auburn collection)

George Scott (1949, 1950, 1952)

During the 1950s, George Scott was the rider to beat – winning the Harley Scramble for the third time on 16 June 1952. He was one of the enlisted army soldiers returning from the war after serving in the Pacific Theatre.

Riding a lightweight 350cc AJS bike, Scott finally ended the reign of the big 1000cc to 1200cc Harleys, which won the event 10 times.

Scott, who was born in Collie in the South West, but grew up in Maylands, near Perth, won the gruelling 65-mile journey aboard the latest 350cc A.J.S. competition bike in a time of 139 minutes (just under two and a half hours).

One of the conditions of the Harley Scramble was that if you won the perpetual trophy three times, you got to keep it. So the trophy took pride of place in George and his wife June’s trophy cabinet for many years, joining Aub Melrose and four-times winner Les Clinton to achieve this honor at the time.

Scott, who was also a good road racer, became a household name and was regularly featured in the news, including his marriage breakdown. When George’s wife June Gwendoline left him for his close mate and race rival John French in August 1952 (just after his third Harley Scramble win), the news was featured prominently in the media across the whole of Australia, which was a big thing in those early days!

Photos: [Top] Three-time Harley Scramble winner George Scott competing in the 1958 Harley Scramble on an AJS bike; and [Bottom] WA’s top motocross rider in the early 1950s George Scott was always featured prominently in the mainstream Perth media, including his marriage and high profile divorce (The Mirror).

Roy Charman (1930, 1933)

Given Roy Charman’s Influence on establishing the Harley Scramble, along with the other co-founder Aubrey Melrose, it was fitting that both riders were successful in the early years of the event.

Both Charman and Melrose were two of Australia’s earliest Isle of Man contestants who also competed in the Scott Trial and International Six Day Trial and an emerging new sport called ‘scrambles’.

Together on return to Perth, they came up with the concept for the Harley Scramble.
Charman won the third Harley Scramble riding a Harley Davidson in 1930. Then in 1933, he won the event for the second time.

Photo: 1933 Harley Scramble – Winning Harley Davidson Team – Roy Charman (outright winner), Aub Melrose and Jack Kieley on bike (Alan Auburn collection)

Jack Kiely (1932, 1937)

A two-time winner of the Harley Scramble, Jack Kiely won the 5th Harley Scramble in 1932 riding a 1,000 cc Harley Davidson.

Five years later, he won the 10th event in 1937 on a 500cc BSA finishing over 2 minutes in front of reigning champion Aubrey Melrose.

Keily was a popular winner that year receiving a large ovation by the thousands of spectators at the presentation ceremony. A record crowd of over 10,000 people attended that year.

Photo: Two-times Harley Scramble winner Jack Kiely on his 1937 Empire Star 500cc BSA on his way to victory in front of 10,000 people (The West Australian).

Photo: 1958 and 1959 back-to-back Harley Scrambles winner Charlie West, riding a 500cc BSA.

Charlie West (1958, 1959)

Charlie west twice won the Harley Scramble, in 1958 and 1959, aboard a 500cc BSA bike.

West is one of Australia’s greatest ever motocross riders. He is one of our true legends of the sport and his achievements on home soil are right up there with Jeff Leisk, the Flood brothers (Gary and Trevor), George Bailey, Craig Dack, Anthony Gunter and Stephen Gall.

To put things in perspective, the young Western Australian won more Australian Championships than Gall – six in the late fifties and early sixties in all classes – even though his racing career down under was cut short when he moved permanently to England to race in Europe and the World Championships.

In the late 1950s, the Australian Motorcycle News magazine acclaimed the twenty-one-year old as the best motocross rider in the land!

Don Russell (1961, 1964)

Don Russell was a two-time winner of the Harley Scramble, creating history on 19 June 1964 to be the last rider to win the Harley Scramble at the Rope Works circuit. He won his first title in 1961.

Incredibly, Don’s ride in 1964 was his first since the 1962 event, which was combined with the Australian Motocross Championships, with Don finishing second in the Harley Scramble, Unlimited and 500cc classes – all behind Alan Nicol.

Don, the older brother of another WA motocross champion Kevin, won the 1964 event on a 500cc BSA, ahead of three Bunbury riders – Jim and Gordon Renfree (BSA) and Glen Britza (Greeves). It was a sign of the times for the larger machines with the Bunbury riders all riding lightweight 250cc machines.

Photo: Don Russell (Second from right) was a member of the Western Australian team at the 1956 Australian Championships at Moorebank (NSW) pictured here with Peter Nicol, Charlie West and Ron Gill. Russell finished third in both the 350cc and Unlimited class titles at this event. (Peter Nicol collection)

Harley Scramble manufacturer wins

The big Harley Davidson four-stroke machines dominated the early Harley Scrambles, winning the inaugural event in 1928 and five in the first six years – going on to win its tenth event in 1948.

In 1931, riding a lightweight BSA 200cc machine, Aubrey Melrose was the first rider to end Harley’s winning streak. Then, gradually the British BSA machines started to dominate, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s when BSA won the last 8 of 9 events.

When Don Russell (Kevin’s older brother) won the final event at the Rope Works, his second, aboard a 500cc BSA in 1964, this took the British motorcycling company’s wins to 14 – the most by any manufacturer, four ahead of the American Harley Davidson’s, with AJS in third on 6 wins.

Ariel, Royal Enfield and Matchless were equal fourth on two wins, ahead of Matchless and Triumph with one win. In 1960 Robert Cutts not only secured Triumph’s first and only victory, but he also became the first country rider to win the Harley Scramble.

Manufacturer wins in Harley Scramble (1928 to 1964 at the Rope Works)

1st – BSA – 12 wins (Charlie West won the 1959 and 1960 events)

2nd – Harley Davidson – 10 wins (Aub Bicker Bicker on his 1929 350cc Harley bike)

Harley Scramble winners (1928 to 1964)

1928 – Ken Vincent, 1200cc Harley Davidson
1929 – Aubrey Melrose, 1000cc Harley Davidson
1930 – Roy Charman, 1200cc Harley Davidson
1931 – Aubrey Melrose, 250cc BSA
1932 – Jack Kiely, 1000cc Harley Davidson
1933 – Roy Charman, 1200cc Harley Davidson
1934 – Aubrey Berriman, Ariel
1935 – Aubrey Melrose, 500cc BSA
1936 – H.P. Teske, 1200cc Harley Davidson
1937 – Jack Kieley, BSA 500cc
1938 – H.K. Griffith, AJS 500cc
1939 – Les Clinton, 1000cc Harley Davidson (Senior)
– K. Wilkinson, 350cc BSA (Junior)

1940 – Les Clinton, 1000cc Harley Davidson (Senior)
– K. Wilkinson, 350cc BSA (Junior)

Break during World War II
1941 to 1945

1946 – Les Clinton, 1000cc Harley Davidson
1947 – Rube Merralls, 500cc Ariel
1948 – Les Clinton, 1000cc Harley Davidson
1949 – George Scott, 350cc AJS
1950 – George Scott, 350cc AJS
1951 – Peter Nicol, 350cc Royal Enfield
1952 – George Scott, 350cc AJS

1953 – Peter Nicol, 350cc Royal Enfield
1954 – Peter Nicol, 500cc Matchless
1955 – Peter Nicol, 350cc BSA
1956 – Athol Bensley, 500cc BSA
1957 – Peter Nicol, 350cc BSA
1958 – Charlie West, 500cc BSA
1959 – Charlie West, 500cc BSA
1960 – Robert Cutts, 650cc Triumph
1961 – Don Russell, 500cc BSA
1962 – Alan Nicol, 500cc BSA
1963 – Gordon Renfree, 280cc BSA
1964 – Don Russell, 500cc BSA