From 1200cc Harleys to British scramblers

history of HARLEY SCRAMBLE - chapter 3: From 1200cc Harleys to British scramblers

Photos: [Left] Harley Davidson motorcycles dominated the Harley Scramble in the 1920s and 1930s, but by the 1960s the British BSA bikes reigned supreme; [Top right] Rider down on a four-stroke Harley at the inaugural Harley Scramble on 17 June 1928 at the Rope Works Circuit (Lloyd and Barb Hartree Collection).

Harley Davidson 1200cc street bikes dominate the early Harley Scrambles

With the English manufacturers making special competition motocross bikes in the late 1940s-50s, the new style of racing attracted even bigger crowds

In the early 1900’s in Australia, motorcycle clubs were formed around the individual brands. For example, the Harley Davidson Motor Cycle Club was only for members for Harley Riders and the BSA Motorcycle Club for BSA riders.

The majority of machines in the early years were Harley Davidsons with Ken Vincent winning the inaugural event in 1928 on his 1200cc Harley in a time of two hours, 31 minutes and 7 seconds. The event was an open event with riders from all clubs eligible to compete. Unlike purpose built motocross bikes of today, the racing bikes in the 1920s to 1950s were street machines that were stripped down for competition mode.

Brakes were optional, but lights and mudguards and rear vision mirrors had to be removed before racing. In 1937, A. Hopkins had machine problems riding to the venue and just made it to the start line after stripping his engine on arrival and repairing it.

Similar to airplanes in the old days, the bikes had names on the petrol tanks. Aubrey Melrose’s Harley was called “Rasputin” and HP Teak’s bike was called “Black magic”. For the timekeepers to identify the riders as they lapped, they were given large numbers to wear over their leathers.

Speeds climbed to approximately 100 kilometers per hour on the straights and provided spectacular climbs and jumps around the circuit.

Prior to World War II the Harley Davidson host club dominated, with eight wins to the heavy V-twins, despite their lack of agility in the loose sand.

In the pre-war years, the Harley Davidsons eclipsed the lighter faster British machines with telescopic forks and post war with the swinging arm rear suspensions, with Les Clinton the last rider to win the event on a Harley in 1948, in a record fourth win.

As early as 1931, Aubrey Melrose demonstrated what a lightweight bike was capable of by taking victory on a 250cc BSA machine.

Photos: [Top] The first Harley Scramble winner Ken Vincent rode a 1200cc four-stroke Harley Davisdon; [Middle]The original bikes contesting the Harley Scramble were street bikes, like this 1933 Triumph XO model, with the lights, mirrors and license plates and having to be removed before racing. Mudguards and brakes were optional; and [Bottom] the bikes had nick names sign-written on the petrol tanks. Aubrey Melrose’s Harley was called “Rasputin”.

View Harley Scramble documentary

Video 3M Preview – Extract featuring 5-times Harley winner Peter Nicol

Harley Video 40M – The birth of Australian Motocross documentary

New English motocross bikes turn the Harley Scramble into a sprint from the start

The Harley Scramble became Australia’s premier motocross event, with the Rope Works circuit considered the best in the land by the interstate riders

From the late 1940s through to the 1960s the advent of the special competition machines produced by the English manufacturers turned the race into a sprint from the start. It provided a true European style motocross racing to the finish for those competitors that could last the distance.

With speeds climbing to around 100 kms per hour on the straights and easily making the climbs around the circuit, rider assistance was no longer required. Earlier , to complete a race, riders were allowed to refuel, change tyres and parts during the two marathon races taking over 2 hours combined.

George Scott won the Harley Scramble 3 times on a 350cc British AJS bike. But from then onwards the lighter BSA machines reigned supreme with the new style of racing attracting crowds of between 10,000 to 15,000 people.

With the big crowds and no barriers between the circuit and spectators, further safety measures were put in place following the death of a young boy in 1931.

12-year-old Robert Bedford-Brown of Dalkeith was killed when he ran onto the track near “Melrose Slide” and was hit by Mervyn Blakeney, who was in fourth place at the time. Blakeney was not dislodged by the impact, but returned to check on the boy who was taken to Fremantle Hospital.

In 1949, dogs were also barred to protect riders after several near-misses in previous years. Throughout the history of the Harley Scramble, no deaths or significant injuries to riders were reported.

Photo: 1937 Mortlock Bro’s Advertisement – Harley Scramble – A smashing victory for BSA, ridden by Jack Kieley, with the lighter British engine proving faster than the larger Harley Davidson V-Twin engines, which dominated the Harley Scramble.

Bikes dominating the Harley Scrambles

Between 1928 -’49, Harley Davidsons won In 10 Harley Scrambles with Les Clinton winning 4.

Between 1931-’64 , BSA’s won a record 14 Harley Scrambles with Charlie West winning in 1958-59.

Between 1934-’52, AJS won 6 Harley Scrambles with George Scott winning 3 between 1949-’52.

Between 1951 -’53, Royal Enfield won 2 Harley Scrambles with Peter Nicol winning both.

Matchless won its only Harley Scramble in 1954 with Peter Nicol winning his third event.

Triumph won its only event in 1960 with Bob Cutts (Manjimup) the first country rider to win.