Unique Harley Scramble race format

history of HARLEY SCRAMBLE - chapter 4: UNIQUE EVENT FORMAT INFLUENCING MOTOCROSS TODAY

Photos: [Left] Annual Harley Scramble winners wore a red scarf, similar to the No.1 red plate system today; [Top right] Les Clinton (56, Harley Davidson 100cc) and Rube Muralls (56, Royal Enfield ) leaving in pairs at the start of the 1946 Harley Scramble, which was won by Clinton; and [Bottom right] The 1953 event with all classes combined in 2 races lasting over 2 hours, with the fastest rider the outright winner (The Visor).

The unique Harley Scramble format and it's influence on motocross today

All classes and bike brands combined, Isle of Man TT road race staggered starts, with the fastest rider deemed the outright winner

Since the inception of the annual June event in 1928, the Harley Scramble was always an outright championship with the rider covering the course in the shortest time deemed the winner.

Starts were staggered, just like the Isle of Man road racing T.T. starts, but the riders started in pairs – originally at 1 minute intervals, but this was later reduced to ten second intervals. This starting method was used to make it safe due to the large fields, which at times reached over 100 riders – all in the one race.

Riders were graded from their practice times with the low powered machines given the advantage of starting first on a harder track and clearer pathway. Previous winners and place getters were the last to start.

In the 1930s, entries were by invitation only to the State’s leading motorcyclists . So difficult was the 1931 race that, of the 28 starters, only ten riders lasted the distance – four circuits of the four-mile course in the morning and afternoon. During the 1950s, the race was divided into two sections and extended to 10 laps in the morning and 14 laps in the afternoon.

Photos: [Top] In 1951 Peter Nicol won his first of a record five Harley Scrambles. Riders who won the event more than once got to keep the perpetual Melrose Trophy, name after the Harley Scramble co-founder Aubrey Melrose (Peter Nicol Collection)

Watch Harley Scramble video

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

Harley Video 40M – The Birth of Australian Motocross

Harley Scramble trophies and awards

Awards for individual bike categories, teams and club members

The outright winner was awarded the Melrose Trophy (named after the event cofounder Aubrey Melrose). This was a perpetual trophy, with riders winning the event three times getting to keep it. Other individual trophies were awarded to the Under 200cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc classes and Fletcher’s Cup for the Open class.

The Rope Works Trophy was awarded for the best Team performance; the Club Trophy to the fastest Harley Club member and the Lime Kilns Trophy to the fastest member of any other club (other than the winner).

Silver medals were presented to riders finishing within 5 minutes of the winner’s time. And in some years the Shell Oil Company donated one gallon of oil to riders finishing within 8 minutes of the winner’s time (excluding trophy winners).

From the very first Harley Scramble in 1928, the Venice Trophy was awarded to the first lady completing the Rope Works course. Although several women contested the event over the years, the trophy was never awarded as there were no finishers in this class (include picture showing the different eras).

For two years only – In 1939 and 1940 – the Harley Scramble was split into two divisions – Juniors (less than 350cc) and Seniors (351cc and over). But in 1946, the first event after the World War II break, the event reverted back to the usual format with all riders in the one race.

One year, after World War II, a new starting method was introduced – like today – with all riders starting together at the drop off the starter’s flag. But due to safety concerns, they went back to the usual starting method until 1962 when the Australian Motocross Championships were hosted at the Rope Works for the second time.

On this occasion, adopting the Auto Cycle Council of Australia (ACCA) National Motocross Champion ships format at the time, individual races were held for each class with the Unlimited winner also winning the Harley Scramble, which was won by local rider Alan Nicol.

When Western Australia was awarded its first Australian Motocross Championship at the Rope Works in 1955, the National titles and Harley Scramble were combined with the Harley Scramble format adopted with more than 112 riders all competing in the two legs.

Photos: [Top] 1933 Harley Scramble overall winners – Roy Charman 1st, Aubrey Melrose 2nd and Jack Kieley 3rd, all on Harley Davidsons (The Western Mail); [Top right] Thousands of spectators flock around the riders at eth 1935 Harley Scramble presentations; [Centre} Qualifying sessions were held with the fastest riders starting from the rear; and [Bottom] 1962 Harley Scramble / Australian Championship winner Alan Nicol (WA, BSA), when a mass start was introduced for the National titles and races for individual classes.