So it might be the third retro motorcycle event in this country in as many months, but the annual Broadford Bike Bonanza really is something else. Where the Island Classic and the InterFOS are all about crowd-pulling and title-winning celebrities racing in fierce old-school battles of pride, the Bonanza is different; it’s a laid-back long weekend of motorcycle-mad mates and their much-loved machines.

Be it roadbikes, dirtbikes, speedway bikes, racebikes, trials bikes or bitsa bikes, not only are they all represented and welcomed at the Easter event, but they can all be coaxed around their intended circuits in the relaxed and non-competitive environment that is the Bonanza.

Each event tips its lid to one or two marques or memories from days gone by and 2017 will continue Ducati’s 90th anniversary celebrations with a tribute to the Italian manufacturer, as well as celebrating the once vibrant Victorian Romsey Grasstrack era.

The Bonanza will have its own title-winning celebrities in attendance too, with the likes of three-time Speedway Grand Prix world champ Jason Crump and three-time World Superbike champ Troy Bayliss.

With a motocross track, a speedway oval, an enduro loop and a trials course all within walking distance from the track’s campground (as well as being held on a long weekend when we’re fairly sure you don’t have to go to work), there really is little excuse not to pack your bags and head to Broadford for a relatively inexpensive couple of days of good old-fashioned motorcycle madness.

14-16 April

State Motorcycle Sports Complex, Broadford

All things Ducati

As Ducati is mopping up the champagne from its very own 90th anniversary celebrations, the Broadford Bonanza is keeping the party alive with its themed weekend of all things out of the Bologna factory. There’s rare and successful metal heading to the event, like an F06 Ducati Superbike that lined up in the Superbike World Championship. There’s also the 900SS that Ron Boulden and John Warrian rode to fourth place in the 1977 Castrol Six Hour, as well as the NCR 860 Ducati ridden by Jim Scaysbrook at the Isle of man TT in 1978. When the NCR (one of only five built that year) returned to Australia, it was ridden by several notable blokes, including Ron Toombs and Wayne Gardner.

As well as Troy Bayliss himself confirming his attendance, he’s hauling his ASBK Desmosport Ducati race transporter to the event so you can get a handle on just what it takes to go racing at the top level in this country. On top of that, the road circuit will host a Ducati-only day on the Friday where anyone with a Ducati-branded machine is invited to pay homage to the brand in a booming V-twin (mostly, we’re sure) cacophony of new and old machinery.

The glory days of Romsey

Four decades of rich racing history came to an end during the 1980s when the Romsey Grasstrack oval ceased operation, and this year’s Broadford Bike Bonanza wants to relive some of its great and glorious racing legacies.

It was home to some of the biggest names of the sport, like Bert and Gary Flood, Neil Street, John Dewhurst, Charlie Edwards and Rick and Dick Sheard, and organiser Rick Wason (himself a big name of the sport) has managed to convince many of them to attend the Broadford event. As well as some display laps by talented and big-name riders on board some rare and successful machinery, there’ll be a must-see static display made up of Les Lewis’s TR3 Slider, Garry Chasemore’s TZ250 Romsey Special and even one of Ivan Mauger’s long-track Jawa machines.

And when old riding mates get together, the memories and stories start to flow and you’ll be able to witness theirs, and many others’, at Saturday evening’s Dinner with the Stars event.

Speedway Spectacular!

One of the highlights of the annual Broadford Bonanza is the Speedway Spectacular! The tape will drop at 4pm on Saturday afternoon and there’ll be two hours of flat-out and sideways speedway racing featuring one of Australia’s most talented speedway riders, three-time SGP world champ Jason Crump. If flat-out and sideways is up your alley, then be sure to check out the Kenny Roberts replica TZ750 flat-track machine in Crump’s own Rock Oil marquee, too. And there’ll be an old-school XR750 Harley-Davidson on display as well! 

Non-genre specific


Sick of hearing the roadies screaming passed the control tower in top gear? Then wander over to the trials course and be wooed by the retro trials bikes popping their low-revving singles in and around the circuit’s obstacles. But on your way, stick your head into the speedway oval – you might catch Crumpy cutting a couple of laps – or take a trip down memory lane and watch the blokes on their old-school motocrossers making a meal of the well maintained and modern track. On your way back get a squiz at the enduro bikes and be sure to check out the sidecars – they’re still as crackers as you remember! Speaking of sidecars, the road circuit will play host to pre-1963, pre-1975 and pre-1990 road races featuring superbikes, roadbikes as well as sidecars. And that’s just the on-track action, there’s plenty to see and do in and around the traps, too. The beauty of the Bonanza is in its diversity.

Dinner with the Stars

Dust yourself off, doll yourself up and head over to the annual Dinner with the Stars which, this year, will be hosted at the circuit itself. You’ll enjoy a two-course roast dinner while MC and former GP rider Kevin Magee will coax the hard answers out of the event’s biggest names. You’ll also hear former grand prix world champ and TT winner Barry Smith discuss his new book <i>Whispering Smith<i>, before Rick Wason starts a stirring conversation with the stars of the Romsey Grasstrack era.   

There’ll be a Q&A session for attendees as well as a silent auction (with the major prize of Hot laps with Jim Richards around Sandown Raceway).

Howmuchisit?

Located 90 minutes north of Melbourne, the State Motorcycling Complex is located at Broadford in Victoria.

Non-riding weekend pass $55

Non-riding single-day pass $35

Riding weekend pass $140 (plus entry pass)

Friday Ducati riding pass $25 (plus entry pass)

Dinner with the Stars $40

Dinner with the Stars (under 16) $20

Camping pass $10 per person

Anyone under 16 Free!

14-16 April

State Motorcycle Sports Complex, Broadford