Post by Stewart Doig on Jul 9, 2022 4:23:33 GMT
Dargo High Plains rally 1981
The Club in the late 70s
Around 1977 and 1978 the Monarchs M.C.C. underwent significant generational change. The members who had established the club in 1965 and those who had joined shortly after were rapidly being replaced in committee positions by new blood. The only newcomer member of the committee, elected in July 1977, was Peter Young, (in his early 20s then), amongst 7 ‘old guard’ members. In comparison the following year’s committee consisted of 5 newcomers and 4 of the old guard.
The club was experiencing a similar turnover in the general membership. Older members were entering their early 30s and becoming parents and so were less inclined to participate.
The general decorum at general meetings was a factor in turning older members away at this time The club met at the Seaford Carrum Tennis club rooms adjacent to Keast Park and near the Riviera Hotel. The Hotel bar had become a ‘pre meeting’, meeting place. As time went on, more and more of the younger members were going to the bar, and staying longer and longer, before attending the official clubrooms. To say that running an orderly meeting was a challenge, was quite an understatement. Some time later, in the 1980s, we had the meetings at the Riviera Hotel in a private room.
Some of the older members, notably Russel Stephenson, Keith and Anna Fulstow and John Williams were sticking to the club. Russel notably served on the committee until at least 1985.
Monarchs Rally activity
After attending various rallies around Victoria in late 1970s, a number of the younger members, John Doig, Chris Mogford, Dave Peck and myself, decided to attend the 1979 Alpine Rally. This was seen as being quite a step up from the likes of the Thor, Puma and Emu rallies that we had attended. I wrote an article about this first experience of the Alpine rally in 2014 for the club newsletter and O.B.A. magazine. At the time Dave Peck also wrote an article that wasn’t printed, but will be in this newsletter.
After attending the 1979 Alpine rally, the 4 of us were quite keen on having more of the same in the future. It appears that there may have been consideration given to running a rally in the Licola area in early 1980.
A letter was written to the Forests Commission Victoria enquiring about camp sites between the Tamboritha road and the Wellington river. The reply, (27.2.1980) advised of no special restrictions apart from following the law concerning fire regulations.
In July 1980 Dave Peck was elected President, Mal Cooper became Vice President, Stewart Doig became secretary, John Doig became treasurer, Russell Stephenson became A.C.U.V. Delegate and Club Captain, Ray Fowler and John Williams became committee members.
In early 1981 I moved, at a general meeting, that the club should run a Rally in the Dargo region, to be known as the ‘Dargo High Plains’ rally. This was seconded by John Doig and passed. The motion was supported by a majority but some opposed the motion on the grounds that it was ‘too hard’. The committee tossed round ideas for the badge design and Dave Peck drafted the final design of the badge for the rally.
My motivation in pushing this was that the club should have a rally of equal prestige as the Alpine rally. The Alpine rally attracted about 1000 riders, every year, in that era. I wanted a rally that, like the Alpine, would be a significant challenge to normal road riders. I believed that the name ‘Dargo High Plains’ would imply a certain challenge, would easily identify the locality and it rolled off the tongue quite nicely!
Finding Talbotville
It was decided to find a suitable site on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of May, 1981. John Williams and myself were pretty keen and undertook this task. At the time I was under license suspension or cancellation, so I went pillion on John’s R90S BMW. We got to Dargo on Saturday, booked into the pub and had a some exploration close to town, but did not find anything suitable.
Saturday night in the Dargo pub was pretty riotous but we had some sensible talk with Brian Madigan from the Forestry department. He suggested Talbotville as a good site.
Of course it was mentioned, by other drinkers, that there was a really good site ‘down the Bulltown Spur track’. John recalls the locals were skeptical about the BMW getting down to Talbotville, he thinks they may have upping the ante, over and above what they already thought impossible, (getting into Talbotville), by suggesting the Bulltown Spur track. John just calmly strung the locals along.
On Sunday morning we checked a few places along the Dargo river, north of town but drew a blank. In the afternoon we headed up the High Plains road and then along the Macmillan track. We stopped and considered the possibilities at Grant and at the Helipad. This sounds a bit silly now, but we were beginning to think there may not be anything better. We continued on, had a look and a walk only, down the Bulltown Spur track. Yeahh, that looks scary.
I think it was about 2.00 pm by the time we got to Talbotville, what a relief, this place was everything we had dreamed of for a rally site.
Bulltown Spur track Interlude
I was totally satisfied and was happy to go straight back to town. John may have been happy with the site but he was keen to see more of the Bulltown Spur track. He wanted to go up the river to check the bottom of the track. Maybe he wanted to really stick it up the locals at that stage, but he wasn’t letting on to me.
We left Talbotville and followed the track upstream. We crossed the river about 13 times before we got to the bottom of the Bulltown Spur track. Each river crossing was progressively deeper as we went upstream. At the last few crossings the BMW had water over the cylinders, but it did not miss a beat.
We rode up the Bulltown Spur track for a few hundred metres until the grade became too much. I got off and was in favour of retreat. John was totally determined though. I gave him the biggest shove I could and he rode up a steep part solo. He recalls coming to a halt and falling, the cylinders preventing a full capsize. The big shove, a few metres progress and then a minor fall was repeated a few times over the steepest parts of the track. From memory, I believe I was back on pillion for the last few hundred metres up the Bulltown. It was a quite a ride by John!
It was getting on for 5.00 pm by the time we headed back along the Macmillan track towards town. John Williams noted in his photo Album, ‘8k 2,5hours’ next to a photo of his BMW halfway up the track. This refers to the distance and time from Talbotville to the top of the Bulltown Spur track. We rode through a swirling mist until we descended in altitude, closer to town. It was becoming dark as we arrived for our second night, staying at the hotel. Sunday night was very quiet, they served us drinks as we were house guests but the bar was closed.
A few weeks later John’s BMW had a failure of the clutch spline, likely due to the Bulltown Spur track ascent, the payoff was at the 1982 presentation night where he received the ‘Most rugged Achievement’ trophy!
Route to Talbotville
In 1981 the access from Melbourne to Dargo and Talbotville was quite a bit more difficult than today. From Briagolong our preferred route was along the Freestone creek road. Although very windy, slow and unsealed it was a fair bit shorter than going through Fernbank which was also unsealed. The Freestone Creek road joins the Fernbank road at the Cobannah intersection. The only bitumen between here and Talbotville was a short stretch at Dargo town. Starting at Castleburn the old road followed a different route than was used when the bitumen was laid in the mid 1980s. Instead of skirting the west side of a valley, it routed along the east side of this valley. The old route, about 5km in length, or 3km as the crow flies, is shown on Google maps as ‘Old Dargo Forest road’.
After Dargo town, the High Plains road was unsealed but kept in reasonable repair. On turning off at the Macmillan track the conditions were very bad, right through to Talbotville.
The first sections in to Grant and to the Helipad were very deeply rutted and tended to get water logged. Water just hung around in the lower ruts and as soon as a 4WD went through the water would be carried along, making for some very long and greasy inclines.
The downhill track from before the Bulltown Spur track to Talbotville was narrower than today and very poorly maintained. There was much more exposed rock and deep drop offs, all along this part of the track. A wrong move could easily result in a smashed engine side casing or sump.
The Talbotville site had limited access to the river, much of the river bank was choked with blackberry bushes. There was no toilet at the site. The control tent in the early years was set up near a walnut tree, more or less opposite the Macmillan track. It was one of the few spots where there was access to the river through the blackberries.
1981 Rally
At the first rally, John Williams drove the support vehicle, a 4WD Toyota ute. The club policy at the time was that no other 4 wheeled vehicles should come. A notice sent to the Motor Cycle Press stated that ‘Hot soup would be given to all comers on arrival’. On the day, Robyn Piercy, wife of ‘Short story’ Steve Piercy, organized this.
The same year, rider on a Honda Gold Wing went off the track, over the cliff and a number of club members had to go up and drag the machine back up. John Doig and myself, (pillion again), went down and up the Bulltown Spur track on a demonstrator Honda 500 trail bike from his work at John Burrows Honda. Over the river crossings was not an option in September due to the higher river flows.
It may have been at the first or second rally, and then, at many of the subsequent rallies that a few sporting events were held. On late Saturday afternoon, a slow race, flaming football and a tyre throwing contest were held. Some individuals set off petrol bombs and Peter Wright did imitations of Mt Vesuvius to liven things up even more. Dave ‘Frame’ Robertson got into the spirit of things by downing a bottle of Tabasco sauce on one memorable occasion.
1982 Rally
For our first running of the rally, on Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September, 1981, a letter I wrote on 17th of March 1982 to the Commercial Hotel (Dargo), states that the attendance was about 100. The letter to Dargo Hotel continues, (referring to 1982):
‘This year the event is planned for the 4th and 5th of September, at the same venue, and it is anticipated that at least 200 people will attend...Would you be prepared to open the bar at an earlier hour than usual if sufficient patronage was assured (I believe you are not normally open before 6.00 pm).’
I think I might have been a bit overexcited there! Over the early years, Chris Mogford and I both agree that 120 was about the maximum attendance with 90 to 100 being the average attendance.
At the 1982 D.H.P. rally Rob Christie, ex school teacher, author of ‘Victoria’s Forgotten Goldfields’ and proprietor of the Dargo General store, came to the site and gave a talk on the gold mining history of the area.
I can’t remember the number attending in 1982 but it did disappoint us that numbers didn’t increase significantly then or ever. I believe Talbotville is one of the best rally sites in Australia. In spite of this, the rally could never match the attendance numbers of the Alpine rally, Clubman rally or the Spaghetti rally.
These rallies have the advantage of being in the higher population corridor between Melbourne and Sydney and are reasonable distances from either major city. Also, the Alpine and Clubman were both held on long weekends. The Spaghetti rally catered for all owners of Italian machines, a fairly large and enthusiastic cohort.
The next D.H.P. rally will be the 40th. I am very proud to have played a part in it over the years. I congratulate all others who have worked hard to allow it to survive, attract a loyal following over such a span of time and become an iconic event.
I am confident that President Tracey and the committee will ensure that the 2020 rally will be one to remember. I hope all of the members will be able to participate and now is the time to make any suggestions for the future running of your rally.
Stewart Doig
Life Member
Bibit Magus (the wise man drinks)
The Club in the late 70s
Around 1977 and 1978 the Monarchs M.C.C. underwent significant generational change. The members who had established the club in 1965 and those who had joined shortly after were rapidly being replaced in committee positions by new blood. The only newcomer member of the committee, elected in July 1977, was Peter Young, (in his early 20s then), amongst 7 ‘old guard’ members. In comparison the following year’s committee consisted of 5 newcomers and 4 of the old guard.
The club was experiencing a similar turnover in the general membership. Older members were entering their early 30s and becoming parents and so were less inclined to participate.
The general decorum at general meetings was a factor in turning older members away at this time The club met at the Seaford Carrum Tennis club rooms adjacent to Keast Park and near the Riviera Hotel. The Hotel bar had become a ‘pre meeting’, meeting place. As time went on, more and more of the younger members were going to the bar, and staying longer and longer, before attending the official clubrooms. To say that running an orderly meeting was a challenge, was quite an understatement. Some time later, in the 1980s, we had the meetings at the Riviera Hotel in a private room.
Some of the older members, notably Russel Stephenson, Keith and Anna Fulstow and John Williams were sticking to the club. Russel notably served on the committee until at least 1985.
Monarchs Rally activity
After attending various rallies around Victoria in late 1970s, a number of the younger members, John Doig, Chris Mogford, Dave Peck and myself, decided to attend the 1979 Alpine Rally. This was seen as being quite a step up from the likes of the Thor, Puma and Emu rallies that we had attended. I wrote an article about this first experience of the Alpine rally in 2014 for the club newsletter and O.B.A. magazine. At the time Dave Peck also wrote an article that wasn’t printed, but will be in this newsletter.
After attending the 1979 Alpine rally, the 4 of us were quite keen on having more of the same in the future. It appears that there may have been consideration given to running a rally in the Licola area in early 1980.
A letter was written to the Forests Commission Victoria enquiring about camp sites between the Tamboritha road and the Wellington river. The reply, (27.2.1980) advised of no special restrictions apart from following the law concerning fire regulations.
In July 1980 Dave Peck was elected President, Mal Cooper became Vice President, Stewart Doig became secretary, John Doig became treasurer, Russell Stephenson became A.C.U.V. Delegate and Club Captain, Ray Fowler and John Williams became committee members.
In early 1981 I moved, at a general meeting, that the club should run a Rally in the Dargo region, to be known as the ‘Dargo High Plains’ rally. This was seconded by John Doig and passed. The motion was supported by a majority but some opposed the motion on the grounds that it was ‘too hard’. The committee tossed round ideas for the badge design and Dave Peck drafted the final design of the badge for the rally.
My motivation in pushing this was that the club should have a rally of equal prestige as the Alpine rally. The Alpine rally attracted about 1000 riders, every year, in that era. I wanted a rally that, like the Alpine, would be a significant challenge to normal road riders. I believed that the name ‘Dargo High Plains’ would imply a certain challenge, would easily identify the locality and it rolled off the tongue quite nicely!
Finding Talbotville
It was decided to find a suitable site on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of May, 1981. John Williams and myself were pretty keen and undertook this task. At the time I was under license suspension or cancellation, so I went pillion on John’s R90S BMW. We got to Dargo on Saturday, booked into the pub and had a some exploration close to town, but did not find anything suitable.
Saturday night in the Dargo pub was pretty riotous but we had some sensible talk with Brian Madigan from the Forestry department. He suggested Talbotville as a good site.
Of course it was mentioned, by other drinkers, that there was a really good site ‘down the Bulltown Spur track’. John recalls the locals were skeptical about the BMW getting down to Talbotville, he thinks they may have upping the ante, over and above what they already thought impossible, (getting into Talbotville), by suggesting the Bulltown Spur track. John just calmly strung the locals along.
On Sunday morning we checked a few places along the Dargo river, north of town but drew a blank. In the afternoon we headed up the High Plains road and then along the Macmillan track. We stopped and considered the possibilities at Grant and at the Helipad. This sounds a bit silly now, but we were beginning to think there may not be anything better. We continued on, had a look and a walk only, down the Bulltown Spur track. Yeahh, that looks scary.
I think it was about 2.00 pm by the time we got to Talbotville, what a relief, this place was everything we had dreamed of for a rally site.
Bulltown Spur track Interlude
I was totally satisfied and was happy to go straight back to town. John may have been happy with the site but he was keen to see more of the Bulltown Spur track. He wanted to go up the river to check the bottom of the track. Maybe he wanted to really stick it up the locals at that stage, but he wasn’t letting on to me.
We left Talbotville and followed the track upstream. We crossed the river about 13 times before we got to the bottom of the Bulltown Spur track. Each river crossing was progressively deeper as we went upstream. At the last few crossings the BMW had water over the cylinders, but it did not miss a beat.
We rode up the Bulltown Spur track for a few hundred metres until the grade became too much. I got off and was in favour of retreat. John was totally determined though. I gave him the biggest shove I could and he rode up a steep part solo. He recalls coming to a halt and falling, the cylinders preventing a full capsize. The big shove, a few metres progress and then a minor fall was repeated a few times over the steepest parts of the track. From memory, I believe I was back on pillion for the last few hundred metres up the Bulltown. It was a quite a ride by John!
It was getting on for 5.00 pm by the time we headed back along the Macmillan track towards town. John Williams noted in his photo Album, ‘8k 2,5hours’ next to a photo of his BMW halfway up the track. This refers to the distance and time from Talbotville to the top of the Bulltown Spur track. We rode through a swirling mist until we descended in altitude, closer to town. It was becoming dark as we arrived for our second night, staying at the hotel. Sunday night was very quiet, they served us drinks as we were house guests but the bar was closed.
A few weeks later John’s BMW had a failure of the clutch spline, likely due to the Bulltown Spur track ascent, the payoff was at the 1982 presentation night where he received the ‘Most rugged Achievement’ trophy!
Route to Talbotville
In 1981 the access from Melbourne to Dargo and Talbotville was quite a bit more difficult than today. From Briagolong our preferred route was along the Freestone creek road. Although very windy, slow and unsealed it was a fair bit shorter than going through Fernbank which was also unsealed. The Freestone Creek road joins the Fernbank road at the Cobannah intersection. The only bitumen between here and Talbotville was a short stretch at Dargo town. Starting at Castleburn the old road followed a different route than was used when the bitumen was laid in the mid 1980s. Instead of skirting the west side of a valley, it routed along the east side of this valley. The old route, about 5km in length, or 3km as the crow flies, is shown on Google maps as ‘Old Dargo Forest road’.
After Dargo town, the High Plains road was unsealed but kept in reasonable repair. On turning off at the Macmillan track the conditions were very bad, right through to Talbotville.
The first sections in to Grant and to the Helipad were very deeply rutted and tended to get water logged. Water just hung around in the lower ruts and as soon as a 4WD went through the water would be carried along, making for some very long and greasy inclines.
The downhill track from before the Bulltown Spur track to Talbotville was narrower than today and very poorly maintained. There was much more exposed rock and deep drop offs, all along this part of the track. A wrong move could easily result in a smashed engine side casing or sump.
The Talbotville site had limited access to the river, much of the river bank was choked with blackberry bushes. There was no toilet at the site. The control tent in the early years was set up near a walnut tree, more or less opposite the Macmillan track. It was one of the few spots where there was access to the river through the blackberries.
1981 Rally
At the first rally, John Williams drove the support vehicle, a 4WD Toyota ute. The club policy at the time was that no other 4 wheeled vehicles should come. A notice sent to the Motor Cycle Press stated that ‘Hot soup would be given to all comers on arrival’. On the day, Robyn Piercy, wife of ‘Short story’ Steve Piercy, organized this.
The same year, rider on a Honda Gold Wing went off the track, over the cliff and a number of club members had to go up and drag the machine back up. John Doig and myself, (pillion again), went down and up the Bulltown Spur track on a demonstrator Honda 500 trail bike from his work at John Burrows Honda. Over the river crossings was not an option in September due to the higher river flows.
It may have been at the first or second rally, and then, at many of the subsequent rallies that a few sporting events were held. On late Saturday afternoon, a slow race, flaming football and a tyre throwing contest were held. Some individuals set off petrol bombs and Peter Wright did imitations of Mt Vesuvius to liven things up even more. Dave ‘Frame’ Robertson got into the spirit of things by downing a bottle of Tabasco sauce on one memorable occasion.
1982 Rally
For our first running of the rally, on Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September, 1981, a letter I wrote on 17th of March 1982 to the Commercial Hotel (Dargo), states that the attendance was about 100. The letter to Dargo Hotel continues, (referring to 1982):
‘This year the event is planned for the 4th and 5th of September, at the same venue, and it is anticipated that at least 200 people will attend...Would you be prepared to open the bar at an earlier hour than usual if sufficient patronage was assured (I believe you are not normally open before 6.00 pm).’
I think I might have been a bit overexcited there! Over the early years, Chris Mogford and I both agree that 120 was about the maximum attendance with 90 to 100 being the average attendance.
At the 1982 D.H.P. rally Rob Christie, ex school teacher, author of ‘Victoria’s Forgotten Goldfields’ and proprietor of the Dargo General store, came to the site and gave a talk on the gold mining history of the area.
I can’t remember the number attending in 1982 but it did disappoint us that numbers didn’t increase significantly then or ever. I believe Talbotville is one of the best rally sites in Australia. In spite of this, the rally could never match the attendance numbers of the Alpine rally, Clubman rally or the Spaghetti rally.
These rallies have the advantage of being in the higher population corridor between Melbourne and Sydney and are reasonable distances from either major city. Also, the Alpine and Clubman were both held on long weekends. The Spaghetti rally catered for all owners of Italian machines, a fairly large and enthusiastic cohort.
The next D.H.P. rally will be the 40th. I am very proud to have played a part in it over the years. I congratulate all others who have worked hard to allow it to survive, attract a loyal following over such a span of time and become an iconic event.
I am confident that President Tracey and the committee will ensure that the 2020 rally will be one to remember. I hope all of the members will be able to participate and now is the time to make any suggestions for the future running of your rally.
Stewart Doig
Life Member
Bibit Magus (the wise man drinks)