Mark Loiterton with his 1937 Rudge Bike. Rudge Rally 2024 in Kyabram, VIC.
On Saturday and Sunday, 30 Rudge bikes and about 50 Rudge bike enthusiasts will meet in Gundagai for a rally, touring the district on their bikes. Leaving at 9am on Saturday morning, the rally will head to Nangus, Wantabadgery, Tumblong, Adelong and Tumut and then finish up back in Gundagai for the evening, before hosting a presentation night on Saturday.
On Sunday morning the rally will take another trip leaving from Gundagai, but this time heading towards to Tumut via Brungle Road and then back to Gundagai via Gocup Road.
Mark Loiterton, Rudge Club member and Cootamundra Antique Motor Club member, said the bikes are beautiful to look at and encourages everybody to come and have a look.
“It’s open to all, just come on down, have a cruise around, take some photos and ask some questions.”
“They are a very unique bike, very well engineered and designed for their era. They were ahead of their time, there’s lots of unique engineering features on a Rudge that a lot of other bike companies used way on down the line,” Mark said.
“They are a beautifully made machine, and they are so sought after because they didn’t build them after 1939.”
“They are a lovely, sweet bike. If you come and have a look, you will be impressed,” said Mark.
The Australian Rudge Club is part of the Rudge Enthusiasts Club which has members from all over the world.
“Peter Scott, who oversees the Australian leg of the Rudge club, began the rally when he moved out to Australia, so it is now in its 35th year,” Mark said.
“Rudge bikes were first made in 1910. They also made pushbikes, pennyfarthings and some other pretty unique things which they manufactured over the years.”
“When the war broke out in England, the factory was taken over by EMI to make radar detection equipment and all sorts of things for the war, and Rudge never produced motorbikes after 1939, which is why they are so sought after.”
On Saturday night, the group hold a presentation night, where they all get together and have dinner and present fun awards for different categories.
“We vote on the bikes during the day, things like different age categories and whatever, so there are little trophies that get handed out and some fun awards.”
“Most of the bikes that you see, you only see them every 12 months at the Rudge rally. So, it’s a great weekend,” Mark said. The Rally kicks off at 8.30am on Saturday morning at the caravan park opposite the District Services Club.
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