Marlborough Motorcycle Club marks 100 years
by Maia Hart from https://www.stuff.co.nz Running out of petrol in Grovetown led Ron Hebberd to a lifetime association with the Marlborough Motorcycle Club, which celebrates 100 years this month. Hebberd, a Marlborough Motorcycle Club life member, joined the club in 1954. “I went round to the garage, and the guy that had the garage was secretary of the club. I asked him if he could sell me some petrol,” Hebberd said. “He told me he only served motorcycle club members after hours.” The secretary asked Hebberd if he had “10 bob”. “Petrol was three shillings a gallon at the time, I thought that was a pretty heavy after hours call out,” he said. But a week later, a membership form arrived in the mail and Hebberd thought he might as well go along. “I got interested and did a lot of organising for a long time, and I have competed in trials and stunts,” he said. On March 23, 1921, The Marlborough Express ran a news story saying a Motorcycle Club had formed, with 60 members signing up on the night. A week later, the club’s first event was held in Picton, lead by president Dr Russell G Adams. Ten years ago, Hebberd published a book Motorcycle Clubs of Marlborough. The book covered key events for the Club, which included the first Waterlea Grass Track event in 1922, which was an event with five races. A write-up in the Express said motorcyclists and intended competitors at the races had spent hours amidst oil and machinery – which they dearly love – tuning and trying out motor “bikes”. Hebberd said it was the camaraderie that kept him so interested in the club. He was president for two periods, and on the executive for 19 years. He used to live in Seddon, […]
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