Chopped 2012

One thing that I have learnt from my interest in Australian Café Racers is that I’m relatively sane.  Now before I get howled down in a storm of verbal vitriol from those that have had the misfortune of my company, let me explain…..my immediate close friends and family could not understand my interest in chopped down motorcycles and hot rod cars.  So for the last couple of years I would make a lonely pilgrimage to Newstead Chopped festival of Hot Rods and Custom bikes. Not this year…this year I again journeyed to Newstead but was pleasantly surprised to see several Melbourne Café Racer members and therefore confirmation that it IS the rest of the world that is insane !!

 The annual event is restricted to entry of pre 1965 hot rods and  American styled chopper and bobber bikes. The fun starts Friday afternoon and extends late into the evening with music, dirt drags, custom stalls and an art show.  As one of our MCR mates stated “It’s after dark when things get weird” but I just assumed everybody normally rode around on mini-bikes and dressed in mankinis on a Friday night, so I didn’t notice.  What I did notice was A LOT of really, really cool  rods and bikes so I’ll let the pictures do the talking.  Can’t wait for next year!!!

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Photos and Article by Melbourne Cafe Racer Andrew Lewis. Mankini photo compliments of Andy Copeland.