In July 2017, a learner rider was gifted a 1973 Kawasaki KV 100 farm bike to register and learn to ride. Some people thought this might not have been the best idea, given they were middle aged, having never held a motorcycle licence and struggled to stay upright on a 3 wheeled kiddie’s bike.

A chance meeting in the Bingara pub a few months later with a group of very wet middle-aged men who closely resembled bearded, drowned rats, wearing blue tutus, riding clapped out motorbikes.

The arrival of these crazed looking “bikers” in town was greeted with some trepidation and a whole lot of interest to our newly minted motorbike enthusiast.

These sodden, bedraggled blokes, the happiest, wettest bunch ever to be seen in Bingara to date, announced to all and sundry, including our amazed learner, that they were Scrapheap Adventure Riders, and they were on their way home from Tilpa in New South Wales.

It is possible that some imbibing of refreshing ales might have been undertaken during the following conversation, but I am reliably informed it was not to excesses such as to prevent the merry band of riders from continuing their homeward travels. The story as related is: is below.

“Bit wet and muddy mate, but had a bloody ball”, said one of the sodden blokes.

The following conversation sealed the deal, which lead to the formation of the Bingara branch of the Scrapheap Adventure Riders, for evermore to be known as “The Bingara Scrapheap Adventure Riders“.

“So, can anyone join this adventure?”, queried our interested rider.

“Sure, mate. You got a bike?” came the reply.

“Yeah!”, pointing to the tiny Kawasaki parked across the road.

“How much did that cost ya?”was the next question, which unknown at the time was a key consideration on the entry conditions.

“Nothing, a good friend gave her to me.” 

“That’s good, she’s a scrapper, you like fundraising and can you ride?” came the next question.

“Sure do, and not really!… so, can I join your Team?” was quickly fired back.

“You could”, grinned the spokesman of the group, “better still start your own”, laughing as he said, “Much more fun having more teams and helps with the fundraising too”.

That was it! Bingara Scrapheap with loosely formed. 

Seven years later we are still pretty loose but have managed to raise approximately $20,000 for Down Syndrome.

To really top it all off, we have travelled to some amazing places, met the most wonderful people and enjoyed some of the best hospitality and partying in the country.

We are now, in 2024, gearing up for our 6th ride!