Disney Motors, Melbourne

Sidecar Outfits Sell Rapidly at Disney's

Disney's reported this week that out of their big stock of Raleigh and sidecar outfits (which are being sold at a special price of £89/10/-) only two outfits remained. Business was still extra brisk. Six machines had been sold in three days this week.

Raleigh machines will be seen in action at the Australian T.T. meeting, one being ridden by Bob Pratt.

Australian Cycling & Motor Cycling, January 12th 1933. Trove NLA

DISNEY'S MOTORS.

Home of Norton, Calthorpe and Excelsior.

As a result of their remarkable series of successes in practically every main event in Australia and overseas during the past two years, Norton motor cycles can justly claim to be outstanding in the motor cycling world. In Australia some of the principal successes have been in the Senior T.T. at Phillip Island in both 1986 and 1937, and a win in the South Australian Centenary Senior T.T. last year. In 1935, a Norton won the Australian Side-car T.T. and was second in both 1936 and 1937.

Successes in England and the Continent have been even more numerous and naturally more important, as they have been achieved against the world's best riders and machines. During the past two seasons, Nortons have won practically every European classic. The best wins, of course, were in the Senior T.T. races at the Isle of Man in both 1936 and 1937. In this year's race, the winning Norton was the first machine in the history of the event to average more than 90 m.p.h.

Norton's In Melbourne.

In Victoria, this justly famous machine is handled by Disney's Motors. Disney's motor cycle business was commenced by Mr. Jim Disney just after his return from the war early in 1920, when he acquired the city branch of the Ideal Cycle Works, conducted by the late Clal Priestly, a motor cycle racing star of those days and a brilliant tuner of J.A.P. engines.

The immediate success of the business called for larger premises, and in 1921 he bought out the business of the late Stan Hunan, a famous war pilot who was killed racing a motor cycle on the Aspendale racecourse.

A third shop was acquired about two years later in order to cope with the distribution of Raleigh motor cycles, for which Disney's had been appointed sole Victorian agent.

From then on, Disney's handled Francis Barnett, New Hudson, Matchless, Rover light cars, and Radco motor cycles, which were eventually relinquished to make room for the Norton, Excelsior and Calthorpe agencies which they have handled for the past ten years.

In 1932 a bigger move still was made to Antrim House, 410 Elizabeth Street, which at the time was considered easily big enough to house all new and used motor cycles and accessories, and a car section of the business which has grown to one of the largest in the city, in a little over 12 months. These premises however, proved inadequate, soon after Disney's were appointed sole agents for Excelsior motor cycles in 1934, resulting in the opening of the additional showrooms at the original Noonan shop.

From then on the rapid growth of this very progressive concern really commenced, and further space became necessary to house the growing range of models, and Disney's re-opened their original showrooms in addition to Antrim House. Subsequently, another new shop was opened at 328 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.

Mr. Jim Disney has made it his aim to build up a Norton sales team which will do justice te such a famous machine, and has surrounded himself with men who are each experts in their own particular spheres.

ALEC. HAY

Norton Sales Manager.

After six years with Disney's Motors, Alec. Hay, Norton sales manager at Antrim House, is a well-known figure to motor cyclists. For many years, Alec. was with Hazel and Moore, Ltd., Sydney Norton agents, but transferred to join Disney's.

Although not a regular competitor in open events nowadays, he still likes a run now and again to keep his hand in. That he has not lost his form was demonstrated when he rode a Norton into second place in the last Indian Club's reliability trial in the sidecar section.

Alec. has done a good deal of trials riding, and says he intends to continue with competition work. He is certainly a motor cycle fan, and is most enthusiastic about the future of motor cycling. Alec, rides to and from business on a Norton regularly, and is very definite that there is an almost unlimited scope for motor cycles as economical transport.

You have only to see Alec. with a buyer to be sure of his sincerity, and as he goes over each machine, point by point, his enthusiasm simply bubbles over.

GARN. JENKIN

The Norton Doctor.

Another outstanding personality at Disney's is Garn. Jenkin. Joining the firm in 1920, Garn. commenced in the spare parts and accessories department, and is now in control of one of the largest and most comprehensive stocks in Melbourne.

Garn. Jenkin brings a sound practical knowledge to his work and gained his experience in the hard school of competition work. He has placed his comprehensive knowledge of Norton's at the service of all motor cyclists.

Garn. started competition riding on Raleigh motor cycles in 1923 by winning a lightweight solo event. He had an exceptional run of successes in all leading trials until 1931, riding both solo and sidecar. In practically every event in which he finished he either won outright or tied for first place. He finished, but lost points and received no award in only three events.

In 1925 he was the winner of the trials championship, and was placed second in the 350 c.c. class. He also won the Phillip Island 200 miles race in 1928. Garn. had numerous successes in hill climbs from 1927 to 1929, and his trophies include cups, gold medals, certificates, sashes, etc. He is still very keen on riding a really decent machine, and thinks there is nothing like motor cycling for sport or recreation.

Garn. has also taken a keen interest in the administrative side of motor cycling, until recently being a member of the Executive Council of the Auto-Cycle Union of Victoria. He was an A.C.U. steward at the Speedway for a number of years. He is also an enthusiastic club-man.

NORTON ACES.

Bruce Rehu.

One of the best-known competition riders in Australia is Bruce Rehu, former South Australian, who is now on the sales staff of Disney's Motors, Antrim House, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Bruce started racing his Norton in 1933, when he was a member of the South Australian team which won the road championship at Phillip Island. Although he has done quite a bit of solo work, Bruce has concentrated on sidecar racing, and is one of the outstanding exponents of outfit riding in the Commonwealth.

In 1934 he created 31 South Australian and Australian sidecar records at Sellick's Beach, and many of these still stand. He won the Australian Sidecar T.T. on his Norton in 1935. In that race in 1936 he led until the last half mile when he encountered ignition trouble, and pushed his outfit over the line in second place.

One of his recent solo rides was in the South Australian Centenary T.T., and he put up the fastest practice lap for that event. At the same meeting, he rode in the Sidecar T.T., but had to retire when leading in the sixth lap, as he ran out of fuel owing to a misunderstanding of pit signals. Again in the 1937 Australian Sidecar T.T., Bruce led practically all the way, but was beaten into second place by a few yards. He won the 1936 all-powers sidecar championship at Warragul and in 1935 and 1936 held the Victorian Sidecar Hill-climb Championship. He also won the 3-miles sidecar championship at Hanging Rock in 1935, and has been successful in numerous minor handicap events from scratch.

He is already looking forward to the Victorian Hill-climb Championship and the 1938 Australian Sidecar T.T. at Phillip Island. Bruce has one achievement of which he is particularly proud.

In all his years of racing and competition work he has had only one fall, and that was due to a sidecar lug breaking.

VETERAN BAYDN WILDING.

Another Norton Fan.

You can meet Baydn Wilding at Disney's, 326 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, where he is in charge of Norton, Calthorpe and Excelsior sales. He has been four years with Disney's, and when this newest showroom was opened Baydn took charge.

He is one of our veteran riders, having done a great deal of trial riding from 1918-1923. He rode in the first outright winning trade team in the Sun News-Pictorial Two Days Trial with Jack Stubley and Charlie Disney. Baydn was also associated with Charlie Disney in his inter-State records in 1922.

He has a particularly long association with the motor cycle trade, having joined it in 1914 and has always been a keen two-stroke enthusiast. Baydn sets a striking example to some of the younger school of riders in that he has never had a traffic conviction since he first secured his licence more thah 20 years ago. He still rides a motor cycle to and from business.

Australian Cycling & Motor Cycling, August 20, 1937. Trove NLA