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VETERAN & HISTORIC MOTORCYCLE CLUB LTD
(Incorporated in N.S.W. 24th June 1982)
BY- LAWS 2019-2020
These By-Laws replace all previous editions
Membership
1. Full Member: A Full Member of V&HMCC has voting rights, can act in a management role and has access to the RMS Historic Registration Scheme.
2. Associate Member: A partner or relative of a Full Member can apply for membership as an Associate member. Associate Members do not have voting rights, cannot act in a management role, or have access to RMS Historic Registration.
3. A person wishing to become a member of the V&HMCC must complete a Membership Application Form. Applications for membership must be proposed and seconded by Full Members of the Club. The application will go before the V&HMCC Committee for consideration. If accepted, the application will be presented at the next General Meeting for approval or otherwise by the members attending that meeting.
4. The prospective member should be present at the General Meeting at which his/her membership is being put forward for approval. Only upon approval, payment of membership and joining fees, issue of a V&HMCC receipt and acceptances of the Club By–Laws, is membership considered complete.
5. Life Member: A Full Member may be proposed as Life Member by other Full Members in accordance with the Club’s approved Life Membership Policy. The proposal must be submitted on the Life Membership Nomination Form to the Committee and signed by a proposer and seconder.
Membership Fees
6. Membership fees are due at the start of V&HMCC’s financial year (presently 1st November). Only upon payment of membership fees and the issuing of a V&HMCC receipt will a member be considered “financial”.
7. The current V&HMCC annual membership fee is $50 per annum. A $10 joining fee applies for a new member in addition to the annual membership fee. If the member joins less than 6 months prior to the end of V&HMCC’s financial year 50% of the annual membership fee will be payable. The associate membership fee is $5 per annum and there is no joining fee.
8. A period of two (2) months grace is given with respect to payment of the membership fee, that is 1st January for the relevant membership year, to renew membership without financial penalty (payment of another joining fee). Until a member has paid the membership fee and received a receipt from V&HMCC for the relevant financial year the member will not be considered to be financial and any Historic Registration in connection with the V&HMCC is invalid until membership fees are paid.
Historic Registration Inspections
9. It is a requirement of the Roads & Maritime Services of New South Wales (RMS) that Historic Registration through the V&HMCC is available only to financial members of the V&HMCC, the motorcycle must be thirty (30) or more years old from the date of manufacture and must meet all of the eligibility criteria.
10. The motorcycle may be inspected by a V&HMCC Machine Examiner. The Machine Examiner will verify that the motorcycle is thirty (30) years or more of age and complies with all eligibility criteria for Historic Registration, that it is roadworthy and that they have sighted a current membership receipt showing that the member is a financial member of the V&HMCC. (RMS Historic Vehicle Declaration form 1259), or
11. The motorcycle may be inspected at an RMS Authorized Inspection Station for a roadworthy certificate (pink slip). However, the member must present the motor cycle to a V&HMCC Machine Examiner to verify it is thirty (30) or more years old, meets all eligibility requirements for Historic Registration and that they have sighted a current membership receipt showing that the member is a financial member of the V&HMCC. (RMS Historic Vehicle Declaration form 1259).
12. Club appointed Machine Examiners, as listed in the Vintage Crank Pin, are the only persons approved by V&HMCC to verify & sign the RMS Historic Vehicle Declaration form 1259.
Motorcycle Use
13. Any member who wishes to use their motorcycle, registered through the V&HMCC, under the Historic Registration Scheme is required to comply with all RMS requirements for Historical Vehicle Use.
14. Motorcycles with Historic Registration through the V&HMCC participating in the RMS Log Book Scheme may be used for all club Approved Events and for an additional 60 day general use and maintenance runs within the RMS terms and conditions.
15. Motorcycles with Historic Registration through the V&HMCC, (with the exception of those participating in the Log Book Scheme), may only be ridden on V&HMCC Approved Events as listed in the Vintage Crank Pin or as otherwise authorized by these By-Laws.
16. Members who wish to ride motorcycles with Historic Registration associated with the V&HMCC in events promoted by another Club or recognized community organization may do so provided that an official invitation has been received and:-
a) Documented by the Club in the official Minutes or,
b) It is recorded as an Unscheduled Event in the official “Day Book” or,
c) The event is listed under “Invitation Events” in the “Vintage Crank Pin” magazine.
17. Each edition of the Vintage Crank Pin will contain a calendar of club Approved Events for the next two (2) months.
18. The calendar of club Approved Events listed in The Vintage Crank Pin may be added to, varied or amended provided that any addition, variations or amendment is documented in the official minutes or recorded in the official “Day Book”.
19. Mid-week Wednesday, Mid-week Thursday and the Sunday Weekend Club rides that do not take place due to inclement weather (determined by the run coordinator) shall automatically be re-scheduled to the following week. This will be ongoing until either the event takes place or the week in which the next scheduled corresponding event is to take place.
20. Members may request that an unscheduled event or run be an Approved Event. To be an Approved Event the unscheduled event must be approved. It may be documented in the official minutes or recorded in the official “Day Book” held by the Secretary.
21. Members may ride their motorcycles having Historic Registration from the location that motorcycle is usually garaged to the start and return from an Approved Event provided they do so by the most appropriate and convenient route. Where the distance to be travelled to and from an Approved Event necessitates travel on the days before or after the event these additional movements must be recorded in the official “Day Book” held by the Secretary. If you are participating in the Log Book Scheme these extra days movements would need to be entered on your Log Sheet.
22. Members wishing to organize events on behalf of the V&HMCC must notify the Events Director to obtain a suitable date before being considered for approval by the Committee or at a General Meeting.
Use other than on Approved Events
23. The RMS permits motorcycles on Historic Registration also to be used on roads and road related areas for “short journeys”. (This does not apply if you are participating in the Log Book Scheme and use as listed below must be entered on your Log Sheet). V&HMCC defines a “short journey” as a journey that is within a 25km radius from the location where the motorcycle is usually garaged for the following purposes:-
a) Obtaining services (petrol, oil, etc.);
b) Repair and upkeep of the motorcycle (mechanical, paint, electrical, etc.);
c) Road testing following servicing and repair;
d) Inspection of the motorcycle in accordance with clause 10 and 11.
24. If a member wishes to ride his/her motor cycle outside the limitations set out in clause 23 above, they should have the journey recorded in the official “Day Book”.
Club Points score
25. All motorcycles that belong to a V&HMCC member that have Historic Registration or are 30 years of age or older are eligible for the allocation of points for attending the Sunday Club Ride.
26. V&HMCC Points are allocated on the following basis:-
a) one (1) point for participating in the event with an eligible motorcycle thirty (30) or more years old - if the bike breaks down during the event a point is still allocated
b) one (1) point for a member attending the event with a backup trailer. The (1) point being allocated to one of his eligible machines of his choice.
At the present time events included in the Club Point Score are in the following categories: Pre 1940, 1941 to 1953, 1954 to 1967, 1968 to 1984, 1985 to 30 years from current date.
V&HMCC Meetings
27. General meetings will take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Meetings will start at 7:30pm sharp. Where controversial or other matters arise that may cause lengthy discussion the Chairman may refer such matters to the V&HMCC Committee for consideration and where necessary report back to the next available General Meeting for comment or ratification where required.
28. V&HMCC Committee meetings will take place on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Meetings will start at 7:30pm sharp.
Cheque Signatories
29. V&HMCC cheque signatories are limited to Directors of the Club that have been specifically approved to carry out this function, currently the Treasurer and the Secretary or President.
Maximum membership numbers
30. Maximum V&HMCC membership is set at one hundred and seventy (170) members. Membership numbers may be changed, subject to Committee review and ratification or otherwise at General Meeting.
V&HMCC Club Magazine
31. The Subject matter of the Club magazine (Vintage Crank Pin) must, at all times, be in accord with the Objectives of the V&HMCC as detailed in V&HMCC’s Memorandum of Association. Where material, proposed for publication in the Club magazine, conflicts with the objectives of the V&HMCC it may be rejected by the V&HMCC Committee.
Articles of Association
32. The V&HMCC Articles of Association require that:
a) A permanent register be kept that shows the names of V&HMCC members and others (visitors) that attend V&HMCC meetings; and
b) Minutes of the monthly Committee and General Meetings be entered into the official minute book and that the official minute book be available for scrutiny by members at the monthly General Meeting.
c) A current edition of these By–Laws will be provided to members at the beginning of the V&HMCC financial year, which is presently 1st November.
Privacy Policy
33. Privacy of membership details will be maintained in accordance with the Club’s approved Privacy Policy.
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Our Club History: How Did it Begin?
By Ian Mclean
2022 marked a milestone of the 40th Anniversary of the incorporation of Veteran & Historic Motor Cycle Club Ltd. as a Public Company on 24 June 1982. But the origins of our club started years before this time. Our founding member, Wal Gaffney, has provided notes on his efforts and endeavors to form a club that catered for older motor cycles, their preservation, restoration and use in sporting events and social gatherings. Wal was assisted by Jack Bourne, an early club member, who searched old club records, correspondence and club news letters and magazines to compile the events that led to the formation of our club and it’s early beginnings.
This is an abridged version of their notes that I hope covers the early times of our club.
Wal Gaffney, like many others in their youth, had an interest in motor cycles from well before WW2 and has since owned, ridden and restored many motor cycles. He had been a member of several motor cycle clubs based in Sydney, however, in the late 1960’s his interest in older machines led him to join the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Ltd, a club that formed in 1946 in Great Britain. This club catered for all motor cycles over 25 years old, with no cut off year, meaning that all machines would in time be eligible for inclusion while other clubs maintained a cut off year, like 1940.
The year 1975 saw only the Vintage Motor Cycle Club of Australia (NSW) and the newly formed Classic & Enthusiasts Motor Cycle Club operating in Sydney with neither,in Wal’s opinion, offering the same benefits as the British based club.
Wal was aware for some years that there were a number of fellow members of this overseas club living in Sydney having similar views and interests in motor cycles and motor cycle sporting events, so in July 1975 an approach was made to the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Ltd (England) with a request for approval to form an overseas section here in Sydney, Australia.
The Vintage Motor Cycle Club of Australia (NSW) was not at that time affiliated with the British club. Formal approval was given on 23 July 1976 to form the Australian Section.
Members of the parent club, residing in Australia, were contacted advising that the Australian Section had been formed.
And so the origin of our club, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (Australian Section), was formed. The club had a name and some potential members, so now the real work commenced on recruiting members and growing the club.
On 29 April 1977 the first club meeting was held at the Trades Hall, Sydney, and so the formation of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (Australian Section) had come to fruition.
On 28 July 1977 an application was made to Dept. of Motor Transport to be
included in the Permit to Move scheme which enabled vintage machines to be used on public roads to participate in club organized events and activities. The Dept. of Motor Transport advised that the club would first need to affiliate with the Council of Vintage, Veteran & Thoroughbred Clubs.
Affiliation was sought and the application rejected due to an objection raised that the club name was similar to the Vintage Motor Cycle Club of Australia (NSW).
In August 1977, with a membership of 40 motor cycle enthusiasts, the first newsletter was published. The president was L. Smith, Secretary & Editor Wal Gaffney and Treasurer Brian Greenfield.
In September 1977, approval was given for a Gymkhana Day at Arcadia Circuit owned by Eastern Suburbs Motor Cycle Club.
Affiliation with the ACU was sought and granted to enable members to act as ACU Officials and continue in competition and obtain competition licenses if desired as there was a competition section of the club. During this time a number of good days were spent by club members with their families at Greens Motor Museum at Leppington.
On 20 April 1979 after much disappointment and correspondence with the Council of Veteran, Vintage & Thoroughbred Motor Clubs and the Dept. of Motor Transport the club was formally advised that approval had been granted to participate in the Permit to Move scheme without being affiliated. With this hurdle finally overcome, rides and rallies were organized and attended with many enjoyable days spent in good company of the growing club membership.
A decision was made to change the structure of the club and the club name and form a Limited Liability Company to offer the club and it’s officers legal protection and access to suitable insurances.
Existing financial members were canvassed and agreed to transfer their membership from the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (Australian Section) to the newly incorporated Veteran & Historic Motor Cycle Ltd. Since the name change the club continued to grow and prosper due to the excellent foundations laid during those early years and the hard work, perseverance and dedication of the members and club officers.
May we continue on for many more happy years.
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HISTORIC VEHICLE USE (Club Rego)
To be eligible under the NSW historic Vehicle registration your motorcycle must be at least 30 years of age from the date of manufacture, not be modified and present in as close to as original condition as possible. It must also comply with the relevant safety standards for registration in NSW (Pink Slip). Although a pink slip is not formally required you will need to meet the same requirements as normal registration.
You must also be a member of a Recognised historic vehicle club such as VHMCC for access to the scheme.
Period correct parts and other safety features and accessories such as turn Signals, mirrors, Mufflers etc. may possibly be acceptable but will need to be decided by the local machine examiners prior to approval by the Club on a case-by-case basis. As a general rule we encourage the preservation of these machines in their original state.
Information concerning Conditional registration can be found at the following link
Registering & Using a Historic Vehicle in NSW
Motorcycles with Historic Vehicle Registration through V&HMCC may be used on all rides & events that are listed in the Ride Calendar, Reciprocal Ride Invitations & Club Approved Events and/as indicated in Club Magazine & website.
The log book scheme also entitles you to use the bike on personal trips for 60 days in a calendar year for each bike registered with the VHMCC.
You must record entries into the Log book when the bike is being used outside of organised club events. The bike can also be used interstate following the same rules and conditions in NSW temporarily if/when travelling interstate.
Please note: Historic registration is not transferable upon sale of the vehicle.