Mason (bike 11) and Peter Birthisel (bike 111) will be revving up their rivalry when they race at Historic Winton later this month. Photos: Colin Rosewarne.
Local renowned electrician and historic motorcycle rider Peter Birthisel has two objectives in mind when he races at Historic Winton later this month.
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Naturally, he aims to win but the other highly competitive aspect of his race is whether his son, Mason, 26, will finally beat him. It’s a race within a race.
Both father and son race 1942 Indian Scout Motocycles (Indian bikes are called ‘motocycles’ – not the usual ‘motorcycles’) in the Class C Harley vs Indian Hand Shift Challenge.
“We definitely keep score on who beats who in each race and sometimes it can get pretty close, so there is plenty of banter afterwards," Peter said.
"Mason took on motorcycles of his own accord and has been racing Indians since he was 16, so already he has 10 years’ experience.”
A mad keen dry lakes racer, in 2018, Peter broke a land speed record on his 1926 Indian Altoona, doing 157.425 miles per hour on the salt at Lake Gairdner. (The excitement of this kind of speed racing was well documented in the 2005 biopic The World’s Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins about New Zealand racer Burt Monroe).
For the love of bikes: Peter Rosewarne, Mason Birthisel and Peter Birthisel take their Indian Motocyles hobby to another level.
Peter and Mason also go head-to-head in beach racing at Sellicks Beach in South Australia.
Apart from racing and riding Indian Motocycles, in the last four years, Peter has turned a 40-year-old hobby into a full-time business, which he runs with Mason. They specialise in restoring and rebuilding hand-shift Indian race bikes, pre-1954 Indian Motocycles.
“We have also been manufacturing barrels for Indians and send them to enthusiasts all over the world from our base in Yarrawonga,” Peter said.
And if racing and engineering isn’t enough, Peter is President of the Indian Motorcycle Club of Australia with the support of his wife, Toni.
“Toni is the one that keeps us organised,” Peter said. “She does everything from getting our schedule in order to making sure we have lunch, so we wouldn’t be nearly as organised without her help. She is a fair dinkum race mum.”
Mason Birthisel Riding his Indian 1914.
1914 Motorcycle Tourist Trophy Winner on Show
The year, 1914, was a big year for the increasingly popular motorcycle in Australia.
Two major races were held for the first time, the 1914 Tourist Trophy in Goulburn and the 1914 Moto GP near Bendigo.
Veteran motorcycles aged 100 and more will be on display at Historic Winton this year and the exciting news is that it’s been confirmed that the winner of the 1914 Tourist Trophy will be on display.
Anyone wishing to see this 1914 Indian Speedway Twin can view it in the motorcycle pits in the competition paddock.
Owners of other veteran motorcycles who wish to display them at Historic Winton should email displays@historicwinton.org with name, phone number, make, year and model of the motorcycle. The rider/owner will receive a free entry voucher.
The 47th Historic Winton is on May 25 and 26, 2024 at the Winton Motor Raceway, near Benalla
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