Mark Rodda has always had a love of bikes and the Lismore man who will turn 60 this year will head to Phillip Island at the end of January to race a bike that he built.

Rodda has had the need for speed since he was a teenager and variously tried dirt track racing and rode on the former street circuit at Surfers Paradise as a younger man back in the eighties, but family, kids and sporting interests including hockey and golf quelled the adrenalin until recent years.

As the wheel of life turned and children grew into adults, an opportunity arose for Rodda to reunite with fellow bike enthusiasts. Being around the bikes again and travelling as part of a pit crew, ignited a desire to venture further into a renewed interest and Rodda purchased a Suzuki 600 and rode at several track days at Warwick in Queensland. Cutting his teeth (but fortunately no spills or broken bones) back on the track, gave this middle-aged rider an impetus to delve even further into this “speed, the need for speed”.

At this point in our conversation, I had a series of questions, including “why?” but Mark just smiled and said, “Bikes and speed have always been in my DNA and I guess that I wanted to see if I could still ride at speed at my age?” With the help of mates (that seems to be a common theme) Rodda commenced an ambitious project to build a 1979 Classic GS1000 Suzuki that extended for eight months. Rodda credits Paul Rigney (who will race with him at Phillip Island) and Mark Geering (who Mark describes as being a genius with motors), as supporting and motivating his through this project. So the bike adorned with number 134 finally rolled out of the shed in May 2018 and the “baby” of a group of five bike racers (Mark being the youngest at age 59), began racing, as often as they could.

Mark Rodda's beautifully restored 1979 Classic GS1000 Suzuki that he will race around Phillip Island later this month. Photo: Motorcycle Pics

The skeleton of the GS1000 Suzuki that Mark Rodda and friends restored.

January 2019 saw the lads race at Phillip Island, an experience that Rodda describes as, “amazing!!” and in November 2019 he also got the chance to race at Eastern Creek in Sydney. Make no mistake, these events are not your average Sunday ride, with serious riders (many barely out of their teens) each riding at top speeds well in excess of 250 kilometres per hour, with former champion riders from different classes of bikes making for even more competitive racing. Some of the teams come with major financial support and resources and while Rodda outlays “a fair bit” to race, he acknowledges Lismore businesses Metroll Steel, The Bolt Barn, Phillip Hunter Smash Repairs and Wrapt Signs, that each provide important help. “I really appreciate the support that these businesses give me and it is yet another example of the underpinning belief within our community.” Rodda highlights.

Mark Rodda said racing at Phillip Island was "amazing!".

The rookie racer managed to ride a one minute 52 second lap in 2019, noting that a sub two minute lap is considered to be the benchmark for being ranked as a competent rider. The aim is to ride a one-minute 40 lap this year. Another question beckons, “Sounds like very risky business?” I said (stating the obvious). “Fifteen minutes on the track requires many hours of preparation” Rodda reflects, “Racing is unforgiving, sometimes unpredictable and you must have your game face on every time that you take to the track.” he concludes.

The next challenge for this Lismore racer will be on 24, 25 and 26th of January at Phillip Island and Rodda and his fellow racer Paul Rigney will take a support crew including Angie Rigney, Mark Geering and Rod Rayner, as they represent the region at the marquee event. The hard work has been done, mechanical checklist scrutinised and a spare motor packed and Rodda will be hoping that his age equates to experience when bike number 134 roars off from the starting line in a few weeks time. Good luck Mark and Paul, safe passage and we await with much interest to hear how well the racing goes.

Mark Rodda puts the GS1000 Suzuki through its paces at Morgan Park Raceway, in Warwick, Queensland, in July 2019. Photo: Motorcycle Pics

ARTICLE BY STEVE MACKNEY