2017 Festival of Italian Motorcycles & Scooters proves an overwhelming success
Words and images courtesy of Gary Edgar – Organiser of FoIMS
The Festival to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Ducati Owners Club of Queensland was held in brilliant Brisbane sunshine as the first all-Italian bike and scooter show of its kind in the city heart.
Supported with exhibits by clubs, dealerships, tuning & custom houses, Queensland Police Service and individual owners, just over 200 machines registered. A further contingent not signed in brought the total to an estimated 250 machines of all type, vintage and marque, from rare classics to race bikes and the latest models.
Separate awards for bike and scooter categories were People’s Choice exclusively, with provision for a vote for both on each voting slip. Professional Grid Girls circulated encouraging votes, with over 300 slips lodged by close of voting.
Against stiff competition, the winner of the bike award was a 1959 Ducati Elite 200 and the scooter award was claimed by a 1964 Ducati Brio 48.
The Festival won high praise from participants for the unique CBD location, the solid paved surface, no entry fee, the all-in-together non-segregation of machines and the freedom to come, stay and go at will.
