Words: Matt Harrington
Photos: Russ Murray (@foot.in.bowl.photography) + Jason Harrington
From 1914 to 1939, an isolated claypan 23km outside of Kalgoorlie, Australia, hosted an annual race meet which became legendary in motorsports. Lake Perkolilli is a unique, rock hard claypan which has been the location for many Australian speed records and was almost forgotten until a bunch of vintage motor racing enthusiasts grouped together and reignited the good old days, in vintage fashion.
In 2025 Matt Harrington put rubber to the clay on his 1925 Raleigh Model 5 – this is his experience of this fantastic event.
When Matt Harrington rolled his 1925 Raleigh Model 5 onto the red dirt of Lake Perkolilli for the 2025 Red Dust Revival, few could have guessed the incredible journey behind this old machine. Its story is one of serendipity, resilience, and a touch of humour.
On a sun-baked clay pan in Western Australia, history roared back to life at the 2025 Red Dust Revival, a celebration of vintage speed and grit. Among the fantastic array of machines and seasoned riders stood a 1925 Raleigh Model 5. Its polished frame and whispering engine told a story far richer than its modest performance on the track.
From Trash to Treasure
The Raleigh’s journey began in the most unlikely way – discarded in boxes on a suburban roadside, waiting for garbage collection. Forgotten and rusting, the remnants of this old bike were destined for landfill until fate intervened. What looked like scrap metal turned out to be the bones of a classic British motorcycle from the roaring twenties. A sharp-eyed enthusiast rescued the pieces, sparking a chain of events that would eventually lead to Lake Perkolilli.
The Lockdown Rebuild
Enter Don Pryce, a name spoken with reverence in vintage motorcycle circles. During the long, quiet months of Western Australia’s COVID lockdowns, Don took on the challenge of resurrecting the Raleigh.
It wasn’t just a rebuild, it was an act of devotion. Every bolt, every bearing was sourced or fabricated with care. “It was like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle from 1925” Don recalls. “Except half the pieces were missing.” With no internet, no manual, and only a single black-and-white photo found in one of the boxes, Don relied on decades of mechanical wisdom. Don even cast engine side covers from scrap metal and hand-shaped a replacement fuel tank.
The result? A stunning revival that honoured the bike’s heritage while making it roadworthy for modern times – skills like these are almost lost to history.
The Final Touches
After handing over a reasonable sum, Matt took the bike home and began preparing it for a week of racing. Help came from Facebook groups like The Girder Club and Raleigh Motorcycle and Early Reliant Club. Special thanks go to Simon Dillon of RMERC in the UK, who went above and beyond to provide support and spares. Matt even sent high-resolution photos to RMERC for review. Their verdict? Only one issue… the rebound and compression springs in the girder front suspension were reversed. That was it! A local saddler replaced the worn-out seat with heavy-duty leather in the original shape for just $50 AUD.
The result? A machine that looked as though it had rolled straight out of the Jazz Age, ready to take on the track once more.
The Revival and the Award
Fast forward to 2025. Matt entered the Raleigh in the legendary Red Dust Revival, where riders and machines from a bygone era thunder across the clay pan in a spectacle of speed and nostalgia. Over 50 pre-war bikes competed this year from all over Australia. Some lasted the week, some lasted a day, some cracked the magic 100mph – most didn’t, but the event was a resounding success for the Red Dust Revival Brotherhood (and Sisterhood).
The dust was so thick on some days that racing was postponed, but nothing could wipe the smiles off those who were there. (Check out the Facebook page Celebrating the Lake Perkolilli Red Dust Revival 2025 for incredible photos.)
The Raleigh didn’t set any land-speed records, but it did earn Matt a title that brought laughter and applause:
“Red Dust Revival 2025 Lake Perkolilli Slowest Bike.”
“Nothing can describe the shear fear of racing a 100yr old machine around a 3km clay circuit. Some days I had to sit in the pits a while after competing because my legs were still shaking.”
The Raleigh is now on permanent loan to the Motor Museum of WA under the Red Dust Revival exhibit -complete with race grime and red dust. Now, many generations can enjoy this amazing machine that was once destined for landfill.
an article by Matt Harrington for The Girder Club
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