AUSTRALIA’S GRASSROOTS MOTORSPORT HERITAGE REVIVED: VIVA MOTO ANNOUNCES ‘SCRAMBLE ON’ AT CALDER PARK RACEWAY

Long before modern stadium supercross was refined for television, Australian off-road racing was born in raw bush paddocks, limestone quarries and choke-dust paddocks. It was a sport carved out by backyard wrenches and flat-out racers who took heavy, street-bound road bikes, stripped off the road gear, welded high pipes and pitched them sideways into natural terrain. This was the golden era of Aussie scrambling—a brutal, proud and beautifully unrefined tradition of grassroots motorsport.

That legendary spirit isn't just a memory; it's returning in full force. On Saturday, March 13, 2027, Melbourne motorcycle outfit Viva Moto is taking over the historic Calder Park Raceway for Scramble On – Goodtime Motorcycle Festival, staging a massive dirt revival to honor nearly a century of Australian off-road lineage.

A Century in the Dust: The Roots of Aussie Scrambling

To understand why Scramble On matters, you have to look at where Australian dirt racing began. While European scrambles were making noise in the 1920s, Australia forged its own distinct, ruthless brand of natural-terrain racing.

It started on June 17, 1928, at Western Australia’s Rope Works circuit with the inaugural Harley Scramble. Competitors wrestled heavy machinery over sharp limestone, steep inclines, and punishing bush trails, igniting the nation's true motocross tradition.

By November 14, 1953, the sport had earned its place in national history when the Ballarat Motorcycle Club hosted Australia’s first official National Championship title in Korweinguboora, Victoria. Riders battled through mud quagmires, creek crossings and blinding dust storms on machines that had no business being airborne.

Even Calder Park Raceway itself shares this exact DNA. Long before it became famous for its asphalt drag strip and banked oval, Calder Park began in the 1950s as a raw dirt track carved straight out of an old paddock by local motor racing pioneers. Staging Scramble On at Calder Park isn't just using a venue; it's bringing the grounds back to their original dirt roots.

The Machine Culture: Air-Cooled Glory & Backyard Ingenuity

Scramble On is built around the machinery that built the sport. The air will be thick with the smell of pre-mix oil and race fuel as classic air-cooled scramblers, vintage BSAs, Matchlesses, Triumphs, and early two-stroke machines take back to the dirt track for high-energy exhibition racing.

In true Aussie garage fashion, the event operates on an unpretentious "Run What Ya Brung" ethos. Alongside meticulously restored British and Japanese classics, you'll see raw backyard custom builds, desert sleds, chopped trackers, vintage dual-sports, and garage-built specials line up on four purpose-built tracks across the grounds—from the high-speed natural terrain Scramble Track and Flat Track oval to the zero-traction Dirt Drag strip and rugged Off-Road Loop.

More Than a Race: The "Goodtime" Ethos

At its core, Viva Moto’s festival is designed as a bridge between generations. It’s where veteran racers who remember the golden era of Victorian dirt tracks can sink a cold drink alongside next-gen builders, custom enthusiasts, and young families taking in the sights.

Surrounding the track action, the grounds will host live local bands, food trucks, craft brews, and trade stalls featuring independent Australian motorcycle brands, gear makers and custom builders.

Event Summary & Ticket Details

• Event: Viva Moto Presents: Scramble On – Goodtime Motorcycle Festival

• Date: Saturday, March 13, 2027 (Gates open 7:30 AM)

• Location: Calder Park Raceway, Victoria, Australia

• Rider Entries: $160 (Strictly limited; covers entry for multiple bikes across all four tracks)

• Spectator Admission: $28 Adult (12+) | FREE for Children under 12

• Tickets & Info: Available via Oztix and www.viva-moto.com

• Social Updates: Follow @viva.moto.equipped on Instagram

photo credit to @viva.moto.equipped IG