Rusty Bikes and Big Hearts

Debi Bancroft’s Scrapheap Adventure

This chance encounter led her to the annual Scrapheap Adventure Ride. This charity event would become the catalyst for everything she now loves about motorcycles: adventure, discovery, long rides, camaraderie, and classic bikes. “A group of guys on rough-looking bikes wearing matching blue tutus in the middle of nowhere are to blame,” Debi recalls. After explaining the reason for their dress code and their old bikes, the guys took the time to explain to Debi how to get involved in the Scrapheap Adventure Ride and how to set up a team. “It was a life-changing moment,” Debi reveals. “Within a year, I wasn’t only participating I was leading my own team.”

  
The annual Scrapheap Adventure Ride is a unique event that combines a love of old motorcycles and a desire to become a bush mechanic, with a chance to see parts of Australia few people visit, and it has a charitable mission. Affectionately known as Scrappers, participants are tasked with purchasing a bike for no more than $1000 - preferably from a scrapyard and then spend a little more money to make it road-worthy and get it registered. The goal is to then join a team of like-minded people and ride the thrifty machines to a destination chosen by the event organisers. Along the way, team members raise funds for Down Syndrome Australia through their own events and donations. Since its inception, the Scrapheap Adventure Ride has raised more than $1.1 million for the cause. 

The 2024 edition saw riders from all over Australia converge on Candelo, NSW, a small town whose population is usually less than 1000, for their annual two-day catch-up. For Debi and her team, the journey to Candelo was approached like all previous rides: a fantastic adventure to bring together friends and family and take a few outside their comfort zone. “We carry swags and camp on the ground,” revealed Debi. “The team needs to work well together when we are on the road, and that’s important not only for your mental wellbeing and enjoyment but also for safety."

Debi’s Bingara Scrapheap Adventure Riders team ranges in age from 22 to 72 and boasts more than a dozen members. Eight to ten members usually embark on the annual adventure together. For them, the ride isn’t about reaching the destination as quickly as possible; it’s about the experience along the way.

The Ride to Candelo
The Scrapheap Adventure Ride has no official start line. Each team charts its course to the designated meeting point, making each journey unique. For Debi’s team, the adventure usually spans 10 to 12 days, covering a targeted 3000 kilometres on back roads, dirt roads and through small towns. “Even if the finishing line is close to Bingara, the team will still opt for the longest distance to get there,” Debi shares. “We are usually on the road for 10 to 12 days, and the daily target is usually around 300 to 400 kilometres. I like to spend at least one full day in a country town to recharge the batteries and support the local economy. We are never in a rush, and it’s not uncommon to go out of the way to visit a new area.”

Accompanied by a support crew with trailers they hope they will not need to use, there’s always someone or something that needs to be fixed. “It’s always an adventure,” Debi says with a smile.

The Bingara Scrapheap Adventure Riders aren’t just a team—they’re family, metaphorically and literally. Debi’s partner Jamie and her adult children are all involved, making it a family highlight of the year. “We’ve made lifelong friends from being involved with this event,” Debi reveals. “Not only members of our team but members of other teams who participate every year. We catch up with other riders regularly; it’s a beautiful community to be part of.”

While many Scrappers build a new bike each year, Debi has stayed loyal to her Yamaha SR250. Despite starting life as a road bike, the little SR has proven more than capable off-road. “Not bad for a bike that cost me $125,” Debi says proudly. “My partner Jamie also rides an SR250—he’s seen the light.”

Over the years, Debi’s SR250 has undergone numerous modifications and has seen plenty of bush mechanic treatment to keep it running on its epic adventures. From Mitchell to Cameron Corner and along the Darling River Run, the SR250 has carried Debi to some amazing parts of Australia. “The little SR has become a bit of a legend in the Scrapheap Adventure Ride community,” Debi reveals. “It has taken me to so many fantastic places. It’s super reliable, handles like a dream - even on dual-sport tyres, and is nice and light—perfect when the going gets tough.”

.

.
Riding for a Cause
The heart of the Scrapheap Adventure Ride is its charitable mission. Over the past eight years, Debi and her team have raised over $20,000 for the Down Syndrome Community, an impressive feat considering Bingara’s population is just 1500 people. “We host our own charity events during the year to raise money to add to our fundraising pot,” Debi explains. “Things like Poker Runs and Auctions—fun events that bring the community together.” In 2024, Debi and her team raised more than $5000, contributing to the event’s impressive total.

For Debi Bancroft, the Scrapheap Adventure Ride is more than just a ride—it’s a journey of friendship and adventure. “We love the opportunity to head out west on the bikes and connect with nature,” Debi says. “We’ve made incredible memories and lifelong friends, and it’s all for a good cause. What more could you want?”