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Vale biker, good bloke

Headshot of Nicolette Barbas
Nicolette BarbasSouth Western Times
Glen Britza riding a bike with his mates stacked on top of him.
Camera IconGlen Britza riding a bike with his mates stacked on top of him.

Bunbury farewelled renowned motorcycle enthusiast, champion and well-respected community member Glen Richard Britza at his funeral on Monday.

The story goes Glen would hear a bike in the distance and could tell you what make it was and probably whether it could do with a tune up. To say he lived and breathed motocross would be an understatement.

His passion for the sport began in 1956 when Glen joined the Bunbury Motorcycle Club at the age of 18.

That year he flew around the tracks on a 250 Triumph Tiger 70.

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Glen was the property officer for the club for more than 40 years where he set out the safety hay bales at every Bunbury road race between 1961 and 1988 and timed the Bunbury 2000 enduro for 20 years.

His first road race was in 1959 at the Glen Iris circuit in Bunbury where he rode a 125cc BSA Bantam and his first open meeting was in 1961 at Suttons Paddock in Mandurah where he rode a 200cc DOT.

Glen won many State Championships in his career and was twice runner-up National Champion.

In 1972 he was awarded life membership of the Bunbury Motorcycle Club and in 2018 he was inducted into the Motorcycling Western Australia Hall Of Fame.

Salvation Army Major Trevor Wilson and Indian Harley Club members Glen Britza and Bernie McCormack were gearing up for the 2011 annual fundraising ride.
Camera IconSalvation Army Major Trevor Wilson and Indian Harley Club members Glen Britza and Bernie McCormack were gearing up for the 2011 annual fundraising ride. Credit: David Bailey/Busselton Dunsborough Times, David Bailey

“Glen was known to be fiercely competitive and always did his best to win, in a positive and sportsmanlike manner,” his nephew Shawn Stokes said.

“He loved telling jokes, was a fantastic uncle and surrogate grandfather and was often referred to as the cat and dog whisperer. Glen Britza made everyone he met feel good and he will be greatly missed.”

Glen’s old scramble bike is on display in the Motorcycling Australia Collection.

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