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.
![Great attendance was seen in 2017, with over 250 motorcycles](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-FoIMS-206-registered-Italian-machines-1-1024x682.jpg)
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.
![The inclusive event had no entry fee and all bikes were mixed in together, rather than seperated by age, or brand](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-FoIMS-206-registered-Italian-machines-2-1024x682.jpg)
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.
![The winning 1959 Ducati Elite 200](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-FoIMS-Winning-Motorcycle-Ducati-Elite-1024x682.jpg)
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 2017 Festival of Italian Motorcycles and Scooters saw a huge variety of machines in display](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-FoIMS-Winning-scooter-Ducati-Brio-1024x576.jpg)
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.
![Event organiser Gary Edgar](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-FoIMS-Gary-Edgar-682x1024.jpg)