Christchurch businessman John Boote's collecting bug goes back to his early childhood.
First fish, stamps, then motorcycle brochures, Royal Doulton and Claris Cliff pottery and motorcycles.
Now the former international motorcycle racer's sole collecting focus is bike brochures
Q Why do you do what you do?
A It's the challenge. And brochures don't rust, require polishing or take up much real estate.
In the 1970s, they were everywhere. I'd contact old bike dealers and mechanics, write letters and correspond by snail mail.
Then faxing arrived and the internet. In 1999, I joined eBay and that opened a whole new dimension. I collect three distinct themes - general market, American market and Japanese domestic market; that's the four Japanese manufacturers.
I also collect Bultaco, Montessa Ossa, Husqvarna. Bimota and Ducati, plus British stuff. Prices start at $2 for something common.
The holy grail for me is the 1974 Yamaha YZ250 outdoor brochure. I don't have it and I'd pay any figure the seller wanted!
I could spend all day on my brochures - I probably have more than 30,000. Brochure collecting is so complex there is never an empty day.
Q What is your earliest collecting memory?
A Apart from stamps, the Suzuki TS90 brochure I picked up when I was 15. I still have it
Q What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A An architect. I was always drawing houses. Then, at high school, motorcycles got in the way. I blame [schoolmate and fellow racer] Stu Avant.
Q What is your most embarrassing moment?
A Falling off at Assen, in Holland, while running second in a Formula 750 race.
On the second lap while chasing the local favourite. The huge crowd loved it.
And I ended up on my back. I can still remember looking between my legs and thinking ‘‘Oh, shit'' as Barry Sheene bore down on me. Fortunately, he missed.
Q Property aside, what's the most extravagant thing you've bought?
A A Claris Cliff Honolulu-pattern ship vase. I bought it at a Dunedin auction for a New Zealand record price.
It was very rare. I had to ask [wife] Stephanie how much I paid for it. I was somewhere else. My hands were clammy.
The family who were selling it were there. There was a good reason for the sale and I got the warm fuzzies. How much?
Five figures. I had a guy in Australia chase me for it and eventually I said yes, on the condition he took my whole collection, which he did.
Q Who would play you in the film of your life?
A Steve McQueen. He's the man. He loved bikes, too.
Q What is your guiltiest pleasure?
A Chocolate. Simple as that.
Q What would be your dream job?
A Fulltime ‘‘Brochure Hunter'' with my collecting buddy Graham, from New Plymouth.
Q Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
A Warren Buffett, because I think he's real down to earth. And Stu Avant - we've been friends since 15 - and [racer] Jarno Saarinen.
I've never had heroes but he would be the closest to being one. I nearly cried when I heard he'd been killed.
Q What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
A More money so I could become a fulltime Brochure Hunter, crossing the US in a camper van calling in at swap meets.
Q What keeps you awake at night?
A Nothing. Absolutely nothing. If sleeping was an Olympic sport, I'd win gold.
Q What song would you like played at your funeral?
A That's easy. Elton John's Funeral for a Friend. My favourite song.
Every time I hear it takes me back to 1975 travelling from race to race across the United States.
