The rumble of thunder may have come from above or below in Invercargill this week.

A thousand or so combustion engines mixed with stormy weather as motorcyclists from near and far arrived for this year’s Burt Munro Challenge.

Taking shelter from the rain are (from left) Dennis Leveridge, Hamish Dow and Brian ‘‘Cowboy’’ Lambert, at Oreti Park in Invercargill this week. PHOTO: BEN TOMSETT

In what has become a sort of unofficial tradition, rain and lightning signalled day 1 of the acclaimed event — though wet weather could do little to dampen the spirits of punters, as good vibrations abounded in the campsite at Oreti Park.