Every year wood is gathered, heaped into place and drizzled with fuel before an almost ceremonial lighting of the bonfire, warming the more than 1000 people that come to the Brass Monkey Rally each year.
Oturehua farmer Ken Gillespie does it all, assuming the mantle of torch-bearer, a reminder of his deep community spirit, Otago Motorcycle Club member John Willems says.
The annual motorbike rally was held every year on Mr Gillespie’s property near Oturehua and organisers and rally-goers were indebted to him, Mr Willems said.
"We couldn’t run the rally without Ken’s OK and generosity."
The bonfire was a high-profile and much-loved feature of the rally, but Mr Gillespie did a lot of other "behind the scenes" work for the rally, Mr Willems said.
This year would be the 37th rally and the contribution it made to the Oturehua community was significant, Mr Willems said. Community and sports groups raised funds through stalls and services at the rally, and it also provided an economic boost to surrounding businesses such as pubs, stores and accommodation providers.
Organisers were expecting about the same number of people this weekend that attended last year’s rally, Mr Willems said.
"I have 1350 badges — [the] same as last year and we ran out and we had a lot of sightseers on the day."
But it was "the weather on the day which indicates how things will go — a lot make their decision on the day", Mr Willems said.
