Bike fans line dunes to view the action

The field in the NZ Beach Racing Champs up to 500cc class kick up sand during this year’s Indian motorcycle beach racing & NZ champs at Oreti Beach. PHOTO: CRAIG BAXTER

Spectators watch the field in the Clubmans class. PHOTO: CRAIG BAXTER

Bernard and Anne Marie Dirollo celebrate the 4-month anniversary of their son Shilo’s birth at the event. PHOTO: CRAIG BAXTER

Invercargill man Sean Woodward (middle) with Irish national Michael Brown (left) and German national Eleven Berning, who he brought to the event. PHOTO: CRAIG BAXTER

Bikers Amir (left) and Ali Rahsepar flank their friend Nigel Charlton to watch the racing. PHOTO: CRAIG BAXTER

Jack Harding jumps after he and fellow rider Blake Affleck collide in the up to 250cc class. PHOTO: CRAIG BAXTER

Cambridge woman Patrin Lowes said she felt the spirit of Burt Munro during the event. PHOTO: LUISA GIRAO

The spirit of Burt Munro filled Invercargill yesterday when bikers rode the beach where the "legend" started.

Thousands of bike enthusiasts lined at the dunes of Oreti Beach to watch the races where Burt Munro tested his modified 1920 Indian Scout bike and set a New Zealand open beach speed record.

The event has become one of the highlights of the five-day Burt Munro Challenge.

Renwick man Peter Grinter was among bikers who took part in the competitions and said it was a special feeling to ride his bike where history happened.

Cambridge woman Patrin Lowes agreed.

Since she attended the event in 2021 with her husband, they decided they would always try to descend to the Deep South to have a holiday during the event.

"You can really feel Burt’s spirit all around here.

"I believe the event is so special for bikers because you can catch up with old mates, make new friends, watch a lot of races while also honouring this legend of the sport," she said.

Three generations came together when Invercargill man Sean Woodward brought Irishman Michael Brown and 15-year-old Eleven Berning to experience the event for the first time.

"This is an iconic race and I thought it was a great opportunity for them to experience while they are visiting here."

Mr Brown was excited with the opportunity.

"I’ve heard about it before, but it is even better and more fun that I expected."

One of the most unusual race spectators was Shilo Dirollo, whose parents, Bernard and Anne Marie, said the 4-month-old was fascinated by motorbikes.

There were a couple of serious accidents at the Bluff Hill Climb on Thursday.

One person was critically injured, three seriously and a fifth was taken to hospital in a moderate condition after two separate crashes.

Organising committee chairman Craig Hyde said safety measures at the Burt Munro Challenge would need to be looked at.

"It’s something we’re really going to have to evaluate, whether we actually have people up the hill again to watch next time."

A Te Whatu Ora Southern spokesperson said yesterday those seriously and critically injured were in a stable condition at Southland Hospital and the moderately injured person was ready to be discharged. — Additional reporting RNZ

luisa.girao@odt.co.nz

WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BURT MUNRO CHALLENGE HERE;

https://www.odt.co.nz/features/channel-39/burt-munro-challenge-2023-high...