The gods of speed and the weather gods have been in agreement for this year’s Burt Munro Challenge.
Moving the challenge from its traditional November time-slot to the second week of February has proved to be the right decision, Southland Motorcycle Club president Andy Underhay says.
"For those who may have doubted, we have been exonerated ... we have had fantastic numbers and the weather has been so kind too ... it is all we could ever have hoped for."
Invercargill’s population has swollen with the record numbers of motorcyclists and enthusiasts for the four-day rally which honours Southland motorcycling legend Burt Munro (1899-1978).
The whole event this year had "exceeded our expectations with rider and public participation to the point where we had to limit the have-a-go sessions at the drags on Thursday", Mr Underhay said.
Arguably New Zealand’s largest all-round motorcycle rally, the Classic Motorcycle Mecca NZ Hill Climb Champs began the challenge on Thursday.
More than 70 entries over seven classes, from classic to modern motorcycles, took on Bluff Hill.
Bluff Promotions publicity officer Lindsay Beer said it had been the largest crowd he had seen in the decade he had been attending the climb.
Out of the 400 runs up the hill, only one rider came off, Mr Underhay said.
"But he was all right, and carried on the next run."
Included in the climb, the NZ Hill Climb Champs title was a close call, Mr Beer said.
Although John Crawford, of Invercargill, riding a Suzuki GSXR600, and Seth Devereux, of Christchurch, tied in the Golden Age Tavern and Anchorage Cafe Bar up to 600cc class at 45.94sec up the hill, it was Crawford who took the title as he won two out of the three runs.
However, the fastest time of the day up the hill went to Mitch Rees, of Whakatane, riding a Honda CBR1000SPi, at 43.65sec, competing in the Southern Suzuki 601cc open class.
Notably, his brother Damon Rees came second in the class with a time of 45.93sec, Mr Beer said.
New to this year’s challenge, the Hirepool Twilight Drag Racing held at Teretonga Park on Thursday night had also been "a huge success, especially with the public turnout", Mr Underhay said.
Also adding a different dimension and interest this year were the vintage Indian and Harley Davidson handshift racers who had made the pilgrimage from Australia.
Because of tidal conditions, the iconic Indian Motorcycle NZ Beach Racing Champs along Oreti Beach began at 3pm yesterday with 80 entries across 10 classes.
Today’s events include the E Hayes & Sons Teretonga Circuit Races at Teretonga Park and the Oreti Park Speedway Spectacular.
The Honda Invercargill Street Races will be held around the Bill Richardson Dr and Arena Ave business park tomorrow from 11am.
- Janette Gellatly
