Motorcyclists, competitors and enthusiasts increase Invercargill’s population by hundreds, if not thousands, during the Burt Munro Challenge writes Janette Gellatly.
This year is no different, despite the weather gods’ best attempts to deter them with extensive flooding throughout Southland earlier this week.
Since its inception in 2006, the rally has grown into one of Australasia’s largest all-round motorcycle rallies.
Hosted by the Southland Motorcycle Club, the event opened with the New Zealand Hill Climb Championships on Thursday which had more than 70 entries over eight classes from classic to modern motorcycles, at Bluff Hill.
Bluff promotions and publicity officer Lindsay Beer said it had been a "tremendous day, with a fantastic atmosphere" and competition numbers were "good".
In regards to the challenging weather, which resulted in many travellers being delayed or having to detour, SMCC president Andy Underhay said "Mother Nature had been both cruel and kind to us" this year.
"The Bluff Hill Climb was fantastic," he said, "with beautiful weather and fast times".
"Both the public and riders turned up in force", which had been in doubt because of the flooding throughout the province.
"Despite the flooding, delays and detours, 95% stuck with it and made it through.’’
The twilight drag racing at Teretonga Park, near Invercargill, which was introduced to the challenge two years ago, also took place on Thursday, and also went "very well", Underhay said.
Because of tidal conditions, the New Zealand Beach Racing Championships along Oreti Beach began at 5.30pm yesterday with pre-race entertainment by a World War 2 Russian Yak 3 V-12 engine fighter plane, Full Noise, performing low-level aerobatics.
With the strong winds and high tide, the available sand to race on was limited, causing a "tight course", beach race organiser Craig Hyde said.
Entries in the 11 classes were full and a late clubmans class was added to the beach race this year.
Today, there will be the Teretonga Sprint Races and Oreti Park Speedway. The action-packed Invercargill Street Races will be held around the Bill Richardson Dr and Arena Ave business park tomorrow.
Street race organiser Garry Jamieson said everything was "ready to go".
"We start putting the course together today [Saturday]. The normal roads are closed to the public at 1pm and transformed into a street race."
Burt Munro Challenge Bluff Hill Climb results
AHRMA class C: Clint Chegwidden (Australia), 64.63, 1; Ross Bolding (Australia) 66.38, 2; Ralph Feely (Australia), 67.76, 3.
Classic pre-63: Garry Cotterell (Cust), 55.68, 1; Terry Galway (Masterton), 57.89, 2; Bill Swallow (Christchurch), 59.58, 3.
Post-classic pre-72: Vince Burrell (Rangiora), 50.45, 1; Kevin Ryan (Runanga), 52.87, 2; Todd Johnston (Christchurch), 54.98, 3.
Post-classic pre-82: Chris McMeeken (Invercargill), 50.13, 1; Brian Stephens (Invercargill), 51.28, 2; Anthony Tutty (Wakefield), 52.88, 3.
Post-classic pre-89: Jay Lawrence (Blue Mountains), 45.63, 1; Dave Freeman (Paraparaumu), 50.50, 2; Matt Eggleton (Little River), 52.18, 3.
601cc to open: Dale Finch (Christchurch), 44.22, 1; Heath Botica (Richmond), 45.38, 2; Seth Devereux (Wanaka), 45.56, 3.
Up to 600cc: Richie Dibben (Whanganui), 43.95, 1; Darcy Prendergast (Rolleston), 49.04, 2; Michael Kirkness (Narara), 49.54, 3.
Super quad: Ian Newman (Gisborne), 50.19, 1; Lester Schroder (Nelson), 52.12, 2; Alistair MacRae (Rangiora), 54.96, 3.
Fastest time: Richie Dibben, 43.95sec.
