where panoramic views over the Tiwai Point
aluminium smelter and Stewart Island had many
of the spectators open-mouthed at the scale of
the view that the February sunshine offered.
The racing was great, added to by the first
appearance of the intrepid Australians and their
hand-gearchange, girder-forked Indians and
Harleys. Eight of these majestic machines competed
on the hill, the beach, the circuit, the newly-
introduced Drag racing evening and the streets.
With another race meeting at the Sound Of Thunder
still to come afterwards, the crew from across the
ditch are New Zealand’s greatest fans – both of our
spectacular country and the inhabitants thereof…
Back to the steep run up Bluff Hill, the quickest
rider was Mitch Rees, who managed to squeeze
his brother, Damon, into second spot. The full
results of all the events are available here at http://
speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/1492571, so open
them up and refer to them as you read about the
biggest and best Burt Munro Challenge ever.
From wrestling the bikes up the steepest
stretch of tarmac you are likely to find, reaching
speeds over 200km/h before the tight right
hander at the finish line, it was, after prize-
giving at the pub in Bluff, time to pack up and
head back to a fully-booked Invercargill to get
ready for the battle of the beach, Oreti-style.
Battle of the Beach
A morning to check out Motorcycle Mecca,
a last minute shake-down at Teretonga,
KIWI RIDER 53