This event , which began in 1946 , has been run every year since then by the Pioneer Motorcycle Club . Riders come from the length and breadth of New Zealand and each day is held on a different farm property , providing riders with a variety of terrain , ranging from slippery grass climbs to rocky creeks .
FAMILY AFFAIR A feature of this year ’ s event was the number of families with two or more generations participating . Riders from twelve families made up one third of the entry . The Kaikoura trial caters for a wide range of rider abilities , from social to expert , and it is the only trial which features a sidechair class . Most of the riders and swingers in the chairs normally ride solo , but at Kaikoura they enjoy having some fun on three wheels . The Whaler Hotel in Kaikoura becomes the trial headquarters during the weekend , with sign-on taking place on Friday night and the trial winding up there with the prize giving on Monday afternoon .
50 NOT OUT In future when we look back at the 2023 Kaikoura it will most likely be remembered as
Jules Huguenin
the year Dave Chambers rode it for the 50th time . This remarkable achievement is probably unique in any form of motorcycle discipline in New Zealand . Dave first rode the Kaikoura in 1973 and has ridden every year since then , apart from 1979 when he was living in Australia . For a number of years , he competed in the sidechairs and won the A grade in this class on twelve occasions and the B grade three times .
Warwick Merriman
30 KIWI RIDER