I WAS THERE:
FIRST...
AND FINAL
Kiwi Rider started the Adventure Riding
scene in NZ in 1989 with the Kiwi Rider 500,
which was a competitive time trial over
500km. After two of these we realised that
most people were interested in having a
more leisurely ride over unknown terrain with
instructions and time to take in the scenery.
So in 1991 we ran the KR 500 Adventure Rally
along those lines.
Mike Britton was on the event and he was
hooked. After a lot of phone calls and work
Mike Britton and Angela Bruce had their first
event… The Far North Adventure Ride, which
took place in December 1992 at the Takahue
Hall, just out of Kaitaia.
It was a big weekend; riding there on the
Friday night, doing the ride on the Saturday
and heading home on the Sunday. Saturday’s
ride saw the riders head to Cape Reinga via
back roads, then out through the Te Paaki
Stream onto 90 mile beach – where 300m
of soft sand caught a few out but people
just stopped and helped anyone having any
difficulty – in fact just stoping for a leak
meant 20 people stopped to do so as well,
certainly different from the last few rides I
have been on.
Then it was into the Ahipara forest and
some very cool tracks that were challenging
for some, especially those two up on big
adventure bikes. Most were only running
the standard tyres, which were ok but not
brilliant. The move to knobblies was still a
few years off.
Returning to Takahue hall, the buzz amongst
the riders was awesome. People had big
smiles and the bench racing went on into
the night.
The precedent had been set at the KR 500’s
for a high standard of food at the after ride
dinner and the FNAR delivered and did so
over all 27 years of their events.
At the final FNAR held on April 13 there were
three riders who had been at the first in
1992, Alan Hall, Bruce Van der Net and me.
Alan Hall was riding the Honda Dominator
he rode in 1992 and my R100 GS that I rode
at the first was there too, ridden by Ben
Wilkins, KR’s editor. I rode my Ural Gear Up
Outfit. It was a great ride. I can’t remember
how many of the FNARs I did , but I know I
did a few, and they were all good.
So over 27 years Mike and Angela ran a huge
amount of events. Some were adventure trail
rides and the rest were adventure rides. As
we all know nothing lasts forever and 2019
saw Mike and Angela make the decsion to
focus on their overseas rides – you can learn
more about them at https://bythebackroads.
com/
On behalf of all the adventure riders who
enjoyed the adventures, cheers Mike and
Angela – keep on riding safe and smart.
PETE ‘VEGE’ MCPHEE
KIWI RIDER 105