MY TTAR
Mathieu Day-Gillett
I ’ m not gonna lie , I think the format of events like the TTAR is the future of motorcycling events here in NZ . In a time when it seems , to me at least , the wider motorcycling scene is trying its best to become even more cliquey , the TTAR and open events like it bring riders of all makes and models together to have an epic weekend of riding . Like the BMW GS Rallye , the TTAR is open to riders of all machine brands , and offers both a gravel-focused route and a sealed route for those riders on bikes without knobby tyres . I had actually signed up to do the sealed route alongside my father on his Tiger 1050 , but upon arrival and seeing the throngs of adventure styled bikes at the sign on for the TTAR , he insisted that I use
my little Honda for what it does best and hit the gravel with Ray and Todd instead . My dad ’ s a good bugger . So , after a reasonably early night , I woke up in the Raglan pub ( in the accommodation , not on the bar floor ...) and headed out to find my traditional pre-ride pie ahead of the day ’ s ride . Before setting off , I set dad up with some riding companions for the day in the form of Peter Elliot and Triumph New Zealand ’ s Mike Cross , who agreed to look after the old boy for me . I set off with the Wellington contingent of Ray Heron and his Tiger 800-riding companion , Todd , into the slightly dreary weather and onto the dirt . The morning ’ s briefing had mentioned something about not messing about on the gravel route as the month long delay thanks to Covid would already mean we ’ d be pushing the available daylight .
64 KIWI RIDER