ALBANY VINTAGE & CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE CLUB
April 2020 Club News
Tribute to Phil Penny | Parry's | Burt Munro | Bruce's Long Ride | Walmsley's | Membership | Calendar
Burt Munro Challenge by Bruce and Kylie Burges
My mate offered me the use of his ZXR 1200 in New Zealand, so me and
Kylie decided to check out the Burt Munro festival in Invercargill for 2
weeks. Last minute panic trying to get accommodation, but managed an air
BNB with a super host.
Fly into Christchurch and spend a few days with our friends and pick up
the bike. Head off on Tuesday into major rain further south. 31ºC, 20km
later only about 22ºC, 2 hours later heavy rain and 15ºC.
Get to our accommodation to find our mate booked it for the 4th March
and not February. No accommodation anywhere due to Elton John concert.
After 1 and a half hours we rang a motel just as someone cancelled a
4-bed room.
Nice day on Wednesday till we got to Clinton, 120km out of Invercargill
and all roads were closed due to rivers flooding. After 5 hours hanging
at the pub a cop lets us go. The road behind us was now closed as well.
The river at Gore was just under the bridge and the town evacuated. Took
some back roads and made it into town and our accommodation.
Rained all night, but cleared up in time for the hillclimb at Bluff.
Great day sitting on the edge of road watching bikes. No rules in New
Zealand. Straight to drags for evening event and it was bloody cold by
the finish. Next day was checking out bikes galore all over town before
heading out to Oreti Beach for beach racing at 4.30 low tide. Best event
of the 6.
Next day was circuit racing followed by a great speedway which the Aussies took out 1st, 2nd and 3rd in senior’s sidecars.
Final day was the street racing in town. Wind didn’t stop blowing the
whole time. Headed north to warmer temps and great roads up the west
coast. From Queenstown to Fox Glacier via Haast Pass has to be some of
the best 300km of motorcycle roads in the world.
Next day cloudy and cold again as we headed up the Buller Gorge to Murchison. Rear brake pads gone so returned to Christchurch via the Lewis Pass. Gave bike a cleanup and returned it. Jump on plane and home again. Well worth the effort to attend the Burt Munro Festival.