Polished Rockers Bike Show

For those CD readers who, like me, also appreciate classic bikes, here’s a new show for your calendar!

Largely master-minded by the Dobson brothers and James Chambers and rather cleverly called Polished Rockers, this March show was centred on the Tuatara Brewery in Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast. I counted over 400 bikes by the supposed close-off time of 1pm, about half of them on display. And what an amazing range of bikes and riders, proving that patched bikers and scooter boys can mix!

Judging of the display entries was divided into 3 categories: Classic (pre-1985), Custom and Café Racer; plus People’s Choice, which was won by Michael Dobson’s stunning black ‘minimal’ BMW flat twin.

Top café racer was Rob’s BSA DBD34 Gold Star 500cc single with all the true hallmarks like rear-set footrests and clip on handlebars. Some bikes such as the lovely blue early ’50s Triumph Thunderbird were stock standard and original. Others, like a Kawasaki 750 triple, had been meticulously/ expensively restored to better than original.

Some of the customised bikes were stunning, such as the immaculate Ducati NCR. But there were little Suzuki and Honda rat bikes, a handful of scooters and pre-war machines. I counted around 27 different marques on display representing Europe, the U.K., U.S.A. and Japan: some of the real rarities included a Suzuki RE-5 rotary and an MV Agusta 350cc twin. The spectators’ bikes were almost as varied and worth a good look at too.

Helped by the sponsor’s products and just about the best rockabilly band I’ve ever seen (X-ray Cats, take a bow!) this was a great show and deserves to become a regular fixture. In fact, feedback was good enough that plans are well under way to do it again – I recommend you look out for the 2015 event!