Lighting the Brass Monkey bonfire

BONECHILLING hoar frosts, intense fog, waking up to temperatures of 11.7degC in a tent.

It is all part of what Brass Monkey motorcycle rallygoers sign up for, and it brings over 1000 bikers a year to the freezing depths of Central Otago.

This year, the 38th annual rally at the Idaburn Dam near Oturehua attracted 1050 people, a quieter year because of colder weather, organisers said.

Norton Owners Club New Zealand president Murray McLean, of Onekaka, in Golden Bay, who had attended the rally for 34 years, thought this year was one of the coldest.

‘‘It’s colder than most years since the ’80s — I can remember it was minus 22[degC] one year and then in the ’90s and 2000s it just got warmer and warmer.

‘‘But this year the clock’s turned back. I don’t think global warming’s happened this year.’’

From Onekaka, it was about a 17hour motorcycle ride to the Idaburn Dam and the riding conditions were never easy, he said.

‘‘We always come up over Danseys Pass — we’ve pushed through snow, we’ve suffered all sorts of adversity. One year, I had six punctures on Danseys.’’

However, this was a tradition for Mr McLean and his classic British Norton motorcycle that he hoped would continue.

‘‘This is part of the culture of New Zealand society. It’s a great motorcycle rally.’’

Brass Monkey committee member John Willems confirmed it was a cold year.

‘‘The weather, although it’s played ball as far the Brass Monkey rally’s concerned, it was 11.7degC at 7 o’clock [on Saturday] morning.

‘‘Last year . . . temperatures were double what they are now and in past years we’ve had people who have actually come and been walking around in shorts. People complained about it being too warm, saying ‘this is not a Brass Monkey’.’’

‘‘Now, we have got a Brass Monkey.’’

Mr Willems said last year’s rally drew a crowd of about 1300.

‘‘I think people thought twice about coming up [this year], thinking the conditions might not have been ideal or as good as last year’s.’’

Constable Jaco Pieterse, of Ranfurly, said there were no serious accidents or issues concerning this year’s rally.

However, one man fell from his motorcycle along Hyde-Macraes Rd on Friday afternoon and had been taken to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries.

PHOTOS: TOM KITCHIN There every year . . . Members of Norton Owners Club New Zealand at the Brass Monkey Rally (from left) Murray McLean, of Onekaka, Barry Hutchison, of Blenheim, Chris O’Connell, of Paraparaumu, Neil Clifton, of Mapua, and Glen Richardson, of Nelson. Right: Land owner Ken Gillespie, of Oturehua, lights the Brass Monkey bonfire as he does every year.