‘Burt’ retains appeal
Thousands of people descended on Invercargill over the weekend for the Burt Munro Challenge, including the Invercargill Street races. Pictured chatting between races, held in the Bill Richardson Dr area of Invercargill yesterday, are, from left, Geoff and Suzy Long, of Hamilton, and Lesley McKay and her husband Rob Chapell, of Coromandel. Both men raced Triumph motorcycles in the Pre ‘63 class.
‘‘Are you here for ‘Burt’?’’
It’s the colloquialism which could be heard being asked in amongst the roar of motorbike engines throughout Invercargill during the past six days.
Invercargill’s doors were flung open for motorbike enthusiasts throughout the country as yet another successful Burt Munro Challenge helped the tills to ring in the city and simply created a buzz in town.
It is an event which has retained its appeal and keeps pulling people back to Invercargill each year.
Nelson rider Jonny Lewis admits he never thought Invercargill would become a holiday destination for his family.
Now Lewis, his wife Lauren, and three kids Harper, 6, Valentino, 3, and Rocco, 1, all make an annual trip to Invercargill.
It was the pulling power of the Burt Munro Challenge, and the people behind the event which made Invercargill so appealing to his family, he said.
‘‘I’ve got to be honest, I don’t know if we would have come to Invercargill if it wasn’t for the Burt Munro. It’s been amazing, we love the place now,’’ Lewis said.
‘‘There is just so many likeminded people who all love motorcycles and have such a common interest in different machinery.’’
‘Burt’ was launched in 2006 following the World’s Fastest Indian movie which honoured Southlander Burt Munro.
Lewis has been to five Burt Munro Challenge’s now and said the event had not lost any of its appeal.
In fact, he rated 2019 as one of the best.
The Nelson builder competed in the hill climb at Bluff, drags and sprints at Teretonga Park, and the street races in Invercargill yesterday.
‘‘It’s been phenomenal crowd support, going up Bluff Hill was amazing, and also at Teretonga. The crowd numbers were the best I’ve seen,’’ Lewis said.
Rob Chapell made the trip from Coromandel to Invercargill for what was his second time at the Burt Munro Challenge, after initially visiting in 2010.
Chapell said the three day journey to Invercargill was worth it and he was already planning building a holiday next year in Invercargill for the 2020 event.
Peter Daniell, of Queenstown, competed in the first two years of the Burt Munro Challenge when the street racing was staged at Wyndham.
He returned this year as a spectator and believed the event continues to grow in popularity amongst the motorbike community throughout New Zealand.
‘‘I think it hung on the name to start with, but I think that is a great thing. It’s great for Invercargill, there has always been a great race track at Teretonga,’’ Daniell said.
Southland Motorcycle Club president Andy Underhay was delighted with how the event unfolded.
‘‘We have run eight big events over five days, no one else does that.
‘‘It is a credit to our volunteers and sponsors, we are stoked,’’ Underhay said.
For the first time since the street race was shifted from Wyndham to Invercargill a full program of races was able to be held with the weather playing its part.
Underhay said one rider suffered a broken leg when he came off his bike during the street race but otherwise the competitors got through relatively unscathed.
Invercargill Licensing Trust chief executive Chris Ramsay said the Burt Munro Challenge was the second busiest time of the year for its businesses, behind only Christmas/New Year.
The trust’s two hotels and two motels were full for the duration of the event, having been booked out months in advance.
Invercargill Top 10 Holiday Park owner Philip Todd said they had been been bulging at the seams during the challenge.
‘‘I can’t say enough about the great people behind the scenes who work hard to make this event so amazing.’’
People had arrived from around the world, he said.
‘‘This year had Aussies, Brits and Germans who had made the pilgrimage.’’
Otatara’s Beach Road Motor Camp owner Arty Shirley said he had been flat out during the challenge.
‘‘They all book in [for next year] as they go out the gate.’’