Burt Munro 2021
Burt Munro Challenge
The 2021 Burt Munro Challenge organisers knew the event was going to be affected by the Covid 19 virus, but had little idea how big an issue it might be. New Zealand’s closure of the borders meant no overseas competitors or spectators, and an outbreak of the Virus could put the whole event into lockdown. Despite this risk the organisers decided to go ahead. As the entries came in, the numbers were not far short of last year’s event, possibly benefitting riders hungry for track time after event cancellations in 2020.
The format of this laid back five day motorcycling festival and rally is now well established and is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s major motorsport events. With a wide range of classes from Pre 63s with Girder Forks to Formula 1 and sidecars, the event continues to attract a very diverse entry. Although the actual racing doesn’t start until the Thursday morning (or should have done), Southland Honda organised a “Have a go Day” at Teretonga circuit on Wednesday. A track day aimed at road riders wanting to test their machine and themselves out on the demanding track. Eighty seven riders were segregated into groups of similar abilities and speed and allowed out for several separate sessions, with coaching available for the less experienced. Costing $90NZ for the whole day, including lunch, it was a bargain and by the size of the cheesy grins the riders thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Thursday was a disaster with torrential rain and gale force winds blasting through the southernmost tip of the south island. The hill climb was cancelled and the drag racing postponed until the following day.
The storm blew itself out by Friday morning and the rest of the event enjoyed excellent weather (your scribe even got sunburnt on Saturday!) The delayed ¼ mile Twilight Drag Racing started at 5 o’clock and an hour before the Beach Racing being held 2km away. The event draws a large crowd although the number of competitors was slightly down because some were also committed to the Beach Racing, with 53 entries spread over 5 classes. As usual slick organisation, good marshalling in the pit lane and the Demonstration class, made for an excellent event. The quickest run of the evening was third time winner Cole Scammell on his 2007 Suzuki Hayabusa. In the BEARS class two Harley-Davidson LiveWires (electric machines) were competing, ridden by Greg Pratt and Barry Sproul, both put up impressive runs; in the States they are achieving 11.2 sec runs.
Beach racing started at Oreti beach at the family friendly time of 6:00pm, drawing the largest crowd of any of the events. The previous day’s rain meant the sand was still wet and firm above the high tide mark, making for a fast track. A light breeze and little loose sand made for a great event, with 170 entries in 11 classes. The older machines were out in some numbers as were the modern motocrossers, open class machines and Quad bikes. The 1 mile course is marked out by two marshal’s posts ½ mile apart. The premier Burt Munro Trophy 50 mile race was won again by Johnny Racz on his Honda CRF-450R, he also took the NZ Beach Racing Championship for up to 500cc. The 1 mile dash for the Mrs Irving Hayes Cup was won by Conrad White, on his Honda CRF-450R, and 2nd in the NZ Beach Racing Championship for up to 500cc. Mitch Scammel took the Indian and Girder Fork Class, after two rounds, on his 2019 Indian Scout. Wandering around each of the pits is always an education, the sheer diversity of racing machines is intriguing. Some of the most unusual are the Beach Racing Clubman class machines where some of the most ‚
unlikely looking machines are shod with MX tyres. Glen Bagshaw on his 1987 Suzuki GSXR 750 was a good example, finishing midfield in both races. Jonny Brasell also entered his 2019 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 in the Clubman class. Wanaka Powersports, who own the machine, originally converted it to a flat tracker but decided to have a go at the beach; Jonny admitted it was a bit top-heavy for this kind of racing.
The third day of the Challenge opened with circuit racing at
Teretonga on the 2.62km International circuit. The roughly B shaped circuit’s long main straight and sweeping bends is a real test of speed and handling. The sprint races cover 223 entries over 19 classes from pre 63 girder-fork to Formula 1 and sidecars, some of the races combined classes. The biggest grid this year was the BEARS F1 Open with 21 entries. Seth Deveraux won both rounds on his 2019 Ducati Panigale and Jonny Lewis took second in both rounds on his Ducati V4 1103, in fact all four top places were taken by Ducatis despite BMWs, Triumphs, Indians, Aprillas, MV Augusta and Buells in the field. Gary Cotterell won the two Classic pre 63 races on his 1962 500 Manx Norton, Phil Price on his 1953 KTT 350 Velocette took the pre 63 girder fork class and Terry Galway on his 1963 Norton Atlas took the over 500cc pre 63 class. There were eight outfits competing in 3 classes but they went out as a group, with Gary Cotterell and Lawton Matheson on their Suzuki and Dave Reesby and Sue van den Heuvel on their Mo Halley Yamaha both taking wins.
The Oreti Park speedway races started late Saturday afternoon as the Teretonga racing wound down; an incredibly popular event with the local crowd up to 10 deep at the fence. There were 78 entries in 9 different classes, including Classics, Sidecars, Pee Wees and Juniors, with the Burt Munro Challenge Sidecar getting by far the biggest entry of 23. Four times NZ champion Bradley Wilson-Dean took the Burt Munro Challenge Solo Trophy, James Douglas and Harley Biddle took the Burt Munro Challenge Sidecar Trophy and John Tuffley the Solo Classic Trophy.
The Street Racing circuit is held on the roads of an industrial park near the Invercargill City centre, roughly rectangular with a chicane kink on the back straight. The relatively short straights and tight bends put a premium on acceleration and brakes. There were 143 entries in 17 different classes, the older machines in combined classes which led to some interesting racing. Vince Burrell on his 1972 Moto Guzzi V Sport 998 took all three rounds of the Post classic Pre 72(501+). Further down the field Steve Pearce on his 1972 Triumph Bonneville 750 had a race-long battle with Gary Wells on his 1971 Triumph Trident. The Pre 63 Girder fork class was its usual eclectic mix; Phil Price took three wins on his 1953 KTT 350 Velocette, Graham Lancett taking three seconds on his 1938 Ariel Red Hunter, followed by Rhys Wilson and Francie Winteringham on their Rudges, Hamish Allan on his 1948 Indian Daytona Scout and Malclom Pearce on his 1930 Royal Enfield K9 (1030 side-valve V twin). There were seven outfits competing in 3 classes but they went out as a group, with Gary Cotterell and Lawton Matheson on their Suzuki taking an overall win. The social side of the event was its usual great success. The biggest event was the five day Rally at Oreti Park, with 400 riders camping at the site and over 2,000 riders attending the nightly entertainment. The Bill Richardson Trust’s Motorcycle Mecca, a collection of over 300 motorcycles, was packed the whole time as was Transport World, one of the world’s largest collection of Trucks and older vehicles. The E Hayes & Sons shop, home of Burt Munro’s “The World’s Fastest Indian” and the Hayes vehicle collection were also crammed full. The Indian motorcycle company had their latest models on display at Hayes.
At the prize giving the following were awarded: Norman Hayes Memorial Trophy – Gary Holmes, Wayne Affleck Maverick Trophy – Damian Perriton, Pike River Memorial Trophy – Terry Galway, The Burt Munro Challenge Competitor of the Year Trophy – Jonny Lewis.
The full results and news about next year’s event is available on the Burt Munro Challenge website at... www.burtmunrochallenge.co.nz