Challenge gets off to a flying start

MOTORCYCLISTS, competitors and enthusiasts increase Invercargill’s population by hundreds, if not thousands, during the Burt Munro Challenge.

This year is no different, despite the weather gods’ best attempts to deter them with extensive flooding throughout Southland earlier this week.

Since its inception in 2006, the rally has grown into one of Australasia’s largest allround motorcycle rallies.

Hosted by the Southland Motorcycle Club, the event opened with the New Zealand Hill Climb Championships on Thursday which had more than 70 entries over eight classes from classic to modern motorcycles, at Bluff Hill.

Bluff promotions and publicity officer Lindsay Beer said it had been a ‘‘tremendous day, with a fantastic atmosphere’’ and competition numbers were ‘‘good’’.

In regards to the challenging weather, which resulted in many travellers being delayed or having to detour, SMCC president Andy Underhay said ‘‘Mother Nature had been both cruel and kind to us’’ this year.

‘‘The Bluff Hill Climb was fantastic,’’ he said, ‘‘with beautiful weather and fast times’’.

‘‘Both the public and riders turned up in force’’, which had been in doubt because of the flooding throughout the province.

‘‘Despite the flooding, delays and detours, 95% stuck with it and made it through.’’

The twilight drag racing at Teretonga Park, near Invercargill, which was introduced to the challenge two years ago, also took place on Thursday, and also went ‘‘very well’’, Underhay said.

Because of tidal conditions, the New Zealand Beach Racing Championships along Oreti Beach began at 5.30pm yesterday with prerace entertainment by a World War 2 Russian Yak 3 V12 engine fighter plane, Full Noise, performing lowlevel aerobatics.

With the strong winds and high tide, the available sand to race on was limited, causing a ‘‘tight course’’, beach race organiser Craig Hyde said.

Entries in the 11 classes were full and a late clubmans class was added to the beach race this year.

Today, there will be the Teretonga Sprint Races and Oreti Park Speedway. The actionpacked Invercargill Street Races will be held around the Bill Richardson Dr and Arena Ave business park tomorrow.

Street race organiser Garry Jamieson said everything was ‘‘ready to go’’.

‘‘We start putting the course together today [Saturday]. The normal roads are closed to the public at 1pm and transformed into a street race.’’

Burt Munro Challenge Bluff Hill Climb results

AHRMA class C: Clint Chegwidden (Australia), 64.63, 1; Ross Bolding (Australia) 66.38, 2; Ralph Feely (Australia), 67.76, 3.

Classic pre63: Garry Cotterell (Cust), 55.68, 1; Terry Galway (Masterton), 57.89, 2; Bill Swallow (Christchurch), 59.58, 3.

Postclassic pre72: Vince Burrell (Rangiora), 50.45, 1; Kevin Ryan (Runanga), 52.87, 2; Todd Johnston (Christchurch), 54.98, 3.

Postclassic pre82: Chris McMeeken (Invercargill), 50.13, 1; Brian Stephens (Invercargill), 51.28, 2; Anthony Tutty (Wakefield), 52.88, 3.

Postclassic pre89: Jay Lawrence (Blue Mountains), 45.63, 1; Dave Freeman (Paraparaumu), 50.50, 2; Matt Eggleton (Little River), 52.18, 3.

601cc to open: Dale Finch (Christchurch), 44.22, 1; Heath Botica (Richmond), 45.38, 2; Seth Devereux (Wanaka), 45.56, 3.

Up to 600cc: Richie Dibben (Whanganui), 43.95, 1; Darcy Prendergast (Rolleston), 49.04, 2; Michael Kirkness (Narara), 49.54, 3.

Super quad: Ian Newman (Gisborne), 50.19, 1; Lester Schroder (Nelson), 52.12, 2; Alistair MacRae (Rangiora), 54.96, 3.

Fastest time: Richie Dibben, 43.95sec.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Warbird pilot Graeme Frew has the throttle hard against the stops as he makes a run in a Russian Yak 3 along Oreti Beach yesterday. His flight set the scene for the New Zealand Beach Racing Championships as part of the annual Burt Munro Challenge.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Away they go . . . Racers leave the starting line at the Burt Munro Challenge Indian Motorcycle NZ Beach Racing Champs yesterday evening.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON About face . . . A racer turns into the southern end of the course at the Burt Munro Challenge Indian Motorcycle NZ Beach Racing Champs yesterday evening.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Sand grandstand . . . The crowd lines the sand dunes to catch the action at the beach races, part of the Burt Munro Challenge 2020 yesterday evening.

PHOTO: JANETTE GELLATLY All in the family . . . Brothersinlaw Kevin McGreal, of Auckland (left), and Mike DePont, of Warkworth, stand beside the family 1921 Indian Factory Racer which Mr McGreal said had been in the family since it was almost new.

PHOTO: JANETTE GELLATLY Winner . . . Clint Chegwidden, of Melbourne, shows his New Zealand Hill Climb Champs (AHRMA Class C) winning ribbon which he won on Bluff Hill on Thursday.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Get ready . . . Hamish Allan, of Invercargill, rides an Indian motorcycle on to the starting straight.

PHOTO: JANETTE GELLATLY Pride and joy . . . Mark Shepheard, of Nelson, with his 1941 Indian Scout, on his second visit to the Burt Munro Challenge.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON The eyes have it . . . The intensity shows in Invercargill rider Pete McNaught’s eyes at the starting line.