Bill Veitch first rode his 1909 Abingdon King Dick in the Brighton Veteran Car Rally in 1967 and will once again spark up the old fixed-engine to join the 29 other entries in today's event.
After finding its frame and engine "driving a saw bench" in Green Island in 1960, Mr Veitch restored what was "little more than bones" over the following seven years.
The bike became a labour of love, with many parts of the British import having to be made by hand.
The 500cc engine can travel about 64kmh, and Mr Veitch said his King Dick motorcycle was the "oldest one in New Zealand by far".
It may not be the most comfortable bike to ride, or the easiest, as it has no gears or clutch and the only way to stop is to cut the engine, but Mr Veitch found he simply enjoyed restoring bikes and taking them for a spin once in a while.
Run by the New Zealand Vintage Car Club Otago branch for the past 57 years, the Brighton rally is the opening event of the Dunedin City Council's Summer Fun programme.
Rally organiser Tony Devereux said the entries were "well up" on previous years, with six cars from the North Island down to also attend the Model T National Rally in Wanaka next weekend.
The cars were all "well worth a look" as 99% of the drivers would be dressed to match the vintage of the vehicles, he said.
Vehicles will assemble in the Octagon from 9.45am and be on public display until sent on their way by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull at 11am.
The first are expected at Brighton about 11.30am, having travelled along Princes St, up South Rd to Caversham, through Burnside, Green Island and Waldronville.
The weekend will be one of the busiest in Otago for some time.
The forecast is for changeable weather in Dunedin today, with a fine day tomorrow. A fine weekend is expected across the rest of Otago.
Major events include. - Saturday: Timebuster, Octagon, Dunedin; 10am-2pm, National car hillclimb, Whare Flat Rd, Dunedin; Hawke Cup, Oamaru (and tomorrow); Model Engineers' open day, Kettle Park, Dunedin (and tomorrow); Teddy Bears picnic, Queenstown; Brighton gala, Brighton domain (and tomorrow); South Island showjumping championships, Mosgiel showgrounds (and tomorrow); Southern Steel pre-season netball tournament, Queenstown (and tomorrow); Music festival, Bethunes Gully, Dunedin; Highlanders v Blues pre-season rugby game, Balclutha.
Tomorrow: National car hillclimb, Mt Cargill Rd, Dunedin; teddy bears' picnic, Wanaka.
