That is exactly what 76-year-old Don Banks, of Tokoroa, has spent the past week doing, giving his 1958 Ariel and 1938 Panther an outing.
The destination: the annual Brass Monkey Rally at Oturehua over the weekend.
Mr Banks has "only" been to 22 of the 32 Brass Monkeys - "having to go to work knocked my score back a bit".
He was accompanied this time by daughter Lynn Campbell, of Opotoki, who says her father is usually the first to arrive at the rally site, to help the organisers, and the last to leave.
Mr Banks says his vintage bikes, inherited from his late father, garner lots of attention.
"Especially from the more elderly motorcyclists ... like me, I suppose."
He laughs at the suggestion that many men his age would prefer to be sitting beside a fire in an easy chair at Queen's Birthday weekend, instead of camping in a tent at one of the coldest places in Central Otago.
"I think if you're serious about your motorbikes, you've really got to go to this rally.
"And if you're older, it shows you've got some get up and go; that you're not a chicken."
The retired Kinleith mill worker has many tales to tell about other treks to the rally and says the coldest Brass Monkey he attended was in 1988.
"The locals said it dropped to minus 32 that week.
"One of the local farmers found a group of wild pigs, eight of them, dead in a gully on his place, it was so cold."
The bikes are his family heirlooms and he hopes they will stay in the family.
The Ariel has done 208,579 miles (335,675km) while the Panther does not have a proper speedometer, so it only shows 20,000 miles on the clock.
They travel at a top speed of about 45mph (72kmh) "so I had to leave home more than a week ago to get here on time".
Otago Motorcycle Club publicity officer John Willems said about 300 riders camped at the rally site on Friday night, with the attendance peaking at 1450 on Saturday.
The number was similar to last year's attendance.
Although the temperature had dropped to -11 at Oturehua one night last week, rally-goers reported a "mild" evening on Saturday, with no frost.
An addition to this year's rally was free health tests provided through the Southern Primary Health Organisation (PHO).
The club approached the organisation and PHO manager Kaylene Holland, of Alexandra, said it was great idea. The response had been "fantastic", she said.
Rally-goers were offered blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks and the information was sent to their doctors.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand was also there, with chief executive Keith Beck, of Dunedin, distributing information.
Sergeant Bruce Martin, of the Alexandra-based drink-drive squad, praised the behaviour of most participants.
A checkpoint set up in Omakau for four hours yesterday morning stopped and breath-tested 462 riders.
One was processed for drink-driving, he said.
A 49-year-old Christchurch man will appear in court later this month.
Sgt Martin said the riders were offered free hot drinks and bacon and egg sandwiches after they were breath-tested.
The hot food was provided by local Lions club members and the Central Otago District Council community road safety adviser.
