Five sizzling days of ‘all things Burt’ for racing fans

Taylor Green, of Rangiora, controls the sidecar while swinger Callum Innes, of Invercargill, holds on during a rapid ride in a sidecar race at the Oreti Park Speedway event. PHOTOS: DAVE LOUDON

A large crowd watches a race get under way at the Indian Motorcycle Beach Racing, which included the NZ Beach Racing championships.

Marcus Thompson, of Invercargill, leads the pack out of the loop on his KTM Superduke 1290. Close beside him is Kane Bray, of Dunedin, also on a KTM Superduke 1290, during a BEARS F1 race at the Teretonga Park Sprint races and Superbike Championships.

The McLeod Diesel crew from Invercargill enjoys the racing

Barry Jones, of Picton, gets going on his Yamaha YFM 700 Super Quad at the Bluff Hillclimb.

Paul Gilbert, of Little Akaloa, on his 1972 Yamaha WR 650 XS gets the lead on Kevin Ryan, of Barrytown, on a 1972 Triumph Bonneville 750 at the beach races.

Ollie Cunningham, 10, gave his sister Cerys, 5, both of Invercargill, some pre-race advice before she headed out for a Peewee 50cc solo race at the OretI Park Speedway event.

Seth Devereux, of Wānaka, roars round the first bend on his MV Agusta F3 800 at the Bluff Hillclimb.

Kevin Ryan, of Barrytown, lines up for the Twilight Drags on his Pre 82 Godden V Twin 1000. Ryan has competed in all of the Burt Munro Challenge events since its inception in 2006.

Leading the pack is Hamish Simpson, followed by Logan Rowell, both of Auckland, Kieran Mair, of Upper Hutt, and Cameron Leslie, of Auckland, all riding KTM RC 390s in a NZ Supersport Race at the Teretonga Park Sprint races and Superbike Championships.

Jack Symon powers ahead of Ryan Harris, both of Invercargill and both riding Honda CRF 250s during the one mile race at the Beach Races.

Neil Carstairs, of Invercargill, gets off the line on his Harley-Davidson FXDC Dyna 1584 at the Twilight Drags.

This year’s Burt Munro Challenge went so well, the great man himself "would have been very impressed", Southland Motorcycle Club vice-president Bill Moffatt says.

"All the events seemed to have gone off really well.

"He might’ve entered these events if he was still here."

Southland’s surprising sizzling temperatures at the 18th Burt Munro Challenge on Saturday helped attract fans to watch the competition.

"There were big crowds at every circuit, with massive competitor entries," Mr Moffatt said.

Thousands of visitors, including racers, travelled from around the world and from their Murihiku doorsteps, to immerse themselves in five days of activities that were "all things Burt".

Cole Scammell, of Dunedin, lifts a wheel on his Ducati 749 S — as does Dave Hamlin, of Perth, on a Bimota DB3 900 at the Twilight Drags.

Queenstown Victory Polaris rider Dennis Devoll said the beauty of the challenge was that it was not a one-day event.

"It’s a whole lot of different events over a good period of time.

"Today at the speedway, the first time ever, you’ve had a lineup of sidecars that were 1948 Vincents.

"That’s what the Burt is all about.

"It’s about all different sorts of bikes, all different sorts of people."

Invercargill Peewee Solo Division 2 entrant Cerys Cunningham competed at the Oreti Park Speedway on her 50cc motorcycle and finished in second place.

As a result, she considers herself a bona fide competitor.

"I’m not scared.

"It was really good," she said.

A mix of vintage and modern motorbikes, along with their eclectic riders, made bold appearances and attracted their fair share of attention at the various events, including a custom-built Indian Dark Horse, owned by Cerie McCarthy.

"Everywhere you go, you get riders from all walks, on all kinds of bikes, but everyone’s just here to enjoy themselves," she said.

"It’s a good vibe."

Southland Express