Convoy revs up biker's 100th birthday

Jock Neaves stands between wife Dorothy (seated, right) and sister-in-law Ailsa Hart (seated,...
Jock Neaves stands between wife Dorothy (seated, right) and sister-in-law Ailsa Hart (seated, left) and waves as a convoy of riders from the Otago Motorcycle Club passes by. PHOTOS: SIMON HENDERSON
Friends and family gathered as a convoy of members of the Otago Motorcycle Club rode past the home of Jock Neaves to commemorate his 100th birthday in Dunedin.

Mr Neaves was a founding member of the local club, which started in 1946.

A lifelong motoring enthusiast, he joined the motorcycle section of the Automobile Association Otago when he was about 17 or 18.

The Otago Motorcycle Club owed its formation to an unfortunate accident on a seaweed-covered beach.

Some of the club boys went out with an AA committee member and, while dodging a piece of seaweed, one of the riders hit a beach goer, breaking her leg, he said.

"The AA weren’t happy about that, so they told us we would have to form a new club of our own, and that’s when the Otago Motorcycle Club was formed, and I was a foundation member."

Mr Neaves’ first motorcycle, a single-cylinder Harley-Davidson, did not run for long, but he was undeterred.

He moved on to a British AJS (A. J. Stevens & Co).

"I went out to the Taieri to a hill climb and I didn’t do much good because I couldn’t take off, and I found out later on it was a four-speed box, and I didn’t realise it had a low gear."

After that Mr Neaves moved on to a 250cc Triumph motorcycle "that went very well".

One of his favourite brands of motorbikes was the Velocette, of which he had several, including a 350cc.

"I got 90 miles an hour out of my Velo, 350 Velo.

"Some say you couldn’t tune a 350 Velo, but we did."

He enjoyed many rides with the motorcycle club.

"They were great days."

He also took part in competitions, including riding against motorcycle racer Herbert "Burt" Munro.

As well as racing in Dunedin, he also took part in races such as the Coal Pit Hill Climb in Oamaru, the Taiko Hill Climb in Timaru and a "big grass TT in Christchurch".

"That was a great day, they took our bikes up on the train and looked after us very well that weekend and I did very well, I won the handicap race."

It was great to have his family gathered for his 100th birthday, Mr Neaves said.

"It is a bit of a treat, I can hardly believe it."

He attributed his long life to moderation and balance, enjoying the simple pleasures without excess.

"I moderated my drinking, I moderated most things, really," he said.

While he no longer rode, Mr Neaves was delighted members of the club took the time to ride past on his birthday.

He "had a lot of fun" over the years during his time as a member of the club.

Otago Motorcycle Club member Mark Burrows said the club was very happy to honour Mr Neaves’ birthday.

"He was an enthusiastic and popular member and is still fondly thought of by those who know him."

After the celebratory convoy, the riders who took part in the convoy carried on on riding for the afternoon, participating in the annual road trial, which involved following clues to find locations and answering, sometimes obtuse, questions relevant to the location, Mr Burrows said.

"We visited the Gardens, ... the bike track up North East Valley, Port Chalmers, Waitati and Warrington."

It was a fun event for partners and pillions, in particular because the riders were "blessed with great weather" on Saturday, he said.

simon.henderson@thestar.co.nz