272 replies to this topic

[Stu Pidman]

There is one thing that I can't forgive that man for.
He was not my next door neighbour.

[David Birchall]

I hadn't realised that this thread had been moved. It started in the regular Nostalgia forum and I think should be in both. I hope you don't mind me posting this here and apologise if it has been seen before. I just think it needs to be seen:
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

[Vitesse2]

Bit of a late notification, but the film is on BBC2 again at 5.00pm today - not in Scotland though, but if you have Sky you should be able to find it on one of the alternate feeds on channels 990-992.

[GD66]

As Patrick has published elsewhere, the Burt Munro Challenge is on again this weekend, result info can be found at http://www.stuff.co....outhland-times/

Edited by GD66, 27 November 2010 - 09:05.

[peterd]

Just back from the Burt. Blessed with stunning weather and a wonderful spread of racing. What a great weekend. Barrie Neilson was out from the UK and ran into all his old Invercargill cronies and just about wept a tear when he was reunited after nearly 40 years with his TZ350A, which now resides in that magical Hayes hardware shop...trouble is, someone has lengthened the gas tank and shortened the seat! Oh, and Glenn, you should have seen the size of the fresh whitebait patties being offered at Wyndham today!

[stuavant]

Just back from the Burt. Blessed with stunning weather and a wonderful spread of racing. What a great weekend. Barrie Neilson was out from the UK and ran into all his old Invercargill cronies and just about wept a tear when he was reunited after nearly 40 years with his TZ350A, which now resides in that magical Hayes hardware shop...trouble is, someone has lengthened the gas tank and shortened the seat! Oh, and Glenn, you should have seen the size of the fresh whitebait patties being offered at Wyndham today!

What I wouldnt give for a pint with Barry. Just had lunch with Warren & Wendy Willing and given our history they would have been as keen!!

[peterd]

Don't worry Stu, Barrie had your pint...and several others. He's just walked in and sends his regards. Says he thought of you when the RG500 rolled out at Teretonga.

Edited by peterd, 28 November 2010 - 09:44.

[GD66]

Any risk of a few pics, Peter ? And what of the official release of the Croz bio ? Pretty busy weekend down there...

[peterd]

Sorry, Glenn, never claimed to be a photographer. Weather certainly would have suited you and the Willings and Avants. Didn't get to the Wednesday long track at the Ascot horse race course, the Thursday hillclimb at Bluff, or Friday Oreti beach races, but arrived in time for the Croz night. 300-odd people in the time-warp Waikiwi pub. Beer was cold and the savouries and sandwiches fresh and tasty. Tim Mulligan MC-ed the do, and it didn't take Croz long to get into the story-telling. Some stories are in the book (yes, Croz was playing pool king Gregg Hansford for Queensland sheep stations when a vertically-challenged US ginga wiped the balls from the table, leading to said ginga being refreshed head-first in the gents' loo) some not, so expect a second book in the future. And when that ended, there were plenty more tall tales and true from among the attendees.
Nice story: Graeme was there with (second) wife Helen, an absolute delight, who admitted to being taken by surprise the first time she arrived at a bike show in the UK to find her husband mobbed. "It was like being married to a rockstar." Seems Mr Crosby had been rather modest in describing to her his achievements!
Unfortunately, missed meeting up with Tim Hanna. But from a phone conversation, he seemed to have enjoyed his Friday outing from Queenstown and return in a GT40! Hopes his book will be widely available early in December.
Teretonga on the Saturday didn't get going until the track was cleaned up after some clown dropped a sump-full of oil on the track. So much for self scrutineering and lock-wired sump plugs. Sadly, in this new-age, pc-correct NZ, we no longer have scrutineering; clubs, like individuals, aren't prepared to accept responsibility. Needless to say, said clown never owned up.
Eventually there was some good old fashioned enthusiastic racing on what I still think is NZ's best track. John Beck debuted his recently acquired RG500 Mk6, an unmolested example brought in from Japan. Ah, the sound of a four cylinder two stroke and dry clutch.
John Ross had his BMW superbike humming, though not sure it's in the spirit to enter it in BEARS! Ryan Hampton on the Honda was fast as well. Loads a variety in the bikes and plenty of older yet familiar faces. And some new ones, too.
And I have to give the officials and club members a huge wrap. What an absolute joy to be there. Smiles on faces, nothing too much trouble (oil spill aside). What a total contrast to the previous month and the officious arrogance and pettiness that was the MotoGP at Phillip Island.
Moving on, once the ambulance trundled down the road, it was time for a near-60 race Saturday night speedway programme of solos (blast from the past and still very fast, Larry Ross) and sidecars (29, I think).
Excellent dinner at Louies; recommend the blue cod with citrus sauce (and Emerson's Bookbinder). More tall tales from Rod Price and Barrie Neilson.
Even more Australian-type weather on Sunday for the Wyndham street races. That was after the excellent value, full cooked brekkie for $10 being offered by a local church group.
Good to see Southern legend Bill Veitch out with two bikes from his classic collection. Bill must have seen even more chequered flags than Ginger Molloy.
As for the rest of the racing, well, there's something very odd and unsettling about resting elbows on a haybale stack and feeling bikes flashing past a metre away at 160kmh-plus.
And then there were the whitebait patties . . . huge, at least 1cm think in the middle, with edges hanging over the side of the traditional slice of white bread . . . with just a squeeze of lemon . . .
Sorry, I've rambled on long enough. Suffice to say, if anyone is thinking about venturing to the Deep South for the Burt weekend, just do it. The roads leading to it and from it are some of the best biking roads anywhere. Venture Southland does a fine job promoting it, the city of Invercargill and province of Southland have embraced it, and where else in the world would you get a mayor fronting up at a biker campsite on a Saturday night to share the cheer. Mind you, old Burt is probably looking down, scratching his stubbled chin, and wondering how the hell he ever became this respectable.

Edited by peterd, 04 December 2010 - 18:45.

[GD66]

Wonderful, thanks heaps Peter !

[fil2.8]

Wonderful, thanks heaps Peter !

I'll second that , Glenn

[Herr Wankel]

I'll second that , Glenn

Nice report Peter.Its been on our hit list for a while (NZ) and now youve just gone and made it worse!
HW

[peterd]

Thanks, guys.
Just let us know when you're coming down here, HW. The wine may not be as cheap, but the Central Otago pinot noir is a worthy drop.

[philippe7]

the Central Otago pinot noir is a worthy drop.

...just had a bottle of Mount Difficulty, Bannockburn, 2009 Pinot Noir presented today by a kiwi visitor

Sorry for drifting off topic Nice to hear from you, by the way, Peter, and thanks for the report

[stuavant]

Thanks, guys.
Just let us know when you're coming down here, HW. The wine may not be as cheap, but the Central Otago pinot noir is a worthy drop.

Great Pete, sounded brilliant

[wenoopy]

Not sure if this is the most appropriate thread, but will no doubt get the attention of many Kiwi TNF fans : I just bought a copy of *Rhys Jones' "Legends on Two Wheels" at my local "Warehouse" for $10. (at Westgate Auckland) Good bargain at that price! Don't know if it was a nation-wide Special, or just shop manager culling out older stock.

As an addicted book-collector on a lot of subjects, I need to spread the money fairly thinly.

* Mentioned a few months ago by Philippe7.

Edited by wenoopy, 30 November 2010 - 06:57.

[stuavant]

Not sure if this is the most appropriate thread, but will no doubt get the attention of many Kiwi TNF fans : I just bought a copy of *Rhys Jones' "Legends on Two Wheels" at my local "Warehouse" for $10. (at Westgate Auckland) Good bargain at that price! Don't know if it was a nation-wide Special, or just shop manager culling out older stock.

As an addicted book-collector on a lot of subjects, I need to spread the money fairly thinly.

* Mentioned a few months ago by Philippe7.

Rhys was the coolest guy when I was back in NZ. A couple of reasons. 1st he was mates with Mike Hailwood and secondly my wife always fancied him. Writes from a base of reliable information.

[GD66]

Again, the book could have done with a good proofread but you can never hide Rhys' passion for motorcycle sport. Who knew the smooth dude from "Town and Around" would go on to do so much for bike racing in NZ ? A good read.

[wenoopy]

Rhys was the coolest guy when I was back in NZ. A couple of reasons. 1st he was mates with Mike Hailwood and secondly my wife always fancied him. Writes from a base of reliable information.

Yes, I like his writing style. He wrote a very interesting book about the Pukekohe track which seemed to straighten out some of the myths that probably originated from the car people. When I look at my motor bike books, I actually have paid full whack for most of them, although the Burt Munro DVD set came cheap.

[philippe7]

I just bought a copy of Rhys Jones' "Legends on Two Wheels" at my local "Warehouse" for $10. (at Westgate Auckland) Good bargain at that price!

A good bargain, indeed, considering that I bought it for $49.99 when it came out - just checked the price tag .

However I don't regret spending my 50 bucks, it was still a reasonable price considering the print and binding quality and number of pictures. I learnt quite a lot with that book, specially about the earlier "local" careers of the kiwi riders before they moved out to Europe ( for those who did ) . For my taste it could have included more riders or details up to, say, the Simon Crafar chapter since my interest for racing stopped in the early 90's, and I confess I didn't quite relate to those in the book from later than that ..... but I guess he wanted to paint a global picture until today.

Edited by philippe7, 01 December 2010 - 09:35.

[MCS]

For UK viewers the film is now available on BBC's iPlayer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk...Fastest_Indian/

[Vitesse2]

Burt Munro breaks world record 36 years after death

[Lee Nicolle]

I hadn't realised that this thread had been moved. It started in the regular Nostalgia forum and I think should be in both. I hope you don't mind me posting this here and apologise if it has been seen before. I just think it needs to be seen:
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

Using the link I found another You Tube article where they started up Burts bike. The real one!  It sounded VERY strong, a lot like a fuel engine.

But it was all painted up so shiny! Burt would not recognise it!