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Blackbird
21st June 2003, 16:01
I see that in the October events postings, the date this year has been set for Oct 18/19.  Is anyone interested in having a go?  I've done it 3 times, but not since 1999 and am thinking of causing myself grievous bodily harm again this year:argh: :argh:  

 

Lee Rusty
29th August 2003, 12:22
Only 6 weeks to get those entries in to the original Grand Challenge, 24 hours 1000miles. Start and Finish is in Turangi - Central North Island.

This is the 17th running of this event and there are still two runners going who have completed them all.

There are both entered this year.

The Challenge is a personal one, it is not a race, most modern bikes are capable of finishing, but the idea is to pace yourself.

If you fancy a go get an entry form from info@rustynuts.co.nz
or cut and paste from www.rustynuts.co.nz and go to Rusty Future events.

If you want idea of what it is like to ride the Grand Challenge go to the website and read Rusty Reviews, there are a couple of good write ups by Geoff James - who also haunts this website.

Limited to 120 riders each year, usually about 80 set out.

Bear in mind RNMC has a most impressive safety record so bikes are scrutineered hard.

Andrew
29th August 2003, 20:05
I'm on restricted license and technically i'm not suppose to be riding after 10pm. Would the event allow me to participate on my current license or do i have to wait till i get a full licence? :argh:

Lee Rusty
30th August 2003, 01:51
I would not recommend that you break your licence conditions as you are the one that get penalised.

Lee Rusty
14th September 2003, 23:02
Only a month to go to get those entries in folks.

Time to get the bikes checked over and start geting the arse hardened up.

Lee Rusty
1st October 2003, 20:22
Only two weeks to go - remeber No on the day entries.

If you want more info get it now - details above.

mangell6
25th October 2003, 09:00
To Lee and the RustyNuts crew,

Thanks for another great event.

Mike

PS How many more kiwibikers are brave enough for next year?

Yarg
25th October 2003, 19:33
How about an update on how the ride went, and what roads you covered.:gob:

mangell6
25th October 2003, 20:58
This is my report on the ride.

Mike


Friday started with the alarm, bugger I have to go into work for a couple of hours, that stretched to three. After leaving later than I wanted to I went through the things I had to do in my mind, the first item was "when I walk in the door" oops I left my house key inside the house, Teresa's left on her bike trip north and I am locked out of house!! After a quick look around the house to see that it is secure I head off to get a key from Owen at school.

Quick call to Matt to let him know that the midday leaving was now a figment and that I would need more time. Well Matt met me at home and we finally headed out about 12:45, not to late and travelled to the RustNuts start via Shannon, Palmerston North, SH54 and Vinegar hill all the way to Turangi.

We checked in at the cabins and met up with Geoff aka "Blackbird" from Tokoroa, corresponded with him on the www.kiwibiker.co.nz web site.

Saturday morning dawned cool and overcast, it even looked like rain at one point. The cloud cover slowly burnt off and we were left with clear blue skies and sunshine. While we waited in the increasing heat we met up with Dave and waited some more.

Half an hour to go an Lee Rusty calls all riders together and gives his "speech" and we hurry off to get the rest of the riding gear on. Standing in all your riding gear in the blazing sun is enough to melt steel, it was so hot. OK now it 3:02 and we are off, leaving Turangi to head to the first checkpoint at Galatea. Looking forward to the roads and the fun of 'sticking to the speed limit' of the many straights and sweeping corners.

The Turangi/Taupo road with it inevitable cars and trucks, went quickly, off up SH5 to the Murupara turnoff, we kept a steady speed and had no issues with the 'revenuers', didn't see any at all. I suppose that didn't help with the road toll, lack of revenue. Heading down the Murupara straights and sweeping bends absolutely wonderful, around the corner to Galatea and a queue of bikes lined up to get checked in. Goldwings and the brake lights, man o man, lots of fast corners, neat to ride again,

Through to Kawerau as a few people had small tanks and needed to gas up, mat and i headed to rotorua, what a dissapointing ride around the lakes after the really cool twisties. 80km speed limit, bit of a bugger never mind.

Filled up in Rotorua along with the Goldwings - from Levin. Back down to Taupo and then over the Taupo/Turangi piece of raod for he second of 4 times this trip. Checked in at Turangi got the pink card and off to Palmerston Nth. Across the revenue roads we travelled keeping to just below 110 and coming up a hill a car flashed its lights at us advising to a revenuers presence somewhere behind them. As we crested the hill the candy lights were all lit up as the revenuer was completing his U-turn and one of our number was about to be revenued, all in the name of "The Road Toll!".

Keeping to the 'limit' we travelled through the little towns of Waioru, Taihape, Mangaweka before turning left at Vinegar Hill and we were heading to Fielding and Palmerston North. THis is a magic piece of road, nice corners where you can really lean over and scrape pieces, down and up the hill aling the top with the lovely 85km corner that leads into a 3.5km straight, with another 85km corner at the end and several other 85km corners that eventually lead into a shorter 1.5-2.0km straight, with a 65km corner another straight road that follows the contours of the land and eventually a looonngg down hill that leads into Cheltenham. Turning right we adopt the slow travel all the way to Fielding and then to Palmerston Nth.

Arriving in Palmerston North we try and keep to the speed limit and Matt is riding in the outside lane and a Police station wagon with lights ablaze 'toots' him to get out of the way, gave us all a fright. A careful trip through to the other side of Palmy to the BP station on Fitzherbert Ave, quick check-in, fill up with gas, toilet stop and off we went again. Matt and Dave were keen to get away and I had a chuckle while stopped at the traffic lights as the non-locals missed the turn-off into Fitzherbert Ave and had to back track to get to the checkpoint.

Now were onto the 'familiar road' that Matt and I had travelled the day before, zipping up SH54, then onto SH1 with the temperature kept getting colder and colder as we get in to the 'higher' altitudes. With this happening it lead me to wonder what it would be like riding a Goldwing with a stereo, heater and BIG windscreen, luxury, sheer luxury. The ride back to Turangi was uneventful, passed many bikes on the way back as they were heading through to the Palmy checkpoint.

Checked in again at Turangi, gassed up, ate a bacon/egg pie (nice photo Matt) and off we went to Napier, BayView actually. Across the Taupo/Turangi piece of road for the third time, turn right at the Mobil Station and onto SH5 and the infamous Napier to Taupo revenuer Highway. As we gained altitude the fog started to close in and with the limited local knowledge, ie I know it is a straight road for a really long way, we kept a constant speed until we came out of the fog just before the windy bits. This part of the trip went reasonably quick and we arrived in the Esk Valley, followed closely by the BayView BP station. The ever faithful 'RustyNuts checkers' were there waiting for us and we repeated the standard procedure of filling up the bike, checking in, filling up yourself, and a couple of other things like a very nice hot chocolate and apple shortcake.

The trip back was rather eventful, first Matt realised that he had not done up his helmet, in the Esk Vally someone had set fire to a little shed on the side of the road and it was well ablaze as we went past heading to the checkpoint at Turangi for the third time. Nearing the halfway point of the Napier to Taupo highway we came across a mishap as someone didn't make the only 35km corner on the highway, pity really. From then on through to Taupo we had slight drizzle but the fog had gone. The guy on the V-Strom, Glen Rangiuru??? (BikerMag), caught up, passed us, and slowly dissappeared in to the darkness towards Taupo. In very short time we were back in Turangi after the forth trip over the now very familiar Taupo/Turangi stretch of highway.

After checking in at Turangi Shell for the third and final time we headed west to Taumaranui and on to the coastal fishing village of Kawhia. It's now about five am, should have looked at my clock, and we are all getting tired having been awake now for over twenty one hours. Dave nearly stops at Kuratau, where a warm bed is waiting for him, but the peer pressure keeps him going. The road through to Taumaranui went reasonably fast, Matt completed a quick blast through to SH3/4 turnoff, waits for us slow pokes to arrive, and then a nice cruise into Te Kuiti, turning left at Otorohanga and a quick blast to the Kawhia intersection.

What a scary road this Kawhia road is, seems more like a walking track that was made into a road, being sleepy, tired, sore, its just what we need a road where you have to concentrate. The bikes get flicked from side to side as we wind our way over the 35kms to Kawhia. We only pass four bikes on the Kawhia road heading the other way and there are a few more checking, filling up with gas and walking around. After a longer than normal break we three climb on to our bikes and take off with a hiss and a wimper. The final leg has begun.

What a long ride back to Turangi, staying awake was the major issue, F..cks sheep on the road as you round a corner, gets the adrenalin going, quick stop at Taumaranui for some fruit and nut chocolate to get the sugat levels up. The two girls ask are you one of those riders that goes all night. I nod my head yes and smile under my helmet as I walk out the door hearing one of them say that they have trouble staying awake past midnight. A quick nod to others parked in Taumaranui resting up for their final stint. At this point we are no longer three, each having settled into our own riding rhythm and arriving at Turangi glad to have completed the Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge.

Phew, I will be back next year - any other participants????

Jackrat
26th October 2003, 00:23
Great ride report,heres a little more.
I manned the Turangi gas station check point along with a few other NUTS.Thirteen hours walking around the forcourt was a bit hard on the feet but watching the riders get slowly redder eyes with each stop made it worth while.The standard of the bikes was exellent,all the riders had the good gear,a must for this type of thing.I think 73 finished,nine admited to tickets,two guys crashed,both in the first corners after extended straight bits,a Triumph on vinegar hill,a ZZR on the Napier Taupo rd,The ZZR was a write off after hitting the ARMCO.Both riders ended up in hospital with shoulder,coller bone and rib injurys,Classic high side.Both are on the mend,THANKFULLY.
All an all I had a top time even tho, I didn,t get to ride myself,next
year there will no doubt be a LOT more KBers attend,if not ,well you can buy VIAGRA on the net nobody needs to know
:D

Blackbird
26th October 2003, 07:05
Great write-up Mike:rockon:

It's interesting how every inch of the trip is etched in your memory, despite sleep deprivation!

My lasting memory is coming north across the Desert Road at just after midnight.  Just the 3 of us sitting on over 160 k's for many k's and I have never seen so many stars in my life - just breathtaking!

 

Cheers

 

Geoff

matthewt
28th October 2003, 19:43
Didn't a few people say they saw a meteor on the way back from Palmerston North while on the Desert Highway ??