scottish biker wants loan/ buy/ hire a bike

**Geoff Proven** · 2nd November 2003, 01:39

Hi everybody! I saw your website, looks great!

I am coming by aeroplane from Scotland on Tuesday 04 Nov 2003, visiting my sick big brother Ian Proven & family in Inglewood Taranaki. I had the pleasure of seeing New Zealand 1989/90 whilst visiting in happier times, a brilliant country, with superb motorcycle scene too!

I watched Wanganui Cemetery Circuit races that year, and was itching to race there myself ( I was a very active classic/Battle of theTwins/sidecar road racer at the time in Europe, Ireland mainly) but time & lack of a bike put paid to these dreams. I was lucky enough to meet some great Kiwis there in the paddock, and always rooted for the fantastic Britten and Rob Holden & Graeme Crosby when he was racing over here UK.

Now I am returning to NZ for a short spell, I would love to know if there are any road races happening from 06 November onwards in the North Island? It would be great to see some while I am there. My brother Ian and I grew up visiting the IOM TT from Scotland every single year before he emigrated to NZ and settled down there with his new Kiwi family.
Ian is very ill, but I might be able to get him to the race/s with a bit of effort and pre-planning. He has been sent home from hospital in Palmerston(?) as home is best option now.
Ian had his Yamaha shipped to NZ back in 1972, a YR350 which was a flyer at the time, he was smashed up pretty bad on it near Opunake by a car hitting him and breaking all his major bones twice over, that was his last bike trip alas.
I am much luckier, never crash or get busted up ( well, almost never)

Maybe a long shot, but I would like to buy/borrow/hire a bike to get around on whilst in NZ, would you know of any for sale or suchlike? Not fussy on make, I ride everything from BSA to Kawasaki To Harley-Davidson & ALL Inbetweens.

Many thanks for any info you might have, and if anyone might lend me a road bike, I would of course return the favour for the person/s if they visit UK, I have still got a wee bike stable, including my H-D Seeley Ironhead 1000 racer, a multiple English, Irish and Scottish race championship winning bike

Road bike/s for exchange loan etc :- Kawasaki 1500 Drifter with BSA disguise kit(!) and others.

Kind Regards, ride safe; Geoff Proven.

**Firefight** · 2nd November 2003, 07:42

Maybe a long shot, but I would like to buy/borrow/hire a bike to get around on whilst in NZ, would you know of any for sale or suchlike? Not fussy on make, I ride everything from BSA to Kawasaki To Harley-Davidson & ALL Inbetweens.

Hi Geoff,
sorry to hear about your brother, a number of hire places here at Auckland and nearbye,

1) Motorcycle rentals, 54 barrys point Rd Northshore AK
phone 09- 489 9242

2) NZ Motorcycle rentals 31 Beach road City
phone 09- 377 20005

3) Swiss travel rent 18 Mc Cready rd Tuakau (2 a cow)
phone 09 2369023, email : mail@swisstravelrent.com
Internet www.swisstravelrent.com.

Its sunday today, will try and get email/internet address for first two cos. I have used Swiss Travel rent, and they are okay, prices good, not that much selection, can't comment on the others.

I am not working on the 4th so if you need a pick up from the airport to anywhere, ring me 021 21 35978

firefight.

**Geoff Proven** · 3rd November 2003, 00:22

Thanks very much Firefight;your kind offer, and three places for possible rentals.

I actually arrive 06 Novemebr, leaving Glasgow 04th, sorry for confusion, I may just hitch-hike down to Inglewood, so a lift to the bit of road out of airport most suitable would be ace!

Thanks again for kind offer. Geoff.

**Firefight** · 3rd November 2003, 05:24

Originally posted by Geoff Proven
Thanks very much Firefight;your kind offer, and three places for possible rentals.

I actually arrive 06 Novemebr, leaving Glasgow 04th, sorry for confusion, I may just hitch-hike down to Inglewood, so a lift to the bit of road out of airport most suitable would be ace!

Thanks again for kind offer. Geoff.

What time is your flight due ??,

I should be around, and can help get you on the way.

firefight (fellow scot)

**Racey Rider** · 3rd November 2003, 07:39

Hey Geoff. I live in New Plymouth, 10 min from Ingelwood. Maybe I could be of help to you at some stage. I don't have a pillon seat on my RGV so can't come up to get you, but if you get stuck hitching within a hour from NP, you can give me a call and I'll drive out and help you finish the trip. NP 753 2240 or mobile 025 669 5900.
Regards
Racey.

**Geoff Proven** · 3rd November 2003, 09:13

Firefight, Racey, thanks for replies...........I get in 10.30 am 06 Nov Auckland airport, so should be outside by 1130 all being well with flight times etc.

I would be chuffed to get a lift to a road which points down Taranaki way, so hitching will be more straightforward, if you know what I mean! Dunno layout of roads out of Airport these days.

My mate brought me a backpack tonight; I can get all my kit in there, and walk pretty good between lifts if I get lucky on the road. I will be wearing the kilt, so look less threatening to drivers?

Only problem is kilt gets pretty creased after 37 hours of airtime sitting down. Och well.

Thanks again for kind offers you guys!

Geoff

**Firefight** · 3rd November 2003, 09:46

Originally posted by Geoff Proven
Firefight, Racey, thanks for replies...........I get in 10.30 am 06 Nov Auckland airport, so should be outside by 1130 all being well with flight times etc.

I would be chuffed to get a lift to a road which points down Taranaki way, so hitching will be more straightforward, if you know what I mean! Dunno layout of roads out of Airport these days.

My mate brought me a backpack tonight; I can get all my kit in there, and walk pretty good between lifts if I get lucky on the road. I will be wearing the kilt, so look less threatening to drivers?

Only problem is kilt gets pretty creased after 37 hours of airtime sitting down. Och well.

Thanks again for kind offers you guys!

Geoff

Bugger that Geoff, these Kiwis might not like those hairy legs, and mistake you fer a goat, if you spent any time on this site you will have learned that shooting goats is a regular pass time for certain riders !!

Any way, I'll take you as far as I can,

I work that night, but may get a shift swap, if so I'll take you all the way down.

cheers firefight

**Racey Rider** · 3rd November 2003, 09:50

A KILT!!
Nobody said anything about a KILT!
I an't pickin up know strange guy in a KILT!!

Come to think of it,,, I wounldn't pick up any guy I know in a Kilt ether!

And as far as underneth that kilt is concerned,,,,, I'm not even gunner ask!!

Good luck to Firefight if he's picking you up on his bike!!

Please excess my "Un Scottish-ness".

I'm sure I will have calmed down by the time you hit Taranaki.
It's just that,, once you leave Auckland,,, your getting into "Real Blokes" country!

**riffer** · 3rd November 2003, 10:28

Ahem.

I figure myself as a fairly 'real' bloke, and I still wear a kilt for the family occasions.

You might need to be careful with casting aspersions on our sexuality racey. There's a huge lot of people in this country of scottish extraction.

**Kiwi** · 3rd November 2003, 10:30

Hi Geoff

have a look at www.nzbike.com

see ya

Kiwi

**Geoff Proven** · 4th November 2003, 08:16

Hello NZ bikers; thanks for all correspondence! I was well chuffed by response of you guys to my begging letter.................hearts of GOLD you have.

Today I managed to talk by phone to my nephew Kieran, and he is coming to get me at Auckland airport on 06 Nov in his ol' Rover V8, so no hitch-hiking or pillion rodes for Geoff that day it seems!

I would love to get in touch with you both ( Firefight & Racey) to buy youse guys a beer or three in some suitable watering hole; seem to remember choice nz beer with a volcano pic on the tins?

Comments on kilt-wearers taken in good part & humour by the way! It is a wierd thing to see abroad,( outside Scotia's land that is) but it sure helps you to meet good people.

I will be in Inglewood, 46 Mahoe St, I.R. Proven & family from 06 Nov seeing brother Ian and his family, so please ring if you can make it for a pint ; tel. NP 756 8586 , if not please stay in touch, I will help you guys out if I can when you visit Scotland.

Thanks again!!.

**Firefight** · 5th November 2003, 11:42

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Geoff Proven
[B]Hello NZ bikers; thanks for all correspondence! I was well chuffed by response of you guys to my begging letter.................hearts of GOLD you have.

Today I managed to talk by phone to my nephew Kieran, and he is coming to get me at Auckland airport on 06 Nov in his ol' Rover V8, so no hitch-hiking or pillion rodes for Geoff that day it seems

Geoff, guess you are well on the way, if it turns to shit with the nephews car, give me a ring, I got the night shift off, and can borrow wifes car, will take you down all the way if you need it.

cheers firefight,