Brass Monkey 2012

[Winston001]

I suppose everything has its day. This years rally was the smallest and least that I've seen over the 30 years I've variously attended (15 times).

This was the smallest I can remember. The classic bikes display was interesting but a pale shadow of the past. If there was a display of the curious and bizarre - which is standard at this rally - I missed it. No performers on the jump mound. And the bonfire was an orphan child of bonfires past. 5 years ago the bonfire was 3m high and 50m long: this time about 10m.

These observations are made in sadness, not criticism. I enjoyed it as always. Caught up with Shrek, Mr Sensible, and Ghostbullet etc.

These iconic events only happen because of the dedication of a few people. I suspect the Otago Motorcycle Club may be all Brassed-out which happens: all we can do is encourage them to bring in new blood and revive the rally.

I sincerely believe the Brass Monkey Rally is important to motorcyclists as a community and urge those involved to seek support. Its the most southern hard-core winter motorcycle rally in the world. The enthusiasm is there, its just a matter of drawing in the people to make it happen.

[laRIKin]

Yes it was a smaller rally than other years, a shame.

A lot of people turned up got their badge and took off to spend the night somewhere else, other than the Rally site.

Maybe the badgers should be handed out in the morning? (not that serious about this)

[yoyo 2wheels]

i was just glad there was no snow to pitch my tent on

[mbikeman1]

Yes it was rather mild weather wise except for the strong wind in the early hours of sunday morning.Then it turned nice for long enough to get packed up and on me bike (with sunnies on)only for it to start raining 5 minutes later and all the way to palmerston.Still was a good ride throught the pig route although it was at 100k and couldnt see much.I must say there wasnt any need to venture from our campsite apart from buying food and to watch the burnouts up by the bonfire.It would be good to see team coarse back again and to add some more entertainment to the rally.The likes of a couple of years ago with the pitbike jousting and other activities that require crowd participation.The likes of the 3 bikes doing the burnouts point to the popularity of people viewing such activities.Im sure they do not want to be the same as other rallys and do the same old things but thats what people compare it with.I dont mean to sound negative about it but without honest feedback nothings going to happen.Overall i enjoyed it yet again but only due to the great company at our roaring campfire.Hopefully next year will have some improvements in the entertainment side of things.Now to sit back and await the abuse..........

[Ghost_Bullet]

Another enjoyable Brass...Interesting weather, and sure was a bit on the small size, though who has bought a pack of Tim Tams of late.... what is with there being only 9 Biscuits..... What a rip.

[Nzpure]

Well i enjoyed it. Was my first brass and wont be my last. Although i must say the most entertaining was the burnouts. I didn't pay a great deal of attention to the band/singers, had good fun met some new people and had good fun getting there. Was a little dissapointed it didn't snow, mind you when my wet weather gear failed to keep my dry on the way through to palmerston i was kind of glad it didn't snow lol.
For me it was good on 3 levels with a bonus
Plenty of piss, met new people, had a good ride for the most part and the bonus was i found all my wet/cold weather gear including tent and sleeping bag suck balls and i need new shit.
So on the whole i'm quite happy with the weekends outcome.

[idb]

My first Brass Monkey since the last one I went to.

They seem to be getting quieter with everyone tucked up in beddie-byes quite early.
I called 'round to camp KB to find them asleep - at only 3am!!!

[Nzpure]

My first Brass Monkey since the last one I went to.

They seem to be getting quieter with everyone tucked up in beddie-byes quite early.
I called 'round to camp KB to find them asleep - at only 3am!!!

I have twin 7 month olds, i only went so i could drink piss and go to sleep and not have to get up in the middle of the night.

[idb]

I waved to plenty of bikers on the way but obviously none of them were KBers as none gave me the official KB wave in return.

[_Shrek_]

They seem to be getting quieter with everyone tucked up in beddie-byes quite early.
I called 'round to camp KB to find them asleep - at only 3am!!!

it's an age thing

I waved to plenty of bikers on the way but obviously none of them were KBers as none gave me the official KB wave in return.

i was to busy leaping out of the way

[yoyo 2wheels]

I waved to plenty of bikers on the way but obviously none of them were KBers as none gave me the official KB wave in return.

aw yeah was that you, waving ya lil heart out
then i was like
then you were like
then i was all like

as for this kb camp site... was there a tent poll with a flag on it or something??
is it invite only? am i not pritty enough am i not cool enough

[_Shrek_]

as for this kb camp site... was there a tent poll with a flag on it or something??
is it invite only? am i not pritty enough am i not cool enough

there where a few of us around a fire down on the flat next to the fence, no flag as such, (a norfie stole it)

next time look for a yammock & then you will find us

glad you made it & enjoyed your thats all that counts in the end

[jellywrestler]

It's tough that this has happened to the Iconic Brass Monkey.
I've been a few times over the last twenty years and the lack of activities to entertain people have meant they had to entertain themselves.
That's OK if you can, a lot of people can't these days and as times gone on there are few self sufficient people at the Rally. They may have ridden there but once there they've set up there own little community deckchairs lounge suites BBQ's etc.
I went again for the 29th and as I wandered through different groups the most common welcome I got was a request to grab a log or two and put em on the fire. Generally people were so settled that they couldn't even be bothered to get up and do so, and their conversation, their having a good time level etc were in the same tone.
A lot were going 'cause they'd always gone' they were there out of habit it seemed
I realise as times moved on there's more of a threat for breath testing the next day which has taken the edge off some peoples parties (not questioning that just a statement) but in general after a day where nothing much happened and a night where the biggest health risk was falling off ones chair I decided that I'd personally had enough of the Brass and rather seek out some other South Island Rallies.

Dunno how you bring it back from where folks say it is now to something towards it's former self though?


I did suggest to the commitee a few years ago maybe they have a supervised car park in ranfurly so those who don't want to ride all the way there can still ride further than across the road, the more self sufficient people are the more of an acheivement it is, true it can be harder but at least it's another option.

As for events it's a tough place to run something with the nature of the landscape meaning spectating is limited, doesn't mean it can't happen with a bit of thinking.

[Flip]

Nothing has happened to the Brass. If you can't amuse yourself for one night the Brass in not the rally for you.

If you want a stage show and a sit down meal join Hog and go to the Hog nationals. The Brass is a back to basics MC rally.

This was my 28th Brass, I look forward to it all year, I catch up with folk there who I only see once a year.

[Vgygrwr]

Had not been since 2006 when it rained, arrived late Saturday, passed so many bikes going in the opposite direction was convinced we were lost until got to the site. This time when down Friday, bit colder than Saturday with a bit of a frost in the morning. Can't say I can remember much of the crowd or bonfire size from 2006. Getting old I guess but still a great spot to camp a couple of nights. Possible to find a bit of icy water to jump into if really keen.