The 'Burt Munro' Challenged

[Big Dave]

Michael Esdaile has done a follow up piece to a Southland Times report here:

http://www.kiwiridernews.com/2012/05...challenge.html

I have closely observed quite a few of these events myself and Stress that we think the Southland club has been outstanding, but if the event is to prosper it needs more than Volunteer efforts - because of the amount of work involved.

What do you think?

[unstuck]

I think the Southland district council should stump up a bit more cash, it sure does bring in the visitors. The amount they spend on other crap is huge compared to what it would take to get this event to where it needs to be.

[FJRider]

In my opinion ... the "Bert Munro" is a Southland promotion ... any club that needs to spend money to "make it better" ... needs to have more numbers to make up the shortfall ... perhaps they should look to those that would miss out on the income (even part of it) if the event were to be canned ...

[Berries]

Shadbolt will sort it out. The whole event is great PR for Invercargill and Southland and brings in plenty of money. The club should just stand back and say they can't do it anymore without assistance, which is what they did at last weeks meeting. If that doesn't work then just open the event to Indians. That should reduce the outlay.

[Clivoris]

I'm not suprised that the Southland Club organisers who carry the main load are burnt out. It's a huge show and fantastically run. I imagine they do it for love, but that can wear thin. Maybe they should just step back for a year. Take a year off and see if the break refreshes their mojo. In the meantime, someone else might step up, freak out at the logistics involved and through money at the Southland club to run it again.

[Winston001]

Yeah I think Venture Southland should run it. They are funded by the council and probably better resourced. But they'd need the SMC to point them in the right direction. Its an astonishingly good event and deserves support. Best organised rally I have ever been to by far. Rates up there with the Brass Monkey for iconic motorcycle rallies which everyone should go to.

[Yow Ling]

If they ran Buckets I would care

[Winston001]

Yeah not sure why they don't include some bucket racing. It would attract another group to the rally.

[scott411]

Yeah not sure why they don't include some bucket racing. It would attract another group to the rally.

because another event to run will just make it better,

i have always looked at this event as an iconic one, but being involved with a club i know the work that goes into these events, and i am sure money will not make the events that much easier to run, and just getting labour into run these events sometimes makes it even harder for the people that know what they are doing,

hope it continues tho, cause ill get down there eventually,

[Winston001]

Yes maybe you are right. The Burt Munro Rally now covers 5 days which takes a helleva lot of organising, not to mention responsibility. Adding more events and categories sounds lovely but if you are the guys and gals (a handful) doing the actual work...well eventually you give up.

The Pissed Penguin Rally at Kaka Point is a good example. It grew from a small event for a group of friends to a highly popular rally being the first each spring. At 10 years the guys said Enough. They were burned out and so far as I know that rally is finished. A shame but understandable.

[tigertim20]

Yes maybe you are right. The Burt Munro Rally now covers 5 days which takes a helleva lot of organising, not to mention responsibility. Adding more events and categories sounds lovely but if you are the guys and gals (a handful) doing the actual work...well eventually you give up.

The Pissed Penguin Rally at Kaka Point is a good example. It grew from a small event for a group of friends to a highly popular rally being the first each spring. At 10 years the guys said Enough. They were burned out and so far as I know that rally is finished. A shame but understandable.

yup.
I understand they were looking for someone else, a group or a club, to take it over so it would keep going, but nothing ever eventuated