Why? Didn't need a reason

[NZPOM]

The 20th Grand Challenge – 14-15 October 2006 – New Zealand

This event is organised by RNMC (Rusty Nuts Motorcycle Club) and is an annual ride….for only the hardiest of riders! It involves riding one thousand miles (1600kms) in a 24 hour period. It is not a race, just a test of stamina and, to a lesser extent, route-finding. Probably similar to your SS1000.

This was my first entry into this event, having heard reports from other riders who had completed previous GC’s, I decided that “yes” I could do this. So, it’s Friday 13th and I find myself joining the tintops heading out of town, then riding the 400kms to central North Island after work.

The event is based at Turangi, at the southern end of NZ’s largest lake (Taupo). Here the riders gather, have their bikes not nice person and entries confirmed. The route is unveiled @ 7pm Friday, giving all entrants plenty of time to work out a) where they are going and b) where they can buy fuel @ 3am on a Sunday morning in the middle of nowhere!

With 100+ entrants, start times were allocated with first 10 bikes away at 3pm Saturday, then another 10 bikes three minutes later and so on.

There was the usual variety of mounts, from RD350LC to Gold Wing trikes, Hyabusas, Piaggio scooter and, of course, a plethora of BMWs – including my 2002 YJ.

Now, covering 1000 miles in 24 hours would be a breeze on your inter-state highways or those British motorways – too easy! But here in little old NZ, such roads only exist in the minds of the oil company executives and development-mad politicians. Once out of the main cities, NZ “state highways” are single carriageway roads, often narrowing to a single lane passing over bridges or through tunnels! Further, when the Rustys plan the route each year, they like to include a mix of roads to keep us ‘entertained’.

To ensure people followed the route, there were five checkpoints to register at, plus mileage was taken at the start of the ride. If you wanted to cheat, you could, but what’s the point in that?

So, me and my trusty YJ set off at a steady pace and aimed to keep to that all ride. I chose to ride on my own, but with 100+ bikes out there, you’re never really on your own.

It took about 4 hours to cover the first 300kms, mainly due to the tight twisty bits seeing the average speed drop right down. After a quick re-fuel, drink and scroggin, it was back in the saddle for the next blast, this time a fast run around the west cape. We completed this section just as night fell and the first checkpoint arrived.

The news at the first checkpoint was that four bikes had dropped out already – mainly the result of over-cooking on some of those twisties! To the best of my knowledge, none seriously hurt/hospitalised.

The next section saw us leave the main roads and head onto the dark, twisty backroads. Navigating was interesting given the lack of street lighting, moonlight, etc. Every road looked the same – dark, narrow, tree-lined. For about 20-30 minutes I rode without seeing another bike, either ahead or behind. Makes you wonder whether you’re lost! The relief when another four bikes come blasting past make you realise that you’re either on the right road, or ALL five of you are lost!

My night-time riding was made oh so much easier thanks to the newly installed Wunderlich spotlights – the only accessories that are a must for this type of ride.

With this being night, very few towns have fuel available, so this is where planning fuel stops is important. Some of the stretches that had to be covered overnight were up to 140kms between gas stations. Not normally a problem with a 300+km range tank, but I didn’t want to spend too much time in gas stations!

Dawn broke around 6.30am and approx. 1100kms. The checkpoint arrived @ 7am and I took the opportunity for a 20minute break (drink, food, lose a layer of clothing etc).

Having survived the night riding thanks to a couple of No-Doz tablets, the early sunlight enabled decent progress through some of the faster back roads to the edge of Rotorua (locally known as Roto-Vegas!). A final fuel stop here, before pressing on to the fifth checkpoint and then the final 220km dash back to Turangi.

Weatherwise, we had a little rain, a little fog and a stiff breeze, but given the days’ weather prior and after this event, we were bloody lucky. Overnight the temperature held up and was even comfortable riding through the forestry areas.

So, how did the bike go? Well, this may be a boring answer, but it just went! All day and all night, no problems. Ask how the rider went? Pretty good, just damned tired. Not much discomfort, although the knees and wrists were getting sore towards the end. The stock seat was comfy enough, although I’m sure not designed for such extremes.

We’re still waiting for report of the ride stats from RNMC. But I’m damned pleased to say I’ve managed to complete a GC. Time taken 21.5 hours.

Would I do it all again next year? Ask me in six months time.

Would the YJ be my chosen mount? You betcha!

[hirsty]

Sounds like an awesome weekend Pom - I hope you had a day off planned for at least Monday.

Do you have any photos from the start-line, or old photos of the terrain? I tried doing big miles on the coastal roads in Ireland this summer, and you're bang on that it takes forever to get anywhere ...

There are several firms doing fly-ride packages to NZ now as it seems to be self-appointed God's Own Motorcycling territory!

[ranmar850]

Ah, Unzud. Rider heaven. Even the North Island I was there for 16 days starting last Easter, mostly South Is, but finished at Auckland. Where exactly did you go? Did they make you do a lap of the Coromandel Peninsula in the dark. You could get really sadistic, planning an event like that. Heading out of Wellington, we crossed the hills into the Wairapara, into glorious sunshine, heading towards Napier, but turned off the highway to take the secondary road closer to the coast; wouldn't care to do that one in the dark! Passed through Wimbledon, amongst other places whose names I can't recall, one stretch was quite hard work, spent nearly an hour without getting into 6th, mostly 2nd-4th, very tight , land slips, dirt patches.... finally came on a sign facing the way we had came saying "warning storm damage next 60kms" ! Those 1200gs's are a fabulous bike. The memories of that holiday will live with me for a long time--next time I'll ship the Rockster over

[NZPOM]

Sorry guys no pictures available.

Hirsty - NZ is often compared to Ireland for it's clean, green environment. But with only 4.2million people, it's not as crowded here !

Ranmar - grab one of the NZ maps leftover from your trip. Find Turangi at the southern end of Lake Taupo. Head due West (Taumaranui, Ohura, Aria) and out to the West Coast. Anticlockwise around the Taranaki coastline (where Tom Cruise filmed The Last Samurai!) to Wanganui. Turn inland through Fordell, Hunterville, Ashurst, Woodville to Dannevirke. You'll know the loop road through Weber, Wimbledon and on to Waipukarau. North to Napier (we're on the East coast now folks) then NW to Taupo. Continue on this bearing to Te Kuiti, then northish to Kihikihi, east to Putaruru. Head around the north side of Lake Rotorua and on to Awakeri. Turn South through Murupara, Taupo and back to Turangi.

Congratulations, you have just completed 1000 miles in two minutes.

It was dark just as we arrived into Wanganui and dawn came up just before Te Kuiti - so there was some intersting back-road stuff in the dark !

I'd be keen to hear if anyone knows of something similar in the UK so that I can plan my next trip home.