Triumphrat

Tbirdnz · 02-18-2007

Rode down to Paeroa a small town on the East coast of the North Island of NZ which ran it's 16th annual Battle of the Streets Motorbike races.

Riding down there seemed like every last man and his bike were going, thousands of bikes on the roads, outnumbering cars.

All formula's and classics were involved in 19 races.
The Isle of Man followers were to be seen sporting IOM TT T-shirts in the crowd.

The races are run around the central streets of Paeroa with the super-bikes reaching speeds upto 270kmh (169mpg) down the main street. The cops could only stand on the corners with silly grins on their faces, a lifetime's tickets going for the asking. To be fair everyone inc them had a good time.

Nice to see in the post-classic pre '72 race a Triumph Trident '850' blew the big Japanese entries away, which even had two Bonnevilles in it.

In the confined space of the streets the guy selling ear-plugs did a roaring business.

15 outfits competed in the 6 lap sidecar race with some very fancy modern rigs.

We normally have the Aussies here but this time it seemed an all NZ affair.

Couple of pics, I mainly took vids.

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Ride on !

Wombat · 02-18-2007

Quote:

On 2007-02-18 19:43, Tbirdnz wrote:
We normally have the Aussies here but this time it seemed an all NZ affair.

You would have normally had Steve Hari there on the 8 Valve 1924 Indian, but they are (as we type) on their way to Daytona.
Pic of Steve at Ruapuna:

TonUp · 02-19-2007

Tbirdnz, very nice pics

Wombat, I like the way he covers the rear brake during wheelie, well done.

Thanks!

Ton Up!

iceman · 02-19-2007

....nice photos tbird.

I have been there the last 3 years - missed this year unfortunately.

It is a unique experience being so close to the racing - I just wonder how long before it is shut down for 'safety reasons'?

I'm told that over the last 16 years it hasnt rained once on the day of racing!

See you there next year.

Grant

Tbirdnz · 02-19-2007

Yes Ice, really great day, very sunny, we had to view mainly in the shade under the shop awnings.

Rode back via Coromandel and Miranda via the Firth of Thames, great coast riding roads. I didn't bother to go back via the motorways thus missing the five thousand wannabe Rossi's returning home.

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Ride on !

jameskiwi · 02-19-2007

Thanks Tbirdnz. Brings back memories. And that coast road is always a great ride.

DaveM · 02-19-2007

Nice Tbirdnz very nice,
yes normally icey would be posting those pics!

I miss the classic racing at Puke. :???:

DaveM

zadok_oz · 02-19-2007

It was a fantastic day. Copped a bit of that wicked N.Z sun around the neck but. It seemed like half of N.Z was there.....maybe they were! A Triumph/Yamaha dealer in Tauranga kindly loaned me a bike for the weekend. Unfortunately it was not a Triumph, but I was most grateful anyway. So I scored a Honda VTR1000. Not really my cup of tea.
There was one Aussie that I know about. Chris Seaton, who was prominent in the Formula 2 & Formula Paeroa classes. He is on the 'S' bike. Pic taken on full zoom & they were flying, hence the slight blur.

Tbirdnz · 02-19-2007

That's a great shot Marty, at one time I was standing opposite your photo shot.

Wasn't aware Chris Seaton was an Aussie, program has him listed as from Wanganui and sponsored by Yamaha NZ. Did he come off in one race ? He was neck and neck with Andrew Stroud who won the race but on the final lap he had disappeared.

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Ride on !

BarryG · 02-19-2007

You lucky buggers! Great pics.
I'm arriving next week, a week late for the street racing, I think it's all finished for the year, no?
I plan on going to Pukekohe for the TT, tho', not going to miss another NZ race meeting. It seems like the last few years, I've been visiting at just the wrong time, or races have been in the South Island and I tend to want to stay around my family in Auckland.
Thanks for the pics - I look forward to reading the race reports on Kiwibiker tomorrow.
Cheers
Barry