Distance Riders’ has a logo!

New Zealand Distance Riders now has an official logo.

This logo was developed by Monty Kirkman of Julie O’ Glass, who has agreed to us using it. The Organisers chose this design after pondering a range of options. We believe it shows that journeying around New Zealand by motorcycle shouldn’t be as easy as joining the shortest distance between two places and that there is more fun to be had than just sticking to the main roads!

Expect to see this on our badges, patches and other memorabilia.

North Island 1,600

Registrations and Entry Forms
Come on distance riders. There’s a 1,600km-in-24-hours event starting in Turangi in October. If you’d like to ride in it, you’ll need to officially enter.

You can do this online here http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/the-north-island-1600.html. There’s also a downloadable form on that page that you can print off, complete and post to us at PO Box 29017, Ngaio, Wellington 6443. Bank account details for online payments are on the web page and on the printed form.

In our last newsletter we said we won’t be starting the event with less than 30 riders. We’re still short of that target but the Organisers have had a change of heart, and we’ll go with whatever numbers we get. If there are fewer than 30 participants, then there may be some nipping and tucking in terms of some of the advertised features we’ve been promoting, but there will be a ride. Any financial surplus after all costs have been paid will be divvied up and returned to participating riders.

We’ll advise in our August newsletter whether we’ll be going with the currently advertised plan or whether a Plan B will apply.

We will need to start incurring costs on your behalf soon if we’re going to deliver a worthwhile event. So if you’re a serious Distance Rider, please get your entry forms completed and returned and your entry fees paid ASAP.

Please spread the word – and this newsletter – to your riding buddies and any biker organisations you’re involved with. The more riders we get, the more of a social occasion October’s ride will be and the more services and benefits can be offered.

The Route
The Route is only known to the Organisers at the moment and may be shared with some of our Volunteers’ Team. It will remain a secret until 7:00pm on Friday 10 October when it will be revealed in the event’s control centre at Turangi.

We’ve had some enquiries about whether the route will be available in some sort of downloadable format for riders with GPS devices. The Organisers are still pondering that one. Whatever happens, all riders will be provided with detailed route instructions outlining all of the intersections where turns are needed and the distances between. That should make things straightforward for riders who use old-fashioned maps as well as those who prefer to let a machine show them the way home.

We will share one important thing with you about this year’s route. One section will entail a 240km gap between fuel stops. So if your ride’s range is going to be troubled by that, then you will need to carry fuel, or have a generous riding buddy. Or perhaps both!

Volunteers needed please
July is event volunteers’ month.

A successful event in October will need more than just riders. We’re after a team of volunteers to help be part of a roster at the Control Centre in Turangi; be motorcycle scrutineers before the start; take on checkpoint monitoring duties; and help with catering and any other things that may be needed to be done.

If you’re keen to be involved but not to ride, or know people who enjoy being part of the behind-the-scenes activities at events like these, then please let us know. Not all volunteers will be needed at Turangi. There will be manned checkpoints at a handful of locations around the North Island, so could people with geographic preferences please let us know so that we can mix and match.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in Turangi
If you have any questions, please drop us a line, either to distanceriders@gmail.com or write to us, NZ Distance Riders, PO Box 29017, Ngaio, Wellington 6443.

Mike Angell
John Maroulis
James Riley
Brett Sangster

The route
The Organisers have been busy since the last newsletter. We’ve chosen a route for this year’s North Island 1,600km. The details of this will remain known only to a Select Few until it is unveiled ceremoniously at 7:00pm on Friday 10 October in the event’s control centre at Turangi!

This year’s route will have a number of photo reference checkpoints as it includes some sealed North Island roads that have never seen a 1,600km event before. So riders will need to bring a digital camera with them, if their phone isn’t equipped with one. Night-time checkpoint references should all be able to be illuminated by a motorcycle’s headlight, although a camera’s flash may make grabbing the necessary photographic reference quicker and easier. Scrutineers will peruse camera images when riders return to Turangi to make sure all have been appropriately snapped.

Registrations and Entry Forms
Registrations received so far have been slower than the Organisers have expected. To date we’ve received about 15. We won’t be riding anywhere unless we’ve got a minimum number of 30 by early July. We’re not anxious at this time, particularly given the positive feedback we’ve received. But please note that if we can’t get 30 paid-up participants, then there will be no October event.

The reason for setting that number is we will need to start incurring costs on your behalf by then if we’re going to deliver a worthwhile event. So if you’re a serious Distance Rider, please get your entry forms completed and returned ASAP.

Could you also please have a chat with your biker mates and see if they’re keen to test themselves against a bit of distance and a night under the stars and a near-new full moon.

An electronic form and a downloadable version can be found on our website www.distanceriders.org.nz

Dates and locations
You should block out your calendars for the weekend of 11 and 12 of October in readiness for 1,600km of riding pleasure. Well, at least 1,600km, given that participants will need to get themselves to and from the official starting and finishing point in Turangi.

The start and finish venue will be the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Camp.

Start time will be between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Organisers will confirm that nearer the time. Note that an earlier start may mean local riders will have to arrive early on Saturday to make sure they and their bikes can be scrutinised in time.

Event fees
The registration fee for the 2014 North Island 1,600 event is $95.00 per rider, GST inclusive.

This fee includes commemorative items and an after-ride meal.

Arrangements have been made with the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Camp regarding accommodation and storage of items for the Saturday night. The costs of those are outlined on the entry form.

Food & lodgings
Arrangements at Turangi include cabin accommodation, either for a sole occupant or for two people to share. Those booking cabins will get a breakfast included for the Saturday and Monday mornings.

Included in the registration fee of $95.00 is an after-ride meal. All ride participants are encouraged to partake for safety reasons, as well as the opportunity to debrief your past day’s experiences and swap photos with others.

There are plenty of motels in Turangi for participants who prefer that style of accommodation to the cabins at the Holiday Camp.

Scrutineering
Your bike will be inspected before the event starts. So will you.

We’ll be checking bikes to see that they have a current registration and WOF, and also to make sure that they look like they’re up for the task at hand. We’ll be checking lights, indicators, horn and tyre tread depth. If the bike’s tyres look too worn or perished, our scrutineers will be packing you off to the nearest bike shop to get that sorted before the event starts.

The inspection of you will involve sighting your licence to see that you have an unrestricted full class 6 New Zealand Driver Licence. People on restricted licenses will have an evening curfew, which will make it impossible for them to complete the course in the time available.

You’ll see in the rules and requirements for this event that our scrutineers and checkpoint marshalls have the authority to withdraw bikes and riders that they believe can’t complete the event safely. Remember that they’re doing this firstly in the best interests of the riders concerned and secondly in the best interests of this event’s reputation. The Organisers want to see all participants arrive safely home.

Scrutineers, Checkpoint Marshalls, Control Centre Administrators & others needed
Bringing an event of this nature together requires extensive back-office support.

We’ve had offers of assistance from some people who love being part of events like these but not sitting astride a motorcycle! We need more. Not all of these volunteers will need to come to Turangi, although we’d love to see you all there. Some of the checkpoints and locations needing support people will be at places other than Turangi. If you are available in a specific region of the North Island, please let us know. If this year’s event is passing through there, we’ll definitely be in touch.

Commemorative items
Patches and badges are expected for events of this type, and the North Island 1,600 will have those. There’s also a T-shirt option for those who want one. The price is $40.00. Please let us know your size on the event’s registration form, or you’ll get a one-size-fits-all model!

Iron Butt Association
Some people are interested in having their ride accredited by the Iron Butt Association in the USA. Riders who want to do this will be responsible for dealing with the IBA. The Organisers will be happy to provide whatever supporting documentation the IBA needs.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in Turangi!

If you have any questions, please drop us a line, either to distanceriders@gmail.com or write to us:
NZ Distance Riders
PO Box 29017
Ngaio
Wellington 6443.