In the newsletter email which was sent out to entrants of the NI1600 and NI800 rides today, there is a link to detailed setup instructions on Chris Wiltshire's own blog site, for ease of reference here is that link again: 

www.wiltshire.net/2020/09/09/getting-setup-with-spotwalla-for-the-nzdr-north-island-events-2020/

You will need to check back into the email for the passwords to join or view those location pages, they're not available publicly. If you can't find your email then please get in contact with us. - Thanks.

All riders interested in riding in this year’s North Island 1,600 and 800 events please note:
 
The deadline for registration is ​​Wednesday 13 September 2017. That’s less than a week away.
 
Remember, no registration, no ride! No exceptions.
 
This also applies to riders who have sent us entry forms but who are yet to lodge funds with us. The details for those payments are on the entry form located on the Distance Riders web site.
 
The registration deadline is at this time in order to get badges made, T-shirts printed, catering arrangements finalised, and so on.
 
North Island 800 & 1,600 updates
As advertised in the last newsletter, we’ve got a yet another crackling route in store for this year’s 800 and 1,600s, featuring some rare and exotic locations and roads.
 
All will be revealed to registered riders (and sundry others) at Turangi Event HQ at 7:00pm on Friday 6 October 2017 in readiness for the start at 1:00pm on the following day.
 
More details and registration forms can be found here.
 
Registrations for the 1,600 are currently about 30 riders. More would be most welcome!
 
If you’re keen to ride with your mates, please let us know who’s likely to be in your group so that the Event Marshalls can start you together.
 
Registrations for the 800 are currently about 20 riders.
 
1,600 & 800 accommodation
If you need accommodation in the cabins at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park, please contact them directly and let them know that you’re part of the Distance Riders’ events that weekend. Their website has online booking. http://www.turangiholidaypark.co.nz/ or phone them on 07 386 8754.
 
Those who have registered and not yet paid, please make payment ASAP. We’re a not-for-profit organisation and cash flow is important to us.
 
Support Crew Volunteers
We still need about five more people to help with our catering team at Turangi. This is a shift-work arrangement, catering for the returning riders from the 800 ride and then (several hours later) the riders returning from the 1,600. There’s breakfasts in there too for the weekend.
 
We’re well set for scrutineers, administrators and checkpoint people. Many thanks to all of those folk!
 
If you’re keen to help out with this October’s Turangi rides, please let us know. We’re a few frills, low cost, volunteers-driven team focused on providing great events. This means we can provide T-shirts, food and beverages and social interactions for our Support Crew but can’t help with travel or accommodation costs.
 
Hamilton & Wellington 1KC rides
Make sure that Saturday 4 November 2017 is in your ride calendars!
 
This November will see two 1,000km Cruise rides on the same day – the 1KCs. One will start and finish in Wellington, the second will start and finish in Hamilton. The routes for each will be different, with briefing, instructions and checkpoint information sent to registered riders one week prior to the event.
 
Rider entries have been received so far for about 20 riders planning to start at Hamilton and almost 10 for the Wellington ride.
 
Pillion riders are allowed on the 1KC. So too are trikes. There is no formal scrutineering of machines. Riders are expected to ensure that their bikes are legally roadworthy.
 
These are social rides, with plenty of opportunities for riders to stop and yack with each other. After-ride hospitality will be available at a pre-arranged venue. There will be commemorative badges and certificates awarded. As well as being a great day out for riders and pillions, these events contribute to a great cause, with proceeds raised donated to Muscular Dystrophy New Zealand.
 
1KC rides start and finish on the same day. Riders usually start from 6:30am until 7:00am. Most are generally home by 8:00pm, with stragglers returning at up to 10:00pm.
 
More details and event registration forms for the Hamilton and Wellington 1KC rides can be found here.

​North Island 800 & 1,600 ride weekend is looming!
We’re fast approaching the weekend of 7-8 October when this year’s North Island 800 and 1,600 rides are scheduled.
 
Entry numbers are slowly building for each of these two rides, and more are needed if these rides are to go ahead.
 
The Organising Group has brought forward the registration and payment closing date for both rides. This date is now Wednesday 13 September 2017. We’ve done this because arranging all the necessary items has been a bit white-knuckled and teeth-grinding for the past couple of years. A few more days to get things organised will make the Group’s work much easier.
 
This date has been amended on the online forms.
 
North Island 1,600
This year is the Distance Riders’ fourth 1,600 ride. Keen for your first or to continue your distance riding legacy? Then get your registration completed and sent in before Wednesday 13 September.
 
If a legacy is your goal, you’ll have to complete 26 of these events (about 42,000km) to beat the record of 1,600km rides completed.
 
We’ve got a yet another crackling route in store for this year, featuring some rare and exotic locations and roads. All will be revealed at 7:00pm on Friday 6 October 2017 in readiness for the start at 1:00pm on the following day.
 
More details and registration forms can be found here. Remember that the close-off date for registrations AND payments is now Wednesday 13 September 2017. This is so there’s enough time to get T-shirts printed, badges made, food organised, and so on.
 
Registrations are currently approaching 30 riders. If you’re keen to ride with your mates, please let us know who’s likely to be in your group so that the Event Marshalls can start you together.
 
North Island 800
This is our second 800km-in-12-hours event that, like the 1,600, starts and finishes at Turangi. And it is being held on the same weekend as the 1,600 – 7-8 October 2017.
 
This is a great opportunity for distance riders in the 800 and the 1,600 to meet and share experiences of what time-based distance riding is all about.
 
Registrations so far are currently approaching 20 riders.
 
Remember that very little evening riding is involved in the 800. Indeed riders on restricted licences should be checked in back at Turangi before the NZTA’s curfew kicks in.
 
More details and registration forms can be found here. The close-off date for registrations AND payments is Wednesday 13 September 2017.
 
1,600 & 800 accommodation
If you need accommodation in the cabins at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park, please contact them directly and let them know that you’re part of the Distance Riders’ events that weekend. Their website has online booking. http://www.turangiholidaypark.co.nz/ or phone them on 07 386 8754.
 
Those who have registered and not yet paid, please make payment ASAP. We’re a not-for-profit organisation and cash flow is important to us.
 
Support Crew Volunteers
We’ve had a great response in our call for volunteers to help out with event organisation tasks at Turangi and at checkpoints. Many thanks to all those who’ve put their hands up. We’ve acquired some really passionate and experienced people.
 
We still need about five more people to help with our catering team at Turangi. This is a shift-work arrangement, catering for the returning riders from the 800 ride and then (several hours later) the riders returning from the 1,600. There’s breakfasts in there too for the weekend.
 
If you’re keen to help out with this October’s Turangi rides, please let us know. We’re a few frills, low cost, volunteers-driven team focused on providing great events. This means we can provide T-shirts, food and beverages and social interactions for our Support Crew but can’t help with travel or accommodation costs.
 
Hamilton & Wellington 1KC rides
Make sure that Saturday 4 November 2017 is in your ride calendars!
 
This November will see two 1,000km Cruise rides on the same day – the 1KCs. One will start and finish in Wellington, the second will start and finish in Hamilton. The routes for each will be different, with briefing, instructions and checkpoint information sent to registered riders one week prior to the event.
 
Pillion riders are allowed on the 1KC. There is no formal scrutineering of machines. Riders are expected to ensure that their bikes are legally roadworthy.
 
These are social rides, with plenty of opportunities for riders to stop and yack with each other. After-ride hospitality will be available at a pre-arranged venue. There will be commemorative badges and certificates awarded. As well as being a great day out for riders and pillions, these events contribute to a great cause, with proceeds raised donated to Muscular Dystrophy New Zealand.
 
1KC rides start and finish on the same day. Riders usually start from 6:30am until 7:00am. Most are generally home by 8:00pm, with stragglers returning at up to 10:00pm.
 
More details and event registration forms for the Hamilton and Wellington 1KC rides can be found here.

Another season of exciting and adventurous distance riding is fast approaching. There’s still time to get registered and conditioned in readiness for some outstanding riding events. Check out our upcoming rides below.
 
NZ Distance Riders’ events are run BY distance riders FOR distance riders. Unless we’re raising funds for a good cause – like the relationship between the annual 1KC rides and muscular dystrophy – we only want to cover any operating costs involved. This means the registration fees for our events are intended to be realistic for participants.
 
North Island 1,600
This year is the Distance Riders’ fourth 1,600 ride. Keen? Then get ready to ride with New Zealand’s finest distance riders on the weekend of 7-8 October 2017.
 
We’ve got a yet another crackling route in store for this year, featuring some rare and exotic locations and roads. All will be revealed at 7:00pm on Friday 6 October 2017 in readiness for the start at 1:00pm on the Saturday following.
 
More details and registration forms can be found here. Remember that the close-off date for registrations AND payments is Friday 22 September 2017. This is so there’s enough time to get T-shirts printed, badges made, food organised, and so on.
 
Registrations are currently approaching 20 riders. If you’re keen to ride with your mates, please let us know who’s likely to be in your group so that the Event Marshalls can start you together.
 
North Island 800
This is our second 800km ride. Last year’s inaugural ride was a huge success, so we’re looking to start a tradition by repeating the format again this year.
 
This is an 800km-in-12-hours event that, like the 1,600, starts and finishes at Turangi. And it is being held on the same weekend as the 1,600 – 7-8 October 2017. This is a great opportunity for distance riders in the 800 and the 1,600 to meet and share experiences of what time-based distance riding is all about.
 
Registrations so far are currently about 10 riders.
 
Remember that very little evening riding is involved in the 800. Indeed riders on restricted licences should be checked in back at Turangi before the NZTA’s curfew kicks in.
 
More details and registration forms can be found here. The close-off date for registrations AND payments is Friday 22 September 2017.
 
1,600 & 800 accommodation
If you need accommodation in the cabins at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park, please contact them directly and let them know that you’re part of the Distance Riders’ events that weekend. Their website has online booking. http://www.turangiholidaypark.co.nz/ or phone them on 07 386 8754.
 
Those who have registered and not yet paid, please make payment ASAP. We’re a not-for-profit organisation and cash flow is important to us.
 
Support Crew Volunteers
If you’re keen to help out with this October’s Turangi rides, please let us know. We need people with a talent for online administration, motorcycle scrutineering, catering and general support tasks. As the 1,600 runs through the night, then so too does the support team. A roster arrangement is a key part of how the Turangi team operates, which means we need more than one person to fill each of the overnight support roles.
 
We’ll also need volunteers for our manned checkpoints for the 1,600. While we can’t give away details of the route, if you’re interested in helping, please let us know. We’ll make contact with you if you’re handy to one of our three manned outposts. As this event runs through the Saturday night, so too will a couple of the checkpoints. We usually aim to have at least three people supervising each checkpoint.
 
Hamilton & Wellington 1KC rides
Put Saturday 4 November 2017 in your ride calendars right away!
 
This November will once again see two 1,000km Cruise rides on the same day – the 1KCs. One will start and finish in Wellington, the second will start and finish in Hamilton. The routes for each will be different, with briefing, instructions and checkpoint information sent to registered riders one week prior to the event.
 
Pillion riders are allowed on the 1KC. There is no formal scrutineering of machines. Riders are expected to ensure that their bikes are legally roadworthy.
 
These are social rides, with plenty of opportunities for riders to stop and yack with each other. After-ride hospitality will be available at a pre-arranged venue. There will be commemorative badges and certificates awarded. Proceeds raised will be donated to Muscular Dystrophy New Zealand.
 
1KC rides start and finish on the same day. Riders usually start from 6:30am until 7:00am. Most are generally home by 8:00pm, with stragglers returning at up to 10:00pm.
 
More details and event registration forms for the Hamilton and Wellington 1KC rides can be found here.
 
But wait, there’s more…
Although not technically a distance riding event, the 42nd Cold Kiwi Rally is scheduled at Raetihi for the weekend of 1-3 September 2017.
 
More details can be found to the Cold Kiwi’s website http://coldkiwi.co.nz/

The deadline for entries for this year’s North Island 1,600 and North Island 800 rides is just one week away.
 
FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER – just ONE week to go!
 
That’s the deadline for getting your registration forms AND payments in for both rides.
 
Some entries have been received but payments have not. If you’re one of those people, you’ll be hearing from the Organising Group shortly, unless we hear from you first! Payment details can be found on the North Island 1,600 and North Island 800 pages on our website.

​The North Island 1,600 is a flagship event in the distance riding community. These events only arrive once a year.
 
If you’re keen to test yourself and become part of an elite community of riders, you will be made most welcome by the Organising Team at Turangi and by other riders participating.
 
This is Distance Riders’ third 1,600 ride. There have been 25 similar events that precede us, so there is a proud tradition at stake.
 
Keen to ride? Then get ready to join New Zealand’s finest distance riders on the weekend of 8-9 October 2016.
 
This year’s route is a stunner, featuring some locations and roads never before ridden on events of this type. Long John has ridden it and has given it his Gold Star. All will be revealed at the ceremonial unveiling at 7:00pm on Friday 7 October 2016 in readiness for the start at 1:00pm on Saturday 8 October.
 
More details and registration forms can be found here. Remember that the close-off date for registrations AND payments is Friday 23 September 2016. This is so there’s enough time to get T-shirts printed, badges made, food organised, and so on.
 
Registrations are currently approaching 50 riders. If you’re keen to ride with others, please let us know who so that the Event Marshalls can start you together. These events have social opportunities before the start and over a meal at Turangi afterwards. These are chances to swap experiences with likeminded riders, and also build lasting friendships.
 
Why wait another year? Ride a 1,600 in 2016!
 
Remember to get your bike sorted in readiness for the pre-start scrutineering.

​The North Island 800 is our first-ever event of this type. It has been organised in response to positive feedback from members at the end of 2015 from an online survey we organised.
 
This is an 800km-in-12-hours event that, like the 1,600, starts and finishes at Turangi. And it is being held on the same weekend as the 1,600 – 8-9 October 2016. This is a great opportunity for riders in the 800 to meet up with those in the 1,600 and to get a taste of what time-based distance riding is all about.
 
Registrations so far are approaching 30 riders.
 
Remember that very little evening riding is involved. Indeed riders on restricted licences should be checked in back at Turangi before the NZTA’s curfew kicks in. Unlike the North Island 1,600, pillions are allowed for this event.
 
More details and registration forms can be found here. The close-off date for registrations AND payments is Friday 23 September 2016.

​If you need accommodation in the cabins at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park, please contact them directly and let them know that you’re part of the Distance Riders’ events that weekend. Their website has online booking. http://www.turangiholidaypark.co.nz/ or phone them on 07 386 8754.
 
Those who have registered and not yet paid, please make payment ASAP. We’re a not-for-profit organisation and cash flow is important to us.

​If you’re keen to help out with this October’s Turangi rides, please let us know. We need people with a talent for online administration, motorcycle scrutineering, catering and general support tasks. As the 1,600 runs through the night, then so too does the support team. A roster arrangement is a key part of how the Turangi team operates.
 
We make sure that our Turangi team is well fed. All volunteers get a special event T-shirt to make them easier to locate and as a collectable thank-you from the Organising Group on behalf of all participating riders.
 
We’ll also need volunteers for our manned checkpoints for the 1,600. While we can’t give away details of the route, if you’re interested in helping, please let us know. We’ll make contact with you if you’re handy to one of our three manned outposts. As this event runs through the Saturday night, so too will a couple of the checkpoints. We usually aim to have at least three people supervising each checkpoint.
 
For those who have registered their interest in volunteering, thanks. The Organising Group will make contact with you soon.

​Put Saturday 5 November 2016 in your ride calendars right away!
 
This November will see two 1,000km Cruise rides – the 1KCs – in line with the tradition started last year. One will start and finish in Wellington, the second will start and finish in Hamilton. The routes for each will be different with briefing, instructions and checkpoint information sent to registered riders one week prior to the event.
 
Pillion riders are allowed on the 1KC. There is no formal scrutineering of machines. Riders are expected to ensure that their bikes are legally roadworthy.
 
These are social rides, with plenty of opportunities for riders to stop and yack with each other. After-ride hospitality will be available at a pre-arranged venue. There will be commemorative badges and certificates awarded. Proceeds raised will be donated to Muscular Dystrophy New Zealand.
 
1KC rides start and finish on the same day. Riders usually start from 6:30am until 7:00am. Most are generally home by 8:00pm, with stragglers returning at up to 10:00pm.
 
More details and event registration forms for the Hamilton and Wellington 1KC rides can be found here.

​This year is the 10th anniversary of a Wellington 1,000km ride. To commemorate this, we’re offering a “Super Thou” ride to suitably experienced riders starting and finishing at Wellington. This will be a time-limited 1,000km ride, to be completed in about 14 hours from starting. The organisers still have to finalise the route and the associated completion time for this event. It will have a different route to the 1KC ride starting from Wellington.
 
“Suitable experience” includes completion of events like the North Island 1,600, Grand Challenge, Chatto Creek, or a TT2000. Pillions won’t be permitted for the Super Thou. There’s still time to gain the necessary entry criteria by registering in and completing this year’s North Island 1,600! The Super Thou will also have its own completion memorabilia.
 
Please complete a 1KC entry form AND email [email protected] if you are interested in confirming your eligibility to participate in the Super Thou.
 
We’ve already received some impressive distance riding CVs from riders keen to test themselves against the Super Thou.

This year is the 10th anniversary of a Wellington 1,000km ride. To commemorate this, we’re offering a “Super Thou” ride to suitably experienced riders starting and finishing at Wellington. This will be a time-limited 1,000km ride, to be completed in about 14 hours from starting. The organisers still have to finalise the route and the associated completion time for this event. It will have a different route to the other Wellington 1KC ride.
 
“Suitable experience” includes completion of events like the North Island 1,600, Grand Challenge, Chatto Creek, or a TT2000. Pillions won’t be permitted for the Super Thou. There’s still time to gain the necessary entry criteria by registering in and completing this year’s North Island 1,600! The Super Thou will also have its own completion memorabilia.
 
Please complete a 1KC entry form AND email [email protected] if you are interested in confirming your eligibility to participate in the Super Thou.
 
A couple of suitably qualified Hard Arses have already registered for the Super Thou.

This year is the 10th anniversary of a Wellington 1,000km ride. To commemorate this, we’re offering a “Super Thou” ride to suitably experienced riders starting and finishing at Wellington. This will be a time-limited 1,000km ride, to be completed in about 14 hours from starting. The organisers still have to finalise the route and the associated completion time for this event. It will have a different route to the other Wellington 1KC ride.
 
“Suitable experience” includes completion of events like the North Island 1,600, Grand Challenge, Chatto Creek, or a TT2000. Pillions won’t be permitted for the Super Thou. There’s still time to gain the necessary entry criteria by registering in and completing this year’s North Island 1,600! The Super Thou will also have its own completion memorabilia.
 
Please complete a 1KC entry form AND email [email protected] if you are interested in confirming your eligibility to participate in the Super Thou.

​Greetings Distance Riders!
 
This October we’ve got two rides scheduled. They’re happening on the same weekend, both starting and finishing at Turangi. These are designed to appeal to a wide range of distance riding ambitions and experiences, so circle the weekend of 8 & 9 October on your calendars now!
 
The North Island 1,600 is now in its third year and is the Gold Standard for New Zealand distance rides.
 
This year it’s joined by a “lite” version – an 800km-in-12-hours ride, known as the North Island 800. This is intended as an introduction to distance riding for curious newcomers, and something a bit less demanding for riders who still like the social interactions and challenges of longer rides but without the saddle time or the long evening stage that is a key part of the 1,600.
 
Having the two rides happening at the same time has benefits – and cost efficiencies – for the Organising Group, particularly involving scrutineering, event management and catering. It also provides a great chance for distance riders to meet and socialise.
 
Read on for more details about each of these events.

​Great events need a great team of organisers. We’re interested in hearing from people keen to help out at Turangi or at our manned checkpoints around the North Island. We need people who can help scrutinise bikes, prepare and deliver great food, manage our online databases and other IT kit, assist with general administration and other tasks.
 
If you’re keen to help deliver two great events, please send us an email letting us know your preferred region (for checkpoint people), or your areas of interest and expertise for roles at Turangi. While we can’t reveal the route to those interested in checkpoint duties, we’re keen to know who is able to help out wherever and will then contact (in confidence) those who best meet our needs. [email protected] is our email.

​The third North Island 1,600 is scheduled for the weekend of 8-9 October 2016.
 
We’re sticking with the format used for the past two 1,600s. The official start will be at 1:00pm on Saturday. The route will be posted at Event HQ in Turangi at 7:00pm on Friday 7 October 2016. Bikes will be scrutinised before the start.
 
Further details about this year’s ride can be found on the Distance Riders’ website http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/the-north-island-1600.html.
 
The route for this year’s run has been set by the Organising Group and ridden by our Official Arbiter of Standards. It includes some North Island sealed roads as yet unridden by events of this type, so get your predictive hats on and start speculating! All that can be officially revealed at this time is that this event starts and finishes at Turangi…
 
Pricing for the event itself is $80.00. This includes the dinner for returning riders, the certificate and the metal badge. Please note that there are some other costs you make like to consider. These include an event T-shirt, and fully-cooked breakfasts at $10.00 per person per breakfast. Those details can be found on the event registration form.
 
Accommodation at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park is cheaper than in previous years. The camp’s management has changed and they are keen to help make this year’s ride work well for participants. If you’re keen to stay at the camp, please book directly with them. Contact details are on the event registration form. Please let them know you’re part of the Distance Riders group so that you get the agreed discounts.
 
The fully-cooked breakfasts have proved popular over the past couple of rides. At $10.00 per person per breakfast, they’re great value. If you’d like to indulge, then please tick the appropriate box on the registration form.
 
For those of you keen to get Iron Butt Association certification for this ride, please tick the box on the form. We’re still in discussion with the IBA about pricing, and the US:NZ dollar exchange rate can make a slight difference either way. The Organising Group will confirm the exact cost of this prior to October.
 
We’re expecting a few more riders at Turangi this year both for the 1,600 and for the new 800 event that’s being held at the same time. These should create some great distance rider networking opportunities.

​Our survey of member a few months ago showed very strong support for the proposal for an 800km-in-12-hours event.
 
So much so that the first ever North Island 800 will happen the same weekend as the 1,600 – in this case, on Saturday 8 October 2016.
 
Details and the registration form are available on the Distance Riders’ website http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/the-north-island-800.html.
 
The official start for this ride will be at 10:00am. This will allow time for riders with restricted licences to complete and be off the road before the NZTA curfew kicks in.
 
The route (which has been set by the Organising Group and ridden by our Official Arbiter of Standards) will be posted at 7:00pm on Friday 7 October at Event HQ in Turangi. It’s an absolute stunner of a ride…
 
To ensure that riders’ bike are scrutineered in time for the start, it’s probably a good idea to arrive in Turangi on Friday afternoon, rather than risk limited time (and the Scrutineering Team’s patience) before the official start on Saturday. If your bike’s not good to go on time, the Organisers won’t let you start.
 
We’ve negotiated an accommodation deal with the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park. Please book directly with them. Those details are included on the registration form. Please let them know you’re part of the Distance Riders group so that you get the agreed discounts.
 
Remember that the $30.00 entry fee (each for rider and pillion) includes an after-ride dinner. Qualifying riders will also receive an official metal badge and a certificate.
 
Event T-shirts are also available for purchase by riders and pillions. Please make sure you let us know your sizes when completing the registration form.

​There’s a strong history of distance riding in New Zealand, and some bloody amazing people who have ridden and helped organise events over the past 30 years. Their contributions should be celebrated, and the Organising Group plans to do that.
 
Read about the first of our Legends – Murray Gray – on the Distance Riders website http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/murray-gray.html.

Dates and venue set for 2016
For all of you seriously-minded distance riders, and those who may be curious about participating, the Organising Group is pleased to announce that the Third North Island 1,600 will be held on the weekend of 8-9 October 2016. We’ll be basing the Event HQ at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park, as is traditional for these events.
 
Registrations are open, for those of you who may be early-birds. We plan to fine-tune our online registration system shortly but that won’t make any difference for those of you who would like to sign up now. Book your leave and start planning your training schedule!
 
Fees will be the same as for the last ride. Completing riders will get a patch, badge and certificate in their completion kit. Event-specific T-shirts will be available for those who wish to buy them. Rider Notes booklets will be made available from 7:00pm on Friday 7 October when the route is officially announced. Full details and costs can be found on our website.
 
We’ve also got a new concept in mind for 2016, which we’ll outline further down in this newsletter…
 
We’ve set a route!
The Organisers have been busy plotting and scheming. We’ve also taken on board feedback received after the 2015 ride. And we’ve got a route agreed for 2016. In keeping with the past two events, there will be some stretches of tar seal previously untrammelled by organised 1,600km rides.
 
Same deal as our previous rides – the 2016 North Island 1,600 will all be on sealed roads (apart from occasional road works), a 1:00pm start from Turangi, photo and manned checkpoints, no pillions, pre-start scrutineering, and so on.
 
Iron Butt certification
All of the riders in the 2015 North Island 1,600 who registered with the Iron Butt Association and completed the ride should have now received their certificates and badges from the IBA. Congratulations! We aim to continue our relationship with the IBA and this registration will be part of the offering for future North Island 1,600 rides.
 
And now for something a bit different…
During conversations after this year’s ride, some comments were made about the possibility of organising a North Island 800. We’re keen to get feedback and suggestions about this concept. If there’s enough support, then we’ll add it to our schedule for 2016.
 
Here’s the proposal as it currently stands:

• Held on the same weekend as the North Island 1,600 (8-9 October 2016)
• Starting and finishing from Event HQ at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park
• 800km minimum distance (route practicalities may make this a bit longer)
• Route announced at 7:00pm on Friday 7 October. This event is not just a “day ride”. Participants will be encouraged to attend the Friday night route announcement and then take time planning their ride prior to starting. Riders should plan for two nights’ accommodation at Turangi.
• We estimate we will be able to offer the ride for a $30 entry fee (Riders should allow $120 for 2 nights’ cabin + $20 for 2 cooked breakfasts. Or $80 for 2 nights shared cabin + $20 for 2 cooked breakfasts, or make their own accommodation arrangements at Turangi.)
• Start from 10:00am on the Saturday
• Pillions allowed
• Restricted Class 6 licenses allowed (ride should be able to be completed before the NZTA restricted license curfew)
• Photo checkpoints only
• Dinner available for riders and pillions on completion
• Metal badge and certificate for completing riders and pillions
• Sealed roads only
• We ride in all weathers!
• No pre-start scrutineering, but all bikes must have current registration and WOF
• Accommodation available at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park.

 
This idea had its beginnings from some older riders who are still keen to socialise and go for a ride with their distance-riding mates but who no longer feel up to the rigors of a 1,600km ride – particularly the night stage. Some also thought a shorter ride could be a good introduction for younger, distance-ride-curious folk. It would give them exposure to what these rides entail, with a chance to meet and talk with others in the distance riding community. Apart from the start and finish points, this ride would not overlap with the North Island 1,600 – the premier event for that weekend.
 
Here’s a link to an online survey. It should only take a few minutes to complete, and the Organising Group would welcome feedback and expressions of interest.
 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/76FDHJV