Here's where we went in 2014. We're going to some different places this time round...
Two weeks to go until registrations close for this year’s North Island 1,600. That’s right, close of play on Friday 25 September is when the hammer will fall.
The official start will be at 1:00pm on Saturday 10 October. The time between the entry close-off and the start is so that the Organising Group can get all of the badges, patches and T-shirt made, organise the catering and all those other matters that are dependent on the numbers of registered riders.
You should also be thinking about preparing yourself and your steed of choice for some serious saddle time. There’s some information on our website that may be useful for this task http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/preparing-for-distance-rides.html
Remember that our scrutineers will be taking an active interest in the roadworthiness of all competing machines, and if they aren’t happy with what they see, then riders won’t be able to start until any concerns are remedied. Given that the closest bike shop is in Taupo and the start time is 1:00pm on a Saturday, it’s best not to take any chances.
We'll share the route on 9 October!
It’s hard to hype up a secret route, other than to say those three magic words that distance riders love to hear: “Corners, corners, corners!” Remember that we don’t ride on unsealed roads, other than those that may have stretches of roadworks. That doesn’t mean that returning bikes won’t need a wash…
We’ve had enquiries from some GPS devotees as to whether waypoints and checkpoint information can be made available to help with programming tasks. The answer is yes. But we won’t be providing a downloadable route map. Participating riders should still take some responsibility for managing their ride.
For the first time this year’s route meets the North American Iron Butt Association’s requirements for a SS1000 (Saddle Sore 1000). If you are interested, you will need to complete the ride and submit your photos. Because the IBA charges a fee, we will have to do the same. This means that an extra $55.00 will be needed. For this you will get an IBA patch, certificate, and membership of the esteemed IBA. In our last newsletter we advised that that cost was $48.00 but forgot about the exchange rate difference between the NZ$ and the US$. Sorry about that.
To keep costs down we will order the certificates and patches after the ride. These will be sent from the USA, so they will take a few weeks to arrive. More details about the IBA can be found at www.ironbutt.com or on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Butt_Association
Starting and finishing at Turangi
The start and finish will be at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park, as is a tradition for these sorts of events. The final details of the route will be unveiled at 7:00pm on Friday 9 October.
If you’re keen, then please go to our website http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/the-north-island-1600.html and either fill out the online form, or download the PDF version which you can either post to us at P O Box 29017, Ngaio, Wellington; or scan and email to us at [email protected]. Riders using the online forms will need to provide a signature at the pre-start registration. Please familiarise yourself with this event’s terms and conditions published on the web page.
Please pass these details onto your networks of interested mates.
Entries please!
We have received nearly 40 entries (including a few strong expressions of interest) so far. If you are entering and want to be part of a group of mates, could you please let us know who those other riders may be so we can make sure you’re all in the same starting group. If you’ve registered and haven’t paid, we’d appreciate that too please. If you have expressed interest but are yet to do fill out and send us a form (and pay your fees), then get cracking! Friday 25 September will be around soon enough.
Remember that your registration fee will provide successful riders with a certificate, patch and badge. If you rode in last year’s event and didn’t reclaim your $25.00 rebate, then that will be deducted from your entry fee for this year’s ride. If you are one of those riders and can’t compete this year, then please let us know your bank account details so that we can refund your $25.00.
Event-specific T-shirts are also available. As too is accommodation at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park. The details and prices are all outlined on the event registration form. Details can be found on our website here http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/the-north-island-1600.html
Non-riding volunteers
Thanks to everybody who has graciously agreed to give up their time to help with this year’s event. That includes the team at Turangi HQ and four manned checkpoints around the North Island. This event can’t happen without you, so thanks heaps. We hope you’ll enjoy the weekend as much as the riders will.
Thanks everybody!
We’re really looking forward to this year’s ride and hope that you are too. Get that leave booked, send us those completed entry forms, and get yourselves bike fit in readiness for a chance to ride on some of the North Island’s best motorcycling roads in the company of other elite riders.
Housekeeping stuff
Our mailing list is now well over 300 people, which is why we’ve migrated to Mailchimp. This change will also allow us to better meet our members’ information needs.
The official start will be at 1:00pm on Saturday 10 October. The time between the entry close-off and the start is so that the Organising Group can get all of the badges, patches and T-shirt made, organise the catering and all those other matters that are dependent on the numbers of registered riders.
You should also be thinking about preparing yourself and your steed of choice for some serious saddle time. There’s some information on our website that may be useful for this task http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/preparing-for-distance-rides.html
Remember that our scrutineers will be taking an active interest in the roadworthiness of all competing machines, and if they aren’t happy with what they see, then riders won’t be able to start until any concerns are remedied. Given that the closest bike shop is in Taupo and the start time is 1:00pm on a Saturday, it’s best not to take any chances.
We'll share the route on 9 October!
It’s hard to hype up a secret route, other than to say those three magic words that distance riders love to hear: “Corners, corners, corners!” Remember that we don’t ride on unsealed roads, other than those that may have stretches of roadworks. That doesn’t mean that returning bikes won’t need a wash…
We’ve had enquiries from some GPS devotees as to whether waypoints and checkpoint information can be made available to help with programming tasks. The answer is yes. But we won’t be providing a downloadable route map. Participating riders should still take some responsibility for managing their ride.
For the first time this year’s route meets the North American Iron Butt Association’s requirements for a SS1000 (Saddle Sore 1000). If you are interested, you will need to complete the ride and submit your photos. Because the IBA charges a fee, we will have to do the same. This means that an extra $55.00 will be needed. For this you will get an IBA patch, certificate, and membership of the esteemed IBA. In our last newsletter we advised that that cost was $48.00 but forgot about the exchange rate difference between the NZ$ and the US$. Sorry about that.
To keep costs down we will order the certificates and patches after the ride. These will be sent from the USA, so they will take a few weeks to arrive. More details about the IBA can be found at www.ironbutt.com or on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Butt_Association
Starting and finishing at Turangi
The start and finish will be at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park, as is a tradition for these sorts of events. The final details of the route will be unveiled at 7:00pm on Friday 9 October.
If you’re keen, then please go to our website http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/the-north-island-1600.html and either fill out the online form, or download the PDF version which you can either post to us at P O Box 29017, Ngaio, Wellington; or scan and email to us at [email protected]. Riders using the online forms will need to provide a signature at the pre-start registration. Please familiarise yourself with this event’s terms and conditions published on the web page.
Please pass these details onto your networks of interested mates.
Entries please!
We have received nearly 40 entries (including a few strong expressions of interest) so far. If you are entering and want to be part of a group of mates, could you please let us know who those other riders may be so we can make sure you’re all in the same starting group. If you’ve registered and haven’t paid, we’d appreciate that too please. If you have expressed interest but are yet to do fill out and send us a form (and pay your fees), then get cracking! Friday 25 September will be around soon enough.
Remember that your registration fee will provide successful riders with a certificate, patch and badge. If you rode in last year’s event and didn’t reclaim your $25.00 rebate, then that will be deducted from your entry fee for this year’s ride. If you are one of those riders and can’t compete this year, then please let us know your bank account details so that we can refund your $25.00.
Event-specific T-shirts are also available. As too is accommodation at the Turangi Kiwi Holiday Park. The details and prices are all outlined on the event registration form. Details can be found on our website here http://www.distanceriders.org.nz/the-north-island-1600.html
Non-riding volunteers
Thanks to everybody who has graciously agreed to give up their time to help with this year’s event. That includes the team at Turangi HQ and four manned checkpoints around the North Island. This event can’t happen without you, so thanks heaps. We hope you’ll enjoy the weekend as much as the riders will.
Thanks everybody!
We’re really looking forward to this year’s ride and hope that you are too. Get that leave booked, send us those completed entry forms, and get yourselves bike fit in readiness for a chance to ride on some of the North Island’s best motorcycling roads in the company of other elite riders.
- Mike Angell
- John Maroulis
- James Riley
- Brett Sangster
Housekeeping stuff
Our mailing list is now well over 300 people, which is why we’ve migrated to Mailchimp. This change will also allow us to better meet our members’ information needs.
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