Bruce Fraser 'the closest thing to Burt Munro'

ID 133729/ROBYN EDIE

GO, BEACH RACER: Aucklander Bruce Fraser with his beach racer, a modified BSA, which he hopes will win the classic bike section of the Burt Munro Challenge beach racing tonight.

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He's been described by organisers of this weekend's Burt Munro Challenge as the closest thing to the legendary man himself.

Aucklander Bruce Fraser says he just loves tinkering with old bikes and loves the thrill he gets from racing them.

The classic motorcycle enthusiast will be fronting up at Oreti Beach tonight for the third time in as many years to race his pride and joy — a highly modified BSA.

"You see this engine, I've had it for 30 years-plus," he said. "And it goes bloody fast ...

"It's bloody brilliant and it's quite exciting because it gets this sexy little wobble when you're getting up to speeds over 75 mile an hour."

The bike weighs just 100kg while Fraser weighs about 75kg, making for a lightweight rocket.

"I just love it to bits.

"I have won so much money on it."

And winning was the plan for today in the classic bike race.

Burt Munro Challenge steering committee chairman Wayne Affleck said Fraser was a real inventor when it came to modifying bikes.

"He's about the closest thing you would get to Burt (Munro)."

Fraser's friend and fellow Aucklander Jak Jakicevich, who is also down for the event, acknowledged his mate was one of a kind.

"I've seen him out with a carving chisel, shaping a piston," he said.

The Oreti Beach racing kicks off at 4pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News