Burt Munro 'twin' rides in for challenge

JOHN HAWKINS/151345

FAMILY OUTING: Burt Munro lookalike Sandy Begbie with his daughters (from left) Lindy Mason and Sandra Cain and and his wife Ann Begbie.

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Oreti Park has become home to some of the country's staunchest motorcyclists, who have flocked to Invercargill for the Burt Munro Challenge this weekend.

One of the most ardent biking enthusiasts this side of Bonneville was Ashburton man Sandy Begbie, who has been riding motorcycles for most of his 80 years.

As well as sharing Burt Munro's passion for motorcycles, he resembles the man.

His enthusiasm for biking has become something of a family affair, with his wife and three daughters also making the trip south to get a taste of the popular motorcycle rally.

Mr Begbie courted his wife Ann on a Triumph Speed Twin motorcycle, and his daughter Catherine Fraser also married a biker.

Daughter Lindy Mason said her father was "a bad influence" for getting his children into motorcycling.

"But it's pretty special because it's something we can all do together – other than sitting around drinking cups of tea," she said.

Despite breaking his ankle when his bike skidded on a shingle road three months ago, Mr Begbie said he loves riding his biking more than ever.

"It's probably more of a thrill riding now than when I first started after I left school.

"I find it relaxing, being out in the elements, on the road," he said.

With wind gusts reaching 75kmh yesterday putting tents up became a difficult task at the campsite.

But there was an atmosphere of excitement at the tent city, and there was no shortage of interesting stories from the bikers, with many having travelled thousands of kilometres to attend.

Ex-traffic officer Bryce Meredith, from Wairarapa, said he had recently finished a 12-month tour of duty with a United Nations peacekeeping team in Israel and had been looking forward to the event for two years.

His companion, Tony Johnston, also from Wairarapa, said that being a bikie was a bit like being a pilot.

"There are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots – it works the same with motorcyclists," he said.

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