Gearing up for Munro Challenge

ID 133625/JILL McKEE

BIG BITE: The Elk House mobile kitchen owner Ken Smith about to sample some of his fare before cooking up a storm at the campsite for Burt Munro Challenge rally-goers at the Oreti Park rugby grounds this weekend.

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There's only three sleeps to go before Southland's hospitality industry reaches one of its biggest weekends of the year - the Burt Munro Challenge.

Winton businessman Ken Smith is gearing up for a full-on assault which, if it's anything like last year, will see up to 40kg of venison devoured from his mobile kitchen.

It will be the third year The Elk House mobile kitchen has been stationed at rally campsite headquarters at the Oreti Park rugby grounds.

The Elk House's venison is locally sourced from Winton elk farmer Tommy May, owner of Mayfield Elk.

Mr Smith said he would be at the rally from noon on Friday through until Sunday and would be selling venison burgers, sandwiches, wraps and curries from about 10am to 3am. He also hoped to include whitebait patties on the menu.

"But it's looking a bit doubtful (the whitebait) at the moment unless I can source some."

Invercargill moteliers are also preparing themselves for a hectic weekend.

Mark Gane, president of the Invercargill branch of the Moteliers Association, said most of the city's motels were full on the Friday and Saturday nights of the event last year and they were expecting a similar demand this year.

"Every event like this is always good for Southland, certainly for the moteliers and a lot of other businesses," he said.

So far there were still plenty of beds available because many rally-goers left it until the actual day before or even on the day of the event to book in, Mr Gane said.

Invercargill Licensing Trust sales and marketing manager Gary Muir said it was a great event for all of Southland's hospitality establishments and he was anticipating a particularly big year.

While on a trip to Auckland last week, Mr Muir met at least five people who were planning their trips down for the event.

Burt Munro Challenge steering committee chairman Wayne Affleck said pre-registrations for the event were the highest they had been since it began in 2006.

"I am confident we'll have over 2000 (at the event) this year," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News