Hill to echo to motorcycle roar once again

The Burt Munro Challenge will get off to a thrilling start today, with motorcycling returning to Bluff Hill for the first time in more than a decade.

In an exciting new initiative by Challenge organisers, the Bluff Hill Climb has been added to this year's schedule and will kickstart the annual four- day extravaganza when racing gets under way from the bottom of Flagstaff Rd at 10am today.

Motorcycle riders have not taken to the hill since 1996 and spokesman Anthony Edwards said it would be an ideal way to get this year's Burt Munro Challenge into gear.

"It was one of Burt's favourite events. It's an opportunity to expand the whole concept and is an opportunity for riders to try every event."

The Bluff Hill Climb has a storied history, with the Southland Motorcycle Club first staging the event in 1928. Many famous names have raced up Bluff Hill during the years, including world land speed record holder Russell Wright and George Begg – who built the world- famous Begg race cars. Munro himself won the event in 1940 and 1950.

There will be plenty riding on the hill climb, with national titles up for grabs in the open class and up-to-600cc categories.

Kiwi motorcycling legend Andrew Stroud will be one of the favourites for the open title, with multiple New Zealand champion Shaun Harris a good shot for glory in the 600cc class.

Other racing on the day will feature pre-63, pre-72, pre-89 bikes and ATV quads.

Riders will each have three timed runs up the 1.4km hill on the day, with only the fastest time counting. Edwards said the leading riders in the event could clock speeds as fast as 180kmh up the straight.

He believed there would be little separating the times, with most riders short on hill climb experience.

"There's not that many (hill climbs) around," Edwards said.

"They're a bit of a rarity.

"Most of the riders will probably be first-timers."

Edwards expected the course to be pretty challenging for the riders because of its rough, uneven surface and numerous technical turns.

"It will be bumpy, rough and fast ... It's very dangerous," he said.

When asked what it would take to do well in the event, he said it would be all about riding smoothly and maintaining composure.

It is anticipated that a crowd of about three to four thousand people will attend the opening event of the Burt Munro Challenge. The best place for carparking is down on the foreshore.

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