Rob's a regular Brass Monkey

NATASHA MARTIN/The Timaru Herald

MONKEY MADNESS: Rob Millington is a guaranteed participant at the Central Otago rally.

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All it took was one Brass Monkey Rally and Timaru motorbike enthusiast Rob Millington was hooked.

Mr Millington struck out early yesterday afternoon for his 24th trip to Oturehua in Central Otago for the Otago Motorcycle Club's annual Brass Monkey event.

This year he took his TL1005 Suzuki, which has just been fitted with new tyres. An engineer who operates a training company, Mr Millington has eight motorbikes.

While he attends other rallies, the Brass Monkey is one he wouldn't miss.

"It's cold, it's really cold - that's why the crazies go."

This year is the Brass Monkey's 30th anniversary, and Mr Millington expected up to 2500 people could attend – everyone from labourers to lawyers. "It's actually just good socialising and meeting up with people you haven't seen for 12 months."

After 24 years, he had plenty of good memories. "Once, this Maori chap went right round the camp site – he did it on a dare – completely nude."

As a veteran of the event, Mr Millington said he knew a lot of useful tricks, including setting up his tent in the ideal position for panoramic lake views in the morning.

To survive the night, one essential item was a good sleeping bag, especially when the temperature got down round minus 12 Celsius, he said.

Some years the weather had been mild, but Mr Millington did not check the forecast for this year. "It's one of those things: rain, snow, ice – it doesn't matter."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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