RALLY REPORTSNZ MAIL RUN
94 :OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA
29th Mail Run
- 17-18 March, 2018 – Napier, New Zealand.
The Mail Run
must get through!
Report and photosJim and Maggie Lord
This year’sMail Run Rally nearly
didn’t happen! Heavy rain, slips and
flooding closed SH5 between Taupo
and Napier on the Thursday leading
up to the weekend event. Fortunately
for us, the road reopened and cleared,
enabling myself and other participants
to get to Taupo on Friday for the start
of the rally on Saturday morning.
Saturday dawned fresh and clear
with a good gathering of bikes and
riders soon had a jovial atmosphere
going anticipating the start. Riders’
briefing assured everyone that the
road to Napier was safe and clear,
with the oldest bikes, which included
three Indian Scouts and an AJS K8 all
pre 1930 leading off at 10am. A
strong head wind and a substantial
climb out of Taupo, ensured no speed
records were broken on the first leg!
The regroup at the Rangitikei
Tearooms enabled the usual tinkering
then away to the Tarawera Cafe
lunch stop. The bikes, once again,
assembled in ‘decade’ groups for
voting by riders and Hawkes Bay
Motorcycle Club members who joined
us for lunch.
With the conditions near perfect,
everyone set off for Napier. Once over
the ranges, the ride down the Esk
Valley was picturesque and enjoyable.
Everyone regrouped outside of the
airport before travelling into Napier
for a public display outside the
Masonic Hotel; this allowed a well
earned drink for the riders! The
evening meal and prize giving went
well with first-time entrant, Dennis
Palmer from Lower Hutt taking out
the “Tin Man Trophy” – the riders’
choice – on his stunning WL Harley.
Next year will be the 30th running of
this event with hopes of a bigger
turnout of bikes and riders.■Mail RunJudging Results
CLASS RIDER BIKE
Best 1920s Dennis Bristow 1927 BSA
Best 1930s Dennis Palmer 1939 WL Harley Davidson
Best 1940s Alan Watson 1947 Ariel NH
Best 1950s Kirk Ellis 1952 Sunbeam S7
Tin Man Trophy Dennis Palmer 1939 WL Harley Davidson
Rally bikes soak up Lady Rider Karen Nitschke 1954 BSA B31
the breeze in Napier.ABOVE Gary Alve on his 1936 ES2 Norton.
ABOVE RIGHT Mike Harris and his 1928 AJS K8.
RIGHT Dennis Palmer won Best 1930s
for his WLA Harley.Trevor Alve with his 1937 Norton ES2.