Cold Kiwi bike rally 'just awesome'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 653, 10 September 1996, Page 1

Cold Kiwi bike rally 'just awesome'

By

Michele 1

Monaghan

Waiouru was biker heaven over the weekend with two rallies to choose from and reasonable weather to boot. The 22nd Annual 'Cold Kiwi' organised by the Ruapehu Motorcycle Club went off without a hitch after the usual site on Army land was not available. The Army training area has been closed for recreational purposes to both civilian and military personnel for several months now. The new site supplied by Ted and Artne Bates turned out to be ideal and the hill climb was "just awesome" according to secretary Tracey Mildenhall. Around 1200-1300 bikers made the 'Kiwi' pilgrimage resulting in a 'fabulous' rally. "It's the best Kiwi that I've been to," said Miss Mildenhall. Numbers were expected to be down with the new site, but those loyal to the Kiwi still made the trip. Veteran of all 22 Kiwis, Clive Bentley, expressed his displeasure at the site move and told Tracey the rally should have been cancelled. "At the end he said it was excellent," she said. At the prize giving the bikers all reflected with a one minute silence for Kiwi regulars Keith Murrell and Robyn Downard who lost their lives in a car accident last year. A 'start up' was also staged, with more than a thousand bikes revving a salute to those who have died. Raging mid-winter Closer to Waiouru the 4th-annual Mid-Winter Rage had an attendance of about 800. Co-organiser Maggie Vine said numbers were up by about 100 on last year. "It has built up by about 100 - 150 people every year," she added. Organisers were "in a bit of a flap" last week trying to Turn to Page 2

Cold Kiwi

From Page 1 find their marquee tent flaps, but they turned up at the Ohakune Police Station where they had been for some time. Waiouru police reported a trouble free weekend with only one call-out that was cancelled. Conflict Several people posed the question about why both rallies are held on the same weekend. "If it wasn't on the same weekend I'd go," one Cold Kiwi fan said about the Mid-Winter Rage. "If it wasn't on at the same time, we'd all go," a club representative added. Prior to the first Mid-Winter Rage organisers said the timing was deliberate so bikers could get value for money and two badges at one go. Also the variety of bands and entertainment at the Mid-Winter Rage offer a different atmosphere to Cold Kiwi.