From the late 1980s I began to consider how we could promote Adventure riding in NZ on road legal dual purpose bikes. My first attempt at organising a ride was the Kiwi Rider 500, a one day, long distance, timed Adventure. The success of this ride, plus relentless promotion in Kiwi Rider by myself and co-publisher Pete Mc Phee, helped lead to to the formation of Adventure rides across the country .
The real credit for the success of these rides however goes to those enthusiasts who added, not only their enthusiasm, but their all-important local knowledge and access contacts, either designing courses for us or as was most often the case, promoting and organising entire new rides of their own.
Then of course I must mention the companies who added and in some cases continue to add valuable commercial sponsorship to Adventure riding; BMW NZ (John Glasswell and Grant Clegg), Blue Wing Honda, Yamaha Motor NZ (Peter Payne) and Whites Powersports (Keith Larkin).
Many people were involved with these early rides. Mike Britton, John Forsyth, Stuart Hamilton, Bruce Marshall, Billy Biber, Jack Beaumont, Greg Power, Dave Britten, Joe Forsyth, John Friis, Nick Reader, Cam Jeffries, Paul Leyden, John Sinclair and Robbie Cricket come to mind and there certainly are many more besides, who I may remember in time, but, please email me with any deserving suggestions.
Some of the above people are still involved in running Adventures to this day, most notably Britton Adventures. Mike Britton and Angela Bruce have been running adventure rides since the early 1990s and their annual Far North Adventure is the longest-running ride in the country. - see the Organised Adventures tab for more info their coming rides.
I must also thank Mark Whyte and Dene Humphrey for their God-like riding, as depicted in some of the skills and test material.
Lastly, but most importantly I must thank my partner Natalie Kirton who worked unstintingly helping me organise countless Enduros and Adventures from 1974 and who has allowed me to indulge in my motorcycling passions without complaint and complete support.
John Nick 2013.
The real credit for the success of these rides however goes to those enthusiasts who added, not only their enthusiasm, but their all-important local knowledge and access contacts, either designing courses for us or as was most often the case, promoting and organising entire new rides of their own.
Then of course I must mention the companies who added and in some cases continue to add valuable commercial sponsorship to Adventure riding; BMW NZ (John Glasswell and Grant Clegg), Blue Wing Honda, Yamaha Motor NZ (Peter Payne) and Whites Powersports (Keith Larkin).
Many people were involved with these early rides. Mike Britton, John Forsyth, Stuart Hamilton, Bruce Marshall, Billy Biber, Jack Beaumont, Greg Power, Dave Britten, Joe Forsyth, John Friis, Nick Reader, Cam Jeffries, Paul Leyden, John Sinclair and Robbie Cricket come to mind and there certainly are many more besides, who I may remember in time, but, please email me with any deserving suggestions.
Some of the above people are still involved in running Adventures to this day, most notably Britton Adventures. Mike Britton and Angela Bruce have been running adventure rides since the early 1990s and their annual Far North Adventure is the longest-running ride in the country. - see the Organised Adventures tab for more info their coming rides.
I must also thank Mark Whyte and Dene Humphrey for their God-like riding, as depicted in some of the skills and test material.
Lastly, but most importantly I must thank my partner Natalie Kirton who worked unstintingly helping me organise countless Enduros and Adventures from 1974 and who has allowed me to indulge in my motorcycling passions without complaint and complete support.
John Nick 2013.
