Go to the Events ArchiveHere are some photos of one of our more notorious regular runs. Ten years ago Syd (one of the Vintage Car Club characters from way back) organised a social run for a few mopeds and clip-ons to celebrate his 70th birthday. So this year was the tenth celebration of Syd’s 70th birthday! It’s a fun day out but one hell of a run for an underpowered tiddler.
The course starts south of the city at the foot of the Port Hills and follows around the base of the hills for a few miles, before a long uphill drag to the road tunnel entrance. In normal circumstances cycles and mopeds are banned from the tunnel but Syd pulled some strings. We waited for the tail-enders to catch up, the tunnel staff held the traffic while we pedalled furiously in a big cloud of smoke into the entrance. The tunnel is about a mile long and downhill, making for a fun run!
From the tunnel the road twists and turns around the harbour, with a couple of stiff climbs before we reach the Wheatsheaf. Gebbies Pass is the supreme test, with a rise of close to 600ft in about 2 miles, some chose to hitch a ride on the backup but most give it a go. Roller-drives can usually get to within 500 metres of the summit, a bit more if you pedal hard enough, whereas a good Puch or Zündapp can make it to the top. After that it’s all downhill to the finish at TaiTapu, about 50 miles all told plus 15 to get home. One day I will make the hill without having to get off and push!
Around 180 bikes took part, everything from autocycles, mopeds and cyclemotors to later machines. There was even a Villiers-powered invalid trike which just made it to the top.
The assembled throng before the off
Extra power for hill-climbing...
Fine tuning before tackling Gebbies Pass
NSU Quickly with Honda C100 power!
First published, April 2006