The
Rotary Club of Papakura, NZ held their third Motorcycle Show on August
15 and 16 at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, Auckland. This year, the
show was open to both classic and custom bikes. It was sponsored by Star
Insurance, Indian Motorcycles, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Ride Forever national training programme and Motorcycle Trader magazine.
Four thousand
visitors enjoyed the spectacle (and noise) of 475 bikes, 25 bike clubs
and numerous trade stands selling everything from new bikes, through to
clothing, accessories, spare parts, services and bike related
information.
From
the Indian and Victory Motorcycle trade stands to the Auckland Veteran
Motor Cycle Club, from Ducatti to Triumph, from $1 million machines to
the most basic and ancient of motorcycles waiting to be restored, and
from top names in the motorcycle racing community to amateur
enthusiasts, they were all there, and so to were the public who turned
up in their droves to support Papakura Rotary’s fundraiser.
Indian Motorcycles prepared a 2015 Indian Scout prepared
as a tribute to Burt Munro. It was themed with Burt’s racing colours,
35 race number and “Spirit of Munro” logo on the tank. Then they
donated the bike to the Rotary club and it was auctioned on Trademe
raising $36,700 which enabled the show to open with expenses covered.
This
fundraiser for the Rotary club was well supported by 34 club members
assisting over the weekend, some of whom braved the rain on the Saturday
as they stoically endured their time on the gate and car parking
duties. Overall $70,000 was raised which will go to charity, including
further education for staff at the National Burn Unit at Middlemore
Hospital in South Auckland, as well as many Rotary programmes, including
Rotary Safety Education (formerly called RYDA), Rotary Youth Leadership
Award (RYLA) and Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN).
The
most enriching part of this project is the fellowship of working
together both before the weekend and during the long hours which need to
be put in over the show weekend to ensure its success.
