Pukekohe Taupo Race Days

Despite my best efforts, once again MNZ has overridden NZCMRR willingness to let classic scooters partcipate in their labour Weekend Championship festival. I am not sure what the answer is, sorry for any disappointments, we still have a group going to Taupo on November 22 

link to register for Taupo track day is http://motott.co.nz/ go to bookings and send an email confirming your entry - Note it will be the full 3.5km track and we will participate in the slow class, let us know if anyone is interested in accommodation in taupo as some of us will share a Motel room.

Some interesting reading for anyone interested below.

Hi NZCMRR Committee Members

The minutes of our 6/8/08 committee meeting directed me to follow up on the Scooter Group’s earnest desire to participate in our Lab W/E meeting at Pukekohe.   You will note that I have included Michael Davies of the Scooter Group as an addressee in that I consider it imperative that Michael should know that the end product situation is not of the Register’s making.   At the meeting I think we were all in general agreement that it would be fine to have the scooters participate.   Their involvement would provide  an entertaining lunch break event, they would enjoy themselves, and we would gain a bit of extra income to help defray costs.   A win win situation.   Unfortunately it has to become a lose lose situation.  Sadly they can not participate for the following reasons and observations:-

(a)      One day licences can only be used at club events, not at championship events or those under an international permit.   It has not been confirmed but the understanding is that the TT Title event (Lab W/E) will be seen by MNZ as a championship event.   Hence no steward issued one day licences can be allowed.

(b)      In any event, one day licences can only be issued to members of an MNZ affiliated club.   We understand that some scooter members have a tie in to the Auck M/C Club, but I‘m uncertain as to how that works.

(c)      MNZ does not recognize scooters as a sporting class.   They’re simply not written into their rules.   Hence my uncertainty as to how some scooter people might be linked via scooters to the Auck M/C Club.

(d)      Day licences can only be issued to a member competing in a class included within, and approved on, the issued permit.   Scooters are not on our Lab W/E permit, and MNZ would not allow them to be included on any such permit in that MNZ do not recognize them.   And in anycase, there is no way that we would now be allowed to vary our existing permit.

(e)      And incidently day licences cannot under any circumstances be issued to overseas riders, or riders under 16.

(f)        We know that under the new rules we cannot hold demonstration runs unless all participants are fully licenced under MNZ, so we cannot pursue that option either for the scooters.

(g)      We cannot have them join our club in that we do not have a class for them, and MNZ doesn’t recognize them any way.

Additional to the above, we know that scooters mix in with bucket racers.   As scooters are not recognized by MNZ, presumably bucket racing isn’t either, which would mean that those events are run outside of any affiliation with MNZ.  

This whole business leads on to further matters, matters that I think should generate a sense of disquiet within the NZCMRR.   Have a read of our letter-head.   It clearly states that we are “Dedicated to the preservation and use of pre 1976 British, European and American motorcycles”.   It was our raison d’etre when we were set up 30 years ago, and it doesn’t say just racing.   We are different to other clubs that may be set up purely for competition, or to simply cater for vintage and rally activities.   We effectively combine both aspects.   Certainly racing is our predominant pursuit, but trials, and demonstrations that underline the preservation and use of early motorcycles also fall within our domain.   Our ability to cater for these various aspects and to honour what we were set up to achieve, is being effectively undermined.

We are facing what I would describe as an expansion in over-regulation and a burgeoning bureaucracy that might be good for some, but just doesn’t sit well with our case.   Yes, we must have rules, but they should be there to aid participation and enjoyment, not to deny it.   MNZ is making it increasingly difficult for us carry out what we might want to do.   Possibly they are coming under increased pressure from the FIM.   Sort of makes me think of a somewhat parallel organization called the UN and how it seems to be able to dictate ridiculous directives to world governments who then seem keen to run with those directives like headless chickens.   Kiwis have seen a few of those in recent years.   But look at our present case.   We can’t allow a scooter demo in October.   We can’t allow a parade of pre 76 bikes at our February Festival, albeit that such a parade represents the preservation and use of such machines and is thoroughly enjoyed by our spectators.   We can’t allow anyone to demonstrate a classic racing motorcycle unless he or she is fully licenced.   I don’t know where we stand with respect to the Festival Regularity Parade but presumably anyone riding a machine in that event must now be fully licenced.   That was never the aim or intention.   It was meant to give non-competitors and helpers a chance to borrow or ride their own machinery in a lightly competitive event.   It was also meant to offer racing riders from the past an opportunity to enjoy straddling racing machines of their ilk.   Where does that place the John Farnsworths and the like now?  In my view aspects of what the NZCMRR was intended to represent at the time when it was formed are being screwed.

MNZ does not seem to pay much heed to us albeit that they did award us “Club of the Year” status for which we should be grateful.   But in truth we’ve been left off their annual calendars of events for as many years as I can recall.   We don’t feature in their annual reports.   The magnitude and success of our meetings is not recognized.   Ken McGeady is valiantly attempting to make MNZ more aware of us, and to promote a greater level of MNZ sympathy towards our aims.   I’m sure we all wish him well.   But come what may we need to remain extremely vigilant of over-regulation and the possibility that our ideals might be even further compromised.   To go it alone is fraught with difficulties such as international licencing and insurance requirements and costs and so on.   Yes, we should support Ken’s efforts to gain for us a greater rapport with MNZ.   But if that doesn’t work, and our raison d’etre continues to go down the gurgler, then I believe we may be forced to look to alternatives.   I appreciate that these are my views, and that my views may not be common to other members.

Regards

John Pendreigh