Thunder rolls in Paeroa's day at the races

Motorcycles on the mainstreet of Paeroa. Picture / Dean Purcell

It was a fine hot day, but thunder reigned supreme in the streets of Paeroa yesterday.

Scores of high-performance motorbikes were driven at breakneck speed down the main street, in the biggest annual event the L&P town has to offer.

Thousands of motorsport fans from around the North Island watched the races unfold from behind wire fences, while families sat on the banks of the Waihou River enjoying picnics among the Harley-Davidsons, Nortons, Yamahas and Suzukis.

Many more packed the town's public bars.

The event was teeming with people sporting dark shades, greying long hair, goatee beards, and plenty of black leather, and most of them were holding on to a helmet.

Budding entrepreneurs walked the streets as mobile "ear-plug stations", selling their merchandise for $1.50 a pop.

Retailers were lapping it up. Sam Sole, owner of the L&P Big Cafe and Bakery, said she wished the event was on every week. She was doing a brisk trade.

"This brings people from around New Zealand. I've got loads of customers coming in here from Auckland."

Ms Sole said Hamilton businesses should embrace the concept of street racing - referring to the city's intention to host the V8 Supercar event from 2008.

Local Paeroa man Tony Kimura estimated that up to 10,000 people attended the motorbike street racing yesterday.

"I worked on it when it first began about 10 years ago. It's just grown since then."

Mr Kimura said it was about a third of the size when it started.

Matamata man Gary Derby, owner of a Suzuki Bandit 1200, said he was drawn to the event for the adrenalin rush of seeing dozens of fast bikes race in confined spaces.

"I just love watching these experienced guys do this."

A volunteer for the Paeroa Promotions Trust, Moira Harman, was also there to see high speed. "You're standing here and you hear them, but if you blink you'll miss them."

Media and marketing manager Paul Lance said tickets had sold out.

"We think we've had in excess of 13,000 people here today."

He said speeds of 270km/h had been reached in the Formula Paeroa race, which attracted bikes in the 1000cc class.

Andrew Stroud of Hamilton won the race riding his Suzuki.

He also recorded the fastest lap time along the 1.6km course - 44.88s.

Organisers got through 18 races.

The sidecar sprint event called off because of a spectacular crash and the resulting mess it left on the track.

No one was injured at the event.