Motorcycle rally roars back to life

Organisers set up the site of the returning Cold Kiwi motorcycle rally event to be held at Horopito. Photo/Graeme Staples

After lease troubles forced the cancellation of the annual Cold Kiwi at Tangiwai last year, the annual motorcycle rally is returning at a new location.

The 39th running of Cold Kiwi starts at 3pm at Horopito on Friday and runs through to Sunday morning.

Spokesman Graeme Staples said organisers expected about 1000 people at the reborn event.

At least 2.5 hectares of paddock has been turned into a space for the festival, which includes an array of motorcycle games, camping and live bands on Friday and Saturday night. Food will be served 24-hours.

"It's getting out of your comfort zone and having a good time," Mr Staples said.

Events include hill climbs, burnouts and skill tests.

"It's a good weekend; it's something a little bit different."

He said it was a family event too, more so than similar rallies around the country.

"The guys that were going in 1972, they have kids now."

Mr Staples, who lives in Lower Hutt, has been to 30 Cold Kiwis in a row. "I couldn't get enough of it. You can't do anything else like it."

He said when the event peaked in the mid-1980s more than 4000 people would attend. Organisers have spent nearly a year setting up the new site.

The rally, organised by the Ruapehu Motorcycle Club, was canned last year after the club was unable to get access to the Tangiwai site near Waiouru and was forced to cancel at short notice.

"The club was pretty annoyed about some leasehold issues last year."

Further details can be found at www.coldkiwi.co.nz