Bike club celebrates centenary with rides

The rubber will meet the asphalt and the dirt tracks around town today as the Wanganui Motorcycle Club starts off their centenary festivities with a re-creation of their inaugural 1914 ride to Palmerston North.

Entries have been taken from motorcycle shops and vintage associations, with riders assembling at 9.15am at the Watt Fountain in Victoria Ave for the journey south.

It was on August 15 1914 that a group of enthusiasts made the inaugural ride, which served as the genesis of the club.

Spokesman Terry Casserly could not say if the numbers for the 10am start today, in what are expected to be cool conditions, would be similar to a century ago.

"They're coming from so many different sources.

"Anybody that turns up just needs a road-legal motorcycle."

The journey will follow the original inland roads used on the 1914 route, before linking up with State Highway 1 to carry on into Manawatu.

"Some are going the back way, but I think they are coming back more directly," said Casserly.

A big reason for a faster return time will be to get ready for this evening's centennial function in the Eulogy Lounge at Wanganui Racecourse.

Around 130 guests have registered for the celebrations, starting from 5.30pm.

The action will continue tomorrow with the fifth and final round of the club's 2014 motocross championships at the Wanganui Motorsport Domain in Landguard Rd beside Oceanview Speedway.

The event caters for mini, junior and senior classes with practice beginning at 9.30am and the championship titles decided from 10am-3pm, followed by prizegiving.