You are here: Home Events Mountain Thunder

Methven Mountain Thunder

Easter Saturday 30 March 2013, Methven

Spectators from all corners of the world descended on Methven for Easter Saturday’s fantastic weather and Ride Forever Methven Mountain Thunder 2013. They came from USA, UK, Australia, and all over New Zealand to see the spills and thrills amongst the rumble and roar of Classics through to Formula One motorcycles racing around the Spring Lynne Motorcycles circuit in the town centre of Methven.

It’s no wonder that people from around the world are coming to Methven to watch motorcycle street races. There are only six countries in the world where they are held. Amongst the crowd were David and Tina Brown from Medowie, NSW Australia. They planned their trip to New Zealand to coincide with the Methven street races. “The whole day was marvellous,” said Tina. “Everything was amazing, from walking through the pits, meeting the riders, looking at their various bikes and talking to their owners. Being so close to the bikes as they were going around the circuit while behind those bales was just brilliant. We saw some wobbles, but there was never any question that safety was anything other than paramount.”

There were a few spills during the racing. Event local Methvenite Bryan O’Hara managed to get caught between two bales. “I was still upright, so I just pulled the bike out and kept racing. Up till then I thought I might have been in the top four of that race.” There were seven incidences of riders falling off their bikes, four of which can be attributed to malfunctions. CAMS President, Neil Morrison said that, “the end result was more broken machinery and bruised pride than anything else. However, one competitor was flown out with a shoulder injury.”

As principle sponsor, Ride Forever representative Alisa Davies said, “it just goes to show, that no matter how much experience you have there is always room for improvement.” Ride Forever offer a full days training for novice through to experienced riders for a maximum of $50 where riders are given tips and skills so that they can come back to ride another day; to Ride Forever.

David and Tina Brown said that the highlight of their trip to New Zealand so far was having lunch at The Brown Pub during the street races. “Sitting up there and watching the races was just magic.” They have had fitted in quite a bit over the last few days: Geraldine, the Antarctic Centre, Riccarton Market, and are looking forward to checking out the containers in Cashel Mall before heading back to Australia in a couple of days. “Even watching the clean up, it was amazing to see the whole Methven community pull together. Thank you Methven Lions, and to our hosts Amanda and Ian Davis at Gallery Guesthouse. We loved it!”

Scott Harrison and Nick Fletcher competed on the oldest bikes in the street races, both on a 1929 Ariel 500. On the side-lines was John Britten’s first Indian Scout from 1928, a museum piece from Spring Lynne Motorcycles. Their Motorcycle Museum on the Methven – Ashburton Highway houses an impressive collection of Classic Superbikes from the 1960’s – 1980’s, as well as a few earlier motorcycles too.

Bailie Perriton, 15, of Ashburton and Miss Scout Fletcher, 16, from Lincoln, kept up their great form from the recent NZ Superbike Championships in Hampden Downs, showing great results at the event.

---

2013 Event Photos

Below is a selection of images from the 2013 Mountain Thunder event taken by Bill Irwin.

---

2013 Event Video

Watch highlights of the 2013 Mountain Thunder event.

---

2013 Event Results

Buckets, sponsored by Spray Marks Group

• 1^st Alistair Hoogenboezem (Christchurch), 2^nd Brent Cotton (Christchurch), 3^rd Bailie Perriton (Ashburton)
• Alistair Hoogenboezem retained his number one ranking from 2012.

Formula CAMS, sponsored by KB Panel & Paint

• 1^st Bailie Perriton (Ashburton), 2^nd Scout Fletcher (Christchurch), 3^rd Phil Denovan (Christchurch)
• Bailie Perriton, 15, and 16 year old Miss Scout Fletcher continue to rank well following the North Island races over the last couple of weeks.

Pre 63, sponsored by The Brown Pub

• 1^st Bruce Verdon, 2^nd Chris Kinloch (Nelson), 3^rd Neville Wills (Nelson)
• Chris Kinloch again took second place this year, as he did in 2012.

Pre 72, sponsored by Harmer Contracting

• 1^st Dave McKie (Dunedin), 2^nd Glen Ornsby (Oxford), 3^rd Bruce Verdon
• The first two swapped places in their rankings this year.

Pre 82, sponsored by R&R Haulage

• 1^st Sid Chaloner (Te Anau), 2^nd Alan Chaloner (Te Anau), 3^rd Anthony Stephens (Ashburton)
• Sid Chaloner successfully defended his 2012 number one ranking at Methven Mountain Thunder.

Pre 89, sponsored by The Blue Pub

• 1^st Sid Chaloner (Te Anau), 2^nd Alex Walker (Christchurch), 3^rd Phillip Mair (Winton)
• Alex Walker slipped from 1^st place in 2012 to 2^nd in 2013.

Formula Methven, sponsored by Man About Glass

• 1^st Dan McKenzie (Christchurch), 2^nd Damion Perriton (Ashburton), 3^rd Alistair Hoogenboezem (Christchurch)
• Dan McKenzie came from 3^rd place in 2012 to 1^st in 2013. Damion Perriton kept his 2012 2^nd place ranking.

---

Contact the Mountain Thunder Event Organiser (Rachel Moore) for more information:
Mobile: 0274 519 117 | Email: Methven Mountain Thunder Event Organiser

PREMIER EVENT SPONSORS