Kiwi speedway legend Barry Briggs is today burning rubber in The Pukemanu adventure motorcycle run in aid of the Martinborough Fire Brigade.
Briggs, 76, a four-time world individual speedway champion and author, is in New Zealand from his US home to promote his latest book, Wembley and Beyond, and to visit
his birthplace, Christchurch, in the wake of the earthquake that rocked the city.
The book recounts highlights from his speedway career, including his record number of consecutive appearances in the World Individual Finals from 1954 to 1970, and runs through Briggs contracting malaria in a Liberian diamond mine and his close friendships with the late actor Steve McQueen and associations with football luminaries David Beckham and Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp.
In 1976 Briggs was awarded an MBE for his services to sport and in 1990 he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.
Briggs said while visiting a still-smitten female fan from his heyday, the demands of book promotion takes a toll, he is vowing to complete The Pukemanu charity run without flinching.
"They've got me a Yamaha to ride," he said.
The Pukemanu motorcycle trek, which is raising funds for search-and-rescue lighting equipment for Martinborough firefighters, is costing riders $160 each to run and comprises a 300km journey across farm tracks, beaches and forestry roads.
The ride also includes meals throughout the day and riders were to launch into the cross-country ramble at 7am today.
Mr Briggs last year throttled on for charity in the John o'Groats to Land's End bike ride for the BBC Sports relief fund.
