Christensen attended the meeting with his usual passion and the Moonride was born.
It began as one of several events in the Mad Mad Mid-Winter Festival in July 1994, to be ridden on the weekend closest to the full moon - hence Moonride.
The 200 Club was looking for activities that would bring some economic activity to motels and other businesses during the quiet winter season.
The festival ran its course and, after the first three or four years, the Moonride took on a life of its own as a stand-alone event.
It has run every year since, apart from 2001.
The first seven events were held in mid-July and were 12-hour team events, commencing at 8pm on the Friday night and ending at 8am on the Saturday morning.
The first two events were based at the Agrodome, with between 85 to 135 riders, before it moved to Waipa in the third and fourth year. It then moved to Arawa Park Racecourse for three years.
The circuit at the racecourse rode into the forest through Whaka Village, with local residents cheering on the riders during the night.
After five great events, new organisers took over but the event lapsed in 2001.
The concept was too good to let go though, so in 2002 Tourism Rotorua contracted Murray Fleming from Event Promotions to revamp it.
Several changes were introduced, including the tent city concept, moving back to Waipa and moving the event to May.
The 24-hour event was also born, with racing starting at 10pm on the Friday night and finishing at 10pm on the Saturday night. Other changes included shifting the start time for the 12-hour event and introducing a solo event.
The event has remained at Waipa apart from one year at Tui Ridge Park (2012).
This year's move to late March will hopefully result in better riding conditions.
