Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

36 years and still going strong, Wanganui Vintage Car Club annual motor cycle trial this Saturday

Jesse King
By Jesse King
Reporter·Whanganui Chronicle·
20 Apr, 2018 06:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Sam Wilson, Willie James and Willie Wood at the annual Castrol autumn motorcycle trial last year. Photo/File

Sam Wilson, Willie James and Willie Wood at the annual Castrol autumn motorcycle trial last year. Photo/File

Saturday mark 36 years of old friends getting together and riding their vintage motorcycles in friendly competition.

The 36th annual Castrol autumn motorcycle trial starts at the Wanganui Vintage Car Club clubrooms in Patapu St, Wanganui East and the first bikes depart at 9.30am.

Bill James, who organises the event with his wife Heather, said the event is very popular.

"We get about 40 entrants in it from different parts of the island.

"It's a way of getting a group together and going for a ride for the day – with a bit of competition involved in it."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The vintage motorcycle enthusiasts come from the Wellington, Manawatu, Taranaki and Waikato regions to compete in various classes.

Riders select a speed of either 30, 35, or 40 miles per hour and depart in one-minute intervals with written instructions and a destination unknown until just before they begin.

They will travel over gravel and sealed terrain at their chosen speed until they reach their destination and will be penalised if they arrive too early or too late.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Classes include veteran, which are bikes from before 1918, vintage (1931), post vintage (up to 1945), post war (up to 1960), P60V (up to 1980) and P80V (up to 30 years old).

"It's the competition and the age that keeps people coming back," James said.

"They're mainly older riders and they bring older bikes, it's a fun ride and a great atmosphere."

At the conclusion of the riding, there will be an evening meal and prizegiving back at the VCC clubrooms, then a barbecue lunch at Whenuakura School on Sunday.

Discover more

Fun for all at Daffodil Rally

24 Jul 10:00 PM

Vintage motorcycles turn out for Whanganui trial

17 Apr 05:00 PM

James said anyone with a later bike could also attend.

"Anyone with a later bike is welcome to come for a ride, we try to get the younger generation involved.

"We just give them instructions and they join on at the back."

He said there would be an opportunity for the public to head down and view the bikes from 8.30am.

"It's a chance to meet old friends and ride or view an older motorbike. It will run, rain, hail or snow."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

Why Whanganui is in for a warmer than normal winter

02 Jul 09:14 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

How a white picket fence symbolises a significant Whanganui family

02 Jul 06:00 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

Rangitīkei fencer regains Golden Pliers title

02 Jul 06:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Why Whanganui is in for a warmer than normal winter

Why Whanganui is in for a warmer than normal winter

02 Jul 09:14 PM

There's a 60% chance of above-average temperatures between July and September.

How a white picket fence symbolises a significant Whanganui family

How a white picket fence symbolises a significant Whanganui family

02 Jul 06:00 PM
Rangitīkei fencer regains Golden Pliers title

Rangitīkei fencer regains Golden Pliers title

02 Jul 06:00 PM
Athletics: Early training years bring lessons in preparation

Athletics: Early training years bring lessons in preparation

02 Jul 06:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP