In celebration of the 30th anniversary of BMW GS motorcycle, and
to raise money for the New Zealand Westpac Helicopter Trust, riders will be taking in as many opportunities as possible to
get "off the beaten track" on their BMW GS series bikes, known for
their of dual purpose, off-road/on-road capabilities.
"This is just a great example of how many of our members seek to
combine their motorcycling adventures with practical ways to
benefit our community," said Rob Hargreaves, National President of
the BMW Owners Register of New Zealand.
This epic off-road adventure starts at Cape Reinga at the top of
the North Island on Sunday 14 November and ends in Invercargill at
the bottom of the South Island where riders will join the
festivities at the Burt Munroe Challenge from 24 - 28 November. The
Burt Munroe Challenge is an event that honours Burt, his ingenuity,
determination, and love of speed and motorcycles.
Ride organiser and member of the BMWOR Canterbury branch Justin
Ryan said, "A few of us were kicking around ideas for this ride
earlier this year and thought if we're going to spend two weeks
riding the length of the country then we should use that
opportunity to raise money for charity. We decided it would be the
Westpac Helicopter Trust. The trust provides a service that,
unfortunately, motorcyclists have drawn on over the years".
The Auckland based Westpac Rescue Helicopter is the only rescue
helicopter service in New Zealand that operates 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year. Over the past 40 years of operation,
the service has performed more than 12,000 rescues and is
internationally recognised for its pioneering work in saving lives.
The funds raised from this event will be used for the ongoing
operational costs of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. The running
costs for most helicopter rescues are between $3,000 and $7,000 per
hour.
So far, over 75 GS riders have registered their interest, with a
core group of 10 undertaking the whole ride and others joining and
leaving at different points.
To find out more, please visit http://bmworcantab.wordpress.com/category/gs-anniversary-ride/.