Otautau rider Johnny Racz took out the big one at the Burt Munro Challenge over the weekend, winning the 50 Mile Beach race for the second year running. 

Southland Honda team member Racz was one of about 300 riders who raced in the various events of the largest motorcycle rally in the southern hemisphere, held in Invercargill from Wednesday to Sunday last week.

Organiser and Southland Motorcycle Club president Andy Underhay says an estimated 15,000 spectators attended across the five days, watching the beach race, street racing, track racing, speedway and drag racing. (full results below)

"There's not one bed available in the whole of Invercargill for the week." 

Underhay says the street racing on Sunday was a highlight. 

"We had the weather, some fantastic riding and it went seamlessly - no issues whatsoever.

"There was committed riding but the ambulances never left their stations other than to attend to a member of the public. 

"When you consider that's across 36 sessions of racing on a street circuit, that's just phenomenal." 

Riders reached speeds of 170kmh on the streets, while at the superbikes in the sprint races at Teretonga Park on Saturday will have hit 240kmh at the end of the main straight.  

The hill climb fell victim to some adverse weather, however, cancelled as a front moved through. 

"It was scheduled to clear but the front that moved in on Wednesday night got to Stewart Island and didn't want to move, so we caught the edge of it all day. 

"The conditions were horrendous, it was blowing horrible."

Committed road racing. Photo: Salina Henry 

Road racer Jonny Lewis who took home The Burt Munro Challenge Competitor of the Year Trophy – awarded by the Munro family to the rider who exhibits similar traits to Burt, the famous land speed record holder.

"Jonny is one of the nicest people you will ever meet," Underhay says. 

"He's also hugely talented as a racer and it's well deserved. He's competed for many many years here, and it was nice to see him get the recognition for his efforts. 

"It's for someone who stands out, does things differently and is not run of the mill." 

The Burt Munro Challenge is now in its 15th year. It was first held in 2006, organised by the Southland Motorcycle Club to honour Burt's ingenuity, determination and love of motorcycles, particularly his Indian Scout, which he took to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, United States. 

It followed the success of the 2005 movie about Burt Munro’s inspirational life - 'The World’s Fastest Indian'.

Plans are already in place for the 16th, which will take place in early February next year. 

Winners of the Burt Munro Challenge Special Awards 2021:

Norman Hayes Memorial Trophy – Gary Holmes

Wayne Affleck Maverick Trophy – Damian Perriton

The Burt Munro Trophy – Johnny Racz

Pike River Memorial Trophy – Terry Galway

The Burt Munro Challenge Competitor of the Year Trophy – Jonny Lewis

Harley-Davidson Twilight Drag Racing 2021 Results:

Japanese Street – 1st Allan Henry – 2nd Craig Olliver – 3rd Joe Den Hertog

BEARS Street – 1st Seth Devereaux – 2nd Glen Strachan – 3rd Tim Goodin

Modified Bike – 1st Cole Scammell – 2nd Corey Turnbull – 3rd Chris Nixon

Competition Bike – 1st Steve Van Pelt – 2nd Bevan Wilson

Indian Motorcycle Beach Racing & NZ Champs 2021 Results:

https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/1835912

E Hayes & Sons Teretonga Sprint Races 2021 Results:

https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/1835993

Honda Invercargill Street Races 2021 Results:

https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/1836274

Super Seller Shelley Speedway 2021 Results:

Peewee Division 2 (50cc)

1st 16i Declan Charlton 16pts

2nd 93c Arlen Voice 11pts

3rd 10i Ollie Cunningham 10pts

Peewee Division 1 (70cc)

1st 33c Jaxon Harley 15pts

2nd 34i George Kennedy 13pts

3rd 17i Mauger Kelman 7pts

Junior Solo 125cc - Final

1st 41i Rylan Casey

2nd 72c Oscar Drake

3rd 16c Chase Lang

4th 66i Kadin Cracknell

Junior Solo 200cc - Final

1st 25i Ryan Colvin

2nd 13a Kauri Chapman

3rd 11i Tyler Bain-Hoy

4th 55i Dakota Crengle

Solo Classic - Final

1st 66i John Tuffley

2nd 53 Darrin Wilson

3rd 13c Glen Sole

4th 70i Alan Crosbie

Excl 61 Barry Free

Solo Support

1st 91c Lee Brown 10pts

2nd 61 Barry Free 8pts

3rd 70i Alan Crosbie 7pts

Burt Munro Challenge Trophy – Solo-Final

1st 69i Bradley Wilson-Dean

2nd 32c (1NZ) Ben Whalley

3rd 5a Ryan Terry-Daley

4th 96i Alex Cunningham

Sidecar B - Final

1st 7i1e Knuckle Hill & Dan Smith

2nd 81c Billy Leighton & Jeff Brimble

Excl 88i Gary Wells & Brent Nicholson

Excl 28n Paul Anderson & Brandon Mumberson

DNS 12i Jake Gillespie & Jared Greig

Burt Munro Challenge Trophy – Sidecar - Final

1st 44i James Douglas and Harley Biddle

2nd 78i Paul Humphrey and Chris Chatfield

3rd 14a Jamie Moohan and Patrick Larsen

4th 97p Mike Zachan and Ben Franklin