Flying Kiwis: A Quest for Speed

The traditions of motor sport competition in New Zealand are as old as the mode of transport itself. Vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine were relatively fast and reliable, but more importantly offered ‘potential’, once the principles were understood then a whole world of possibilities opened up. In many respects, what is now seen as the typically ‘do-it-yourself’ approach of Kiwi motor sport enthusiasts can be traced back to those early days. Days when purpose-built factory racers were rare in the country of origin (usually Britain or America), let alone in a couple of islands months, even years, away from the centre of activity. It is appropriate to highlight the implications of geographic isolation because to some extent this explains much about an older generation of Kiwis who were proud to achieve so much with so little.

In 1917 amongst the motorcycling fraternity of Canterbury there must have been a high level of anticipation, because Indian stalwart Ernie Hinds had just uncrated a brand new 8-valve factory racer. In many respects the landing of such a ‘state-of-the art’ racer on New Zealand’s shores seems almost a contradiction in view of that often voiced impression of desperate isolation. This is after all the main reason why we are who we are, a bunch of colonialists forced into self-sufficiency because the manufacturers, the suppliers and the ideas were all resident on the other side of the world.

That’s what our emotional side wants to believe, but history tells another story.