Big road trial planned in N.I.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 10

Big road trial planned in N.I.

'A' road reliability motorcycle trial covering at least 500 miles and lasting 24 hours is to be held by the Auckland Motor-cycle Club on October 30 and 31. It will be the biggest such event held in the North Island for many years. Sponsored by Shell Oil New Zealand, Ltd, it will be known as the Shell 500 motor-cycle Trial. It will cover all classes of roads and will be open to solo rjders and machines of 90 ex., or more. The. trial carries a minimum of $250 in prize money, together with trophies, for the best solo performance over the 24 hours, and for the best performance by a team of three riders in a 12-hour section of the trial. Additional prizes are being donated by members of the motor-cycle trade. The Shell 500 will start and finish in Auckland with a tentative route taking

riders north to Wellsford, back to Auckland through Orewa and Riverhead and then southwards to Pukekohe and on to Hamilton. Thence to Te Awamutu, Matamata, Te Aroha and back to Auckland. Meal breaks are planned for Orewa, Pukekohe, Hamilton, Matamata and Pokeno. The organisers have invited .entries from affiliated clubs throughout New Zealand and from members of the Armed Services, Police, Traffic and Transport Departments, Civil Defence and University Motor Clubs. It is planned to cater for a field of more than 200 riders, so there will be a . strong accent on road safety and sound defensive riding. The rules and regulations for the trial are available from the chairman (Mr K. Allport), Shell 500 Organising Committee, 12 Fifth Avenue, Mount Albert, Auckland 3, or Motor-cycle retail shops.