Moped mania has taken hold Bomber Command Memorial Bomber Command Memorialof Air Force bases with the unlikely sport of riding mopeds.
CPL Laurence Ransfield, sporting an intimidating look of determination, LAC Daniel Melling on the smaller vehicle and SGT Dave Turner, trying in vain to avoid a shout from appearing in the RNZAF news. Photographer SGT Jeremy Ireland. (WN09-0020-74).
18 March 2009
Base Auckland held its inaugural event on Sunday 15 February 2009.
With the day warming and the last of the breakfast being eaten, the not so thunderous sound of seven powerful, 50cc engines trying to start filled the surrounding area with anticipation and exhaust fumes. The day was to be divided into four events to test the all around abilities, with a possible 4000 points up for grabs.
Events included individual sprints, team races, and a 3-hour endurance race. Teams were as follows: TEAM 1 ‘Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys’. TEAM 2 ‘Death Proof’. TEAM 3 ‘De-Gloved Nut’. TEAM 5 ‘Old Guys Racing’. TEAM 6 ‘Watson Autos Racing LTC’. TEAM 7 ‘Crazy Mexicans’. TEAM 8 ‘Slow and Steady’. Once all of the points were tabulated, the overall win also went to Crazy Mexicans.
At Base Woodbourne on 22 February 2009, 22 riders took part in their inaugural Mopedathon. Eventual Mopedathon winners were ‘Team Very Basic’ consisting of Mr Rolph Meltzer, SGT Ken Thompson and AC Daniel Stone, who managed an impressive 624 laps! It is testament to the skill and determination of the competitors that seven out of the eight bikes competing were still functioning at the end of the event.
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