usually at the end of a day it is common to undress and motorcyclists often can't wait to get the heavy hot leathers and boots off.

However we should spare a thought for our steeds. They are operating at a far greater temperatures then our bodies. They have to endure constant contact with hot tarmac often spinning wildly as the torque twists the tyre and tries to rip it off the rim.

While they have hopefully a good supply of cooling liquid it is likely to be near to boiling point despite a constant supply of forced air.

Plus they have the burden of carrying a penalty that beng the weigh of the rider.

Therfore at todays finale the street road race series to decide the 2019 Burt Munroe street race champion on Bill Richardson Drive at the Invercargill Industrial Estate the two Britten's while not competing were given a spirited gallop around the course again thrilling both young and old patrons with giant mono's.

Being such prized possessions, their kindred Britten selling for $1.7mUSD, at the end of the demonstration while chatting to the owner of the Pink& Blue machine it was suggested that the other clothing layer should be removed llowing a more natural cool down.

This was a golden opportunity to view unimpeded the middle layer of a working Britten.

The raod race event lived up to the true definition of a road race . Every metre of the track was a public street closed only for this event.

The pit area which was opened to public viewing was another street and viewing was where you stopped you watched. In scenes similiar to the Isle of man racing machines were seperated from spectators by nothing more then orange &, white 1.5m barriers eyeballing riders was the view of the day. Those who didn't want the total involvement could stand behind temorary fencing held together by ziplocks or the "must be seen crowd"sat on the back of sponsors trucks complete with an esky.

Racing which got under way about 2 & 1/4hrs late was soon halted by an ïncident" and really some three hours after the start time racing proper was full on. Many of the competitors had the same bikes they used at the hill climb, the quarter drags, the circuit races and now the street races so the fields were divided into classics such as the 1934 Rudge to those ever present V4 Ducati's.

Accidents were few thankfully and the crowd seemed to enjoy the ability to see the expressions on the rider's faces as they often man handled their machines on the tight circuit.

The food offered was the same vendors who had attended all the other events and while some had learnt the lessons of customer demands others sat forlorned as people by passed them for the same item cheaper next door or still displayed the "sold out"signage from Friday when their popular items sold first but no they tried unsucessfully to flog off unpopular items rather then restock sold out items.

Many left before the finish some to head home, others overtied from a full five days and nights while a few commented "same old bikes"and left.

Talking at random I got the impression that this event was probably the most popular with locals, as they identified with the streets and were wowed at the speed possible on them.

Burt Munroe 2019 has finished for another 12 months assuming the changed date of February is carried over to 2020 and why not as the weather was excellent unlike many of the past years when the event was held in November.

dDd I enjoy the event, yes it ranks as a most memoorable event highlighted by the range of people who wanted to chat to the tourist riders and bike view. Some fine tuning would enhance the running of the event and greater publicity internationally would help lift the profile and so increase the number of visitors, thus combining a great motorcycle event with event greater scenery in a city endowered with quality museum's that reflect and maintain the history of motorcycling greats like Burt Munroe