Classic Motorcycle Mecca

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Classic Motorcycle Mecca
Logo of Classic Motorcycle Mecca.png
Phelon & Moore Panther Model 120 and sidecar at Classic Motorcycle Mecca, Invercargill.jpg
Phelon & Moore Panther Model 120 and Canterbury double sidecar
Classic Motorcycle Mecca
EstablishedNovember 2016
Location25 Tay Street
Invercargill
New Zealand
Coordinates 46°24′47″S168°20′57″E / 46.4131°S 168.3492°E / -46.4131; 168.3492
TypeMotorcycle museum
Collection sizeOver 300 motorcycles [1]
Owner Transport World
Website motorcyclemecca.nz

Classic Motorcycle Mecca is a motorcycle museum in Invercargill in Southland, New Zealand. The museum collection includes over 300 classic motorcycles of mostly British and American makes, with some German and Italian models. It is the largest display of motorcycles in New Zealand. The museum is operated as a tourism venture by Transport World, an Invercargill-based business.

Contents

History

Most of the motorcycles in the collection were originally acquired by Tom and Heather Sturgess and housed in a purpose-built museum in Nelson from December 2014. [2] [3] However, in February 2016, Sturgess announced that he had undergone major surgery, and that the collection of almost 300 motorcycles, which had been open to the public for a year, was to revert to being a private collection. [4] In May 2016, Transport World in Invercargill purchased the collection for relocation to new premises in Invercargill. [2] [3] The manager of the collection in Nelson, Dave Roberts, moved to Invercargill to remain in the role. [5] Two existing buildings in the centre of Invercargill were joined and renovated to house the collection. [6] The name of the new museum was announced in July, [7] and it opened on 23 November 2016. [8] In 2017, the project received a tourism grant of $555,000 from central Government. [9]

In February 2017, it was reported that between 450 and 750 people were visiting the museum each week. About half were international visitors, with 30 per cent from elsewhere in New Zealand, and 20 per cent locals. [10] By 2021, the collection was housed on three separate levels in the two adjoining buildings, and included the George Begg Bunker in the basement. [11]

Exhibits

The current collection of over 300 motorcycles [1] includes mostly British and American makes with some German and Italian models. [12] It is the largest display of motorcycles in New Zealand, with dates of manufacture ranging from 1902 to 2007. [13] The motorcycles on display represent examples of well known makes, such as Ariel, Brough Superior, BSA, Norton, Triumph and Vincent as well as Indian, Harley-Davidson and BMW and many less well known makers.

The collection includes a John Britten gallery, including a V1100 Cardinal. A total of only 10 Britten V1000s were produced by the Britten Motorcycle Company and are now held in collections and museums around the world. They were custom-designed and hand-built. The machine at the Classic Motorcycle Mecca is number 1 in the series. The only other Cardinal on public display is at Te Papa in Wellington. [14] The Britten bikes at the museum are claimed to be the largest collection of Britten bikes on public display anywhere in the world. [15]

Another exhibit in the museum is a gallery dedicated to the achievements of Burt Munro and the 2005 film The World's Fastest Indian. However, the original "Munro Special" motorcycle and other items owned by Munro are in the nearby E Hayes and Sons hardware store. [12] [16]

The basement of the Classic Motorcycle Mecca includes a collection honouring the motorsports achievements of George Begg from Drummond in Southland. Between the years 1964 and 1976, Begg built racing cars from his Drummond garage. These cars included nine F5000 which raced against the best drivers and cars in the world. [17] [18]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Classic Motorcycle Mecca". newzealand.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  2. 1 2 Moore, Bill (17 May 2016). "Nelson's NZ Classic Motorcycles to move to Invercargill". Stuff . Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 Beckham, Allison (18 May 2016). "Motorcycles added to transport attractions". Otago Daily Times . Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Moore, Bill (17 February 2016). "Sturgess to close his 300-motorcycle Nelson collection". Stuff . Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  5. ↑ Woolf, Amber-Leigh (22 November 2016). "Classic Motorcycle Mecca 'dream project' a feather in Invercargill's cap". Stuff . Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  6. ↑ Woolf, Amber-Leigh (2 September 2016). "Classic Motorcycle Mecca progress 'keeping the old, but making it better'". Stuff . Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Mackie, Brittany (9 July 2016). "Classic Motorcycle Mecca to open in CBD". The Southland Times . p. A.3. ProQuest   1802514437.
  8. ↑ Woolf, Amber-Leigh (23 November 2016). "Motorcycle Mecca opens its doors". The Southland Times . p. 3. ProQuest   1842357293.
  9. ↑ "Regional treats in the form of zip-lines and kiwi centres". Dominion Post . 3 March 2017. pp. A.2. ProQuest   1873387047.
  10. ↑ "In brief". The Southland Times . 22 February 2017. p. 3. ProQuest   1870349454.
  11. ↑ "Classic Motorcycle Mecca: the heart of all the Burt Munro Challenge action". The Southland Times . 3 February 2021. p. 21. ProQuest   2485010949.
  12. 1 2 "Australia & New Zealand". Motor-Museums.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "The collection includes an 1895 Benz Velo, 1915 Stutz Indian". The New Zealand Herald . 28 September 2021. p. C.9. ProQuest   2583767834.
  14. ↑ "Classic Motorcycle Mecca museum remarkable". Bikesportnz. 18 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Britten exhibit now largest worldwide". The Southland Times . 8 February 2023. p. 2. ProQuest   2773843623.
  16. ↑ "Transported to another world". Wanganui Chronicle . 1 August 2020. p. B.20. ProQuest   2429065988.
  17. ↑ Savory, Logan (13 February 2020). "Begg exhibition promises a hoon down memory lane". The Southland Times . p. 6. ProQuest   2353604655.
  18. ↑ MacKay, Ross (14 May 2020). "New George Begg 'Bunker' a fitting tribute to pioneer Kiwi race car builder". motorequipmentnews.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
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