Dave Roberts still remembers his first time on a motorcycle, or perhaps it is the photograph proudly sitting in his home that serves as the reminder of the moment almost seven decades ago.
It was the beginning of a life-long love that now sees him with a single garage stacked with eight of his own bikes, but he says it’s not a hard decision choosing which one to ride each week.
“I've been around them all my life, especially British stuff. I rode myself in the 70s and raced in motocross. Then basically, I've alternated between sailing and motorbikes for the rest of my life.
“I ride three or four of them every week, you have to keep them working.”
He says which one depends on how he feels on the day.
“Do I want to kick it or do I just want to hop on and push a button?”
Dave will have a few of them on display at the Classic Bike Show on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January. His bikes will join between 50 and 70 others, along with what rolls in to the car park during the show at Jubilee Park.
“When you look at the what's in the car park when the show's on, well, supposedly all the flashy stuff and the club bikes are inside, but what's outside is another display altogether.”
The Nelson Classic and Vintage Motorcycle Club was founded 42 years ago, and Dave reckons the show has been running almost as long.
Although it’s his Triumph bikes that Dave wheeled out for the photograph, he hasn’t always been a fan of English bikes.
“When I was riding myself, I thought that people that owned them and ran them were mad because of the unreliability,” he says. “But as I got older, I hung around people who had them.
“Sometimes I think, what the heck am I doing this carry on for? You know, I'm 70 now, and how many more motorcross bikes do I need at 70? But I still try and ride them every six months or so.”
For now, there’s no chance Dave will get rid of his collection, the camaraderie of the club is what he loves most.
The Classic Bike Show is on Saturday 4 January, 9am – 6pm and Sunday 5 January, 9am – 4pm at Jubilee Park. Adults are $5 and children free.
