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The Grand Challenge - 1000 miles 24 hours

The moment the Rusty Nuts M/C wrote themselves into the history of NZ motorcycling events. The start of the first Grand Challenge. Held at Manukau City Honda (sadly gone now) at number 1 Jack Conway Pl, Manukau City, Auckland.The Grand Challenge is now in its 23rd year. All starts apart from the 1st and 3rd (Tauranga) have started from the Turangi Holiday Park in Turangi.

There are on average 80 riders a year - split almost evenly each year between "old Hands" and "first timers". The start is by entry number - 2 bikes at a time 2 minutes apart, although we sometimes let small groups start together. All entrants must pass through all checkpoints on the route, and return to start within 24 hours of their start time.

Finishers qualify for a Grand Challenge badge on the first they complete, subsequent Grand Challenges qualify them for a Grand Challenge Patch with the number of the runs they have completed. The numbered patches are sequenced to the rider, not the event, for example 2nd run finishers get a number 2 patch even if events were not run on consecutive years.

Each finishing rider also gains a certificate to record their accomplishment and the year it was completed.The event is a test of men and machines and their ability to pace themselves, fast riders are the ones who most often do not finish. Finishing outside of time or not finishing is not recognised (With the exception of the first scooter attempt- See Rusty Heroes).

Here are run reviews written by the men and women who rode the ride. These reviews are credited as is appropriate, to writer, and place first published

More Grand Challenge Info

Grand Challenge Certificate Pic

All finishers of the Grand Challenge every year are given their badge or patch, and a copy of this Certificate to acknowledge their efforts. It records their name and the number of the grand Challenge and is signed by Lee Rusty.

Grand Challenge Statistics

These figures are current to 2007. They will be updated annually. On completion of a Grand Challenge for the first time the finisher is given a badge. any subsequent Grand Challenges earn a date bar for the badge and the numbered patch appropriate to the number of times they have completed the event. Thus a rider getting a badge in 1987 and then completing the event in 1991 would then recieve his/her Number 2 patch. Badges & Patches can be seen under Badges and Awards Section.

Reviews

1987 Grand Challenge

The first Grand Challenge was the first official Rusty Nuts M/C event. The reviews below are from some of the riders. There are some pictures in the stories.

1988 Grand Challenge

The second Grand Challenge was the first to start at Turangi, in the Central North Island. In 1990 this became the regular home for start.

1989 Grand Challenge

The 3rd Grand Challenge was started in Tauranga. To make sure entrants had gas on a remote part of the route.

1990 Grand Challenge

The 1990 Grand Challenge was No 4 in the ongoing series. This year there were a few tough parts and a few wet parts - about normal for the event.

1991 Grand Challenge

The 5th Grand Challenge 1000 miles in 24 Hours event 1991. We have several stories from this run but very few photos to illustrate them with - if you were there - and have some photos send them to us - so we can share them with others.

1992 Grand Challenge

The 6th Grand Challenge in 1992 was notable for the smallest bike challenge. Pink Rusty took his Honda NSR80 around the course.

1993 Grand Challenge

The 7th Grand Challenge reviewed by a new rider and an old hand. Funny how the same ride seems so different from different points of view.

1994 Grand Challenge

The 8th Grand Challenge in 1994 was reviewed by an unknown Egmont Road riders member. The story was in their newsletter but it was not attributed to anyone. IF you know who wrote it drop us a line - we will credit it to you.

1995 Grand Challenge

The hardest Grand Challenge to date the weather was bad, Moont Ruapheu errupted weeks before and spewed clouds of volcanic ash everywhere. The wind blew, the rain fell, and th cold just would not ease up.Only the tough survived this one.

1996 Grand Challenge

The Tenth Grand Challenge through the eyes for 4 newcomers. They went looking for a challenge and they came to the right place.

1997 Grand Challenge

The 1997 Rusty Nuts Grand Cchallenge was No 11 in an ongoing series. Riders who have completed the run share their story.

1998 Grand Challenge

This story was written by a Silver bullet writer and published on their website under the title Central Plateau Expedition.

1999 Grand Challenge

The Grand Challenge 12A. Rusty Nuts do not use number 13, due to people requesting that they are not given that number. Anything to keep our riders happy.

2000 Grand Challenge

The 14th Grand Challenge in 2000 was the year a scooter finished inside of time.

2001 Grand Challenge

The 15th Grand Challenge was run as usual but with an additional 500 miler on the end if riders chose to attempt it. There was a 4 hour compulsory break between the end of the 1000 miles and the start of the extra 500 miles - to make the Anniversary special 1500 miles in 36 hours.

2002 Grand Challenge

Reviews of the Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge no 16 - who would have ever thought it would still be going.

2003 Grand Challenge

Stories and photo pages from the 17th Grand Challenge 2003 With Digital cameras becoming more and more common the pix get better and better.

2005 Grand Challenge

The 19th Grand Challenge was held over the weekend of 15th and 16th October 2005. The start and finish was in Turangi.

2006 Grand Challenge

The 20th Anniversary running of the Grand Challenge. The field was full at 120+ staters of which 116 actually started and 106 finished - 2 were outside 24 hour limit.

Grand Challenge Pre Run write up - Mike Nash IT'S truly the middle of winter. And truly the time for mad motorcyclists to engage in endurance riding activities like the Rusty Nuts 1000-miler. By MIKE NASH this write up was originally published on 20 July 2000 on the xtra motorsport column on the Xtra website.

2007 Grand Challenge

Ride reviews from the 21st Grand Challenge 2007. Hthis years run was held in some of the worst weather we have encountered in 21 years of running this event.

2008 Grand Challenge

The 2008 Grand Challenge was held in mixed weather conditions, and the first section was over a lot of secondary roads, which made for a slow first half. This resulted in a high pull out rate as riders decided that they could not finish in the 24 hours allowed.

2009 Grand Challenge

Ride reviews from the 23rd Grand Challenge 2009. the world wide global recession took it's toll with entries down for the year. The weather was wet, wet, wet. Throw in some very cold overnight temps and strong winds and