In the Beginning

Motorcycles and motorcycle clubs in New Zealand have been around since the earliest days of the twentieth century . The first record of a two wheeled “Motor Bicycle” making an appearance was in 1901 in Christchurch , these were mainly bicycles with a universal motor bolted to a stronger frame .

By 1909 Motorcycles started becoming more complicated . With the mass of cables and levers needed to operate in unison it was difficult for many riders to master . Around this time “The Trade” had realised to prove their machines build quality competitions were needed and began sponsoring riders .

A number of clubs such as the New Zealand Motorcycle Club based in Wellington ran reliability trials , hill climbs , and other events in their respective areas of the country each with their own rules and guidelines . While there is some anecdotal evidence that there was early talk of a national union for motorcycles , the earliest found is 1911.

The “Evening Post” 20^th July 1911 reported....

The New Zealand Motorcycle Club (NZMCC) held it's annual smoke night* last evening in Scott's Rooms in Manners street Wellington . Around fifty members attended . 

The secretary/treasurer Mr *Cecil D Bridge spoke of a movement instituted chiefly by himself to form an Auto Cycle Union of New Zealand . He explained the advantages that would accrue through a national organisation with uniform rules and regulations for holding competitions.

He suggested many new riders would compete who at present regarded competitions as rather of the nature of an advertisement for the trade . Moreover the movement would lead to the establishment of affiliated clubs in such places as the Wairarapa , Marlborough and Nelson. It would tend to consolidate the interests of motorcyclists throughout New Zealand.

He received favorable responses and suggestions including the idea to to hold a conference of club secretaries and delegates in Christchurch to consider the proposal and name. Mr Bridge then suggested that the NZMCC change it's name to the Wellington Motorcycle Club which would be more indicative of where it was based.

In conclusion , Mr Bridge declared that members of the governing body should be strictly private owners .

A Mr Bender spoke about “The Trade” criticising the management of reliability trials. Mr Reynolds replied , pointing out that trade riders (Sponsored Riders) and that of private riders were mutually advantageous to one another . He mentioned that membership of the NZMCC was now eighty five and would soon reach one hundred members .

The value of trials and competitions was much appreciated by the makers of motorcycles , who were able to learn the good and bad points of their machines. The recent twenty four hour trial had been the hardest test for any motorcycle and rider to go through . He considered there was a great future indeed for the motorcycle and sport in the Dominion .

*The smoke night or smoke social was a predominantly a male only social evening in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century New Zealand and Australia .

Things looked promising , however before any union was formed there were still a few twist and turns in the road ahead to get through. As is the case with many ideas it takes a while to navigate the way through to a successful conclusion . The idea of a national union was no different.

Within two months of the original proposal , a meeting was held in September 1911 in Palmerston North with group of North Island clubs. After much discussion the majority of clubs opposed the idea of forming a national union due in part to the logistics of operating a nationwide organisation in those days of limited communications and roads , instead it was agreed to form a union of the North Island clubs (mainly Central North Island).

However it would take nearly another three years before the first NZACU -(North Island) conference was held to finally ratify rules and affiliate the clubs . In 1914 The conference took place in Palmerston North with seven clubs present . They were Napier , Hastings (Hawkes Bay), Dannevirke (Southern Hawkes Bay) , Manawatu , Auckland , Wellington (formerly New Zealand Motorcycle Club) , Upper Hutt and district . The NZACU-(North Island) was officially formed.

While the North Island clubs carried on with establishment of their union , the South Island clubs also were discussing the establishment of a union for the South. But while the separate unions were formed and regulating the sport in their own Islands, the idea of a “National” union still refused to go away.

Over the next two years talks were had between the two unions and clubs . Finally on April 22nd 1916 the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union was formed officially , then a meeting held in June to draft up the first set of rules in Palmerston North .

August 16th 1916 saw the first ever NZACU conference held in Dannevirke .

The seed of a National Motorcycle Union that Cecil Bridge had planted in 1911 had after much discussion and in the middle of World War One finally germinated and bloomed , it had taken five years .

So began 100 years of governance for motorcycle sport in New Zealand.

It appears that *Cecil Bridge did see his idea become reality . He can rightly be credited as being the founding father of The New Zealand Auto Cycle Union Inc (Motorcycling New Zealand Inc).

*Cecil D Bridge (1880-1959)