An article from June 4, 2001:

The Southland Times®

Hills alive with sound of engines
By Mandy Gillies


OTUREHUA -- A small hillside in Central Otago became a mass of bikes, tents and bonfires on Saturday night-- a scene not likely to be found in the United States, one American couple said.

The Brass Monkey Rally was a first for New Yorkers Erin and Chris Ratay and one they are not likely to forget.

The couple threw in their jobs as a salesman and career counselor in May, 1999, and decided to ride their BMW bikes around the world.

As well as New Zealand, the trip has taken them to Morocco, Europe, India, South-east Asia, Australia and countries fringing the Arctic. "Of all the countries we've been to New Zealand is the one place where we think we could live," Erin Ratay said.

Travelling more than 90,000km and through 35 countries earned them the Brass Monkey distance-travelled. They plan to stay in New Zealand until September when they head to South America and then home in 2002.

At Oturehua, as the flames of a huge bonfire grew higher the temperatures went lower -- but the band struck up and stories began to flow. "We would never get this many people to a winter rally in the States," Erin Ratay said. "This is great.''

 

New Yorkers Erin and Chris Ratay enjoy the Brass Monkey Rally at Oturehua despite the sub-zero temperatures.

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