Audrey Henderson – New Zealand Founder

It is difficult for Audrey Henderson (nee Bathe) to pinpoint just when her motorcycling interest started, but feels that the seeds were sown when she first started going to the Western Springs speedway in Auckland with her parents when she was a young girl.

As time passed she says a visit from her home town of Whakatane to Auckland was never complete without a visit to the motorcycle shops in Newmarket and out to Len Perry's on the Great South Road ...just to look and dream; but a dream that wouldn't go away.

Whilst still a teenager she joined the Bay of Plenty Motor Cycle Club in Whakatane as a non-riding member and was soon handling all their publicity. This snow balled and Audrey began writing regular articles for newspapers and editing her own Girl Riders page in the NZ Motorcyclist Magazine. This back in the days of the predominance of the British machines: BSA, Norton, Triumph, AJS, etc.

Reading trough some of those articles her interest in safety comes through loud and clear. Long before safety helmets were compulsory, she wrote: "Always, but always, wear a crash helmet and goggles; always wear reasonably heavyweight long trousers and a long sleeved shirt; if possible and particularly if competing or touring favour strong knee high boots." Anyone who has ever experienced a forceful landing on the road will fully appreciate the wisdom of these comments. When you are busy surveying the damage after a 'spill' it is of little consequence whether or not it was your fault or someone else's and heavy clothing can save large areas of painful skin damage.

It wasn't too long before Audrey rebelled about the role of onlooker and bought herself a beat-up little C10 BSA. It went - just! Working under the watchful eye of her motor engineer father, Claude, she stripped the bike down and began a learning process repairing, renewing and reassembling, ending up with a machine mechanically A1 and clean and shiny with a new coat of paint.

When your job is within a kilometre from home, there isn't much excuse to use a motorcycle. What did Audrey do? She had special pannier frames made, packed up the bike with gear (including a portable typewriter so she could continue with her Girl Riders page and general writing) and set off to tour NZ from North Cape to Bluff. She also booked a passage to Australia six months ahead with the intention of continuing on there when NZ had been thoroughly explored.

It is said: "The best laid plans of mice and men..." After many adventures Wellington was safety reached and there Audrey stayed with a fellow WIMA member. This friend persuaded Audrey to enter the Ixion Motorcycle Club 2 day touring trial. Although she had written plenty about Trials, racing, etc. it was the first time she had competed. To her surprise she finished well up in the field and was the highest placed female. However, that wasn't the main thing! It was during this trial that Audrey met a fellow competitor, Ian Henderson. Ian gave Audrey his home address in Motueka and arranged to meet her there during the Easter break. Unexpected romance blossomed. Audrey completed her NZ tour but cancelled the reservation for Australia and instead went back to Whakatane to plan for her marriage to Ian.

Her wedding day caused a bit of a stir and was well reported in the local newspapers. Not only did she design her own wedding gown, but her going away outfit included a smart white crash helmet trimmed with red reflective tape. She wore a brown leather jacket over green slacks, and her accessories included brown leather gloves and knee-boots. The guests saw the young couple leave for their motorcycling honeymoon by first doing several laps of the interior of the hall. Each had a turn at riding while in the hall, but the bride started off her married life by taking a back seat on "The Brute" (B33 BSA) on the highway.

The little C10 couldn't tour comfortably with her new husband's B33 BSA, so Audrey upgraded to a Speed Twin Triumph. Settling in Rotorua Audrey and Ian continued to ride for some years, adding sidecars to the bikes when family commitments made it necessary. They travel by car now, but still retain an interest in motorcycling with several post-vintage British machines awaiting restoration, 'one of these days'.

Audrey is still vitally interested in all aspects of safety and promotes this at all possible times.

Achievements

Motorcycling. Numerous trophies with WIMA during the '50's and '60's including: Women of the Year, Achievement, Correspondence, Sportsmanship.

First woman rider to complete the course in the NZACU Touring Trial (1961) and only woman to complete the course in 1963. Finished well up in the field both years.

Highest placed women in the Ixion MC Club 2 Day Touring Trial 1956. Seventh place in field of almost 40.

Still retains an interest and remains a member of WIMA New Zealand.