Thoresen has a broad background in New Zealand tourism, and has been with Serada for around five years. He is passionate about the New Zealand motorhome/caravan industry, and says various factors are responsible for the sustained growth it’s currently enjoying.

“A key one is our political stability and safety. Our research suggests that unrest in other parts of the world is discouraging many New Zealanders from travelling offshore. Instead, more are opting to see their own country, and in a different way. And as more and more are discovering, compared with the traditional air-travel-and-accommodation-holiday, a motorhome is a relatively inexpensive mode of seeing the world.

“In addition, high interest rates have persuaded some retirees to abandon the home-and-mortgage millstone in favour of a small block of land – they use it as a base on which to park a motorhome.

“And finally, the sophistication of the modern motorhome holds great appeal. Equipped with all the accessories and comforts found in the average home, it’s more user-friendly than ever. Toilets, refrigeration, solar panels, satellite TV and free-to-air boxes – a true mobile home.”

He says the best part about the growth of the New Zealand industry is that it’s occurring across the spectrum. “The outright-owner market is as vibrant as the rental market, and it’s great that we’re able to offer a full range to both sectors – everything from budget vehicles to opulent, luxury motorhomes.”

Growth inhibitors
While the industry is performing well, Thoresen believes there are fundamental issues that will need to be addressed if it’s to achieve its full potential. Two of the most important are the decline in the number of campsites, and vehicle standards.

“We need more sites in New Zealand to properly service the growing numbers of motorhomes. Not simply more sites, but more sites with appropriate facilities. Consider the way they do it in the US, for example, where very elaborate sites have been set up specifically for motorhomes. These are almost a destination in their own right, rather than merely a transit point.

“The problem’s exacerbated here because we’ve lost quite a few campsites in recent years. The phenomenal increase in land value – particularly beachfront property – has seen owners selling their campsites and parks to developers. It’s the biggest threat to our industry. Thankfully, DOC is trying to counter the trend by developing more sites.”

Serada works closely with the New Zealand Motorhome and Caravan Association, and Thoresen says the organisation has embarked on a programme of acquisition. “Its goal is to acquire a new site every year – in all parts of New Zealand – and it will typically negotiate a long-term lease for each site.”

Standards
If there’s one thing guaranteed to get Kiwi motorhome/caravan owners animated about their vehicles, it’s the introduction of “standards legislation”, which many see as an infringement of their freedom and DIY rights.
Thoresen sympathises, and while he accepts that legislation might restrict the DIYer’s ability to tinker with/modify his vehicle, standards are ultimately all about safety – particularly in terms of gas and electrical installations.

“There used to be an exemption for gas systems under 15kg in motorhomes (anyone could fit one), but when people use garden hoses as gas lines (and it’s happened), or route gas lines around exhaust pipes, you begin to see the logic behind the need for accredited gas fitters.”

Importers on offshore-manufactured motorhomes are also affected by compliance legislation, and again, Thoresen says the standards are about safety. He is the secretary of the Recreational Vehicle and Caravan Manufacturers’ Association of New Zealand, and while it actively promotes New Zealand manufacturing, its primary objective is to ensure that all vehicles (locally-manufactured or imported) comply with recognised safety standards.

“We are not anti-import. The fact is, there are issues with imported vehicles from some countries relating to gas and electrical installations, with fittings of questionable quality. Compliance is there for peoples’ safety. We want to preserve standards and protect the industry.”

Life spice
For Thoresen, time out from Serada and the motorhome industry is a near-fanatical pursuit of motorbike speed records on his Kawasaki ZX1400. One of the world’s fastest production bikes, the ZX1400 has already earned Thoresen two national drag-racing titles. In August last year he took it to Utah’s legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in search of a world record.

Like Burt Munro half a century before him, Thoresen’s attempt at the world record (214mph in this specific speed record class) was largely self-funded, and he competed against a number of far more elaborately-supported teams. Unlike Munro, he wasn’t successful in breaking the record – but he came very close.

“The bike’s capable of the record – I’ve already done 212mph on it at Hamilton Airport’s runway – but we had a problem with traction at Bonneville. Or to be more precise – lack of traction. The salt kept sticking to the tyres, and the rear wheel would just spin rather than bite – even at 180mph.”

Riding a bike at 200mph is not for the faint-hearted, as was graphically illustrated on Thoresen’s final run at Bonneville. At around 190mph he hit a piece of “something” (perspex, he thinks) on the track, which caused him to lose control of the bike. It veered wildly, and while he managed to keep it upright, he demolished two of the timing towers lining the track. “The bike’s fairing was annihilated, but it was otherwise undamaged. More importantly, though, I was in one piece.”

No, the near catastrophe hasn’t deterred him – he is going back to Bonneville this year – with improved aerodynamics and a plan to sort out that sticking salt – and he’s adamant he’ll return with the record.

Though sedate touring in a motorhome and high-speed motorcycles might seem part of different universes, Thoresen’s world record attempt at Bonneville brought them together. He is married to an American lady (also a bike junkie) and for the world record attempt, they rented a large motorhome. “With her US licence, it was logical that Violet drove it, and it proved the perfect facility and base for our team.”

Details of Thoresen’s racing activities can be viewed at his website (www.blackthunder.co.nz). Black thunder? Well, the bike’s black, and Thoresen is a Norwegian name related to – what else? Thor – the Norse God of Thunder.