About Skinny

Thinman is Alan Doak, aka “Skinny”.

I started my working career as a commercial photographer, and built up my business – Shoot ‘Em Up – winning many awards for my work. This culminated in being named the 1996 Photographer of the Year award for the NZIPP.

I’m currently the General Manager and one of the owners of Springload – a digital transformation company based in Wellington.

Thinman started out as a blog about things I was interested in – politics, art, music, news. Over the years, and after a period of inactivity it’s morphed into a place where I document the rides I do as a long distance motorcycle enthusiast.

List of ride events I have completed:

2010
– Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge (1600km in 24 hours)
2011
– Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge (25th anniversary and the last one)
2014
– North Island 1600 (1,600km in 24 hours)
2015
– North Island 1600
2016
– North Island 1600
– IBA Bun Burner 1500 (1,500 miles in 36 hours)
– TT2000 (2,000 km in 48 hours, or as far as you can go with the maximum number of points – I was 12th out of 87 riders)
– Super Thou (1,000km in less than 14 hours)
2017
– TT2000 (first motorbike home having ridden 3,020km in 50 hours)
– North Island 800 (800km in less than 12 hours – I didn’t seek recognition for this, more about helping  a mate complete the ride)
– IBA Saddlesore 1000 (1,000 miles in less than 24 hours) Awaiting confirmation from IBA

As well as motorcycling I’m an enthusiast boat builder. I built my minimax (top speed 29 kph), and am currently restoring a Glastron GT150.

Me and one of my boys on my Minimax
Glastron GT150
The James Bond version of the Glastron GT150

I had a past life as a country singer – my alter ego is Skinny La Veal. If you want to see me in action then take a look at this – a collection of music clips and TV performances.

12 thoughts on “About Skinny”

  1. Hi Alan, this mite be a bit random, but ive been doing my family history lately and i just googled the name william thomas doak as he was fathers great grandfather and it led me to your page. I am wondering if he is the same as yours. My Grandmother is Patricia jones, nee Doak and her father was George Michael Doak and she was born in Ashburton. I would be interested to see if there is some connection with these 2 william thomas doaks. Could you please email me if when you have some spare time.
    Thanks, Kelly

  2. Hi, I am Bruce Grants daughter and i recently found your blog on dad while going through a draw at home where i had put it away and forgoten about it. I would like to say thanks and its really cool hearing about all the silly things dad used to do. Oh and talking to gran the other night she told me that she still has those hedge clippers in the shed haha

  3. Hi Alan
    For some strange reason, or maybe not, I thought to google your name and hey presto stuff came up. I was at Roc Hall in 79 and we used to be friends. I am thrilled to read your stuff and that you seem to be doing okay.

    Christina

  4. Hi Alan,
    Could you please email me re the possibility of publishing a couple of your photographs of the old Barefoot Originals shop in Wellington.
    Thanks

  5. Hi, I live in Dunedin & imported a 1946 Chris Craft Rocket from Detroit,USA in 2015. It is still having some work done to it but I attended the Antique & Classic Boat Show last year (March 2016) & met the owner of 19′ Chris Craft Racing Runabout (White hull, NY1803 FZ – No.74) & who was kind enough to give me a ride in his boat. You have photos in the NZACBS website gallery starting at 279. I unfortunately did not get his name & contact details (lives & works in Wellington). I’m hoping you can forward them to me or vice versa ie. forward my email to him. Would like to get advice/contacts regarding restoration & repairs. Regards, Paul

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  7. Hi Alan,

    Just found another 24 hour to add to your list. Kumara is a McKeown 24 hour fuel 95, 91 and diesel.
    I am planning my own 1000 miler and found this station as a reference point.

    Cheer
    Michael

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    content, that’s why you don’t rank high in google’s search results, but there is a tool that can help you to create 100% unique
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  9. South Island – Windwhistle Garage is a 24/7 CardFuel- regular, super & diesel

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  11. Hi Alan I believe you took a photo of a 16 Ft Seacraft launch up at Rotoiti / Nelson that appeared in the March edition of Boating. mag Do you have an owner contact as I am rebuilding one of these and need some detail off a sistership.

    Thanks Cheers.
    Chris

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