Weekend Winners

VMX - Mini Nationals

maddix park mx

Vintage Motocross Whakatane

Keith Paterson won 4 races from 4 starts in the Open Class at Round 2 of the Tricky Dicky Racing Mr Vintage MX Series at Awakaponga on Saturday. The usual local suspects were present including Ian Conway, Rob Sutherland, Ray Hutt, Mark Stewart, Craig and Jeggs Ryder and Craig’s dad, Shane. All seemed to have a pretty successful and enjoyable day.  The track was fast but not rough and a watering at lunchtime kept the dust in check.

In an article on the event for Friday November 18th’s issue of the Bay Times, Colin Smith mentions the variety of brands that are racing and how Ian Conway “describes VMX as an “active museum” with the bikes’ diversity showcasing development from the late 60s to the mid 80s when water-cooled engines and linkage rear suspensions were being pioneered”.

Check out the VMX site   for info on the series and for photos & results.  The next round will be at Taupo on December 4th 2011.

NZ Mini Nationals

Jacob Hunt (pictured below with Brad Jeffrey) made the podium and came home from the NZ Mini Nationals with a trophy for third place in the MX 50cc 6-8 Years class, one point behind 2nd place-getter Mitchell Baucke.  He had “absolutely smoked” Cobie Bourke, the class winner, at the Taupo Labour Weekend meet, so was disappointed not to do the same at Ikamatua. However, his Dad is still pretty proud of his efforts on a track where Jacob had only had 3 laps practice and on a weekend when Jacob had terrible starts.

There were 27 riders in Jacob’s class but because of a slow practice time, Jacob had 9th pick of the start gate. On the Saturday, parents could prep the gates for the kids but on the Sunday, it was kids only. Jacob’s worst start was in race 4.  He rolled forward on the gate, hit it and was dead last into the corner.  He rode furiously to finish 8th but that race ruined his chances for a higher placed overall finish.

Bradley Jeffrey came back with a trophy as well for his 7th place out of a field of 11 in the 7-11 Years Trail class. 

Harrison Moore just missed out on making the cut for the 9-11 MX 65cc class.  He was number 31 out of a field of 48. He had 5/1/1/6/2 results riding in the support class for a second place in this group.

The track was really good and the kids loved it. The first corner was unusual for some; it was natural, just plain grass. The Westland Motorcycle Club had kept to their promise of river sand replacing the stones and making the track all-weather usable so Friday’s rain was not a problem.  By Sunday, there had been more rain so the berms were a little slushy and the track had become a one-line track in places.  .

However, the Club had created an awesome all round set up.  There was a huge paddock for camping and most riders did just that which created a great atmosphere. There was rugby and bike riding outside of race time and families were able to fit in a little South Island sightseeing to the Pancake Rocks as well. The opening hours of the local service station were slightly inconvenient meaning that those who needed fuel had to drive to Greymouth.

It was a super long trip for the North Islanders, aggravated by problems with cancelled ferry crossings.  But the great atmosphere continued on the way home.  Forty plus kids made the ferry theirs when they finally got on one and then there was a final group meet up for food in Levin before the riders split for their separate home towns.

Full results are on My Laps  There is also an article by Andy McGechan on the Bikesport site.

 
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