Tauranga Boys MX Team
Report M Spec Racing Mechanical Training Day 11 July 2012
Bring a tape measure, a flat blade screw driver and a good attitude said the blurb plus a CLEAN bike, a lift/box stand and, the clue to it all, tools for a general check over
Yes, riding isn’t the only thing budding MXers do during the school holidays; not, that is, if you are a member of the Tauranga Boys’ College MX Team.
14 riders from the school team, 5 of their dads plus an assortment of sockets, T bars, ring spanners etc attended the M Spec Racing Mechanical Training Day at M Specs premises in Roxanne Street on Wednesday.
The training day covered basic general maintenance such as greasing bearings, checking brake pads & chain glides and sliders for wear out. M Spec owner, Mark Scobie, gave guidelines about servicing, when to do piston rings, clutches etc, suspension set up and the gearing for different tracks was discussed and, with Mark and Scott Barr-Smith’s help, the boys set up their own sag at the end.
According to the boys, they learnt heaps and are now much more aware of how important bike maintenance is. “I liked the swing arm stuff” says Nick Heyblom while Matt Hobbis found out he has to change the spring in his bike. “I’ve got the wrong one in,” he says, “but another guy found he had a half disintegrated piston. It had been in too long.”
The parents learnt heaps too. They were probably the ones who asked the most questions “It actually made us dads feel a little guilty,” admits one, “that we hadn’t been doing everything we should have”. Another who had always struggled with tyre pressures but didn’t know why happily discovered that heavy duty tubes should have a lower psi than thin tubes.
“It was a very informative day and we are VERY grateful to Mark Scobie for sharing some of his wealth of knowledge with us!” reports Tony Heyblom, the very pro-active team manager for the Boys’ College MX
“I wish there had been an MX team when I was going to school, these boys really are very lucky! The parents of our riders are a passionate bunch, very supportive and a pleasure to work with. We are doing our best to provide all the resources the boys need to become successful athletes in the sport of motocross with discounted gym memberships, Broxy training, Mechanical training, training at Maddix Park and whatever else we can do to help. I think MX has a great future in NZ schools and there will definitely be future world champions to come if we don't let politics get in our way, and just get on with it”.
Hear, hear, say we all.
Report: School MX Champs Huntly 4th May 2012
17 boys attended the Hauraki Plains College Invitation Moto x tournament at Huntly on May 5th. It was a massive day out with nearly 300 riders present and all classes full. The day didn't start too well when Mitchell Bond took a fall in practice and was duly run over where he suffered a broken arm.
The rest of the day faired well with Reed Van de laar riding like a demon going 1/1/2 to secure first place in the intermediate 250cc class with brother Todd not too far behind going 5/2/7 to secure 5th overall.
Sebastian Still was once again a stand out rider. Seb has been only riding for a year and has consistently secured 5th overall all season so far and at Huntly he was circulating 3 seconds faster than anyone else in the 125cc class but a few small incidents didn't see Seb place higher than 3rd in his motos.
Zac McNicol-Carr in his first ever race meeting placed a credible 7th overall in the 125 beginners class so a big well done to Zac!
Mr New competed in the mums/dads/supporters race on his CRF450, he got the hole shot and was first into the first corner but that’s about the best part of the race worth reporting.
37 schools from around the north island competed and Tauranga Boys placed 4th overall, missing out on 3rd by just 1 point!
Thanks to all the parents and supporters who made the day a great one.