10
Wednesday January 5, 2011
7KH 6XQ
one on one with the Sun
In honour of Charlie Higgins Blenheim teenager Charlie Higgins was a true speedway fan, loving family member and a keen spirited young man. Nearly four years have passed since his tragic death. His mother Trich Dixon shares with Celeste Lodewyk her memories of Charlie. Kind, caring, family devoted and a true-blooded speedway fan. To describe 13-year-old Charlie Higgins in a short sentence is very difficult. In fact to ask his family and friends how they would describe Charlie, they would simply smile and say “where do we start�? Blenheim teenager Charlie Higgins was tragically taken from us in March 2007 as a result of a freak accident at Eastern States Speedway. Nearly four years later, the memory of a sprightly, keen spirited young man still brings a smile and the odd burst of laughter to the faces of those who knew him. Charlie was born and raised in Blenheim, most of which was spent at the speedway track, laughs his mother Trich Dixon. “The first time he experienced speedway was in my stomach, then later at three weeks of age he attended his first committee meeting. He was even recorded in the minutes of the meeting. “Plus he was the assistant street stock rep for me. All the guys knew him well so if there was something they needed and I was already busy elsewhere, they would always ask Charlie,� she laughs. True to being born into speedway, Charlie had strong ambitions to become a stock car driver. “Charlie was one year away from being able to race youth mini stocks which he was so excited about. From there he always said his goal was to race stock cars, I even have drawings on the computer from when he would draw up different designs,� Trich says. With broad shoulders and a mature personality, Charlie was proud of his ability to help out friends, family and speedway drivers with the fixing and maintenance of their cars. Despite the obvious joy of getting his hands greasy under the hood, Charlie would happily exchange a wrench for a spatula when it came to cooking. “He was really good in the kitchen, pancakes were definitely his domain,� Trich says. A Holden fan at heart, Charlie idolized New Zealand race driver Greg Murphy. In fact the night Charlie died he was driven to speedway in a family friend’s Holden V8.
“He was brimming with excitement before he left the house and when I look back now I think, how appropriate,� Trich smiles. The friendships and respect that the community held for Charlie was evident at his funeral when around 800 people met to say their final goodbyes. “As hard as it was delivering Charlies eulogy, everyone was laughing because it reflected how important it was for Charlie to make people happy. He went out of his way to help anyone and everyone, and that is something I think people will always remember him for,� Trish says. Following the accident Trich initiated a ‘Fun Night’ in honour of Charlie which fast became a highlight of the speedway season. “I wanted this because I didn’t want people to be put off speedway. At the end of the day it was simply a freak accident. This year’s Charlie Higgins Fun Night will be held April 16 and will include his favourite class, ATV bikes. “This will be the third fun night Eastern States has run and already we have drivers from all over NZ ringing to confirm their entries. “At last year’s event we had two drivers come down to attend, all paid for out of their own pockets. We had never met before but they came along simply to support the night, that’s amazing,� Trich says. Confirmed for the Charlie Higgins Fun Night are Super Stocks, Stock Cars, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Productions, Saloons and ATV Bikes. Mark this date on your calendar – April 16, Charlie Higgins Fun Night.
Charlie Higgins: a true-blooded racing and speedway fan.
%ULQJLQJ WKH %(67 WR 0DUOERURXJK 6LOYHU 7XUTXRLVH &UDE 1HFNODFH
-ARKET 3T "LENHEIM 0HONE &AX
XH 7RSD] 'LDPRQG &RFNWDLO 5LQJ NDUHQ ZDONHU MHZHOOHU\