Big field of racers at Kaihoka MX

JOYCE WYLLIE

Kaihoka Lakes Road saw one of its busiest weekends recently when another successful motocross (MX) event was held at the Ferguson farm, 17-19 March.

The 129 riders included many from Blenheim, Murchison, and Christchurch, who raced alongside local Golden Bay entrants. This year, women made up nearly 20 per cent of the field.

Conditions were very dry so the track was watered on the days before the event in order to keep the dust to a minimum. There were 12 classes over five rounds, all completed before Sunday’s three feature races.

Andrew Ferguson lives on the farm and was “thrilled to be riding again after some years off”, racing on his 2001 Suzuki RM125. The bike had just had a complete motor swap into a new frame, with his original plastics and graphics from 22 years ago. He was a standout rider in the clubman class, on one of only three Suzuki bikes in the entire field.

Travis Langford from Tākaka said, “It’s a real team effort to get everything ready to a high standard.”

Ellie Harvey and Bryan Heaphy from Nelson Motorcycle Club worked hard;

Ellie is the first woman president. Joy James organised the flag marshals and food; ProMed were the medics; Ablution Solutions provided toilets; Laura Sixtus prepared the food and served coffee from her cart. The track preparation, power harrowing and regrassing afterwards was a team effort, with Travis Langford, Cameron Strange, and David, Andrew and Julie-Anne Ferguson.

For Travis, it’s a full week of organising, plus racing three days straight, then moving his heavy machinery back to Kotinga.

Simone Dacombe convenes the “MX Ladies” group, which encourages women riders; this was her first Kaihoka experience. She finished third in the women’s class, and enthused about the weekend, saying it was “the best”, with great scenery, big jumps, and “a positive social vibe”. She said she “loved seeing families all involved with dad’s racing, then removing their helmets to cheer their kids on”.

The club appreciates the excellent venue on the Ferguson farm for racing, relaxing, spectating, and camping. Now the dust has settled, all is quiet, and the utes, trailers, and vans have all headed out the gate, their farm has returned to the usual peaceful rural place.

KAIHOKA LAKES MX 2023 RESULTS

First place-getters in each section: Clubman, Hunter Griffith. Feature Senior, Nic Darcy. Junior 8-12 85, Kase Shuttleworth. Junior 13-16 85, Kelly Spencer. Feature Junior, Wills Harvey. Junior 12-16 125, Wills Harvey. Ladies 12-16, Milla Dahlenburg. Ladies Senior, Stacey Emms. Feature 3, Carter Ross. Mini-Clutched, Carter Ross. Mini-Unclutched, Finn Towse. MX1, Luke Heaphy. MX2, Luke Heaphy. Vets 40-49, Shaun McFadden. Vets 50+, Dan Shallcrass.