County ready to help motor-cycle clubs

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 12

County ready to help motor-cycle clubs

The Cheviot County Council indicated a willingness to help two Christchurch motorcycling clubs with their activities when applications came before the council.

The Christchurch Custom Motor Cycle Association was granted permission to pitch a marquee just south of the Buxton Bridge at Gore Bay, where about 35 to 40 members will spend a night during a rally. The club undertook to leave the area tidy. The New Brighton MotoCross Club wrote inquiring about the leasing of land for a moto-cross track in the vicinity of Christchurch, indicating about 25 to 30 acres would be required, comprising 10 to 18 acres of hillside and the remainder suitable for a public car park. For two years the club had

been using a hill circuit at Ogg’s Farm, Tai Tapu, but because the farm had been sold the club was faced with finding a new venue, said the letter. The club believed that motor-cycle racing should be encouraged on a rigidly organised basis so that young riders might learn to respect speed and realise that the speeds achieved on the track were not to be used on the road, said the letter. “In this way we hope to contribute even in some small measure to reducing the number of road accidents, in which motor-cyclists seem to be so vulnerable.”

Although there was some conjecture about the disadvantage of the distance from Christchurch, the council will inform the club that “some suitable area will be available,” and that the council is prepared to discuss the suggestion with the club. I