Small Tribute

[Stevo]

Just like to say farewell to a much loved man in Canterbury Motorsport circles, Colin Hooper.
Colin was a close friend of Kickaha (who is riding one of Colin's sidecars), and close friend and stepfather to chic n chargewho used to run in the sidecar Kickaha now races.
Colin loved motorcycles and anything to do with motorcycles from his days riding classic bikes, to sidecars, to cruising (sometimes pretty damn quickly) on his ZZR1100. Also a keen fan of speedway, and has travelled to Oz to to watch at Phillip Island and the F1 Grand Prix.
A much loved man and also the man who did so much work and many many MANY hours out at Ruapuna motorsport Park in maintenance and upgrading.

Colin Hooper was everything any Kiwi Biker could want to be, (although never a Kiwibiker as he never owner a comp). He was racing his sidecar at Ruapuna on Sat arvo when he was tragically killed.

I'll miss you mate. Please show your support for Kickaha and chic n charge. Cheers guys and gals :ride:

[scumdog]

Yeah, read about it and thought it mights have been one of Kickahas mates, bloody sad eh? Must knock the wind out of those that knew him. R.I.P.

[Waylander]

Respect to this rider of the road. May he find the perfect bike and that perfect long winding road on the other side.

[Ixion]

Rest in peace. Tried to think of something clever to say, but they all seemed crass, so I'll stick with being humble, and bowing my knee to a great biker.

[gav]

Amen to that, well written Stevo.

[John]

May he RIP.
Be a missed part of NZ missing forever.

[justsomeguy]

Condolences.:no:

[Stevo]

I'm sorry. When I read it, it seemed a bit jumbled. For those that don't know chic n charge is my better half, but due to me being a sharemilker when I first met her then moving away from Chch I never got to know the guy as well as I had hoped. Thought there was still plenty of time for that, but a missed opportunity unfortunately.

I'm not even entirely sure but I think the Jawa was among his favourites. Raced Kawasakis mainly, at least for the past fifteen years. Had owned a few hondas and has bikes, old Jags (for restoring), minis and sidecars.
About 2 months ago said he rode a Harley V rod and reckoned it was among the best bikes he had ever ridden, and he was so not into Harleys!!!

[onearmedbandit]

Read about it in the press, also thought that Kickaha must surely have known him. Tragic loss to his family (although I never met anyone related to him or the man himself) but also the NZ biking community. My thoughts with all concerned, its never easy when you lose someone.

[Ramius]

I tilt my hat in respect at the passing.

[LB]

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Sincere condolences.

Life is so short, none of us know when our time will be up. Let's spend whatever time we have wisely.
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[dangerous]

Please show your support for Kickaha and chic n charge. Cheers guys and gals :ride:
Sure do... had this post waiting for things to settle before posting.

Sympathys go out to KBers Chick 'n' Charge and Kickaha aswell as their families and friends.
Friday is the funeral of Colin Hooper who died doing one of the things he loved, side car racing at Ruapuna.
My thoughts and sympathys go out Chick 'n' Charge who is Colins step daughter and to Kickaha who is a good friend of Colins and raced one of his side cars. Kickaha saw the most of the accident unfold as did Colins partner Gloria...... Kickaha hang in ther mate its a shit of a thing to have gone through.

So sorry guys I feel for you, and your friends and families all the best for Friday.

Darryl D

ps: Stevo, top post mate, not a easy one to do.

[jazbug5]

Sometimes words just utterly fail to be adequate. This is one of those occasions. I am truly sorry for the loss of everyone who knew this man. It sounds like he was an inspirational guy, who really lived life.
Sorry people.

[750Y]

my humble sympathies go out to all of Colin's family & friends. remember the good times.

[Ms Piggy]

This was a tragedy but we can learn from this man - he lived life to the fullest and from what I've heard of him was positive and encouraging to those he raced with.

Love & sympathy to chic'n'charge, Kickaha and the rest of Colin's family, especially his wife Gloria.

[Sniper]

Sorry to hear that, its sad when a great biker who was also a great friend passes away. All my best to Chic'c'charge, Stevo, Kickaha and Collins wife.

And may you never forget what a great man he was

[TonyB]

Tragic news. Sincere condolences to Kickaha, chick n charge, stevo and all other family and freinds.

[Kickaha]

A Sidecar rider died a few days ago

His name was Colin Hooper and at the age of 66 was still racing Sidecars
he was for a person I had immense respect for and had contributed a lot to my enjoyment of sidecar racing,I was riding one of his outfits that day and challenging him for 2nd place when I saw him go into the wall

I don’t know if there’s a good way to die, but Colin died doing the things he loved
He died going hard and fast on a sidecar that he loved to race and running up towards the front of the field
He died at a track he’d had a big input into constructing and maintaining
And he died with his partner by his side

We got the accident scene within seconds of it happening and another crew was already there and doing what they could, his partner Gloria was on a flag point a hundred metres from the accident and saw it happen and was there as fast as she could and although it seemed an eternity the ambulance arrived quite quickly we stood by the side of the track as they administered CPR and his partner held his hand asked him not to die and we knew then that it wasn’t good and we stood there feeling helpless and angry that this would happen to such a person

I made a call to his Kelly his stepdaughter who was closer to him than his own family and who I used to race with and told her that he’d been badly injured and thought that she should come from Picton to be there and to go straight to the hospital, we watched them work on him and realised there was nothing to be gained by staying there and we then packed our gear and loaded his smashed outfit and went back to the pits, not long after we got word that he’d died at the scene and I called her again and told her the bad news, I didn’t know how to put it and when she answered I just blurted it out “He’s died, they resuscitated him but he’s died”.

I made some other calls the same and the general reaction was,” you’re bloody joking” as if I or anyone else would make something like that up

Soon a couple of others that had known and raced with him arrived and we stood around the pits and made small talk and their was an air of disbelief that such a thing could happen when the day had been going so well for everyone, he’d been talking to my swingers mother not long before we went out and had remarked to her how well we were riding and that was high praise indeed from him.

The police came out and took statements and details to investigate the crash and we made small talk amongst ourselves and pondered our racing future, but you know what? First chance I get I’ll be back out and going as hard and fast as I dare and while it’ll always be in the back of my mind I won’t stop doing the sport I love, he’d had friends die while racing and he’d carried on and he’d expect us to as well and we will.

I’ve cried a bucket load since it happened and are still struggling to come to terms with it and why it happened, but all I know is my world is a poorer place with his passing .

[Joni]

.
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Sincere condolences.

Life is so short, none of us know when our time will be up. Let's spend whatever time we have wisely.
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Amen Lynda, could not say it better myself.

My consolences to all.

[Ms Piggy]

A Sidecar rider died a few days ago

His name was Colin Hooper and at the age of 66 was still racing Sidecars
he was for a person I had immense respect for and had contributed a lot to my enjoyment of sidecar racing,I was riding one of his outfits that day and challenging him for 2nd place when I saw him go into the wall

I don’t know if there’s a good way to die, but Colin died doing the things he loved
He died going hard and fast on a sidecar that he loved to race and running up towards the front of the field
He died at a track he’d had a big input into constructing and maintaining
And he died with his partner by his side

We got the accident scene within seconds of it happening and another crew was already there and doing what they could, his partner Gloria was on a flag point a hundred metres from the accident and saw it happen and was there as fast as she could and although it seemed an eternity the ambulance arrived quite quickly we stood by the side of the track as they administered CPR and his partner held his hand asked him not to die and we knew then that it wasn’t good and we stood there feeling helpless and angry that this would happen to such a person

I made a call to his Kelly his stepdaughter who was closer to him than his own family and who I used to race with and told her that he’d been badly injured and thought that she should come from Picton to be there and to go straight to the hospital, we watched them work on him and realised there was nothing to be gained by staying there and we then packed our gear and loaded his smashed outfit and went back to the pits, not long after we got word that he’d died at the scene and I called her again and told her the bad news, I didn’t know how to put it and when she answered I just blurted it out “He’s died, they resuscitated him but he’s died”.

I made some other calls the same and the general reaction was,” you’re bloody joking” as if I or anyone else would make something like that up

Soon a couple of others that had known and raced with him arrived and we stood around the pits and made small talk and their was an air of disbelief that such a thing could happen when the day had been going so well for everyone, he’d been talking to my swingers mother not long before we went out and had remarked to her how well we were riding and that was high praise indeed from him.

The police came out and took statements and details to investigate the crash and we made small talk amongst ourselves and pondered our racing future, but you know what? First chance I get I’ll be back out and going as hard and fast as I dare and while it’ll always be in the back of my mind I won’t stop doing the sport I love, he’d had friends die while racing and he’d carried on and he’d expect us to as well and we will.

I’ve cried a bucket load since it happened and are still struggling to come to terms with it and why it happened, but all I know is my world is a poorer place with his passing .
Well said my friend. :(

[dangerous]

Well said my friend. :(
and it bloody well was too.......aye :yes:

[Biff]

Respect and sincere condolences to all.
W - my PM says it all.

[gav]

KIckaha, mate, beautiful, I know how hard that must have been, take care buddy, anything I can do, just let me know....

[Ms Piggy]

I suggested this to Kickaha and also asked Stevo but, I was wondering if we post our condolences so they can then be printed off and sent to Gloria for her to keep.

[2_SL0]

Sad news, my thoughts go out to the family and friends.

[Will]

A Sidecar rider died a few days ago.....
but all I know is my world is a poorer place with his passing .


Sad news but try to think of how much richer your lives have been for knowing him.

[RiderInBlack]

Sorry to hear that another top bloke has past away. Thanks Kickaha for sharing what happen. Must of been hard being there.

Just a query (no need to answer), but I was wondering how is his sidecar partner. Didn't catch what happen to him/her ( just kick me, OK)?

[Sensei]

Sorry to hear . Condolences to all Family & close friends . My you find Happyness in his memorys

[Ghost Lemur]

Can't really think to of anything much to add that hasn't been aloquantly said by others already.

Kickaha, please foward all our condolences to his wife. And let her know that the KBers are all behind her.

If there's anything else they need, whether it be to take up a collection, or celebrate his life with a fun ride, etc, let us know.

I have the utmost admiration for anyone who can live and die with passion. A person who legacy of inspiration, mentoring, or merely companionship, out weighs the sum of the indervidual acts themselves. Colin sounds like such a man.

[Ms Piggy]

I suggested this to Kickaha and also asked Stevo but, I was wondering if we post our condolences so they can then be printed off and sent to Gloria for her to keep.
Ok - Stevo has asked me to go ahead and gather condolences and post them off. People can either post them here or PM me with them. The funeral is on Friday, so it would be great to have it all done to send to Gloria on Saturday.

I'm not a computer whizz so I was just going to print off what people post, if anyone has a better suggestion please let me know. I know it was done for that couple who were hospitalised but I'm not sure what the procedure was.

Cheers all.

[k14]

Man, I feel so bad I missed this thread.

I was out there when it happened and didn't really realise the magnitude of it till just before when i read todays newspaper and just read this thread. I had talked to him a few times and he was such a good guy, would always stop to talk to me since then, trying to get me out on a sidecar. Said hi to him in the pits just before he went out, real guttered i didn't stop to say a few more things. But no one knows what is going to happen next.

My thoughts are with the family, kickaha and everyone else effected by this. He is a great loss.

[k14]

Sorry to hear that another top bloke has past away. Thanks Kickaha for sharing what happen. Must of been hard being there.

Just a query (no need to answer), but I was wondering how is his sidecar partner. Didn't catch what happen to him/her ( just kick me, OK)?

Nah thats a fair question, he was fine, just a few bruises. Just a freak accident.

[White trash]

My condolences to Colins family and friends.

This tradgedy just just reinforces to me how precious life is and to live life to the fullest.

I really dont know what else to say.

[Paul in NZ]

There is a well known Persian proverb that states..

"Every man goes down to his death bearing in his hands only that which he has given away." It sounds like Colin will have his arms full. I'm sorry I never met him, sounds like he was a great guy....

Condolences to the Family - Love Paul and Vicki Nuttridge

[bear]

Thanks for sharing Kickaha, all the best for friends and family - RIP.

[StoneChucker]

Kickaha - Very well written my friend. When I read that, it seemed so close to me, as if I was there :( My sincere condolances to the family and friends of Colin. He will obviously be missed and he has left his mark on people, and on the world, not something that is easily done!

Rest in peace :ride:

[MadDuck]

I never met Colin and am a poorer person for not having done so. To Kickaha, ChicnCharge and Gloria (and the family) although you dont know me from a bar of soap I offer my heart felt condolences. There are no words that can help at a time like this.

From what I have heard Colin has helped many riders and been an inspiration and will continue to be one as long as you (we) can keep his memory alive.

Ride safe this weekend Kickaha. Get a win for your ole mate.

[chic 'n' charge]

Hi all,

Wish to thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. Colin (aka poppi) was such a legacy and we will miss him terribly. Mum (aka groovy gran) is hanging in there with the love and support from family and friends. It's a very rough time and she is very touched by all your messages and its given her the inspiration to go back and train new swingers in her much loved sport....that's dedication for ya eh, and it's her way of continuing Poppi's legacy to the sport.

[dangerous]

Lovely post C'n'C, I thought I'd post about the wee tribute that we had out at the track today.
B.E.A.R.S round 1 @ Rupuna today started with a speach at riders breifing about the efforts of Colins at the track and a mention of families and friends.
All the racers in todays meeting then started our bikes and rode out lidless to the point were colin died and had a minutes silence, but with engines running....... shit the noise was loud, yet the sceen seemed so quite, I was up the frount next to Kickaha so did not see who many were behind us but I could see C'n'C up on the bank........ a very brave girl that, had to take a very big breath in and look away.
It was a bloody great idea to have done this.... I was happy to have been a part of it, chins up and ride on.

[scumdog]

Lovely post C'n'C, I thought I'd post about the wee tribute that we had out at the track today.
B.E.A.R.S round 1 @ Rupuna today started with a speach at riders breifing about the efforts of Colins at the track and a mention of families and friends.
All the racers in todays meeting then started our bikes and rode out lidless to the point were colin died and had a minutes silence, but with engines running....... shit the noise was loud, yet the sceen seemed so quite, I was up the frount next to Kickaha so did not see who many were behind us but I could see C'n'C up on the bank........ a very brave girl that, had to take a very big breath in and look away.
It was a bloody great idea to have done .

Move me to tears that did D. - serious!

[Stevo]

Nice one D.

Pity I was not able to be there alongside my better half to support her. She only had wonderful things later on to say about the moment, and was touched by it. Certainly one she will never forget.

Stevo

[chic 'n' charge]

Chic 'n' Charge and Groovy Gran wish to extend their sincere and heartfelt thanks to families, friends, neighbours, colleagues and the motorsport fraternity throughout NZ for their love, kindness and support following the sudden loss of Colin.

It has brought great comfort to know he was loved and respected by so many.

Colin was a very special person who's life touched so many. A special thank you to those who assisted at the accident scene and to the many friends at the service we only glimpsed but sadly did not get to speak with.

The cards, messages, food and beautiful floral tributes were a source of great comfort to us. As these were so numerous, please accept this as a personal acknowledgement of our thanks and appreciation.