NZ's greatest track rider?

**merv** · 21st December 2009, 23:09

Originally Posted by Motu

Yeah but that's only going around in circles in the dirt....doesn't look very hard....

Like Kenny on the TZ lol

easy as eh!

**pritch** · 22nd December 2009, 06:29

I have a vague (very) idea that John Hempleman placed in the world champs back in the early 60s?

Part of the problem these days is that NZ just doesn't have sponsors with the financial clout required. Those few we do have would probably not consider motorbikes to be appropriate to their image.

On the other hand there are Australians all over Moto GP and Superbikes like a bloody rash. I'm reluctant to concede the genetic superiority of Australians, so have to consider that they have a better way of bring their talent through.

**Rcktfsh** · 22nd December 2009, 07:35

Pretty simple really only one nz rider has won
4 world championships (only 11 riders have won more)
25 gp's (next best nz'er 1)
3 iom tt's (in the heyday of the event)
Milazo cup (awarded for the best wet weather ride over all classes in a gp season)
Been responsible for the developement of the suzuki gp team
then after retiring from road racing raced at the top level of world mx developing what was to become the suzuki tm mx bikes.
Placed 2nd overall in an open IOM practice session on a 125 against 125,250,350&500 bikes being over 2 mins a lap faster than ago on the mv.
Won the 1965 european 125 gp by a lap and a half, lapping ginger molley twicw who finished 5th. His race time would have placed him 2nd in the 500 race.

Last spotted at Hampton Downs riding with style a matter of weeks after having brain surgery to remove a non malignant tumour.

**smudge** · 22nd December 2009, 21:43

I was never any good with history. Hugh Anderson is the man really IMO. A very tidy riding style mind you I've only seen him ride a couple of times, once recently.

Ginger Molloy though, to ride as long and hard as that guy has what a legend, and man can he swill a beer, well at least he could, I presume anyone that can keep a Bultaco going fast has to have some pretty mean vices.

Then there's this guy that used to ride an RZ350

........

**merv** · 22nd December 2009, 21:52

Rcktfsh you are definitely on the same wavelength as me with Hugh as the man.

I then said Croz close and all the rest a bit more distant.

Definitely is a money problem these days as I keep saying - how can our boys break that barrier?

**White trash** · 22nd December 2009, 22:00

Originally Posted by merv

Rcktfsh you are definitely on the same wavelength as me with Hugh as the man.

I then said Croz close and all the rest a bit more distant.

Definitely is a money problem these days as I keep saying - how can our boys break that barrier?

With simply, skill, determintion, hard work and self beliefe with a little bit of short term sacrifice.

Don't tell me IRL is an easy nut to crack. And who sits firmly as one of the three to beat?

Case rested. I'm going to bed.

**Big Dave** · 22nd December 2009, 22:01

Originally Posted by Rcktfsh

Last spotted at Hampton Downs riding with style a matter of weeks after having brain surgery to remove a non malignant tumour.

**Motu** · 22nd December 2009, 22:35

Originally Posted by merv

Definitely is a money problem these days as I keep saying - how can our boys break that barrier?

So it was easy for all the others? For a start,they knew about tough times....they won't do it tough these days,that's just too hard man.The bikes are faster,handle better,are more reliable....there are sponsors to pay the way for you instead of saving up the money all by yourself.But,who you know is still more important....so they don't know the right people I suppose....

**slowpoke** · 23rd December 2009, 10:57

Ya gotta be realistic fella's. Back in the day a comparatively inexperienced rider like Kim Newcombe could build a bike in his shed (Koenig's factory), throw it in the back of his van, enter the world championship and do well.

Nowadays every one of those steps is impossible.

It's no coincidence that the same era saw Bruce McLaren and Jack Brabham doing the same in the F1 world.

Nowadays what they did is also impossible.

But that's why our motocross guys do so well now, 'cos it's still possible to do exactly what those early guys did: carry some of their favourite bits in a suitcase overseas, throw them and a bike in the back of a van and be instantly competitive if they're good enough.

The sheer simplicity and relatively inexpensive costs of those early years made it all so much more doable, as it is in motocross. You didn't need a team of engineers, you didn't need to be a marketable product with an associated viewing audience, you didn't need to bid for World Championship spots etc.

I dunno about the Scott Dixon comparison Jimmy. The money available in car racing is poles apart from the bike scene. 16-18year olds racing $40k formula fords, teenagers in the Porsche Cup, versus......what? Pro twins? Dixon had a team of investors behind him, knowing there was a reasonable chance he'd make some coin racing something somewhere. The chances of the same happening with a bike racer are next to nothing, just check out the number of paid drivers in Australasia vs the paid riders, there's no comparison.

I'd like to think it could happen again but realistically I know it's getting more and more unlikely.

**Kornholio** · 24th December 2009, 02:35

Originally Posted by Motu

So it was easy for all the others? For a start,they knew about tough times....they won't do it tough these days,that's just too hard man.The bikes are faster,handle better,are more reliable....there are sponsors to pay the way for you instead of saving up the money all by yourself.But,who you know is still more important....so they don't know the right people I suppose....

Mate, Can you introduce me to these people cos I need either a better job or Westpac lol.... I hate being medium wage earner

.........

**jellywrestler** · 24th December 2009, 05:20

Percy Coleman

**White trash** · 24th December 2009, 07:38

Originally Posted by slowpoke

I dunno about the Scott Dixon comparison Jimmy. The money available in car racing is poles apart from the bike scene. 16-18year olds racing $40k formula fords, teenagers in the Porsche Cup, versus......what? Pro twins? Dixon had a team of investors behind him, knowing there was a reasonable chance he'd make some coin racing something somewhere. The chances of the same happening with a bike racer are next to nothing, just check out the number of paid drivers in Australasia vs the paid riders, there's no comparison.

Investors? Sure. But what a bloody huge risk. Takes a hell of a lot of faith to back someone to that extent. Cracking the American racing scene WITHOUT the surname Andretti, Penske, Petty or the like. And to do it coming from NZ? Unheard of.

**avgas** · 24th December 2009, 07:57

Steve Millen
Rhys Millen
Bruce McLaren
are the best in my books about racers

Best riders would have to be the King's.

Track rider is a little more difficult in my book as there are so many good ones. Possibly Newcombe.

**puddy** · 24th December 2009, 08:57

Originally Posted by Rcktfsh

Pretty simple really only one nz rider has won
4 world championships (only 11 riders have won more)
25 gp's (next best nz'er 1)
3 iom tt's (in the heyday of the event)
Milazo cup (awarded for the best wet weather ride over all classes in a gp season)
Been responsible for the developement of the suzuki gp team
then after retiring from road racing raced at the top level of world mx developing what was to become the suzuki tm mx bikes.
Placed 2nd overall in an open IOM practice session on a 125 against 125,250,350&500 bikes being over 2 mins a lap faster than ago on the mv.
Won the 1965 european 125 gp by a lap and a half, lapping ginger molley twicw who finished 5th. His race time would have placed him 2nd in the 500 race.

Last spotted at Hampton Downs riding with style a matter of weeks after having brain surgery to remove a non malignant tumour.

Sorry, it's still a little unclear. Is that Raj, carver, or Crazy Steve?