Words & Photos: Dean Venish
It seems to me that motorsport in general is see sawing through a transition, with some sportsman migrating to other sporting codes like mountain biking and running events (cheaper some say?). I must say of the present motorsports available in East London, motocross seems to be growing ever so slightly, which in these current financial times with petrol prices sky rocketing faster than most competitors can complete a lap on the track, means Border Motocross Club is doing something right all these years.
With Gerhard Spies as the new chairman for 2014 he has a lot on his hands to sort out the track and irrigation system before the National MX event on the 19/20th July 2014, but knowing Gerhard and the committee that backs him it will be ready and this is where the club members will need to assist. There was some debate about the face of one of the jumps that had being prepared and after some hardy work by club member Brett Falkenberg and Clint Crowther we were all set for a good days practice.
The practice days are run under the same strict conditions as a normal race day with marshals and medics present except the start gates are not used, the 50cc track was once again well prepped and if I may say the big track needs the same dedication as the 50cc dads, the club members need to collectively get stuck in and help the committee.
With a smaller 50cc Pro Class it gave the riders some excellent time to really work on their weaker points with dads shouting their encouragements from the side-lines and in practice heat 1 we were treated to probably one of the best 50cc racing I have seen in a long time that of (Mayfair Gearbox/Fort Gale Motors) Kyle Phillips and (Allmans) Breece Romans with Kyle just keeping Breece at bay. The 2nd heat saw Breece determined to get the holeshot and once he got his wheel in front turned on the power and checked out, also not to be left out was the two Seth’s, Seth Whittington and Seth Smith who had their battles as well.
In the 50cc Jnr Liam Botha was in a class of his own, that is till his new KTM gave mechanical problems, lucky for him Kyle Phillips had his back up bike on hand and Liam was on his way again (Kyle’s new KTM had similar mechanical problems on the day) and with Seth Smith, Eden Iveson and Merrick Collins in the mix it was fast action all the way.
In the Newbies 50cc class Jayden Alexander was consistently fast but not having it all his own way as Thomas Collins was on his back wheel for most of the 1st heat. The girls Erin and Kayla were having their own fun as well with Kayla on her new Honda and still trying to find her race pace, and with ‘Danger Boy” Kelvin Versfeld in the mix anything was possible, now you might think I’m being a little nasty but he actually introduced himself as danger boy to me and says I must watch out as sometimes he does tend to ride a bit on the grass as well! Kids today but what a positive young chap he is and thoroughly enjoys his biking.
In the 65/85cc class Titus Iveson was out in front all the way leaving Lourens Spies, Breece Romans and Kye Davis to fight it out and the 85cc class saw the older Spies brother Erik and Cameron Pike battling it out.
With the A class being represented by just 4 riders it was always going to be duel of the fittest and he who makes the least mistakes, okay and how fast one can ride, and on the day Jason Hannan on his KTM did just that but young Chad Howard is seriously becoming a contender and with Wade Wright still coming to grips with the Honda 450 and Gareth Green not far off, I reckon on race day if Jason doesn’t have a perfect day he might just get surprised.
In the B, C and Enduro classes young Travis Falkenberg was as fast as ever and if this young man could spend more time on the bike I reckon he could be so much faster (something about schooling keeps him occupied), Rob and Sandy Wicks made the trip down from Hogsback (riding heaven I say) and the first thing Terrence Fernandez said to me later in the club house was “Dean I beat her, I promise, I really did! I had to laugh; since I did a report last year on how Sandy kicked the men’s butts (including dear Terrence) there has being a remarkable improvement in most of the B and C Class male riders, with Sandy a clear target now as their person to beat, I think these guys would never be as fast if Sandy wasn’t present. I personally love watching Rob Wicks ride, as he is one of the most stylish riders I have ever seen and a true gentleman and has that old school way about him and seems to get faster each event. Another rider who has sparked my lenses interest is Shaine Webber who I can say with no hesitation is definitely getter so much better each event. Two new riders, okay not so new is the welcome return of Shayl Raubenheimer to mx who certainly knows his way around the track and so too does Quinton Burger who although admits does prefer the bush of the enduro did seem to be enjoying himself out on the track, that is till his riding fitness took a dive and called it a day, but did say he will be back.
Young Michael Crisp also made a return to mx after a long layoff due to injury and was now on the Honda 150 and was playing it safe and spent the day finding his mx legs. Two young enduro boys both on orange machines Juan Weber and Brad West enjoyed themselves out there in some testing conditions with heat 1 proving to be very muddy ( some more please) in some places where faulty sprinklers leaked out, but this all dried out in heat 2.
The day also offered the ladies of the club a separate class to go out and practice and Elana Spies (showed her boys a thing or 2) and fellow riders Wendy Seton and new girl on the track Danielle Pike had a great days practice.
So with a good days practice had by all and a good old braai in the newly renovated club house now boasting a fully undercover braai area. It’s all looking good for the National in July and with the 1st Club race on the 29th March 2014, for more info go to www.bordermx.co.za or email Belinda on
For photos on this event and others go to www.picasaweb.google.com/deanoven
