Cemetery Circuit to the rescue

A mercy dash by the Wanganui Cemetery Circuit motorcycle racing organisation ensured the recent UCI World BMX World Championships went ahead at the Vector Arena in Auckland.

The tight-turning BMX track built at the venue was controversial even before the champs began and, with safety in mind, the world governing body of the sport, UCI, insisted air fences were required, especially at the start/finish line.

A nationwide search was launched.

Cemetery Circuit event organiser Allan "Flea" Willacy said simply by chance the sound crew who worked at Wanganui were on hand at Vector Arena and overheard a conversation about a search for air fences.

"The guy who does our sound at the Cemetery Circuit suggested to the BMX officials that we had air fences in Wanganui and I received a call on the Sunday before the world champs began. Within an hour or so, we had organised Hookers Transport to truck our fences to Auckland," Willacy said.

"I drove up on the Sunday to help install the fences when they were delivered on the Monday morning. Unbeknown by BMX officials, we are the only ones in New Zealand that have the air fences and I understand the UCI officials had told them that if air fences were not installed the pin would have been pulled on the world champs."

Meanwhile, the popular Wanganui street circuit that hosts the annual Boxing Day extravaganza has been named one of the top 10 street circuits in the world by Europe's top motorcycling magazine.

"The Netherlands Motor Magazine, which is regarded as the biggest and best on the planet with more than 50,000 copies printed, rated the Cemetery Circuit in the top 10 street circuits in the world and that's huge for us," Willacy said.

"It puts us right up there with the Isle of Man ... that sort of kudos will helps us tremendously in our attempt to attract the very best international riders."