Goodbye to motorcycle stalwart

Photo/File

The motorcycle racing community lost one of its great voices and most knowledgeable minds when Whanganui's Ray Whitham died early yesterday morning from cancer.

The 71-year-old broadcaster and racing historian covered events all over the country and wrote extensively about the sport, specifically the Cemetery Circuit where he had been involved for decades as a commentator and author in the race programmes.

Born in 1944 as the oldest of four brothers and a sister in Springvale, Whitham moved to Wellington to become a police cadet in 1962, serving more than 20 years including being an officer in charge of a rescue group during the Wahine disaster in 1968.

Having competed himself at tracks like Manfeild, he was named president of the Victoria Motorcycle Club in 1972 - the same year his younger brother Arthur died during a race in Levin - while later being made a club life member.

Brother Clive Whitham said after working in the private investigation field, Ray Whitham returned to Whanganui 15 years ago, dedicating himself to researching and chronicling the sport.

"He was in the process of working on a book on the Cemetery Circuit. I went in to see him this week ... and he said "I'm just editing the book'. It's still sitting on his computer so we'll see what comes of that."

Whitham also worked as a morning sports host on Newstalk ZB, a Midweek columnist, Oceanview Speedway commentator, and back in the 1970s did television work during the Marlboro Series.

Suzuki Series organiser Allan Willacy said he was visiting Whitham to get his latest written work for this year's Cemetery Circuit programme when the great former Grand Prix competitor Ginger Molloy phoned to ask about a third-place rider from a 1972 race.

"And Ray could tell him. That's the amazing-ness of Ray," said Willacy. "It's the small details that he kept. Could tell you if they'd been there and what they did. It's the history that we've lost."

After being diagnosed with cancer in September, Clive Whitham said his brother just wanted to stay active and make the most of his remaining time, trying to get to as many of the summer races as possible. "He never wanted it to drag out."

Using oxygen, it was arranged for Whitham to travel back to Manfeild last weekend for Round 2 of the Suzuki Series, saying goodbye to old friends while also getting to meet the United Kingdom's world sidecar champions in Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes.

"It was wonderful, he had a really good day and I think he was holding out for that," said Clive Whitham.

The funeral service will be held at 1.30pm on Tuesday at the Dempsey and Forrest Funeral Home, on Guyton St. Whitham is survived by his two living brothers and sister.