A team of Paeroa College students has been making waves in the motocross world by revving their way to the top with a recent string of victories.
The college motocross team competed in the Northland Schools MX Challenge at Ruakaka on August 2.
Paeroa motocross riders Archie McCallum, Marlin van Hellemond and Tayla Foster throttled their way through the competition resulting in podium placings.
Archie won the 125cc 15-16 year class, Marlin finished third in the same class, and Tayla finished third in the 85cc women’s 12-16 year class.
Along with these high rankings, the riders collectively kicked up a storm and took out the entire competition, followed by Hauraki Plains College in second place and Whangārei Boys High School in third.
That’s not all – the team is also taking part in the New Zealand Battle of the Schools MX Series which is made up of three events across the year. So far the team has competed in two race days, securing first place at the Patetonga event in April, and second place at Tokoroa in July.
With one more race to go in mid-October, the team will have an opportunity to put their pedal to the metal and claim an overall win.
The Paeroa College motocross team also includes Marshall Hagan, Rai Kaye, Travis Cox and Rhys Baxter.
Paeroa College teacher in charge of motocross Penny Cox said: “[the] credit goes to these riders who practice in their own time and race in other events outside of school”.
“I am so excited to see what the next few years bring for this team as they still have a couple of years’ racing, so keep an eye out for their names – who knows where this sport might take them.”
For the team’s recent event in Ruakaka, 16-year-old team spokesperson Archie McCallum told The Profile it was windy and the tracks were sandy which made it difficult to ride.
Archie said there was a lot of socialising that came with racing.
“I know most people [at competitions] – I’ve got plenty of friends.”
But when it comes to his friendship with teammates Marlin and Tayla, he said: “we have good laughs and good times”.
Archie said he used to get nervous before a race, but as he’s competed more: “I’m pretty calm now.. I always think of the best way around the track”, he said.
Archie’s focus for race preparation consisted of bike set up and the basics, he said.
He also likes to get ready with a “bit of fuel” for himself.
“I sometimes get cramps in my fingers while I’m riding, and I can’t use my fingers to use the brakes and the clutch… so I try to drink plenty of water and electrolytes to keep me hydrated and energised”.
When it comes to keeping motivated, Archie said it was the feeling of winning and making mum and dad proud – “that keeps me going”.
“You get a good adrenaline rush when you’re out there riding. So yeah, that’s what keeps me going every weekend,” he said.
Archie’s advice for people thinking about getting into the sport was to be as outgoing as you can, he said. “It’s not what you know in motocross, it’s more who you know – especially in New Zealand.
“You [can] get pretty far if you know heaps of people rather than just knowing heaps of stuff.”
It’s also important that you “don’t cheat out on your gear, and your helmet especially”, Archie said.
“Spend as much money as you can. It’ll make it a lot better in the long run if you’re trying to go far with it.”
Archie’s Father, David McCallum, or Buck, said Archie was quite good at his maintenance and looking after his gear. It was quite thrilling to watch Archie racing, he said.
“You see the kids put the work in and then getting the results – it doesn’t happen overnight.”
