Rat Bike
CHEAP FAMILY FUN
As our track is hard packed clay it makes for
easy drifting when dry. It remains smooth
for the entire day, and offers less grip than
a speedway track surface. This makes for
massive fun for even the novice riders, as it
makes it easy to break traction in the turns
and gives every rider the feeling of drifting like
Ivan Mauger no matter what they are riding.
We have classes for Peewees, Juniors, Open
MX, Classics, and the hugely popular budget-
based Rat Bikes.
Rat Bikes are old farm bike based bikes,
stripped down with the front brakes removed.
The average bike costs under $500, which
makes it affordable for entrants who might
otherwise not be able to experience the fun
and exhilaration of motorcycle sport. The
simplicity of the oval, and the even-ness of
the machinery removes the cheque book
mentality, and stops prospective entrants
from being scared way by perceived cost.
Our GoPro footage of a Rat Bike race went
viral, and inspired a new breed of prospective
entrants to contact us and get involved.
We’re looking forward to the coming
summer, and expect that our flat track events
will continue to grow. We intend to resume
running monthly meetings on the third
Sunday of the month, and monthly twilight
meetings on the first Wednesday or Thursday
of the month, once daylight savings starts.
With no marking or pegs to put out, the ease
of track preparation makes event organisation
straightforward and quick. The relatively low
cost appeals to many, and the age of a bike
matters little. It all adds up to more bums on
bikes, and some of the most fun a family can
have on bikes – the whole family can do it.
The fact spectators can view the whole track is
unique, and un-paralleled in any other form of
motorcycle sport. Come along and give it a go!
THANKS
I am so grateful to the following people for
helping flat track get this far: Wayne Drake,
Backflips Dirt farm, Simon Meade at Suzuki
New Zealand, Mike Cotter at Kawasaki New
Zealand, Moore Park Speedway, Gould
Motorcycles staff, Kiwirider Magazine and the
Timaru Herald. Also a massive thank you to
Moore Park Speedway president Mike Provost
for his track preparation, and for inviting us to
Moore Park.