30 YEARS OF THE BEL-RAY
To create a race and then to keep it going for 30 years takes a lot of energy and time from a large group of people . And that ’ s what it has taken to keep the Bel-Ray series going after so many years , so I ’ d like to first say thank you to all of the workers and landowners who have made it possible . The Dead Toad cross country has the title of the longest continually running cross country event in New Zealand . Run by the Waitemata Motorcycle club , the Dead Toad is 48 years old this year , so the Bel-Ray has a few more years to go yet , but 30 isn ’ t shabby and it ’ s still going strong . Thanks to Covid-19 and its many restrictions over recent years , the 30th anniversary final of The Bel-Ray Cross Country series was held on Stu Eyre ’ s property at Pepepe on March 4 , 2023 . This was quite fitting , as the property was first used as a Bel-Ray event in 1991 .
HOW IT ALL BEGAN Mike Ramsey of MR Motorcycles < read more about Mike Ramsey here > was passionate about cross country racing . He saw the need for a cross country series that racers could use as preparation for the National Cross Country series and , of course , they could do it on a bike from Mike ... But Ramsey was so much more than a motorcycle dealer . He was very savvy and knew the value of being involved with his customers . It was from this vision that both the MR Motorcycles trail rides and the Bel-Ray XC series started life . Mike Ramsey Kawasaki , as it was in 1991 , was a big proponent of Bel-Ray lubricants and on a Friday night it was a common sight to see the shop filled with guys getting their racing supplies and filling up their containers with Bel- Ray fluids . I had chatted to Ramsey about the concept of the series , and after some discussion I committed Kiwi Rider magazine to being a sponsor , something we are still involved with today . Ramsey also approached Geoff Robinson , manager at Northern Accessories which imports Bel-Ray lubricants , who was more than happy to be involved too . Geoff recalls , “ My memory of 30 years ago isn ’ t all that good , but at the time we were endeavouring to raise the profile of Bel-Ray in all aspects of NZ motorcycling , being on road and off road in all its forms - be it individuals , 250 road racing , or hare scrambles . “ Luckily , we had a great relationship with Mike and Kay Ramsey in Pukekohe . They made a very real commitment to Bel-Ray in their dealership and it wasn ’ t a difficult decision to agree to support them and the Cross Country series . The entry lists were always full , so I guess that meant
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