In fitting spirit and memory Sam Smith Clay Classic was run at the family’s property just outside Pukekohe at the weekend. An event which brought riders together from varying dirt-racing disciplines within New Zealand to honour the legacy set by Sam – NZ’s 2008 Supersport Championship title for 600cc.
For Sam was an all-round-genuine awesome guy who just loved racing. And that meant racing on anything- 2 wheels, 4 wheels, dirt, road, even I remember on shoddy-built wooden planks nailed together at random intervals for Sam to practice BMX!
NZ lost Sam earlier this year, and this event: Sam Smith Clay Classic was testamount to what Sam stood for- bringing people together for the love of racing- flat track was the discipline race of the day.
As important for all there, the orgainzers, volunteers, riders who arrived from far and wide, was the raising and promotion of mental health. Sam having passed away, left a void where all there on Saturday picked up- talking about mental health is real for everyone to share, speak up on a topic that is no longer swept aside.
This is what the day meant to those closet to Sam Smith: Scott Wilkins organizer:
‘Sam and I had started talking about running another Clay Classic while at Rosebank Speedway last year. We were both enjoying riding the flat track and thought it would be a great time to do it’.
‘We talked with Sam’s family after his death, and then chose to help Megan at the Mind Health Project so that we would raise funds for a local Pukekohe charity that was helping in this area’.
‘And today it was just awesome to see such a diverse range of riders giving a another form of the sport a go. Flat track dates back to the earliest motorcycle racing, and having people from Road Racing, MX, Enduro and Speedway, with riders from young to old, it was an awesome day- the Final- and having 3 of Sam’s mates on the podium was the cherry on the top’.
Words from NZ’s FIM World MX legend: Josh Coppins in film edit:
Words: Sharon Cox.
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