He may only be 5-years-old but Finn Lawrence can tear up a BMX track and will be one to watch at Hāwera’s annual BMX Club Indoor Winter Nats this weekend.
Finn is the current mixed 5-year-old New Zealand national champion and while quietly spoken said he was looking forward to racing in the country’s only annual indoor event.
“I like racing friends and meeting people from other places,” he said.
Finn, who rides for the Hāwera club and won his title in New Plymouth earlier this year, won’t be short of support either.
“He had lots of his class mates yelling for him then, it was unreal,” Finn’s father Hayden Lawrence said.
“We’ve got more friends and family coming to this event to support him.”
Lawrence said Finn had come a long way since he first started in the sport.
“Twelve months ago he couldn’t even stand at the starting gate so to come full circle in that time has been amazing,” he said.
However, Finn won’t be the youngest competitor taking part in the event, with around 250 competitors aged between three and 60-years-old taking part in a range of competitive and fun classes.
The event has been held at the Egmont A & P Showgrounds for 23 years thanks to funding from New Zealand Community Trust and the Pelorus Trust and a dedicated team of contractors and volunteers who all pitch in to help build the dirt track each year.
Hawera BMX Club president Graeme Schimanski said there were entries from all over New Zealand and Australia.
“It’s unique and a fun event and has lots of camaraderie,” he said.
“It’s an end of season hit out so it won’t matter if they get hurt or anything.”
Schimanski said the course was quite technical in places and had some tight turns but blink and you’ll miss it.
“It’s thrilling and we’ve got a really good announcer, it’s just so quick, the gate goes and it’s all go,” he said.
What you need to know:
Hawera Indoor Nationals, OSCARS Superclass, Striders, Pit bikes, Superclass – Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Cruiser
Admission is free.
When: Saturday 19th May & Sunday 20th May 2018
Where: TSB Centre, Burnside Avenue Hawera
Check in: Friday 6pm-7pm & Saturday 10am-11am
Racing: Saturday Racing: 12noon Sunday Racing: 9.30am
Friday night practice 6pm-7pm
– Stuff
