Dirt heaven for bikers
DIEPSLOOT - Terra Topia Dirt Bike Club is providing a dusty heaven for young Diepsloot boys and the Fourways community at large.
The club has been operational for five years, and since then has attracted the attention of many in the community, including children from Diepsloot. Craig Foyn, a member of the club’s committee, said the club boasts a friendly atmosphere where members seem to naturally behave and show good sportsmanship. Foyn said this was the reason it was simple to rally support behind their project aimed at giving two Diepsloot boys the opportunity to learn dirt biking.
“Between ordinary riders in the club, we were able to get these kids learning how to ride. They sponsored the kids’ bikes, helmets and all the needed safety equipment,” he said, adding that this type of behavior is a culture at the club.
The club has a dirt track located just after Riverglen and before Diepsloot, and has 12 different track layouts. The track offers a 2.2km-long European style layout, and a 15m-wide track.
Although secluded because of the nature of the sport, the Fourways community and surrounding areas have taken great interest. The club currently has 106 paid members and about 500 regular members.
“We have ladies that ride competitively, our youngest rider is four years old and our eldest is 66,” said Foyn.
The club was founded by Dave White, Tony Ribdell and Rob Bowen, who have all been significantly involved in motocross internationally. While they are all way into their 50s, their passion for the sport is kept alive in the club.
The club continuously hosts fun days, junior coaching days and major competitions such as the National Championships. Foyn said the club has received a huge uptake from the community who visit the facility as family or friends in support of the riders.
Besides the two Diepsloot boys, the club also helps other young people from the community to participate in the sport. It also hosts dirt biking clinics for junior riders where expert coaches spend days with the riders teaching them the basics of the sport.
“We believe the young kids are the future of the sport and we want to invest in them as much as possible,” said Foyn.
For more information on how to join the club, visit the club’s website at www.terratopia.co.za
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