BikesportNZ.com editor Andy McGechan received an honour over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
“It may not be the title Sir Andy McGechan, but, in the motorcycle community, it is pretty damn close,” said Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club president Brad Ritchie.
“At the recent AGM of the Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club (MOMCC), the club bestowed the honour of life membership on Andy for his support and influence of motorcycling in the Manawatu, around the country and across the globe.
BikesportNZ.com editor Andy McGechan, seen here in race action in 1985, was last week recognised for his long-time commitment to motorcycling in New Zealand. Photo supplied
“Andy is known as the country’s premier motorcycling photographer and journalist.
“He has made more than a dozen trips to overseas events such as the Motocross of Nations and has a respected gallery of photos to rank alongside the world’s top motorcycle media.
“There are two key parts to the honour. Andy was a previous committee member and President of the MOMCC and he has attended and supported almost 40 years of the NZ Motocross GP at Woodville, the home of motocross in this country.
“Although Andy has shifted from the Manawatu, he religiously returns each year to cover the Woodville Motocross GP.
“It is not just the news from the 48 hours the event is staged, but the high volume of pre-event stories and the large post-event photos and scripts that Andy produces. It is fair to say that Andy works more than 100 hours for this event with his end-to-end coverage of the country’s biggest motocross.
“Andy has written hundreds of stories about Woodville and knows all the winners in the 60-year history of the iconic event.
BikesportNZ.com editor Andy McGechan, interviewing the now late and great Isle of Man legend Joey Dunlop in 1994. Photo supplied
“As long as I have been alive, Andy has been covering Woodville motocross,” said Ritchie.
“Once we learned that the Andy had been a former President of the club, the honour of life membership was the least we could do for literally a lifetime commitment to MOMCC and to the Woodville event.
“History tells the lesser-known fact that Andy was the Manawatu club’s under-200cc motocross champion in 1985, beating some of the region’s top riders to claim the honour.
“It is great to know that Andy has been there, done that and won that too!
“For a club celebrating their 110 years anniversary this year, Andy will join a long list of MOMCC life members including Tim Gibbes – the founder of Motocross in NZ; Kevin Pinfold – long serving trials ambassador and rider and Errol Conaghan – longest serving President in the history of MNZ. All these gentlemen are also members of the MNZ Hall of Fame.
“Congratulations Andy. Well deserved. But don’t think this is retirement gift – see you at the 61st Woodville NZMXGP January 29 and 30, 2022.”
BikesportNZ.com editor Andy McGechan, in action on his Kawasaki KX250 at a supercross in 1984. Photo supplied
Main photo, above, by Dave Lintott
Other photos supplied.
Words by MOMCC President Brad Ritchie.
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here
