Diane Landrebe -devoted racer and mechanic

Women have certainly been a big part of the New Zealand Motorcycling scene and have excelled against the men on more than one occasion .That continues today with both Avalon Biddle and Courtney Duncan winning national and international races in road racing and moto-cross respectively. 

There is one woman , who back in the 1960s was not only a leading rider but also a excellent mechanic. Diane Landrebe (nee Foote) arrived on the road race scene not riding a small capacity bike , but a 500cc BSA Gold Star . Travelling with husband Neville Landrebe , they raced all round New Zealand , racing in the same class. 

Diane never expected any privileges from fellow racers , indeed when she first began racing , some clubs were reluctant to have a woman in the main racing class. This soon changed  , when she proved to be more than capable . Riding all types of circuits on her BSA , that she prepared herself. 

Some of her best races were at Teretonga in Southland where she would record wins in club events and 6th in a New Zealand Road Race Championship event. Her best ride was a win in a International Handicap Race at Teretonga.

After a number of seasons racing Diane decided to hang up her helmet and help her husband with his bike preparation and travelled overseas with him to both the UK as well as Daytona. The machines were now Yamaha race bikes and Neville's success was in no small part due to Diane's work..Neville began to have more success , overseas and in New Zealand , becoming one of the New Zealand's leadin riders.

Neville at the Isle of Man -1966

Tragically Neville died in a crash at Pukekohe in October 1970..Naturally she was affected by the loss of Neville and for awhile had nothing to do with the sport. However a year later she returned this time with Neville's brother Jim. Entering the little Yamahas in a number of meetings Jim won the New Zealand Grand Prix in 250cc , 350cc, and 500cc classes , just like Neville had done previously . 

Diane continued to follow racing for a number of years. The last year of the Marlboro Series she presented a  trophy for the highest placed New Zealand club rider. The trophy was won by Rodger Freeth. The trophy was a mounted "Con Rod " from one of the Landrebe G50 Matchless motors.

Diane lives in Glenavy near Oamaru in New Zealand's South Island.

Story: Ian Dawson ©copyright 2016

New Zealand Senior Moto-cross Overview 1973-2016

Ivan Miller leads Steve Harrison and Peter Ploen 

The 1970s really took off with more over the counter moto-cross bikes becoming available , riders making names for themselves included Peter Ploen , Moss Smith , Gary Goodfellow , Ross Horsborough , Peter Boyle , Phil Turnbull , Greg Brinck , Craig Coleman to name a few.

International riders continued to come to New Zealand in the 1970s, including Paul and Steve Harrison from the UK who were regular top performers . World 125cc Champion Gaston Rahier came out to New Zealand for a selected events as did World 1978 125cc Champion Akira Watanabe .

The North vs South Moto-Cross was started in 1956 by Mr Ernie Pink and Tom McCleary Senior and was raced for many years before being confined to the history books.

With a view to the future in the late 1970s Junior Moto-cross started , and eventually after rules were put in place the New Zealand Junior Moto-cross Championship came in to exsistance. This would be the start for a number of riders who would eventually make International names for themselves in the senior ranks. Three riders can be pointed out as marking the pathway to International success . Darryl Atkins , Darryll King and Shayne King would all make their mark in Junior competition and then in the international arena and all three would have success in Australia , USA and especially Europe.

Other notable New Zealand racers in the 1980s were names like Graeme Allan , Bryan Patterson , Murray Anderson , Frank White , Ashley Major , Warren Timpson to name a few. They came up against many overseas racers , Perry Leask , Jonathan Wright , Greg Hanson from the UK and from Australia Jeff Leask , Dave Armstrong , Ray Vandenberg , Glen Bell Craig Dack and Steven Gall among others . They all came and raced in New Zealand.