Andy Caldecott, killed in the 2006 Dakar Rally, honoured as hometown hero by Keith in South Australia's southeast
The memorial in the South Australian southeast town of Keith to off-road motorcycle racing hometown hero Andy Caldecott who was killed competing in the gruelling Dakar Rally in 2006. The memorial insciption says: "He rode with more grace than any other man on Earth".
Memorial image courtesy ABC News, SouthEast
A memorial to champion off-road motorcycle racer Andy Caldecott became a lasting gesture of the love and support of the South Australian southeast town of Keith and its nearby former Ninety Mile Desert where he toughened himself for gruelling rally changes ahead.
Caldecott won motorcycle division of the Australasian Safari Rally four times in a row (2000-2003) and competed in the Dakar Rally in North Africa in 2004 (didn’t finish), 2005 (sixth) and 2006, when he won the third stage but later died from a neck injury after crashing during the ninth special stage. He was one of near 80 competitors killed over the life of the event.
Born in Keith in 1964, Caldecott, converted his youthful time on two wheels in the backblocks of the Ninety Mile Desert into competing in motocross and supercross in 1974 on mini bikes, winning state titles and placing in Australian titles. He won more South Australian titles in motocross with the Suzuki Cornell Racing team between 1979 and 1984.
In 1983, he was one of only 25 riders nationally selected to compete in the Mr Motocross championship and finished 11th overall. In 1985, Caldecott retired from racing to focus on the family motrbike business in Keith but continued riding as a recreation. He returned in 1992 to win his first Australian Classic MX title before gaining another 17 titles between 1993 and 2002.
When Caldecott fulfilled his dream in 2004 to compete in the world's toughest desert race, the Dakar Rally, he was helped by fundraising efforts by the Keith community and Tatiara district. Caldecott was running sixth outright in the 2004 Dakar when forced to retire with a broken ankle. His second trip back to the Dakar he had more support with a factory KTM. during this race Andy won two stages and finished sixth outright.
Caldecott went to the fatal 2006 Dakar as a late callup after his teammate got injured. Despite not practising and arriving in Africa only two weeks before the event, he still won a stage in conditions that change from blistering hot to bitterly cold over 3,000 metres changes in elevation.
The people of Keith rallied to create a legacy to Caldecott, known for his easygoing manner and humility. A long-term capital investment trust was set up for the ongoing support and benefit of Caldecott's wife Tracey and their children. Keith & District Motorcycle Club named its MX venue the Andy Caldecott Park and, in 2011, a life-size statue was unveiled in Pilmore Park along the Dukes Highway.
He also was honoured every year at the Australian Safari with the Andy Caldecott spirit award and inducted into Motorcycling South Australi Hall of Fame set up in 2014 to recognise those riders and individuals that have achieved outstanding success in motorcycling at international, national and state level.
