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Photo - Nigel Curtis at Wanganui:
Photo courtesy of Andy McGechan who wrote a story for KR about 15 years ago on 'Curly' when he was racing MX.
Email Andy: He may have a photo of you in his extensive files?
Competitors in any sporting creed, no matter what their results, are to be given credit for being 'doers' as opposed to 'lookers'.
At the SsangYong Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day there was an outstanding example of a 'doer'. Observant spectators would have noticed that the rider on the Super Motard KTM #61, competing in Super Motard, Formula Three and BEARS was using his right arm only - his left arm was at all times resting on his lap.
Did he think that the Cemetery Circuit was such a doddle that one arm was enough or was he just showing off?
None of the above. The rider, Nigel Curtis is presently domiciled in Christchurch and hails from Napier. In the early 80s Nigel completely lost the use of his whole left arm when a spaced out on something rider took him out while riding on the local riverbed. Nigel was in a pretty bad way and I'm pretty sure the other guy died.
Nigel is made of pretty determined stuff and he NEVER sat around feeling sorry for himself. Quite the contrary. He was for a time working as an engineer and his boss at that time said he could/would do everything with out EVER asking for help and about the only thing that stuffed him was using a centre punch or cold chisel......
Subsequently Nigel rode MX on a CR500!! - not your pussy old time scrambles stuff either. He was a keen local club rider, would never miss a club MX and regularly raced the Woodville GPs. He was up at the pointy end of his class on a bike that was built before powervalves were introduced and those things were absolute bloody light switches. Neil Ritchie used to give him a huge rap at Woodville and why not? Nigel gave way to no-one and no-one gave way to him.
Most will agree that the #61 KTM Motard rider at Wanganui epitomised the real meaning of 'Sportsman". No sponsorship, no podium glory, he was just doing 'it' because he wanted to and it just happened that he was doing 'it' against all odds. I caught up with him when he was on the dummy grid, eyes alight and sparkling and I was reminded again of what a great role model he is.
I have difficulty understanding how he can maintain his balance wrestling a bike with one arm at racing speeds ????? Plus - Motards need to be muscled into a corner?????? How many of the riders at Wanganui would match him with one arm lying uselessly in their lap??
But a bit of advice - don't get sucked into an arm wrestle with him.......
Nigel Curtis proves that if you want it bad enough - you will do it.
