Editors comment....
It is nearly a week since the earthquake broke the back of Christchurch while its people went about their daily business. While we initially recover, get our feet back on the ground, both mourn and grief for those we have lost and be thankful for what we have, we can start to realise that the future is still bright but there is a long hard road ahead not just for Cantabrians but for the wider NZ community.
My great grandfather was a blacksmith in Christchurch around the turn of the 20th century. His premises were just off Lincoln Rd in Spreydon. He shod horses for all the locals including many of the businesses – the baker, milkman, general store, fire brigade, the butcher and so on.
My grandmother would go and get the milk, the bread and meat and accounts would be kept by each business and balanced at the end of the month. Incidentally I well remember my grandmother talking about what a cashless society it was back then. (She also never talked about having experienced any earthquakes in her 97 years living in Christchurch.)
So here we have a small thriving community, building their futures together.
Think of the impact if that village system is upturned. Suddenly each business has less income; they reduce their workers and spend less with others in the village, maybe they don’t get the blacksmith to shoe their horses as often. Maybe they don’t have a blacksmith anymore. Hence there is a ripple effect that pervades the community until it can turn itself around.
So it is now in 2011 but on a wider scale in Christchurch. And this ripple effect will be felt throughout the whole country.
Right now throughout the mourning and grief the pervading spirit amongst communities is one of thankfulness. Thankful for what is important in life – family and friends. We all know of someone directly or indirectly who is not with us anymore. I sold a car to a gentleman who is listed as having died. My neighbour knows two lots of parents of missing people and my son’s mate’s girl friend’s brother is missing.
It is similar to my grandmother’s community, just bigger. The connections are there, maybe less direct.
In Christchurch we will have to adjust the way we rebuild our lives, our work and our city and in the immediate aftermath we take stock. Some have lost loved ones, others houses, some businesses and others their jobs and income. Many have suffered a combination of these.
There will be a slow ripple effect felt for a very long time until the rebuilding has finished.
So what has this to do with motorsport?
Well let’s be frank. Motorsport cost money and there may not be as much flowing in the next short while. The immediate focus is now on rebuilding not playing. That time will come and it is important to keep the fire of our passions burning. There will be some adjustments.
Maybe some cars may not be taken out of their garages for some time.
Maybe attendances will be up as people may want to go to events in the open air, not in buildings.
At this stage we do not know what the ripple effect will be, but the strain will be on the whole of New Zealand.
Let’s not stop because following our passions is part of finding true happiness and satisfaction in life. It may just need some adjustment in the way we go about it.
Editors note:
NZ Racer Magazine was started by John Hawkins in the 1990s and was originally called The Canterbury Racer. The offices of both the magazine and website are currently based (and undamaged) in Christchurch and run by Christchurch people. The next magazine is due to go to press but John is unsure if the printer is still in business.
