Motorcycle community gets behind ‘Day 4 Dan’ fundraiser

The Australian motorcycle community has banded together to provide “overwhelming” support for a fallen motocross rider. And they need your help.

This Sunday, March 5, 2017, the Oakdale Junior Motorcycle Club will host a ‘Day 4 Dan’ fundraiser to help raise support for privateer motocross racer Dan McEntee.

The 24-year-old is fighting back from serious injury after crashing during a Summercross event at the Lakes Motorcycle Track, near Lake Macquarie, earlier this year.

Oakdale officials have praised the motorcycling community’s groundswell of support as McEntee continues his road to recovery from hospital.

“I’m overwhelmed, I knew we’d get some response from the community, but I never expected this,” Oakdale Junior Motorcycle Club spokesman Damien Coutts said.

The ‘Day 4 Dan’ event will coincide with Oakdale’s regular point-scoring round on March 5. Entries for racing close on the evening of Friday, March 3, but even for those who don’t plan on riding organisers insist they can still contribute to a good cause.

“The way it’s planned, we’ll have practice and then two rounds of racing instead of three,” Coutts said. “The racing will run until about 2:00pm, finishing with an elimination-style feature race, and then from 2:00-5:00pm we’ll have our major raffle and then our auction items.”

McEntee is considered an integral part of the Oakdale community, and is a regular face on the national racing scene. Coutts said the Honda rider is universally admired by the club and its members.

As such, the fundraiser has already attracted some big racing names, including Honda pro rider Luke Clout. Numerous businesses have also tipped in support, offering up gear and accessories for the major raffle due to start at 2:00pm.

Auction items up for grabs later in the day include separate skateboards signed by Tony Hawk and Steve Caballero, jerseys and memorabilia signed by the likes of cult figure Ronnie Mac, European MX champion Steven Clarke, world MX champion Tony Cairoli, American Jimmy Albertson and US-based Australian Daniel Reardon, along with other big-ticket items.

The governing body for motorcycle racing in NSW, MNSW, has approved all rider levies and permit fees collected from the event be donated directly to Dan’s rehab.

“Dan and his family (two brothers) grew up racing through the club from nippers age group. We all call their mum Mrs Mac, she’s like a mum to the whole club,” Coutts explained. “Since the accident, I think this sort of fundraising and what people are doing behind the scenes is taking our minds off what’s happened.

“Dan’s the sort of bloke that would lend a hand to anyone. Last year, when we ran a similar fundraiser for [injured motocross rider] Dan McCoy, it was Dan McEntee that won the feature race.
“And you know what he did? Donate the $1000 winner’s prize straight back to the McCoy’s rehabilitation. He’s just that type of guy.”

A gold coin donation will be taken from spectators at the event. For more information, visit the official ‘Day 4 Dan’ Facebook page.