Roigard racing to top in two codes
Cam Roigard is a teenager potentially on the fast track to sporting stardom in two codes — rugby and speedway.
The Cambridge 18 year old has made an extraordinary start to the new year, taking out 2NZ in the New Zealand Saloon Championship at Meeanee Speedway in Napier, signed with the Counties Manukau Rugby Academy and started a building apprenticeship in Pukekohe.
It is believed Roigard is the youngest driver to be on the podium for the NZ Saloon Champs.
On the first night of qualifying he finished second on points in his group. The top six cars from each of the three groups (plus two from the repechage) went through to the final.
In his first race on finals night he finished sixth from grid eight, then fifth from grid 20 to rocket to fourth overall going into the last race. He started from grid two for the final 20 lapper and after three restarts, he won the race to become 2NZ in only his second season in a saloon.
First to congratulate him in his car — sporting a Kuriger chassis and a Chevrolet 355 cc engine — were his crew of father David and older brother Stefan (20).
Ethan Cook (Gisborne) took out 1NZ and Matthew Eckersley (Wellington) remains 3NZ.
At last year’s Waikato Stock and Saloon Car Club (Huntly Speedway) end of season prizegiving Roigard was awarded the trophy for Outstanding Achiever of the Year for 2017/18 after placing second in the Waikato Saloon Champs at Huntly Speedway and qualifying in the NZ Saloon Champs held in Christchurch in his first season in a saloon.
Roigard started racing a ministock at Waharoa Speedway at the age of eight. Once he turned 12 he started racing at Huntly Speedway.
Highlights included placing second in the Ministocks in Paradise event at TWS Paradise Valley Speedway, Rotorua in 2013-2014 (the unofficial NZ championship for ministocks) and taking out Waikato Stock and Saloon Car Club 2014-2015 Ministock Driver of the Year.
Roigard says his father’s involvement in speedway had a huge influence on both he and Stefan following in his footsteps.
Stefan is racing a superstock for the first time this year after previously being in a saloon. In the saloon class last year Stefan placed fifth in the North Island Champs and qualified for the NZ Saloon Champs in his first season and was the 2015/16 Waikato Stock and Saloon Car Club Competitor of the Year.
David went close, without ever winning a New Zealand title and was inducted into the Manawatu Speedway Club Teams Champs Hall of Fame in 2016.
Speedway is now being put on the back-burner as far as Cam Roigard is concerned.
He has not entered any other major saloon events this season, besides the NZ Champs, largely due to his rugby commitments and signing with the Counties Manukau Rugby Academy.
The highly-rated halfback had three years in the St Peter’s School 1st XV and was part of the leadership group. St Peter’s won back to back co-ed national championships in 2018, beating Rangiora 33-26 in the final.
Roigard scored two of his team’s tries against Rangiora. His strengths are his swift, accurate passing and ability to snipe at timely moments.
Like most fledgling rugby players, he has aspirations of one day pulling on the number nine jersey for the All Blacks.