Andy Caldecott:
A Quiet Champion Passes
 When Andy Caldecott died as the result of a high-speed accident during the Paris-Dakar Rally on January 10, the Australian off road community lost both an outstanding champion and a truly nice bloke.
In a career that spanned over thirty years there wasn’t much the lanky KTM dealer from the little one pub town of Keith, South Australia hadn’t achieved. Whether it be vintage motocross on his beloved TM Suzuki or the grueling Australian Safari or Paris-Dakar Rally on board a super trick factory KTM he put the same effort and dedication into it. He was the racers racer with a distinct 'race face' but at the end of the day he’d love to sit around and bench race with fellow vintage racers over a cold beer, always seeming to be at his most comfortable amongst the vintage motocross fraternity.
His legacy to Australian Off Road motorcycling will have no equal. The vintage motocross and rally fraternities have lost a great racer and a true friend . Sincere condolences go to his wife Tracey, daughter Caitlin, the Caldecott family, best mate Carl Fuller and the wonderful people of Keith who proudly supported “their Andy” throughout his career.
ANDYS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
 1972: First motorcycle aged 8
1974: Started racing on mini bikes. Won numerous state and national junior titles over the next five years.
1979: Won South Australian Junior Motocross Championship
1979-1984: Rode as part of the works Suzuki Cornell Team.
1981: Raced in the USA for the first time. Won South Australian 125 title, second place in 250 and third place in 500cc.
1983: Selected in top 25 racers in Australia to compete in Mr Motocross series. Finished 11th and only competed in a few rounds in 1984.
1985: Yamaha Pitmans full support but retired at the end of the year to dedicate more time to the family business.
1992-2002: Won first of 17 National Vintage Motocross Championships.
1998: Started racing modern motocross again. Made the cover of issue#1 of VMX Magazine on his TM400 Suzuki. The only action photo ever used on a VMX front cover.
1999:Won two pro classes at the Vintage Iron World Vintage Championships at Glen Helen, California. Entered and was leading in his first his Australian Safari when he crashed out when a wheel collapsed.
2000-2001: Won consecutive Australian Safaris and continued to race vintage motocross.
2002: Won Australian Safari third successive year for first time on KTM. Finished sixth outright and won over 35 class in Finke Desert Race. Won several races and finished fourth in class in ADB Thumpernats series despite missing two rounds on KTM520.
2003: Won Australian Safari, 4th outright in Rally Optic in Tunisia.7th outright Rally Orpi in Morocco, 6th outright in UAE Desert Challenge in Dubai. 3RD World Cross Country Rally Championship.
2004:Retired from Paris-Dakar Rally while in 6th place when front wheel collapsed at speed. Broke ankle.
2005: 6th outright Paris-Dakar Rally including 2 stage wins.
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