Instead, they are singing the praises of the motorsport community, after well-wishers inundated the pair with the parts and labour needed to rebuild their dreams.
Tyler Kelk (12) and Chandrae Alberts (13) came home from school on Wednesday to find out their racing cars were among a collection of vehicles turned to ashes in the Burnside blaze.
The pair were both in their first season racing in Dunedin’s youth saloon grade, held at Beachlands Speedway, and drove stripped-back and rebuilt cars limited to no more than 1600cc.
Their vehicles were a labour of love for the pair, their parents and other supporters, but were in storage in a shed above Kaikorai Valley Rd when the fire ripped through, destroying everything in its path.
Both feared their seasons were over when told the news.
"I was absolutely gutted," Tyler told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
But within hours, an appeal for help on Facebook by Leanne Simon, the manager of the youth saloon grade in Dunedin, had unleashed a wave of support from individuals and businesses.
Up to 15 people also lined up to help with the welding and other labour required to make the cars race-ready.
And within 24 hours, the pair had everything they needed to get back on the track.It was a heart-warming response to dire circumstances that won praise from the two young racers.
"I was just speechless," Chandrae said.
"I have never seen so many people offer to help. It cheered me up quite a bit."
Mrs Simon, who is also a life member at Beachlands, said the young pair had been "devastated" by the loss of their cars, but "blown away" by the public response to adversity.
"I think they thought with these cars gone, that’s it — that’s the end of their race season.
"The families didn’t necessarily have the money or the time to rebuild two more new cars, and so they basically thought it was over."
Those associated with the youth saloon grade liked to think of themselves as a "family" and help out where they could, but offers of support had come in from across the South Island, Mrs Simon said.
"I’ve always called it the speedway whanau ... Somebody will be there to pick you up and help you out."
