The last time Ngahi Bidois spoke with his good friend Darcy Hunter he hoped to motivate and inspire the former world champion during his battle with cancer.
Instead he himself left feeling motivated and inspired.
"I told him I wanted to set up a Givealittle page to help and he told me he wanted not just to get well, but to get back into racing and at the highest level," Bidois said. "That epitomised who he was as a man and I walked away feeling positive."
Sadly Hunter did not get his wish and the father-of-two succumbed to the disease on Monday, aged 42.
He said Hunter had shown strength and character through his sickness as had his wife Moana.
Darcy Hunter on top of the podium at the World Invitation Stockcar series in 2005. Photo/File
"There were a lot of people who believed he would win the battle because that's the kind of person he was. But the sickness was too much.
"Rotorua has lost three real gentlemen this past week Pihopa Kingi, Wi Keepa Rangipuawhe Maika and now Darcy. The place they are going to will be a far better place with them there."
Paul Hickey, a childhood friend of Hunter's, said many within the national speedway fraternity would be affected by his death.
"Darcy was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet," Hickey said. "He was quietly spoken but once you got him on the track it was no holds barred."
Rotorua stock car driver Darcy Hunter in 2006. Photo/File
Hickey and Hunter grew up together and, as two of a large group of mates, used to run around and crash into each other.
"We all dreamed of being a New Zealand speedway champ, Darcy was the only one of us who went on to achieve that. He was a third generation race driver who helped keep Rotorua up there on the speedway circuit.
"He has gone way too soon, Darcy had plenty more to achieve."
Hunter's cousin Morgan King had walked beside him as they battled tumours together.
"I was living in Auckland when Darcy and his wife came and stayed with us while he underwent treatment for his first tumour," King said. "We reconnected and he and his wife were the reason myself and my wife decided to move back to Rotorua. I was, and still am, fighting cancer.
"When I moved I weighed 185kg and it was Darcy who got me into boot camps. He was there supporting me when I ran, even when he was sick himself, and he kept me committed. He was always there for others, he saw the best in everyone and accepted them for who they were, and he always remained positive.
Darcy Hunter pictured in 2009. Photo/File
"When my cancer came back it was Darcy who helped me and when his came back, I was there for him too. We've had some real deep conversations during the past couple of years.
"When we went for walks around Rotorua everybody knew him and everybody loved him."
By 2007, Hunter had accrued an impressive list of speedway titles after eight years of high-level competition. They included the Bay of Plenty Championships, the Auckland Championships, and the 2002 and 2005 World Invitation Super Stock Championship.
A tribute post on the Rotorua Stockcar Club Facebook page described him as one of the smoothest and most consistent drivers to ever grace the track. Comments from friends said Hunter was a legend and would never be forgotten.
Hunter leaves behind his wife Moana and their two children, his parents and his wider family. He is lying at his family home until his funeral at the Maranatha SDA Church at 11am on Friday.
