It's been great fun reading these postings, I have watched all these people racing and in most cases, I still have their autographs in my books from the early 70's. Remind me to get your autograph next time I see you Clucie........!
My own road racing career, should I be in a position to have a go next year, spans 25 consecutive years of racing, although it doesn't seem like it in many ways. I've maybe had more "downs" than "ups" in the sport, but I wouldn't have changed anything if I'd had the chance. I've done my best as a privateer most of that time, but am very grateful for the help I've had from a few people along the way.
My first race was on 15th April 1984 and my early experience was gained at Jurby Airfield, like most Manx riders, plus a few trips across to short circuits like Cadwell, Pembrey, Carnaby to gain enough points for my National licence. Oh, also Langbaurgh-on-Tees (come on, who else ever raced there??) where I ended up in Middlesbrough Hospital, listening to the crowd roaring at Ayresome Park football ground, about 30 yards away.
Once I had my National, I finished with short circuits, although I did Aghadowey once for the Celtic Match Races. Then I raced regularly in Ireland on the roads, doing as much as I could afford to do. I raced the Cookstown 100 many times, on the Sherrygroom circuit which was brilliant, and on the Orritor circuit which was awful. Tandragee a few times, Mid-Antrim 150 twice, Temple 100, Carrowdore 100, Skerries 100 for 13 years on the trot, until the Steam Packet made it impossible to race there without taking a week off work to do so, and Killalane.
I made my MGP debut in 1988, on a totally standard TZR 250 Yamaha, which I lapped at just under 99 mph the following year. For many years, most of my racing was on two-strokes, Yamaha TZ 250, 320, 350, Suzuki T20 and Rotax machines. My MGP highpoints were winning two Classic Lightweight MGP's back-to-back in 1999 and 2000 and a standing start lap on a Honda 500 Classic at almost 103 mph. My attempts to pull off a hat trick of wins were thwarted in 2001 by Foot and Mouth. I was 2nd in the 1996 Lightweight race by just 4 secs, after having to ride through yellow flags at Ginger Hall on the first lap, an incident which occurred behind the eventual race winner. I lay a close 2nd in the race the following year, only to hit the kill switch by accident on lap 3 at Cronk Y Voddy, and watch my opportunity slip away as several riders passed me as I found the problem and got going again. I have been fortunate to stand on the MGP rostrum 9 times, something which makes me very proud, and has made it all worth the effort.
I moved to the TT in 1998, and competed until this year, although crashes in 1999, 2006 and 2007 put an end to my efforts. I never realised my TT ambitions, sadly. My fastest lap was just under 118 mph on the first lap of the 2006 Superbike race on my own bog-standard R1, shortly before losing it at the 11th Milestone at high speed. I never got a silver rep, although I got 7 bronze. I had made up my mind this time last year that the 2007 TT would be my last time on the TT grid, and my decision still stands and will continue to do so.
Also the Southern 100 has been a meeting close to my heart, and I have been a regular at Billown since my debut there in 1988, both in the Southern 100, where I have scored many rostrum positions and many Classic wins, but also in the Pre-TT Classic, where I have had 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, led by miles before striking trouble, fastest laps etc etc, but never managed to win one. So I still do have one or two ambitions in racing!!
Just briefly to finish off, regarding the Ramsey road course, I raced there for two of the four years it existed but never had any luck. I enjoyed it very much but freely admit that it was very dangerous. I was the first ever person to crash there, at the right hander leading back onto the seafront, prompting the corner to be named "Wood's Corner" in recognition!
Look forward to reading a few more peoples stories.