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Celene Cain


A Little Relaxation

So Celene, How did you first start off in Road Racing ?
I first started out testing at Jurby with Mike. With Mike having been a competitor for some years and going to all of the the presentations at the Villa Marina, I said that one day I would walk across that stage after competing in the TT, preferably with Mike.

What was your first Race Bike ?
My first real race machine was a 350 Shellbourne outfit, which was a really smashing little bike, I loved it !

Where was your First Competitive Race ?
My first ever race was at Jurby, but I suppose that really, my first truly competitive race was at the Southern 100 in 1996.

Some people have a liking and a loathing for various circuits, can you tell us which are your most favourite and least liked circuits ?
No problem, it really has to be the Southern 100 as my most favourite, what with all those tight twisty bits and good close racing. The one that I like least of all however is the Jurby Road, I feel it is just too bumpy and it is also very tiring.

Who has been the biggest influence in your career ? Without a doubt it is my husband Mike. He has achieved so much in his racing career both on two wheels and three! I won't ever be as good a passenger as he is.


Hey, are you going to do an interview with Mike also. He's the one who got me into this, so you better put him in the spotlight as well you know !

Perhaps it might help him actually as he is still looking for a bike for the Classic Manx in Aug/Sept

Yeah, sure, what do you say Mike ? You want to give us an exclusive ? Give us a time and the place and we will be there.


What would you say, have been the highlights of your career to date?
I would say that competing in the TT for the first time in 1998 after the disappointment of having to pull out of the 1997 TT due to injury, has been the highpoint for me personally.

Now that the season is almost upon us, can you let us know what your plans are ?
Well, after 2 pretty disappointing years, we'd really like to just get a reasonable finish - Mind you that is if if we can get a start!

Considering the luck that we have had recently, we are looking at a new colour scheme for this year. Since we have used the blue we have had nothing but mishaps, we are hoping that a change of colour will alter that.

Our Plans for this year are to do the TT and the Southern 100 for sure. Maybe also a couple of the Jurby meetings - but Mike is planning to take the 400 out at Jurby so the sidecar may get pushed out.


Unfortunately we can't afford to go away to race, ie on the mainland. Not unless we win the lottery big style!

Unfulfilled ambitions concerning your motorcycle racing is a question that we ask everyone, is there anything in particular that you would like to achieve before you finally "call it a day" ?
No I suppose not really - higher finishes would obviously be nice but just to to be able to compete is great anyway.

Which was your single greatest victory ?
I wouldn't call it a victory exactly, but being the first Manx husband and wife sidecar crew to compete in the TT (and I think also the Southern 100) is a great achievement.

Who were your childhood heroes and why ?
I never really had any childhood heroes as such, but I've always been interested in motorcycle racing. Living in Northern Ireland as a teenager, we were always around the Northwest 200. I was pleased to meet Agostini when he came over to the Island - about 10 years ago and I even managed to get his autograph for my son. (Honest!!).

Of the present day riders, is there anyone in particular that you admire ?
I have great admiration for Roy Hanks. He was one of the first top sidecar guys to acknowledge my achievement in being able to compete in the TT and he always has time to say hello to you. Rob Fisher is another guy I like very much. He was very helpful to us in our first TT when we were discussing tyres with the Yokohama chaps. He is very down to earth like Roy and always has time to acknowledge your existence.

Now Where's That Handgrip ?


Do you feel that you have received fair recognition for your racing successes ?
I wouldn't say I have had much success yet, but I do feel that the girls in our sport do not get the coverage that they deserve. When anyone mentions sidecar crews - they automatically say "the hard men of racing" but we girls have to work just as hard, if not harder sometimes, just to be able to compete.


When Channel 4 filmed us in 1998, I think that it showed that women, who want to, can actually do sidecar racing. Wendy Davies, a good friend of ours has proved that beyond a doubt, by driving a sidecar in the TT with a male passenger.

Prior to a race, is there anything in particular that you do, that gets you into the right frame of mind for going out there ?
Not really, I simply try not to worry, try and stay calm and relaxed and think about how right it will feel on the circuit, even though I do feel sick before every race!

We know that you had a tumble at Jurby a year or so back, how serious was that and have you ever seriously considered retiring at any point ?

I have been lucky so far - I have not had any serious accidents although as you say, I did fall out of Alan Langton's outfit on Jurby airfield in 1999. All I had was some concussion and a dislocated thumb, but I was very badly bruised.

The thumb took a while to heal and to get full movement again but I did manage to get fit for the TT. I have never considered the thought of retiring yet. I suppose I'll finish when Mike has had enough of me passengering for him - even though I am a grandmother now!

It must have scared you somewhat when Mike and Chris went over at Jurby in '99. How did you actually feel when that thappened ?
Yes, Mike and Chris (my son) tuned the outfit upside down at Jurby Road in '99 and it was a worry when it happened. This was just before the TT in 1999. Chris ended up with with a lot of abrasions and a very nasty gash on his neck which required 22 stitches, and Mike? - well he stayed with the bike and let go at the last minute and ended up with three cracked ribs from the crash.

The damage to the bike was quite serious and even although we managed to repair it in time for the TT and although Mike did make the first practice, the pain was just too much for him and he reluctantly had to admit defeat. That meant no TT that year.

Are there any improvements that you feel could be made to the Road Racing scene, either safety-wise or organisational-wise ?
I actually feel pretty strongly about this subject and perhaps it is best not to go into this too deeply at this point. However, the new Park Ferme planned for the TT practice this year appears as if it could be a step in the right direction.

When you retire from the sport, would you remain associated with it, or would you make a "clean break" ? There is no way that I could make a clean break from it. I love the sport too much. Anyway, if Mike was still racing it would be very difficult. I think I would most probably join one of the Island clubs - say the Southern 100- and try to put something back into the sport.

Your son Chris is now actively involved in the sport, has it been difficult to accept this, as the sport is after all recognised as being notoriously dangerous ?
No, not really as he has grown up with it, Chris has taken up the sport and unfortunately was involved in that incident at Jurby Road in '99, which obviously as a mother you worry about. However, Chris is a good passenger and a natural at it. He is much better than I am - though my excuse is I started later in life!


At the moment he has given up passengering as he has just become a father but he has said he would like to go back to racing again - if not as a passenger, then he would like to try driving an outfit.

As Road Racing is a seasonal sport, what do you do for a living during the close season ?
I work full time even during the season - I am a PA. I am also at College where I am studying Trust and Company Administration for work.

How do you feel as a Road Racer who receives very little by comparison to the so called superstars, for risking your life, when most GP/BSB "stars" receive such massive financial rewards ?
I wouldn't say that we are "hard done by" exactly, as we all enter the racing for the love and the thrill of the sport itself. Obviously though, if someone were to come forward and give us more money to race I certainly wouldn't turn it down!


Anyone out there with some spare going ? If so you can give us a call !




Celene, thanks a million for taking the time to talk to us, and all of us here at TTwebsite wish you every success for the coming season. Don't forget now Mike, we will be back !


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