I've had great fun reading everyone's stories. I'm back from Thailand and looking forward to Christmas, so Happy Christmas to all our readers.
I got this annoying bug to compete on two wheels in the fifties. Then in the sixties I travelled in the back of a Commer van to many sidecar events with Colin Appleyard,(Robin's Dad), plus events that my Dad was officiating at. Rode Trials from 1968-2003, and raced 1974-2003, including 83 races round the TTcourse,(63TT's and 20MGP's). Also rode Macau GP, Bol D'or, DutchTT, plus UlsterGP(best circuit in the world) NW200(nearly the worst),Skerries, Scarborough, and most English circuits.
You're right, the craic was good at all these events, but to get the most out of racing, you needed to be with a character like Ron Grant, who looked after me for two hair raising seasons, and when we were never far from trouble. I don't know what it was about him, but he could make you believe you could walk on water. Sadly even Ron found out that he couldn't.
No question about it, competing on two wheels, either on the moors above Fort William in the Scottish Six days Trial,(rode it 16 times),or plummeting down Bray Hill, it was the best thing I have ever done. I DO look a shadow of my former self on a golf course on a Saturday morning, but I don't care, because I DO have the memories. Bit like the expression,"better to have loved and lost , than to never have loved at all", the racing parallel goes,"better to have raced and lost, than to never have raced at all". Hey, I'm not knocking those that haven't competed, it wouldn't have been as much fun with nobody watching!!