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 2000 Season Review
It is very hard to write about yourself racing and winning without making it sound like an ego trip so I'll get that bit out of the way first! My tally for the season was five 500cc Short Circuit wins and the Ulster/Irish Championship. Pleased? You bet!
It only seems like last week that I was wheeling the bike out of the shed for the first race of the season and yet here I am in the depths of winter with the bike in bits again. I must be honest and say that I knew I had a good chance of winning the Short Circuit title as long as the really quick men who concentrate on "The Roads" stayed at home. I knew it would be a case of ride for the points and forget about the overall standings. (In Ireland all the classic classes race in the one race with the results for both capacity class and overall.) Due to some good luck on my part and bad luck on my rival's part I was able to seal up the title with two rounds to spare.
The highlights of the season were:
The John Hall Memorial Races: In memory of a close friend who died in a car accident. My best result was a fifth against some very strong opposition but better than that was the fact that I helped to provide a fitting tribute to John. Nutts Corner Short Circuit (May): scene of my first class win and my first DNF of the season with a broken throttle cable.
John Hall Memorial Races www.johnhallraces.co.uk
The Bob MacIntyre Memorial Races: In Scotland. Despite being up against some of the fastest riders in Scotland I manage a tenth place on the bumpiest track in the world. I definitely want to go back next year if only to collect the filling I lost at Railway Corner!
Ulster Grand Prix Road Races: Do you remember when I used to say I had no interest in doing "The Roads"? Well I wasn't being entirely truthful as it has been a long time ambition of mine to do "The Ulster" ever since my dad brought me to watch Tom Herron and a very young Joey Dunlop in the late seventies.
A word of explanation for some of our readers who may not know the meaning of "The Roads" in Ireland there are two types of racing "Short Circuits" which are purpose built tracks with run off areas etc. and then there are "The Roads" which are closed for the day, public roads, invariably B roads, with all the usual roadside things like trees, lampposts, walls, banks etc. Get the picture? Public road racing is extremely fast and extremely dangerous with no margin for error at all. If you fall you get hurt or worse. Being a family man with all the usual commitments like a mortgage etc. I am not prepared to risk it all on the roads on a regular basis but just occasionally a little bit of what you fancy does you no harm (I hope).
So I put an entry in for the Prix and get steadily more nervous as it approached. Practice was on the Friday and with my fingers crossed that our gearbox would hold together I left the holding area for my first lap of the historic 7-mile Dundrod circuit. Two miles into the lap and third gear decided it had enough and wasn't playing anymore! I decided to keep going as if I didn't appear around again the lads back in the paddock would be convinced I'd gone over a hedge somewhere. Practice was pretty uneventful as I just concentrated in learning the lines and keeping it between the hedges. My fastest lap was 79mph average, which I was pleased about considering I was a newcomer and one cog short of a gearbox! I decided I would do the race the next day just for the experience and try not to get in anyone's way.
By the time of the race on the Saturday I was a nervous wreck and was seriously questioning my sanity but I wasn't going to back out. I was on the back row of the grid and was quite willing to let everyone away and then ride my own race and enjoy myself. Until the flag dropped that is! I got away cleanly enough with the pack but by the time we had done two miles the quick men were long gone. My target for the race was to do an 80mph lap will short shifting through 3rd gear and hoping the gearbox didn't self-destruct. I knew I was going to get lapped and sure enough Dennis Gallagher came past me on the last lap at Wheelers on his 900cc Weslake like I was stopped. His lap speed was over the 100mph average. I finished the race in 14th place with a race average of 81.20mph and a fastest lap of 81.75mph but most important of all I was in one piece.
 Would I do it again? Definitely but as with any pure road race I do I will go out to enjoy myself as I am not prepared to take the risks the front runners have to take. I would like to do an 85mph lap though!
Bishopscourts Short Circuit: In September was were I secured the Short Circuit Championship so happy memories indeed tempered only by the fact that my closest rival, Clifford Mudd, fell and broke his collarbone and three ribs. Ouch! Incidentally it poured with rain at the race and visibility was so bad with spray and condensation on my visor that the only way I could see where I was going was to follow the bright orange stripes on the leathers of the rider in front. If he had went off then I was off too!
Nutts Corner Short Circuit: In September was where I lead the overall race for the first time and I was $%^&ing myself! It's a weird feeling with a clear track in front knowing that there are sixteen riders breathing down your neck. I know how the fox feels now! I finished second overall.
MCUI Presentation Night: In early November saw loads of beer, a wonderful dinner and a rather nice silver cup (filled with beer of course) to mark the end of the season.
A big thank you to the following people for help and support during the season.
Cecil Cairnduff, bike owner and one of the biggest characters in classic racing .
Andy Laverty, pit crew and supplier of chips.
Billy Lyle, for fixing what I keep breaking.
T2 Performance Customs.
Davy, for you know what, my legs are eternally grateful (private joke)
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MAGSPORT for all your help.
NI MC Tours, your kind gesture at Kirkistown will not be forgotten.
Sheila and Kirsty-Lee, my wife and Daughter for putting up with my long nights in the shed and Saturdays away.
Everyone else who helped in any big or small way who I haven't listed. See you all next season…..
No 2000 season review would be complete without mentioning the darkest day that Irish motorcycling has ever known. When, on July 2nd, Joey Dunlop lost his life doing what he did best. He was my hero and it is with great pride that I can say I have shared a track with him
"No more heroes anymore" Rest in Peace Joey.
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