Hi, my name’s Gareth and I race motorbikes. I’ve raced them on and off since the late nineties and have ridden a variety of machines from big GSX-R 1000 Suzukis to very slow Velocettes. I’m a fairly unassuming chap if you meet me, and on the train you’d probably never know. For people who’ve just met me, they are shocked that I do this and I’m always asked to questions: Why do you do it and how did you get started?
Well, it all started for me thirty years ago, at a windy and cold Mallory Park (God rest its soul). My father had taken his new family (I was but 4 at the time) to try out his bike in Classic racing. I remember, fleetingly, him coming past. It’s probably one of my earliest memories of my life and from that moment on, I was hooked.
See, racing was life in my family, and as a result, when I was a child, I didn’t really have a choice of where I would spend my weekends. They would be spent in beaten up van (if I was lucky!) or more likely in a tent, travelling across the country being a part of a merry band of supporters for Pops in his various adventures. I quickly understood that Beer was cheap, racing expensive and the only problem you had with falling off was that you had to keep your head up otherwise you’d scratch your helmet.
As I grew up I became more and more obsessed, what sealed the deal for me was when I was lucky enough to go to the Dutch TT on the old Assen circuit in 1996. I saw Kenny Roberts Jr come out of the old horseshoe and fire his 500 down the back straight. It was an awe-inspiring sight that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I wanted to be involved in bike racing forever.
And I was super lucky, for the following summer, when I was 17, I had a chance to race for the first time on a Classic Honda 200. The leathers, boots and gloves were borrowed, the bike supplied and helmet bought. I was on my way. Racing was a lot cheaper back then, with a two-day meeting costing less than a 100 quid. A Saturday job could just cover it….oh how times have changed.
I loved racing. I loved how fast even a 200cc Honda felt. But what was baffling to me was that I wasn’t as good as I thought. I had some beginners luck, but hey, I thought I would be a World Champion. I was easily as comparable to Darryl Beattie, at the very least?!
What followed, if I’m honest with myself was a few years of confusion about the sport. If I couldn’t do this, something which I felt I was destined to do, what would I do? I loved bikes, but perhaps bikes didn’t love me.
I found out at the return to my pilgrimage – Assen. In 1999 Classic Racer magazine required someone to put a few words together for the supporting classic bike races. I duly did. I re-read it a few months ago – it was not good; but was good enough for me to be able to cover races the following year. I thought I had found my calling and duly spent the next few years covering race meetings. It was good enough to allow me to get a professional writing job too – and pretty much set me up for career. If I’d not written, I’d not have met my wife or started in social media, but that’s another story.
However the racing, the obsession was never that far away and I bought myself a RS125 Honda to ‘have a go’ and I did. With slicks, carbon fibre bits and proper brakes, the 125 was a revelation, and I couldn’t believe how fast you could actually ride. Racing in the 125 class back then was an incredible experience. Getting in the top six was an amazing achievement; you were racing against Crutchlow, Guiver, Beech and Morris to name but a few. I tried hard and fell off. A lot. And broke my fair share of bones. It came to a head when I had to move, and the bike was sold to pay for a sofa and bed.
So I returned back to writing, for many years writing for Motogpnews (it was fun) and also as a roving reporter covering The Goodwood Revival (I could tell you some stories about the parties…)
That was until I got the bug, for the third time you must note and started racing again. This time it was for a magazine article – to write about racing for Goodwood on a Velocette. I cut my teeth on an old RS125 Honda and really, really enjoyed it. Being competitive without risking my neck and having some fun was a new experience, and for the first time I think I can admit that I enjoyed the racing. It was fun.
Why was it more fun? Well I stopped putting pressure on myself to win, and just enjoyed it for what it was. That’s not to say that I didn’t try hard, but was always able to remember that I had work in the morning and this was bit of fun.
Why do I keep going back to it? Well, I’ve never really left if I’m honest, I’ve just been able to take advantage of the situation that I’m in. But, now, racing is my favourite. I work every day, I have the usual stresses of this modern world, have I done that presentation, has that baby just been sick on me on the train, can I survive on a diet of Babybels?
But when I’m at a meeting nowadays, racing these classic machines, nothing matters. It’s a pure joy for me being able to concentrate on just one thing, focus and have fun. I now love the racing for its journey of self improvement and developing the machines as much as I can with the resources available; the internet is great for that.
I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t go to a race meeting during the year. Being at Brands on a cold March morning, the air filled with bikes, bacon and cigarette smoke make me feel that I’m at home. And on various occasions, as I’m crawled through the gravel I wonder why I’m doing this, I remember the fun, and, consider, what else would I be doing, watching X Factor?
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