Scarborough - Olivers Mount - 58th Gold Cup 21st September 2008

The official last day of summer saw the 58th year of the Scarborough road racing event held at Olivers Mount. The only remaining real road racing circuit in England had their 58th International Gold Cup races, and what a way to end the season after such a bad start.

The start of May saw one of the great irish road racing talents Martin Finegan loose his life in a freak accident in which his bike engine ceased up and he was thrown from the bike at 150mph. I remember meeting Martin in the paddock in 2006, he was a true Irish family man with a real passion for road racing. "Finbar" as he was known had started riding for Yamaha and took the first 2 wins at Tandragee where he was tipped for success in 2008, especially at the IOM.

Gone but never forgotton.................................................................. RIP Boys

Further bad news followed at the North West 200. Practice on the Thursday night saw Robert Dunlop (brother to my hero and legend Joey) die as he suffered servere chest injuries after coming off his bike at Mathers Cross. Robert was the most successful rider around the triangle circuit in Northern Island with a total of 15 wins. Motrocycle racing was in Roberts blood. He had suffered life threatening injuries before but had work hard and returned to fitness to compete at the top flite again.

Robert, Joey, Finbar, DJ, Richard Britton, Darren Burns all had one thing in common, a Passion and love for road racing. That was their life. Yes they are gone, but we must be greatful for the pleasure they have given us. If we could all apply the same motivation, enthusiasm and passion for doing the things we love, we would all achieve alot more and become better people.

As mentioned at the start of this chapter, Scarborough hosted once again the Gold Cup races at Olivers Mount. All the big names had put in an appearance, Mc G, Martin, Locker, Archibald, and the Dunlop brothers to mention a few. Guy martin was on fire on the Sunday. If the Steve Henshaw race had of been any more than 12 laps then I think the old Kirmington lad would have had to come in and change his back tyre. In the 10 years I have been going to the mount I have never seen anyone pulling out the corners sliding the back wheel then struggling to keep the front wheel down as he accelerated away, he truly is awesome and I really feel for him not getting the success at the IOM this year. Mechanical problems cost him in nearly every race but one things is for sure, if he rides like this next year, he will be a tough man to beat!

I don't have any regrets really, I believe in that you make your own destiny and choices and you have to learn from them and move on. If I do have one regret though it not meeting or seeing Joey Dunlop ride. I watch his story over and over on DVD and I am never ceased to be amazed by how such an ordinary, down to earth, shy and humble Ballymoney man did those extraordinary things. What did make up for it on Sunday was seeing something very special which I hope will continue for many years to come and that was seeing the Dunlop brothers competing for their repsective positions on the final finish line. Seeing them race their hearts out and competing with the likes of Locker and Archibald made me think this is the start of a new generation of road racing, or at least a new generation for the Dunlop road racing family!