THE JOURNEY
If someone had said to me 40 years ago, as a young teenager, that one day I’d be the editor of a dirtbike magazine, I would have told them they were dreaming. You see, I was that kid who was always thinking about riding my BMX or dirtbike. It consumed me and I didn’t really grasp English lessons at school; they just went right over my head. Grammar, punctuation, verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs — get me out of here!
Fast forward 15 years, something inside me changed regarding writing and the desire to express myself through words. I’d spent years racing my Honda CR125 at events like the Gold Cup at Mr Motocross, open races at Appin Raceway, Mt Kembla, and club races at Oakdale, Dargle and Bilpin. I’d also traveled the world, experiencing other cultures and snowboarding in places like Norway.
I’d grown up, and upon returning from my adventures to my home in the Sutherland Shire, one of my mates had this crazy idea about starting a freestyle motocross magazine, which he named Freerider MX. He asked me to write an article about my experience racing dirtbikes for the first issue, and I did. I just sat down at my old PC and started typing away. Apart from a few lacklustre short stories I’d attempted in school, that article, titled
“The Thrill Of Riding Till Your Hands Bleed”, was my first real attempt at expressing myself through writing. Although my grammar and all those things I mentioned above sucked, what I wrote turned out well and later received a lot of positive feedback from people who took the time to read it.
Inspired by that feedback, I embarked on a freelance journalism course while continuing my job as a metal fabricator. My creative mind kicked in like never before, and I was eager to write more. So, I decided to write a story about how I set up my Yamaha YZ426F with the help of ace tuner Tony Hatton. At the time, Freerider MX had a new editor named Andrew “Clubby” Clubb. When I was 18, Clubby asked me to test the 1988-model Honda CR125 for ADB, so he was the only guy I knew in the media industry. I took a chance and sent him that story, knowing full well that it didn’t quite fit the vibe of FRMX. Clubby liked the story and although it never made it to print, it opened up an opportunity to become a feature writer and later the editor of that magazine.
Now, as I sit here and type out my first column for
Dirt Action, it almost feels surreal that once again, I’m taking over the editor’s chair vacated by the legend that is Clubby.
The guy has been there right from the very start of my journalism career, guiding and supporting me along the way, always positive and encouraging. Thanks, mate.
Dirt Action has been going strong for 25 years, and I plan to continue the good work that has been penned by all the great editors and contributors before me. My love for dirtbikes is the reason I’m here, and in my first issue, I’ve worked hard to bring you inspiring stories from the incredible men and women who also live to ride.
My aim for Dirt Action is to produce a magazine that you can pick up at any time and enjoy a good read. Stories that capture the journey of an athlete at the top of their game, like the force that is Jess Gardiner, who inspired me with her story in this issue. Or punters like Bradley and Jake, who gave the gnarly Hattah race a crack for the first time, which you can read about in their story “Hattah Virgins”, or the “Desert Dads” who decided to leave their families for a week and enter the Finke Desert Race on old Honda XR600s. And not forgetting DA’s fresh new column in this issue, a voice for our female riders by OG enduro racer Jemma Wilson.
There are so many cool people doing extraordinary things on dirtbikes, and I want to capture their adventures for you all to read. Along the way, don’t hesitate to drop me a message with feedback or any ideas you might have for a story, as I’m always open to learning more about this great sport we all love.
Hope you all enjoy my first issue as Ed. Catch you on the next one!