BACK IN THE DAY

You send in YOUR pictures of bike racing, ack then. We will be sorting a prize for future inners!

BERTIE SIMMONDS SAYS: “Well, I figured I’d show you the sort of thing we are after this issue, but don’t worry – I’m not going to win anything and no, this isn’t vanity publishing!

So, I only raced four times – and loved it! To be fair, this was at a time (2004) when I was ‘fast’, but that word is only comparative as I was actually slow when I thought I was fast!

Minitwins with Bemsee, and the experience was tremendous. I got as far up as 13th out of 35 and fourth in class; small daughter and impending freelance career stopped any thoughts of a full season. Maybe in my 60s I’ll have a proper go…

As to the other pics, the Troy Bayliss shot was from a Silverstone track day in 1999. It was a Kawasaki Riders’ Club do andtroy was there to scout out the circuit, as I believe the BSB circus hadn’t been there before. I went out on track and was followed by a mystery man in ill-fitting leathers on a Kawasaki road bike. Roger Burnett asked: ‘Can he follow you for a few laps to get used to the track?’ Said rider was behind me for all of four corners before naffing off at some speed... it was Neil Hodgson.

The final pic is of some bike dinner do with Steve Parrish. It was a scooter race around some tables and we were suitably inebriated. Being (even) larger than I am now and realising he had me beaten on two-wheeled talent, I simply barged him into a table of revellers and left him behind. Probably my best result ever!”