Matts Story  

Sidecar racing is in my blood, quite literally I grew up travelling round the country with my dad watching him race for years, We travelled the length and breadth of the country spending many happy weekends in Cornwall and the south west.

I started racing in 1991 at the sweet innocent age of 16 (okay so maybe I've never been sweet and innocent but I was definitely 16). My first full time ride was with T.P Gilsenan or Teep as he was affectionately known. Soon after our first full meeting at a very wet and muddy Yeovil Teep informed me we were racing speedway in the world of rebels championship, Being a self confident (that’s the polite way of putting it;)) young man I couldn‘t wait to show the world how great I was. All went well, but had we fitted a paint roller to the outside fairing we could have re painted the fence, yes we really were that wide!!! (that said not much as changed, as Andi and myself are quite often running over spectators toes with or sidecar wheel) Not only was that my first outing on the shale but I was also dubbed with me first title… Teep and myself were Irish sidecar speedway champions!! Now how lucky is dat, be Jesus!!!

My first year was a baptism of fire as I also managed to get a ride in the British masters first round with Cornishman Ken Hicks. He had spun in practise injuring his passenger who was unable to ride. Being young fit and athletic (yes believe it or not I was not always “the fat man”) I got to ken first and got the ride if not a little wet behind the ears still being only 16 at the time, Not one to blow my own trumpet but I think that may be a record…youngest 1000cc passenger to compete in the masters!!! I also managed to live out a childhood dream of competing with Pops Fumarola at the wimborne whopper in 1991.

It was also in 1991 that I may have set another record… I've never made the best spectator in the world as I get bored easily and much prefer being involved whether competing or spannering, so to ease the boredom of watching practice at the ace of aces of that year I lent Mr Gary Jackson a hand pushing and shoving… (now here's the spooky part) after a spin in their second practice session Kevin gashed his head and couldn't carry on in practice so guess who offered their services… That’s right International superstar Irish champion Matt Fumarola… (I hasten to add I had nothing to do with either of the spins that lead to me competing in two of the most prestigious meetings in grass track history in my first year… honest ;)) Initially I thought I was just helping out for practice but over night Kevin's head swelled to approximately the size of a basketball and as his helmet was not that big enter Superstar Matt on race day… (Riding with Gary was great and was also a favour I called in when I needed a bike building in 98/99 off season… cheers Gary!!!).

After such an amazing first year I was really fired up for 1992 expecting even bigger and better things… how wrong was I!!! Early in 92’ Craig cheetham needed a passenger and got in touch with me to race at the berks bonanza, everything was going great and I actually thought the all Birmingham crew stood a real chance of winning… That was however until our second race when exiting turn two the combination of a bump and acceleration (I'm sure Craig won't deny he wasn't the gentlest when getting on the gas… he had two speeds… Stop and Go!!!) threw me off the back, my foot caught in the hand rail and I was dragged down the straight and into next turn the g force threw me into the back wheel, shredding my leathers and the skin on my buttocks and lower back. In that one accident I suffered 3^rd degree burns to my buttocks and severe skin loss and trauma to lower back, ligament damage to thumb, elbow, knee and ankle. I was off work for 3 months and being an apprentice at British Gas I had to restrict my racing and concentrate on my career, So I just did the odd race meeting with john mitton on his 500cc single right hander and then his 500cc two stroke, which was fun!!!! My only regret was not being able to take up Alan artus's offer of a one off ride nearing the end of my recuperation in 92, I would have very much liked to have been able to take up offer of riding with Alan "the legend"Artus.

Around the same time Andi was finding his feet as a passenger I decided that if I was going to race 1000s again I did not want to be in a position where me buttocks were at risk of being shredded, so the decision was made,I bought a bike and set about learning to ride it… Again spookily my first outing was at a practice day at the same track (Mallory Park) that Andi was to try his hand at passengering at for the first time… Funny how these things all seem to be linked ;)