Moira Motorcycle Racing Club was formed back in February 1981 when a small group of
enthusiasts got together and purchased a 125cc Honda Motorcycle.
Over the years we have updated and bought various bikes that our finances have allowed us. The
Club has had their fair share of riders coming and going through our doors over the years.
Peter Baxter was the first rider for the club back in 1981 on the 125cc Honda.
John Douglas replaced Peter using the same machine the following year.
enthusiasts got together and purchased a 125cc Honda Motorcycle.
Over the years we have updated and bought various bikes that our finances have allowed us. The
Club has had their fair share of riders coming and going through our doors over the years.
Peter Baxter was the first rider for the club back in 1981 on the 125cc Honda.
John Douglas replaced Peter using the same machine the following year.
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In 1983 we started to win a few races on the short circuit scene in Ireland, with Woolsey Coulter
riding for his second year. Woolsey moved on to race in England & Europe. Eddie Roberts, a very
experienced & ex-works rider from England took his place riding our specially & locally built
250cc called "Kimoco" which was featured on T.V. at the time. On only it's second outing Eddie
won the 250cc at the famous 'North West 200 Road Races' & a 3rd at the world famous 250cc
'Isle of Man T.T. Races' behind the two Hondas of the late Joey Dunlop & Steven Cull. When
Eddie retired at the end of 1985 we asked Geoff McConnell to ride and boy was he pleased.
riding for his second year. Woolsey moved on to race in England & Europe. Eddie Roberts, a very
experienced & ex-works rider from England took his place riding our specially & locally built
250cc called "Kimoco" which was featured on T.V. at the time. On only it's second outing Eddie
won the 250cc at the famous 'North West 200 Road Races' & a 3rd at the world famous 250cc
'Isle of Man T.T. Races' behind the two Hondas of the late Joey Dunlop & Steven Cull. When
Eddie retired at the end of 1985 we asked Geoff McConnell to ride and boy was he pleased.
During Geoff's term as club rider we purchased the 250cc Honda that had won the Isle of Man T.T. in 1986, with
this & the clubs 350cc Yamaha we won 6 championships out of 7. The 7th was The Embassy sponsored series for
machines upto 1000cc were we finished 2nd. The Club then purchased the 500cc Suzuki that won the Embassy
series. Following some excellent results and major wins. Sadly Geoff was involved in an accident which ended his
racing career.
In 1989 Michael Swann the 500cc Road Race Champion rode the Suzuki for the Club, beating the new 750cc
Hondas in several races & in 1990 we bought the ex Steve Hislop T.T. winning 750cc RC30 Honda. Michael had
decided not to contend anymore in road racing & stayed with short circuits. Following many wins & placings it was
felt that we needed to return to both road racing & short circuits for our sponsors & our own investment.
So in 1991 we went back to race at both, with a internationally respected Yorkshire man. (Dave Leach) We bought
a brand new 250cc Yamaha costing £12,000 along with 5 Mitsui Yamaha (works bikes) that Dave gave the club,
which gave the highest profile to date.
At the end of 1991 Dave withdrew from 250cc racing with at least 4 races per meeting it was too demanding.
this & the clubs 350cc Yamaha we won 6 championships out of 7. The 7th was The Embassy sponsored series for
machines upto 1000cc were we finished 2nd. The Club then purchased the 500cc Suzuki that won the Embassy
series. Following some excellent results and major wins. Sadly Geoff was involved in an accident which ended his
racing career.
In 1989 Michael Swann the 500cc Road Race Champion rode the Suzuki for the Club, beating the new 750cc
Hondas in several races & in 1990 we bought the ex Steve Hislop T.T. winning 750cc RC30 Honda. Michael had
decided not to contend anymore in road racing & stayed with short circuits. Following many wins & placings it was
felt that we needed to return to both road racing & short circuits for our sponsors & our own investment.
So in 1991 we went back to race at both, with a internationally respected Yorkshire man. (Dave Leach) We bought
a brand new 250cc Yamaha costing £12,000 along with 5 Mitsui Yamaha (works bikes) that Dave gave the club,
which gave the highest profile to date.
At the end of 1991 Dave withdrew from 250cc racing with at least 4 races per meeting it was too demanding.
| Moira Motorcycle Racing Club Est. 1981 |
| In 1992 with some major financial backing we got a deal for a works 750cc Yamaha to be ridden by the up and coming local rider Gary Dynes. Gary improved even more as the season progressed being the fastest ever 250cc newcomer around the 'Isle of Man's Southern 100' course & winning his first ever national 250cc Short Circuit at Bishop's Court. He finished the season 4th in the Irish 250cc Road Race Championship & winning the 200cc Short Circuit Championship. 1993 season proved to be successful for Gary, the Club purchased a new RS 250 Honda. Gary competed in the 'Isle of Man T.T. Races' finishing 15th in the 250cc race & winning the best newcomer award, not bad for never had raced the 37.75mile course before. He was 4th in the Irish Racing Championship for 250cc & 4th in the Unlimited Championship the highest for a 250cc beating more powerful machines on the way. |
| In 1994 the Club updated the RS 250 Honda & also had a new TZ 125 Yamaha (provided by his father Billy & Ivan Rainey), Gary took them both to the Isle Of Man again & improved his times considerably. In the 125cc lightweight class he finished 6th gaining a silver replica & in the junior 250cc a 10th with the fastest lap 113mph. In the Irish Championship he had a 5th in both 250cc & 125cc classes & a 7th in the unlimited despite some early misfortune. The season ended on a high with his first 250cc National Road Race Win at Killalane. The 1995 season started badly with a crash at Aghadowey where he sustained a broken wrist, he missed the North West 200 & the Isle of Man T.T. but came back fighting to the Irish Championship. In 1996 we bought a new 250cc Honda & Billy & Ivan provided a new 125cc, with them he won most of the races North & South of Ireland. He achieved the 250cc Road Race Championship & came 2nd in the 125cc Championship. On the Isle of Man TT he got 6th in the 125cc & finished in the top 12 in the 250cc. In 1997 we updated the 250cc Honda, Billy & Ivan bought him a new 125cc Honda. He won the 250cc Road Race Championship again, 4th in 125cc Championship & 3rd overall in the Senior Championship(1st in 250cc Class). At the T.T. he got 5th in the 250cc, he was 2nd but had engine problems & dropped to 5th place. He also got 7th on the 125cc. In 1998 the Club purchased a new 250cc Honda & Francis Neil supplied a new 125cc Honda, & ex-racer Raymond Campbell supplied a 600cc Honda. Gary did not use the 600 too much he said it was hard to get used to. The year ended with Gary getting 2nd in the 125cc Championship, 4th in the Senior Open Championship & winning the 250cc Championship again. The T.T. did not go as Gary expected with a 5th in the 125cc & a disappointing 15th in the very wet 2 lap lightweight race. Gary left the club at the end of 1998 to go to Francis Neil. |
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