Hey everyone, how’s your Mom anem?
We at SoBros just wanted to put a little note in front your eyes to tell you about an exciting event which will run over the next few weeks on that there Isle of Man. The Manx GP and the Classic TT are already underway and following on from our series of pieces in preparation for the Isle of Man TT earlier this year, we’re excited to see our name racing on the roads! Yes that’s right, WE’RE ON A BIKE!
The Manx GP/Classic TT course is no different to the TT Mountain Course we described in our earlier articles, offering all the challenges of the world’s best road race but with a slightly different approach. The Manx GP is the amateur’s alternative to the hustle and bustle of the professional TT race and is the way many racers become experienced enough to gain a TT entrance invitation. There’s also a large focus on the Classic TT series given the nostalgia of the machinery.
With newcomers being encouraged to race at the Manx GP to ‘prove themselves’, the competition is fierce as new riders get their first taste of the famed mountain course. Most newcomers have a single aim – to gain experience to be invited to compete at the TT.
We’ve been touched by Ray Maloney’s personal story and have been inspired by his journey.
Ray started racing as an amateur in 2015 at the spritely age of 42 years old, having decided to achieve a regular ride at the TT. It’s a lofty goal for any amateur racer, but Ray is determined, and is pushed on through his dedication to Cancer Research UK, a charity which is dear to his heart. Ray lost his girlfriend Karen to the disease in 2005 and also his wife Suzanne in 2012. Having spent time ticking off items on ‘bucket lists’, Ray realized the importance of living your life your own way and pursuing your dreams before you’re too old, and has dedicated himself to representing the charity through road racing.
With a goal to reach and the drive to achieve it, Ray began racing in 2015 to obtain his national license in order to qualify for the Manx GP and gain that all-valuable experience of the circuit. Once his license was obtained in 2016, Ray began racing on the roads as well as short circuits to work toward the Manx GP, and in early 2018 he scored an invite to the event.
Starting his road racing season in April, Ray found some good results at East Fortune and Donington Park (a short circuit track he’d never raced at before), before being wiped out during qualifying at the second round at East Fortune. This was only 5 weeks prior to the opening practice of the Manx GP.
Ray pushed his recovery, using hyperbaric chambers and physical therapy, and managed to achieve his initial goal of screaming down Bray Hill in full attack mode at the 2018 event. Unfortunately, his bike broke down about 16 miles into that first lap, but Ray was undeterred!
A few more practice laps saw Ray qualify for the illustrious newcomers race and put in his first ever lap of the TT course at over 100mph average. An incredible achievement. Ray was up to 7th in the pre-race standings based on his lap time, and only 1mph from 4th position.
The team made some gearing changes prior to the race but faced strong wind over the mountain section which nullified the advantage that would give, and a violent tank slapper on the second lap re-broke his collarbone. And still he pushed on. Ray finished his first ever race at the Manx GP in 8th position, with a fastest lap of 103.25mph average around the 37.73 mile circuit.
Ray entered the lightweight race on an underpowered bike later that week, and after further damaging his collarbone under heavy braking into Sulby Bridge on the first lap, Ray began losing consciousness with a sudden onset feeling of nausea under heavy braking. A surge of adrenaline meant he managed to continue, and despite having over 12 stoppages of the bike from fuel starvation under braking, he completed the race in 18th!
Ray’s story is one of overcoming adversity, persevering to achieve your goal, and living your life the way you want to live it. We at SoBros Network share these ideals and are very proud of being able to associate with Ray. We wish him all the very best of luck for his efforts this year at the Manx GP!
Please feel free to view Ray’s charity just giving page, and his personal racing just giving page, if you have anything you can send to assist his efforts.
Cadbury Pringlebatch is the Operations Manager for The SoBros Network, but knows a little bit about everything. Known for frequenting Nashville YMCA steam rooms, he’s a firm believer that winning football is produced by moving the chains, and became a SoBro after mistaking one of our podcasts for an AA meeting. Follow on Twitter: @SoBroCadbury
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