For those of you that attended our official launch and evening with the world’s fastest road races last Tuesday, you must be excited about the forthcoming Metzeler Ulster Grand Prix.
There were a lot of things that made the day memorable, starting with Terence Brannigan, Chairman of Tourism NI speaking about his passion for the UGP and how it would be unthinkable if the event didn’t receive funding.
Then listening to the riders on how much they loved racing at Dundrod and how much they crave the top step of the podium.
But for me the highlight was the standing ovation from the 738 race fans in the Ramada Plaza Hotel when Ian Hutchinson came up on the stage. Thinking about it now makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
Work to prepare the circuit is underway and it is a massive task, transforming the roads around Dundrod into the Ulster Grand Prix track.
So if anyone has a bit of free time to lend a hand, should it be a couple of hours in the evening or a Saturday you will be made very welcome. You can contact Ken on 07717 495274 for more details, after all it’s your race.
Finally, I must pay tribute to Doctor John Hinds. I still cannot take it in that we have lost one of life’s unsung heroes.
As a race organiser he gave me the strength and confidence to do what I do, and the reassurance that if things go wrong, that he and his colleagues in the MCUI Medical team were there.
To think of the lives Doc John and his team have saved over the years and having watched him work with military precision at racing incidents, I am in total awe of the man.
Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. RIP Doc John.