Former Racer Creates History
In August 1995 Phil Armes’ motorcycle racing career came to an abrupt end
when he crashed at the Ulster Grand Prix and broke his back, leaving him
paralysed from the lower chest down, and confined to a wheelchair.
Fast forward 18 years and the father of three was invited, as a past
winner, to take part in the 90th anniversary celebrations of the Manx Grand
Prix on the world famous TT course in the Isle of Man. This included a parade
lap which the organisers agreed that Phil could take part in, if he could prove
he was safe and competent to do so.
After learning to ride again on a modified bike at The Bike Experience
charity at Silverstone race circuit he took on the challenge of riding the
world’s toughest track in September 2013. It didn’t all go according to plan
and a technical issue forced Phil to pull out after 24 miles of the 37 ¾ mile
circuit. Two subsequent attempts in 2014 and 2015 were thwarted by a
combination of technical and weather problems, but on August 29th this year
Phil became the first paraplegic to complete a lap of the TT course on his
Triumph Daytona 675.
(picture courtesy of Sue Collister)
After
finishing the lap Phil said, “that was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever
done on a motorcycle, but also one of the most rewarding. To be able to ride
the TT course again was certainly something I never thought would be possible,
but it just goes to show that if you put your mind to something you can often
get a great outcome.”
Riding the TT course was the height of his return to two wheels, but just
two weeks prior to this historic ride, he also made an emotional return to
Northern Ireland to successfully complete a lap of the Ulster GP track that he
crashed at 21 years ago. He commented afterwards, “the Dundrod track is known
as the fastest road race in the world, but it took me 21 years to complete a
lap which has to be some sort of record in it’s own right!”
(picture courtesy of Sue Collister)
Phil will be doing a show at the Norwich Playhouse on November 8th where
he will talk about his racing career, the challenges of life as a paraplegic,
and all the planning, preparation, and ultimately successful rides in Northern
Ireland and the Isle of Man.
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