Mike Hailwood quickly became one of my favorite riders. I started road racing in 1971, first with a 250cc Cotton, and then with a Rickman framed AJS 7R. I have to admit, there were a lot of distractions going on for me at the time, and I was not as dedicated as I should have been! I did though, not finish lower than sixth position in any race that I rode in, those two years I did road race. One of my main adversaries was a certain young man by the name of Barry Sheene.

Shortly after, I met my future wife Denise and before we had our two children, she agreed to let me indulge myself in a lifetimes desire to ride a speedway bike. I purchased a used Jawa machine and went Speedway racing for fun. It was a great experience and I knew I had what it took to make it in that tough sport when I was offered the chance to ride for a team, which I declined, as I felt that at approaching thirty years old, I was then too old. I was wrong about that, I think!

I went into motorcycle retail management and for a hobby did quite a bit of freelance photography for most of the motorcycle press. I spent many hours riding bikes touring Europe leading my customers, riding at track days that I had helped to organize, and was lucky enough to ride on the BMW test track at Munich.

Due to ill health I moved on from the motorcycle trade and started to paint pictures of my hero's from the past, more often than I did, though I was quite keen on art whilst at school, and it eventually took over as my profession.

With Denise, we now attend shows and events both in the UK and Europe most weekends selling my work. We have attended events in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and Holland.  We have met some really nice people on our trips and have got to know some of my idol's ike: Jim Redman, Luigi Taveri, Giacomo Agostini, Ralph Bryans, Tommy Robb, Mike Duff, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs and Ronnie Moore.

I have no hobbies other than painting which is my work of course, some photography, art and following all forms of motor sport.