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Some Tributes to Joey Dunlop |
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Leading into York Corner - NW200 |
Photos taken by Art Ward |
York Corner - NW200 |
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Whenever my uncle would come up from Ballycastle to my grandparents at Cloughcorr, the chat around the range would inevitably turn to the Armoy boys whom he knew and took great inspiration from, for it was in the country roads around here that Joey and the Armada honed their skills, tested their bikes and inspired a generation. I remember on a still summer evening as a young fella hearing the snore of my uncle's old AJS 350 coming flying up the 'brench line' from Ballycastle, appearing over the brow of the hill at Novally and flying down past Brigend with the throttle full open and him stretched over the tank with his feet wrapped round the number plate, there was no doubt who inspired him (smile). Joey was always talked about and indeed was known to take the odd rake up the Carrowreagh Road to the Dry Arch and over to Ballinlea, on still evenings you could hear the sound of those bikes for miles. To me, Joey was a legend, he gave us more than just something to talk about, he gave us all a sense of pride by his achievements. He was local and like so many have said, you thought of him as one of your own and a world champion to boot. Apart from women, their were only two men who would invade the chat when young men folk of my ilk got together around a fireplace or along a dyke of an evening at Cloughcorr. One was the 'Indian' McCook for his fierce reputation and fighting prowness and the other was Joey for his ability, courage and skill on a motorbike. Joey's passion was motorbike racing, the fame never changed him, he always remained true to himself, gentle, passionate and courageous. The Armoy Armada were unique - Mervyn Robinson, Frank Kennedy and Joey Dunlop as well as those that aided and abetted them. Unknowingly they created something back in those early years that will live on and capture the imagination of generations to come. |
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