To recall something legendary and historic, in road racing you just need a name: Dunlop.
Gary Dunlop, 2016 Mid Antrim (ph: Chris Usal)
A dynasty with the passion for two wheels in the blood, from Joey and Robert to sons and nephews Michael, William, Gary and Sam.
In 1983 the great Joey Dunlop, current recordman at the Isle of Man TT with 26 victories and King of the Mountain of all times, amazing rider and wonderful person, witnessed the born of Gary, one of his five children. Joey was 31 at the time and he was reaching the pinnacle of his brilliant career which would have engraved his name in the history of motorcycle racing. If son Richard and daughters Donna, Joanne and Julie had other passions, young Gary tried to follow his dad’s racing footsteps. But it was not easy at all and in the end Gary decided to walk away from the sport.
Today, if you are in Ballymoney and pay a visit at Joey and Robert’s Memorial Garden and at the famous Joey’s Bar, it could be Gary himself to serve you a pint of Guinness. That’s because the Northern Irish guy decided to carry on the family business with the bar, but also keeping an eye on cousin Michael and William’s careers. The very good relationship with William, in particular, turned into the idea of the Joey’s Bar Team, who made its road racing debut in 2015 and from then on racing 125cc and 250cc bikes with Sam Wilson and Derek McGee, needless to say in yellow and black fairings. Until 2016, when Gary Dunlop himself finally changed his mind and made his road racing debut…
Gary, let me say it’s a real pleasure for me to talk with you. Your surname, your story, your family, everything sounds legendary. First of all, why did you start with road racing so late? I mean, with a family like yours, your career seemed already written, but it wasn’t.
I had no intentions of racing again at all this time last year. It all came about because William was supposed to ride my bike at the Sunflower Meeting at Bishopscourt last season. Sadly, he had to withdraw the night before the meeting. Then he tried to convince me to do it instead. Eventually I agreed to do it and got my medical and license later that day. After I did the Sunflower, another rider (Melissa Kennedy) said to me that I’ll be doing the roads now as well. When I disagreed, she taunted me that I was scared to do the roads. So, after a couple of months being taunted by her, I decided I would do it to prove her wrong!
We need to point out that you already raced for a short period at the beginning of 2000, is that right? Why did you stop, then?
Yes, I did some circuit racing from 2001 until 2004 here on the Irish short circuit championship. Sadly, I couldn’t shrug off the tag and expectations of being Joey’s son. And constantly being pushed to do the roads when I didn’t want to was pushing me away from the sport. So after a couple of nasty accidents I decided to walk away from the sport.
And you committed yourself to Joey’s Bar.
Exactly, that is my everyday job.
Gary and William Dunlop, 2016 Scarborough Gold Cup (ph: Fabio Armanino)
Is there someone in particular who supported you in your pure road racing debut?
William has been the one who has helped me and supported me with everything. I am not a very trusting person but I have 100% trust in him. It makes a big difference having him about.
Do you still feel some pressure for your surname when you are racing?
Yeah, I feel quite a lot of pressure, but I always knew that would be the case. It was a lot worse the first time I started and although I knew it would be, I never expected just how bad it was. But I’m a bit older and wiser now and I feel a lot more at ease with the situation I’m in. Lot of people thinks I’m lucky to have the name, but I feel that it’s more of a curse.
Is there someone in your family who did not appreciate this decision?
I never really spoke to them about it to be honest! When I said that I was going to do the roads, I just told them that it was happening and I didn’t want to hear anything more about it. And I haven’t heard a word about it since, haha.
Which is your favourite track so far?
The Ulster Grand Prix hasn’t left my head since I have done it. I could barely speak after my race, I just sat and smiled for about 15 minutes. Tandragee was also fantastic, it’s so fast and flowing with a few wheelies and jumps in amongst it. I never disliked any of the tracks, but these two are special.
Joey Dunlop with sons Gary and Richard (ph: Gary Dunlop FB page)
Which is your best memory of your dad?
All my best memories of him are away from the racing, our family holidays were special. We would jump into the back of the van and start driving across Europe usually ending up at the former F1 circuit Vila Real in Portugal. With the seven of us all squeezed up sleeping in the van. Best racing memory is seeing him win the Formula 1 race at the TT in 2000. It’s not my favourite race but I’ve never seen him as happy and content as he was afterwards.
Were you involved in your dad’s racing?
I went to nearly all the races with him and to be honest I stayed out of the way because he was always so busy. But there was a few times he let me help out with the 125cc bike. But not too much as he liked to do all the work himself.
Have you got any new project for next year (new races, new bikes…)?
I haven’t thought about next year at all yet. As soon as we finish the rest of our season here I’ll start to think about what we want to do machinery ways. I’ll definitely run both our 125’s again in the Irish roads and if we can get some sponsorship, I’d love to run a Moto3 bike as well. I’ve also had a craving to do some of the roads races in Europe at the likes of Frohburg and Imatra, so it’s something I’m going to check out.
Thank you very much Gary and all the best!
