McGuinness joins the feet-up brigade
By Team TMX on 28th Oct 15
GUEST of Honour at this years Stafford Show was none other than 23 times Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness, who lives just several well-aimed stone throws from the mighty TMX base in Morecambe and often self deprecatingly describes himself as Just a brickie from Morecambe!
When not lapping the TT circuit at mind-blowing average speeds in excess of 130mph, Mac is, and always has been, a huge off-road fan having started his off-road career as a schoolboy scrambler, following in the footsteps of his dad.
John still rides a lot of off-road both for fun and as good training and always has a nice MX model ready to go for a blast and he also owns some really nice classic MXers.
He has also been a trail bike fan but has never taken to trials. "I'm the world's worst trials rider!” he emphatically declared.
But trials was exactly what the Show organisers had planned for him so after doing his well-received talks on centre stage in the main hall he sportingly presented himself to the Old Codgers crew, armed with boots and helmet.
John tried a Cub first, which proved to be too high-geared and with an iffy clutch. But then he had a go on Doug Sherborne's well-sorted BSA and things were looking up.
He then even had a go on a big Enfield single and looked even better on that.
To cap his trials experience he had a go in the sidecar with veteran three-wheel ace Bert White and after two minutes' practising sharp left and right turns they were off on to the slopes...
