The Eddie Laycock Trust

The Eddie Laycock Trust has been formed by many of Eddie’s old racing friendsand supporters. Road racing and TT/ GP star Eddie was diagnosed with cancer just over three years ago and, over the recent festive period, had his left leg amputated at St Vincent’s Hospital, Merrion. A recent charity event was organised to help the IoM TT winner and his family as he continues his rehabilitation following this major surgery. Taking place in mid-February at City West Hotel, Saggart, Co. Dublin, the organisers said it would be a chance to meet some old friends and ‘blasts from the past’. Indeed it was, as over 800 attended with many of Eddie’s old racing memorabilia and Moto GP donations auctioned to an enthusiastic audience, which included former rival and fellow TT winner, Brian Reid, and current WSB, star Eugene Laverty. Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner personally donated items to this special auction. Eddie, who lives in south Dublin with wife Helen and their two young boys, is universally recognised as one of the best  exponents of our sport to come out of Ireland. As well as an amazing racing career, Eddie is also part of the MotoGP commentary team with Peter Collins on RTE television.. In 1987, Eddie won the Junior TT - the first Southern rider to do so since the legendary Reg Armstrong thirty years earlier. The same year he finished second in the Formula 2 race and in 1988 he won the 250 Production TT, then moving on to the top of world motorcycling by racing in the 500 GP class. He continued his TT career, one of the few men to combine both roads and circuits at the highest level, winning the 1989 400cc Supersport race. He was victorious at the NW200 and UGP, at one point being the lap record holder at all three principle road races for his chosen class – truly a top class motorcycle racer. There are further events are planned; anyone wanting to assist or donate should contact Karen Ryan at 00353 87 2750 873 or Susan Reilly at 003531 4511282 or info@ eddielaycock.com.

Irish TTSC needs a new home

Even the Irish/Skerries branch of the TTSC is suffering during this bout of recession. Under Myles Lally’s inception from 2000 this little gathering of TT enthusiasts have, in the past hosted some great party nights for the TTSC. Held in Loughshinny’s famous watering hole, “The Yacht”, during the Skerries 100 weekends, great craic was to be had on the Rocking Friday nights after practice. The brilliant support from Loughshinny’s “The Yacht Bar” is now over, as this local motorcycling orientated pub has now closed. The gang is now looking for a new home to hold its racing season’s monthly meetings. The local organising club for Skerries /Killalane, the LMCSC has now also re-housed to another local pub. It is hoped for the next issue of this magazine that a new home will have been found, so new details will be announced and printed inside the back cover as usual.