05-29-2015, 08:15 PM
I will never forget when I met John McGuinness for the first time. I was not very familiar with the stars of the TT as I had never followed it very closely, although I had always considered the guys that ride there as insane. So, I was at a BSB race at Cadwell Park for the first time with a good friend racing for Kawasaki. While in the paddock, his teammate John steps out of his motorhome holding his little kid in his arms. Looked just like an ordinary and sweet father.
My friend introduced us, and we began chatting. I found John to be a particularly calm and sweet guy, not really what you imagine when you talk of motorcycle racers in general, and TT racers in particular. I honestly did not know who he was, which is probably why we had a really nice and normal conversation. We laughed a bit at his name, and my wife began calling him "McBeer", and name that has stuck with us since. I saw in your article you refer to him as McPint, but I like McBeer better!
Anyway, getting back home from the race weekend, I decided to look up on the net what McBeer had done up until then, and was simply amazed to read about his accomplishments at the TT. It did get me to begin following the races there more closely in the following years, and considering it was way back in 2004 that I met him, I was lucky to follow him as he emerged as a true legend there.
Each year though I always fear the TT. I just can't watch it live due to the danger involved, and it is only until after when I know the results and that John is okay that I can watch. It is a bit of a bitter-sweet friendship because although I would love to go to the TT at some point, I know I would be far too nervous throughout the weekend if John was riding.
But the image of this sweet father stepping out of a motorhome will always stay. I often refer to this when talking to other friends who are not familiar with racing or racers, and usually think they are all a bunch of rowdy hot-heads. The reality is so different...
My friend introduced us, and we began chatting. I found John to be a particularly calm and sweet guy, not really what you imagine when you talk of motorcycle racers in general, and TT racers in particular. I honestly did not know who he was, which is probably why we had a really nice and normal conversation. We laughed a bit at his name, and my wife began calling him "McBeer", and name that has stuck with us since. I saw in your article you refer to him as McPint, but I like McBeer better!
Anyway, getting back home from the race weekend, I decided to look up on the net what McBeer had done up until then, and was simply amazed to read about his accomplishments at the TT. It did get me to begin following the races there more closely in the following years, and considering it was way back in 2004 that I met him, I was lucky to follow him as he emerged as a true legend there.
Each year though I always fear the TT. I just can't watch it live due to the danger involved, and it is only until after when I know the results and that John is okay that I can watch. It is a bit of a bitter-sweet friendship because although I would love to go to the TT at some point, I know I would be far too nervous throughout the weekend if John was riding.
But the image of this sweet father stepping out of a motorhome will always stay. I often refer to this when talking to other friends who are not familiar with racing or racers, and usually think they are all a bunch of rowdy hot-heads. The reality is so different...