Friday, May 16, 2008
Robert Dunlop dies
Robert Dunlop has died in hospital after an accident at a practice session for the North West 200. His brother Joey was killed in a motorcycle race in Estonia in 2000. The BBC has tributes to Robert here, the Belfast Telegraph has an obituary here.
Update: Robert’s son Michael has won the first race at the North West (the 250cc)
Turgon @ 09:28 AM
My thoughts are with the Dunlop family at this time.
When is someone going to call an end to this madness that they call road racing? The pill is going to have to be swallowed and everyone will have to accept getting their kicks on short circuits. It can’t go on like this.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 10:20 AMSad news. I won’t pretend to be a motor racing fan but despite this, when I was growing up, everyone knew the name of Joey and perhaps to a lesser extent Robert, if only for that practically intelligible accent.
My condolences to his family and friends and I have to agree with Realist that given the number of deaths attributed to road racing in the last number of years at competitions like this, it is perhaps time for a step back and consider a new way of taking the sport forward in a far safer manner.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 10:29 AMunintelligible of course.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 10:30 AMSad news. Though I wonder why people take part in this sport when it is so dangerous.
More generally, would someone explain to me why this sport is so fantastically popular amoungst unionists/protestants and all bug ignored by nationalists/catholics. At least that is how it is in greater Belfast.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:41 AMCS Parnell - I didn’t realise that was the case.
But now that you mention it, maybe it is more of a Protestant thing - certainly north Antrim seems to be the main “hotbed”, which is a mainly Protestant area.
There was a Dublin rider killed at Cookstown last week, though.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 11:56 AMwillowfield,
It never really struck me until a few years ago when I realised how interested the “other side” was in the sport, when for me and everyone on “my side” it was just something that went on in the background.
Maybe I am wrong about this, though. Would be geneuinely interested to know what others feel about it.
The North Antrim thing struck me too - but then not many Catholics from the glens seem to be interested.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:03 PMThe Armoy Armada. When will they ever learn?
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:03 PMRobert Dunlop RIP.
Please let us not drag any other issue into this thread, leave the rest for next week.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:08 PMWillowfield, perhaps we should look at our motor-cycling MLAs for more of this pattern: Ian Paisley jnr, David Burnside and Sammy Wilson.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:08 PMCS
Have you noticed how Catholics eyes seem to be closer together and they seem to eat more potatoes than Prods? (Tongue stuck very firmly in cheek)
Wise up!
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:17 PMIt is not sectarian to ask a question about cultural differences. There is certainly no judgement of value being passed here at all.
Seems that for some the old “whatever you say, say nothing” rule applies.
You know, Northern Ireland will remain a broken society if we refuse to even discuss what makes us different and what makes us the same.
The people who should wise up are those who don’t even want to acknoledge the differences exist. And there is no disprespect to any road racer if we actually discuss the cultural significance of the sport in Norrthern Ireland.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:22 PMMr Parnell is quite correct. In mid-Ulster, in general, the Irish/nationalist contingent have no interest in it whatsoever.Still sad about the 2nd Dulop,however.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:34 PMI think I can also speak on behalf of South Down/South Armagh where is is also non-issue - the closest being Tandragee where I believe an annual meet takes place.
Having said that, living in Newry, I notice a massive increase in bike riders from the south passing through around this time of year obviously on their way to Antrim. So perhaps the disinterest in Catholic/Nationalist circles is a northern thing only?
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:41 PMPacman, have you checked the number plates? Perhaps some of those riders are coming in through southern ports. There’ll be a convoy of bikes on Saturday evening making their way down the coast road to Larne to catch the ferry.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:48 PMThere are quite few of those also Nevin but there is a distinct rise in the number of southern plates on the roads and in particular, at the Fiveways service station where they seem to refresh themselves before the onward journey.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:52 PMIt may be a generational thing too.
My grandfather - died before I was born - was a big TT fan.
(But then again his grandfather was from the Shankill and married a Catholic)
But perhaps the troubles just meant people didn’t mix even at these events and so Catholic interest wilted?
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:56 PMRe. Prods and bikes - perhaps it’s a case that if one side establishes an interest the other side decides its not for them - a bit like sibling behaviour/rivalry.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 01:00 PMSammy - that would hardly explain why Sinn Fein and DUP voters are equally devolted to the cause of Manchester United.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 01:04 PMTotally agree with Pancho’s Horse on May 16, 2008 @ 12:34 PM comments.
Always wondered why anyone would like this sport myself but then they could say the same to why i liked what i liked. Hope they do a slow lap as a mark of respect.
Dunlop RIP or in the fast lane as the case may be :)
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 01:27 PMHave to say i’m not a big fan of the sport but Robert Dunlop’s death is very sad news indeed.
I remember well when Joey Dunlop died - i was working in the Donegal Gaeltacht and when the Bean a’Tí i was staying with heard about the motorcyclist’s crash she was distraught. Donegal’s pretty big for rally driving and it was the first time i realised how popular motorsport actually is.
I would say that motorcycling etc is more popular among unionists. Can’t think of any particular reason other than that nationalists have always had a strong affiliation to GAA and all other sports took a secondly role.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 01:53 PMHave to agree with Pacman and wish i could get £1
a bike or car with southern reg travelling to the venue and having attended the N/W on many occassions,have never heard politics or religion mentioned.
When interviewed on tele Robert explained at not having a full bike lic as he didn`t drive on the
roads with normal traffic believing it to be too dangerous.
As like Joey before him a gentleman who will be sadly missed.Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 02:07 PMCS Parnell
football teams are probably not the best example of non sectarian involvement - but I take your point. However there may be a difference with motor sport in that you have to turn up at the event in Non Iron when the other side has already claimed that sporting territory.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 03:10 PMNorth County Dublin is a hotbed of support for road racing, all round Skerries, Rush, and Lusk (where the rider killed last week was from)
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 03:11 PMi’d love to know if those commenting on the cultural alleigances of road race fans have actually been to a race or met any of the racers or riders, it has always been a mixed sport especially after the demise of some northern centre tracks and the growth of tracks in the south.
to those doing the usual ban it as we need saved from ourselves and keep it to the short circuits, which short circuit do you suggest. they are old, too short and not fit for purpose.
however i hear there is a large disused piece of land perfect for a circuit outside lisburn.Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 03:45 PMRIP Robert Dunlop.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 04:11 PM
