Ian Hickey wins 2007 MGPRA ‘Spirit of the Manx’ award

The recipient of this year’s Manx Grand Prix Riders Association ‘Spirit of the Manx’ Award is Ian Hickey who hails from Tonbridge.

The award, which was first introduced three years ago, was presented today (Sunday) following the MGPRA’s AGM.

Association Chairman, Jim Hunter, explained to the audience, attending the post AGM event in the beer tent to the rear of the TT Grandstand, that the award is given to a rider in recognition of their sportsmanship and endeavour; and that nominations are made by fellow competitors.

Jim’s introduction amusingly included a reference to an apparent nude sleep walker, who stalks the corridors of the Hydro Hotel, as the reason for Ian’s regular attendance to the MGP. He also, deliberately, let slip that his wife had commented that the nominee was, “so much better looking than the two previous winners”.

Commiserations were then expressed to inaugural winner, Neil Cudworth, who regrettably crashed at Alpine Cottage during Wednesday practice and, although now out of hospital, wasn’t in attendance and to last year’s recipient Brian Spooner who was.

This year’s winner was nominated by James Buckett who said he and many other riders wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Ian’s encouragement and help, here and at short circuit events. James added that Ian was generous with both time and advice but that he was also a very modest person.

In accepting the award, Ian said that it came as a great surprise to him and that it was absolutely fantastic. He went on to say that he thought the award was a great idea but it had never occurred to him that he would win it. He described the MGP as being like a “big family with a marvellous camaraderie that brings people back year after year” and “the best thing you could do on a motorcycle”.

Ian also thanked the organisers and marshals for the great job they do in making the event what it is and remarked: “If it wasn’t for them we would all be sitting on our bums in the paddock thinking what to do next.”

Jim then recounted that leading up to the award he had met Ian to make sure he was able to attend today’s event. Ian suggested that phone numbers be exchanged in case there was a problem with the arrangements. Ian proffered Jim a pen to write his number down only for Jim to discover, to his discomfort, that when he pressed the button on the end of the pen it sent an electric shock right up his arm. Vowing to get even, Jim said this was his opportunity.

He asked for Mark Parrett, Dougie Dean, who had some how managed to mangle one of his little fingers in a door and ended up at Nobles at four in the morning, and Ross Johnson to join Ian and James on the platform. He then handed them some silly headgear, a microphone, dragged out a flip chart and made them perform (it has to be said) a very poor rendition of YMCA; albeit it went down quite a storm with the audience.

Bob Simmons also gained recognition for having accomplished this year the extraordinary feat of having competed in 40 consecutive MGP events.