Joey Dunlop
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| Joey Dunlop | |
|---|---|
 Dunlop at Bray Hill during the Senior TT in 1992. |
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| Nicknames | King of the Road |
| Nationality | Northern Irish |
| TTs contested | 25 (1976 - 2000) |
| TT wins | 26 |
| First TT win | 1977 Jubilee Classic |
| Last TT win | 2000 Ultra-Lightweight 125 TT |
| Podiums | 40 |
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William Joseph "Joey" Dunlop, MBE, OBE (February 25, 1952 - July 2, 2000), was a world champion motorcyclist from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, best known for road racing. Referred to throughout the sport as "Joey", in 2005 he was voted the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever by Motorcycle News.[1] His achievements include three hat-tricks at the Isle of Man TT meeting (1985, 1988 and 2000), where he won a record 26 races in total. During his career he won the Ulster Grand Prix 24 times. In 1986 he won a fifth consecutive Formula One world title.
He was awarded the MBE in 1986 for his services to the sport, and in 1996 he was awarded the OBE for his humanitarian work for children in Romanian orphanages. Dunlop would often load up his race transporter and deliver clothing and food to the trouble spots of Bosnia and Romania. His humanitarian work was done without drawing attention to himself.[2]
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[edit] Family
Dunlop's younger brother Robert was also killed while racing in the sport in 2008. The Dunlop brothers have also won a record number of races at the North West 200. On 4 July 2006, Dunlop was posthumously awarded an honorary doctorate of the University (D.Univ) from the University of Ulster in Coleraine, which was accepted on his behalf by his son Gary. Robert Dunlop also received an honorary doctorate from the same university. Joey Dunlop, a family man first and foremost, was married to his childhood sweetheart Linda and had five children, Julie, Donna, Gary, Richard and Joanne. All of his children still work in Joey's Bar in Ballymoney, which has two of Dunlop's superbikes hanging from the ceiling.
[edit] Charity work
One less well known aspect of Dunlop's life was his tireless work for charity. He made endless trips to Romania, bring vanloads of aid to orphans and their carers in that country. These were undertaken mostly by Dunlop himself on condition that would take place before each racing season started.
Dunlop stated that his proudest award was his OBE for charity rather than any achievement in his very successful racing career.[citation needed]
[edit] Death
Joey Dunlop died in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2000 while leading a 125cc race (he had already won the 750cc and 600cc events). He appeared to lose control of his bike in the wet conditions and was killed instantly on impact with trees. As a mark of respect, the Estonian government's official website was replaced with a tribute to Dunlop within hours of his death. Northern Ireland television carried live coverage of his funeral. Fifty thousand mourners, including bikers from all parts of Britain and Ireland and people from all backgrounds in N. Ireland, attended the funeral to Garryduff Presbyterian church and his burial in the adjoining graveyard.[3]
The most successful overall rider at the annual TT races is awarded the "Joey Dunlop Cup". A memorial statue was erected in his home town of Ballymoney. On the Isle of Man, a statue of Dunlop astride a Honda overlooks the Bungalow Bend at Snaefell and the 26th milestone area of the TT course has been renamed "Joey's". Irish publishers The O'Brien Press published a full-colour pictorial tribute to Joey following his death. Northern Ireland band Therapy? made a song in memory of Dunlop, called Joey; it appeared on the Shameless released in 2001.[4]
Throughout his career Dunlop remained apolitical and anti-sectarian. Both Catholics and Protestants supported him. Highly superstitious, he always wore a red T-shirt and a yellow crash helmet.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Joey Dunlop |
- Joey Dunlop Foundation
- Tribute page on the TT website
- University of Ulster news release
- Billd's Joey stamps on Flickr
- Ireland's finest circuit NW200
