Saturday’s opening Sidecar race for the 2014 Isle of Man TT powered by Monster Energy saw ACU Director and Chairman of the ACU Benevolent Fund Roy Hanks and his passenger Kevin Perry took to the mountain course and finished in a well-deserved 9th place finish.
Roy Hanks started his TT Sidecar racing career at the age of 18 in 1966 and has been competing at the Isle of Man TT since. During his TT career Roy has achieved several podium finishes and took victory in 1997 when he won the opening Sidecar race and finished fourth in the second race to secure the Sidecar title for that year.
Saturday’s Sidecar race saw Roy start 16th on the road and work his way up to 14th place by the end of the opening lap, after producing an average lap speed of 106.878mph from a standing start. During the second lap Roy was able to push forward and move into 11th place by the end of the second lap and increasing his lap speed to 108.448mph, before making two more positions on the final lap to finish a creditable 9th place and a lap speed of 109.221mph, giving him an average race speed of 108.173mph.
After hearing about Roy’s achievement, current ACU Chairman Brian Higgins said “At 66 years of age this is a magnificent result for Roy and his passenger. I know he is a previous winner of the Sidecar TT but to lap at over 108mph shows the experience, bravery and commitment of one of our valuable Directors at the ACU. When I heard the result I called Roy at his hotel on Saturday evening to personally congratulate him. Let’s hope he can repeat the result or go even better in the second race on Wednesday.”
Roy and his passenger Kevin Perry will be back on the mountain course on Wednesday for the second race sidecar race of the week.