Auction launched to assist TT star
Wednesday 12 November 2008
TT
An auction has been launched to support a TT record-breaker badly injured in a crash two months ago.
Rick Long, the most successful sidecar passenger in the event’s history, suffered serious leg injuries in the crash at Hockenheim, Germany.
Steve Norbury, arguably the best sidecar racer never to win a TT, was killed in the crash. Despite never winning a TT, Steve was one of the sidecar greats around the Mountain Circuit, finishing on the podium 11 times.
Both Rick and Steve were also vastly experienced at British and World Championship levels, with Steve claiming the 2006 British F2 title and finishin gin the top 12 of the World standings in each of the last four years.
After spending several weeks in hospital in Germany, Rick is now back in England.
The Formula Sidecar Racing Association has launched the online auction of memorabilia to raise funds to contribute towards Rick’s aftercare costs.
Over 50 items ranging from signed programmes, signed T-shirts, DVDs, calendars, signed photos, signed books, a TT replica for third place to an autographed pair of leathers are in the auction.
The leathers have been signed by Team managers, commentators and more than 200 of the top competitors in British motorcycle sport, ranging from top TT riders like John McGuinness, Dave Molyneux, Guy Martin, Nick Crowe, Ryan Farquhar and Ian Lougher to the best of British Superbike Championship, including 2008 champion Shane Byrne, Tom Sykes, Leon Haslam and more.
The boots that Bruce Anstey wore when he won at TT 2008 are included, as are Moly and Rick’s 2007 World Superside leathers.
The first auction started on Tuesday and runs for 10 days. More items will be auctioned in separate sales, also lasting 10 days.
A spokesman for the FSRA explained how to find the items on auction website ebay:
‘Having logged on to the ebay site, scroll down the categories list on the left hand side, clicking on “sports memorabilia”. Then, under the “Motor Sports Memorabilia” list, click on the search bar and type in “steve and rick fund” – here you will be able to view all the items listed.’
‘Each of the items when clicked on will show the seller’s username, which is “racing_gear_racing_stuff” and will give a further description of the item being auctioned.’
Further details of the auction can be found on the Steve English website.