Dobsy's NZ memorial

On Saturday 17 July we will be celebrating Dobsy's life in Onewhero. The time has yet to be confirmed but it will be around lunch time. Please come dressed as Dobsy would recognise you. Team shirts will be very welcome.

A lap of Pukekohe race track will follow at 4pm.

On Sunday 18 July there will be a 'pit-walk' style bike show featuring many of the bikes Dobsy rode.

Good homes wanted

The time has come to offer you the once in a lifetime opportunity to own some (or all) of Dobsy's stuff. Anyone who can find a use for any of the following please contact me. 07624 254438.

If you are on the Isle of Man it would be preferable if you can collect by Wednesday. If you are in the UK I might be able to deliver while I am over (first 5 days of July).

Bedford camper - IoM registered, NOT fun to drive but well set up inside. Ideal to park up and use as a second home.
'The Hilton' caravan converted to bike transporter.
jerry can x 2
large tarp
oil drain pan with spout
mains powerdrill
plastic link flooring (hex)
broom
saw x 2
plastic chair x 5
camping cups & plates
overalls x 2
spirit level
unused bubble screen with fitting screws
plastic jug x 2
box of drill bits
cable reel
angle grinder
BBQ large
bicycle - Diamondback, suspension f and r

Funeral Notice

The funeral of Paul Dobbs, who died racing at the TT on Thursday 10 June, will be held at the grandstand in Douglas at 2pm Monday 21 June. His wife, Bridget, daughters, Eadlin and Hillberry, mother, Dawn and sister, Shaylene will welcome anyone who wishes to join them in celebration of Dobsy’s life. Please dress as Dobsy would recognise you – team shirts and marshal jackets very welcome.

Dobsy will start his final lap around 2.30pm and bikes particularly will be welcome to join him. There will be no formal order, overtaking is fine but legal speed limits will be observed.

Anyone who wishes to attend Lonan church for Dobsy’s interment may follow the hearse while others wait at the grandstand to be re-joined by the funeral party for refreshments.

Instead of flowers, please donate generously to The TT Riders’ Association (francesthorp@manx.net), Rob Vine Fund (http://www.mms.org.im/robvinefund) or ACU Benevolent Fund (01788 566400).

Death Notice

Paul Dobbs died while racing at the Isle of Man TT on Thursday 10 June 2010. He had been enjoying a superbly successful TT. The weather had mostly been kind and Dobsy had achieved his target for this year (123mph on the Superstock) during the second practice session and again in several other practices and races.

He had completed three races: Superbike, Supersport 1 and Superstock and finished in replica time in all three. He was lying 4th in the Privateers’ Cup.

He died doing what he did best and what he enjoyed the most. Fifty weeks of our year was spent planning and preparing for the next TT.

I know I speak for our team when I thank the Race Office for their full and continued support at this time. I also thank everyone who has been in touch with their kind words.

Dobsy will stay on the Isle of Man which was what he always wanted. We cannot yet make detailed arrangements but we expect the funeral will be early in the week starting 21st June and we very much look forward to seeing everyone who is able to attend. Anyone who would like to provide a motorcycle escort will be greatly appreciated. We intend to celebrate his life not to mourn his parting.

There will also be a memorial service in NZ at a later date.

Dobsy was never overly fond of flowers so please donate to one of the following instead.

TT Riders’ Association
(helps riders and their families)
francesthorp@manx.net
Frances Thorp
Mountain View
Glen Maye
Isle of Man
IM5 3BJ


Rob Vine Fund
(medical equipment for helicopters and course)
http://www.mms.org.im/robvinefund/


ACU Benevolent Fund
(helps riders and their families)
emma@acu.org.uk
01788 566400
The Auto-Cycle Union Benevolent Fund
ACU House
Wood Street
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV21 2YX

Family Statement

While we are all devastated by Dobsy’s death during the 2nd Supersport race at the Isle of Man TT on Thursday 10 June 2010, I feel that we are lucky in so many ways.

Dobsy died doing what he most loved, in a place he loved and felt at home and surrounded by people he loved and admired.

He died instantly and felt no pain. He had no knowledge of his end but was fully focussed on the bike and the race.

After making a hard decision and missing the TT last year, I am thankful that I was here at this tragic time.

We have been wholeheartedly supported by the whole racing community in both a professional and personal way.

We held nothing back in pursuing Dobsy’s racing and so I need regret nothing. Our lives have been immeasurably enriched by the TT and the Isle of Man.

I would like to thank Bruce Anstey who had Dobsy in his thoughts even in his moment of glory after the Senior TT.

I would especially like to thank Paul Owen. Paul was perhaps Dobsy’s greatest rival and friend at the TT. They were very evenly matched and Dobsy measured his performance against Paul’s. They invariably got together soon after a practice or race to share their experiences. Paul’s selfless and big hearted action on Thursday moves me beyond words. Without hesitation, he did everything in his power to try to help Dobsy. Paul truly embodies the spirit of the TT and I wish the award could be named after him for posterity.

This is a difficult time for Dobsy’s mother, Dawn. I hope that she can overcome and put aside her hurting. She helped to make Dobsy what he was and she should be very proud.

Dobsy’s daughters, Eadlin and Hillberry, are two very special people. They have lived an honest and unsheltered life and I know they both understand exactly what this means. They will miss their Dad terribly and there will be some hard times over the coming weeks, months and years. But I also know that they have been shaped by having Dobsy in their lives and they are all the stronger, smarter and braver for that.

He really spoilt my week but he has brought infinite joy, adventure and fun to our lives. He has energised and inspired. He will live forever in our esteem, our thoughts and our hearts.

Bridget

Monday 7 June 2010

Supersport (600) race

In NZ my Hallett Aviation 600 Suzuki with its 129hp would be a race winner hands down but in the UK the rules are different and the top bikes have over 140hp. This meant it was going to be a tough race but we had been in the top 20 in practice and the bike was handling very well.
On the 1st lap the bike seemed slow up the mountain which was a bit worrying until on lap 2 I figured out we had a head wind. The first 2 laps were pretty good with little traffic to hold me up. The pit-stop at the end of lap 2 went well and I left with Paul Owen and John Burrows - they are both on very fast Yamahas. John was holding me up on the corners and bumpy parts of the circuit and I managed to get past at Bishop’s Court only to get passed by him and Paul on Sulby straight. I managed to stay with them to the mountain where they pulled around 25 seconds on me. On the last lap we were all passed by Ben Wiley on a ballistically fast R6, horse power rules here.

I got my head down and pushed really hard on the last lap and pulled back around 20 seconds on Paul and John. The last lap was 119.6mph but the bike started to push the front really hard as the tank emptied so a few changes are needed before the next race.

Superstock race

This was our best chance as the R1 is a standard road bike. The changes we had made to the forks worked really well and she was flying. We have been regularly clocked at 184mph at the Sulby speed trap and that isn’t the fastest part of the track.

James McBride came past on lap 2 and after we swapped places a few times he slowly pulled away from me. At the pit-stop we had a stuck visor which cost about 6 seconds so I set off for the last 2 laps on a mission to make up time. The bike was flying and I had my eye in. I passed a couple of lower numbers and set off for a fast last lap.

On Sulby straight for the last time the clutch cried ‘enough’ and I had to slow to adjust it and try to cool her down. The slipper clutch lets the clutch slip on the down changes to improve corner entry speeds but it wears the plates. At Ramsey she struggled to pull out of the hairpin and I nearly parked her up there. The clutch cooled so I could limp home to a 24th place. We are now 4th in the Privateers’ cup.

Saturday 5 June 2010

The 1st race of the week is the 6 lap Superbike and it was delayed 3.5 hours due to fog. Our bike is a Superstock (basically a standard bike) so we were at a slight disadvantage in this race.
I had my start number changed due to my practice times and we moved from 41 to 26, this meant a lot less traffic to get past during the race.

We had made a couple of changes to the front end of the bike so the 1st two laps were a learning curve to see how she would react. I caught Ian Pattinson on lap one and got past easily only to get passed by Davy Morgan on lap 2 on our way to the pits. Davy was riding the ex Cameron Donald bike from 2009 so it’s a fast bike. In the pits for the 1st time it was hard to keep my speed under the 60kpm limit. Due to a slick pit-stop I left in front of Davy, he soon got past but I managed to stay with him until the mountain where he left me. I was feeling good and the bike was behaving well.

At the 2nd stop Bridget said the times were good but I missed the rest of the report. On the run out of the pits Ian was with me again and he pushed me hard. On the last lap my rear tyre and bad knee were crying ‘enough’ but I managed my fastest lap of the race. Ian did get past on the run to the line but I only had to be with him at the line to be 10sec in front as he started ahead of me.

I finished 19th overall and 4th privateer. My race average was over 120mph and I did a couple of 123mph (198.4) laps. I broke all my records and had a great start to Race Week.

Many thanks to Barnes Racing, Dave East Engineering, North Drill, Atherstone Smash Repairs and all the team.