DAVE Molyneux is prepared to make a comeback at next year’s TT, but it will all depend on whether he can raise the cash to make it possible.
The most successful sidecar driver in TT history with 14 wins behind him has been watching the racing from the hedges and behind the barriers and the urge to drive has returned.
“It was reported everywhere that I had retired, but I never actually said that,” he said at the book-signing session for his autobiography ‘Dave Molyneux - The Racer’s Edge’ at The Lexicon in Douglas.
“I had to take a year out because I’d sold my house and we were building a new one in Andreas. There was no way I could do that and also have the time to spend preparing bikes for the TT. One had to go and it was the TT.”
But Molyneux says he never officially announced his retirement, despite numerous TV, radio, newspaper and magazine reports.
“No, I didn’t. I had thought about it but I never said I was going to stop racing at the TT . . . I’ve been watching this year and the racing has been good and Klaffy has been going well.
“But the speeds aren’t that fantastic. It hasn’t been that quick this year. I would really like to come back again next year.”
He added, “It’s really a matter of money. You can throw £30,000, £40,000 or £50,000 at getting everything sorted for the TT, and money like that isn’t easy to find.
“For me to have found that sort of money for this year and also pay for building a new house at the same time would have been totally impossible. Also, there simply weren’t enough hours in the day.”
Molyneux won his first sidecar TT in 1988 with Colin Hardman as his passenger. He has had ten different passengers and finished on the podium 22 times.
At his booking signing this week he said he had been persuaded to write it by Matthew Richardson with the main motivation being “to put the record straight”.
He added, “When a journalist sticks a microphone under your nose seconds after you’ve been blasting around the course, sometimes in really bad conditions, it’s a false situation. You’re speaking to someone who is in a highly motivated and sometimes emotional state. It’s not always the real person.
“I’m basically a very private person. The man you interview a few seconds before or after a race is not the same person. So, the book tells the truth about me, about the rumours and about me as a person.
“It doesn’t pull any punches, but it’s honest. I’ve left in all the true facts and even some swear words. It’s absolutely honest and true.
“I’ve had some wonderful feedback. I honestly didn’t think many people would be interested, but it’s already been re-printed once and I’m really flattered. Maybe if I sell a few more it will pay for me to come back again next year!”
