A Kirriemuir motorcycle racer has celebrated his 50th birthday with wins in the first two meetings of the 2010 season.
Derek Glass began racing while he was a teenager and is now in his fifth decade as a competitive biker and he intends to keep going for as long as he is still in with a chance of a podium finish.
“I don’t know what it is that keeps me going I just enjoy it,” he said.
“There’s not many guys my age still doing it and I’m the only one that still wins.
“I’ve never even thought about the age thing I just like taking on the younger ones.”
But along with the thrills there have been spills.
Two years ago he was paralysed after a crash while riding a Triumph at Knockhill.
When asked how he felt about such an injury, Derek said, “I don’t know really. I was unconscious for a couple of days and on a lot of morphine.
“The bike was fine though just a couple of scratches.”
And wife Wendy is right behind him.
“She encourages me all the way,” he said.
Despite the setback of being temporarily paralysed, Derek is back to winning ways.
He said, “At my first race meeting of the year, which was at East Fortune in April, I had a first and a third.
“I was very pleased with this as it was my first proper outing on the bike I’m racing this year a Yamaha TZ 350.”
TZs were developed by the Japanese manufacturer as pure racing bikes in the 1970s and 80s.
“Ever since I became interested in motorbikes it’s been one of my dreams to race a ‘real’ racing bike,” he added.
Derek will make his next track appearance at the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club meeting at Knockhill on June 12-13.