Tributes paid to motorcycle champion who died in road accident

One of the region’s most successful motorcycle racers, Andy McGladdery, died yesterday (Sunday, July 7) when his Kawasaki bike was in collision with a Ford Galaxy, near Darlington.

His family described him as a "loving family man", and paid tribute to him saying: “He was the sort of man who would do anything for anyone, no favour was too big. He will be greatly missed by everyone.”

The 58-year-old, from Sadberge, near Darlington, was a World Championship competitor throughout the 1980s and later went on to compete in the Isle of Man TT against the likes of motorcycling legends Joey Dunlop and Carl Fogarty.

He went on to claim fifth in the 1986 TT Formula 1 World Championship and  won a round of the British Superstock Championship at Knockhill, in Scotland, aboard a Honda the following year.

The father-of-two became famous for his homebuilt machines, in particular his Kawasaki 750cc, nicknamed The Growler, which he built from scratch at his former home in Middleton St George, near Darlington.

Retiring from professional racing in 1990, he kept his passion for the sport alive and was a keen supporter of racing at Croft Circuit and Scarborough’s racing circuit, Oliver’s Mount.

He was also a member of the North Yorkshire Road Racing Club, based in Northallerton, and worked as a local radio commentator as well as writing about motorsports for Middlesbrough’s Evening Gazette newspaper.

Motorsport broadcaster and journalist, Larry Carter, knew Mr McGladdery for more than 40 years.

He paid tribute to him saying: “He was one of the top motorcycle racers in the region in his day, he was a very well respected motorcycle racer and will be very sadly missed.”

Andy McGladdery

He leaves behind his widow, Caroline, and two sons, Nick and Dan, who, have asked for donations instead to the Great North Air Ambulance instead of flowers.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision, which happened just before 10.25am on the B6279 Staindrop Road at its junction with Walworth Road. The road was closed until 4pm.

Anyone who can help is asked to call Durham Police’s investigation unit on 0191-375-2159.

* A MAN is in hospital with serious injuries after his car veered off the road and crashed into a farmer’s field in Sadberge, near Darlington.

The blue Honda S2000 was heading towards Sadberge on Norton Back Lane on Friday (July  5) afternoon when it veered to the offside of the road, went over a grass verge and crashed into a farmer’s field where it came to rest.

The 48-year-old driver of the car, from Stockton, suffered serious facial and spinal injuries and was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where he remains. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Anybody who saw the car on the road before it crashed is asked to call Durham Police’s collision investigation unit on 0191-375-2159.