THE FAMILY of a veteran sidecar driver who was killed during a practice session at the Isle of Man TT have paid tribute to him.
Bill Currie, 67, from Great Sutton, died during a qualifying session on the mountain course on May 31.
His daughter Charlotte said: “You couldn’t have met a nicer person than him and he had lots of friends.”
Relatives gathered at his home to offer support to Bill’s mother. Mrs Currie, 90, remembered his love of bikes.
“He and his friends used to meet here and work in the garage,” she said.
Other family members spoke of Bill’s generosity.
One said: “If you needed help with anything, he would never say no.”
He began racing in 1967, notching up third place on his TT debut two years later.
His mother remembered how she used to worry about him in the early days.
She said: “It was worrying at first, but you soon get used to it.
“He just loved racing. It was his life.”
His brother, Les, who lives near Chester, said: “They made him come back up through club level which he did, winning trophies along the way.
“In fact, he won the European Formula Two Championship by winning every race. He just seemed to get faster with age.
“He was a quiet, understated person and to look at him, you wouldn’t know he was a TT racer.
“But when he got on a bike he changed. He was focused and committed.
“A lot of racers lose their hunger over the years, but he never did.
“I used to worry about him, but he knew what he was doing and he was good at it.”
