Some Sad News

[HUTCHFACTORYSIMON]

It is with great sadness that i have to let you all know that Michael Douglas passed away suddenly today.

Anyone involved in BMX racing in the mid eighties will Remember Michael who ran the
RAINBOW RACING/J.M.C. TEAM and also owned and built Surbiton BMX track in 1984.

Michael,whose Son and Daughter (Christian and Kate) both raced put an enormous amount of effort into furthering the sport and helping Riders who were not otherwise able to get to race meetings.This eventually turned into the Rainbow Racing JMC Team and among the first racers he sponsored were young West London talents Winston Wright and Errol Maclean.Later on Dave and Peter Barnsby joined as well as Warren Godfrey and his younger Brother.

Michael also set about building a track like the ones he had seen in America and found a hillside in Surbiton to build it on and included a huge Water Jump with a drawbridge for the younger age groups.

At Surbiton everyone knew the Trophies would be 3 times the size of any other U.K. clubs trophies even at a Club race.

Michael encouraged many new faces into the sport and was a huge asset.

Michael also became a force to be reckoned with in 40+ cruiser and loved to race.



I had enormous respect for Michael - He really helped many young people who without him might not have had such a fantastic time travelling the country during their childhoods and i think the effort he put into our sport was exemplary.


RIP Michael

[Stace]

R.I.P

Condolences to his family at this difficult time.
Stace

[HUTCHMAN]

Our thoughts are with you.   R.I.P

[dordymush]

sounds like he was a good man.

R I P.

[Preston Pirate]

A sad loss for BMX, my thoughts are with Michael's family.

R.I.P.

[retrogeezer]

Sad news indeed....RIP Michael.

[DR VINOAH]

a huge loss to UKbmx grassroots

RIP Micheal

and our condolences go out to his family

[Mattdub]

A loss to the grass roots , when it really was FUN (Simon will agree with me there) .

R.I.P.  Mr Douglas 

[jon016847]

Sad news, RIP   ...   

Best wishes to friends and family

Jon W

[Bigplinky]

RIP to somebody who helped make our childhoods fun.

Best wishes to the family

Andy

[baldbmxer]

BMX has lost another person who helped form and make BMX what it is today.

Thank you for all the good times you helped create for so many people

Sadly gone but not forgotten. Rest In Peace.

Johnathan Hearn

[se]

RIP. What a shame. Surbiton always had an aura about it, sad to hear that the inspiration behind it is gone. Best to his family.

[G]

(Apologies for not seeing this sooner).

It's with sadness that I informed one of my oldest riding friends this news. Lee Flavin (ex JMC Rainbow rider with Winnie, Warren, and the Team) and myself send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

"A really nice guy." Gone but not forgotten.

G and Flav.

[AP:CW]

RIP, thanks for the memories.

[HUTCHFACTORYSIMON]

G-

Please send Lee my regards.We did a lot of racing together.Good Times.I will pass on your condolences.

Simon Hayes

[ronnie360]

it is always a sad loss when someone goes but i am sure he would want us all to keep riding r i p he sounded like a great man 

[steve]

The track was awesome - the only one (down hill) I stood a chance on

the trophys were awesome - have a 2nd place

the raffle prizes were awesome - won a set of flight cranks

Some of my fondest memories

all thanks to him

R I P