Interview – Ali Diegutis

How did you discover BMX?

I was watching a program on TV called Run-around, saw it, and was hooked — that’s all I went on about.

First bike?

Second hand Moto One. The first brand new was a Raleigh Ultra Burner, silver/blue.

First race?

My first race was at Bath on the Moto One. The evening before, I broke the rear sprocket. Not knowing anyone I could go to to fix it, I had to think on my feet. I took the rear wheel off my shopper — it had a Sturmey Archer 3-speed on it — so I pulled the toggle chain out to 2nd gear and jubilee clipped it to the rear stay… It worked.
On race day, I raced the first race and came 2nd after leading all the way around. The girl behind knew not to go low, went high on the last berm, and pipped me to the post. I learned — in the 2nd race, I was first. Now, the 3rd race was looming, and my mates wanted to go home… so, I followed. I never raced the 3rd race.

That’s when it all changed for me. Unbeknownst to me, the Warrens and Meyers had been watching (they were the local families with kids that raced regionals and nationals), and they got hold of my home phone number and called my mum. I can tell you she was damn furious, as all my nagging about BMX had her saying, “No, it’s for boys.” Anyway, she said to the Warrens and Meyers that she would bring me back up — she wasn’t happy about it. She never spoke to me all the way up to the track and carried on about how these people had called her up about her daughter racing around this dirt track.

I just don’t know how to explain the next part — it was like someone had pinched my mum and replaced her with another. Her words were, “WOW,” as she stood in awe at the racing. She was hooked — and that’s when the racing started properly for me. BMX in the Diegutis household had begun.

Teams?

Myself 1983–84
Curtis 1984–85
Myself 1985–86
I raced for the Hotshot team at Kellogg’s also.

Favorite bike?

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved my Curtis — but for me, it was my Profile I bought after the Meyers stopped running the Curtis team, and I bloody loved that bike.

But alas, I discovered driving and needed a car, so my old trusty steed had to go.

Favorite track?

Gotta be Bath — everyone loves their home track, right?!?!

Any races that stick out?

I can’t say I’ve got a favorite race — when I raced, I loved every race. My favorite event must have been the Kellogg’s — such a great atmosphere, and the thought of me being seen on TV… well, just magic.

Favorite rider?

Only one — Tim. No one else mattered.

Competition?

Obviously, Sarah-Jane, but I relished that. And to me, all my opponents were my fierce rivals. Me and Mum would pass the long journeys to the races chatting about who would be turning up that day. Bloody great days.

Local riding crew?

All the Bath crew were my favorite to ride out with. We’d spend hour upon hour up the Royal Victoria Park Humps. Ol’ Parky didn’t like it — after we got chucked out, we’d end up back up the Bath BMX track.

Memorable event?

The indoor event at Earls Court over the wooden jumps. I’d studied that last berm for hours — everyone was going around it. “Stand by,” I said to Mum, “I’m going to go low.” She looked at me, I gave a cheeky wink, and went off to start the final. I pulled it off too — I cut everyone off and cruised in first. They weren’t happy, mind you, but I’d done nothing wrong.

When did you decide to retire?

When the Supergirls started, it took the fun element out of it for me. I didn’t enjoy racing for money — it was all about the fun for me. Mum saw I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I’d just race and go back to the car. We chatted — and there it ended.

Life after BMX?

Finishing racing and getting my car was a complete head explosion for me. I made new “mates” — yeah, I did learn eventually that my new “mates” weren’t really mates. I got into trouble, made my family sad, made me sad — couldn’t make the break for a few years, but I got there in the end.

I managed to get into a newly formed Bath City Ladies football team, which kept me busy. I left there, and the team would last a few more years before disbanding.

I got a race bike, a mountain bike, but never rode any of these competitively. A few years back, I got a Cruiser and had a blast around several tracks. Met up with a few of the girls I raced with back in the day — but also, I couldn’t take to it like I had when I was a kid.

Those 80s years were the best — and no matter what comes next, nothing will compare to them.
I love all my sports, and now at the grand age of 57 have gone back to Bath City Women, who have again started a women’s football team — and YEP, I’m playing. I play centre back, CDM, and I am “blooding” loving it. I don’t have the speed I did back then, but I have commitment — and love to get stuck in, head the ball, and make a bloody nuisance of myself to the opponents. “What it’s all about, right?”

BMX in the 80s was — and always will be — the best. I’m glad I had the chance to experience it and leave a legacy that will always have people chatting and reminiscing about fab times.