Lyndsey Gilmer rode for Redline (Ireland) and Hotshot (England) during her BMX career.
Her first-ever race took place in Ireland at Walkinstown Park, Dublin, on a grass course with wooden ramps and no starting gate — just a rope. The starter would shout, “Ready, steady, go!” and drop it. In her first moto, Lyndsey’s pedal got stuck in the grass and she fell. In the second, she crashed off a tabletop and the paramedics had to click her knee back in place, but she still got back on and finished the race.
By the third moto, determined not to quit, she even rode over another fallen rider rather than go around the ramp — worried she’d be disqualified if she did. At just six years old, she showed the kind of courage and determination that would define her BMX journey.
Her first race in England came shortly after riding her Redline 600a. Most of the kids were on mini frames, but in her six-year-old mind, her bigger Redline meant she had the advantage. She finished 2nd that weekend — and caught the attention of Pete Dawson from Hotshot, who offered sponsorship.
Around the same time, her dad began importing Redline bikes into Ireland, helping grow the sport locally.
Lyndsey loved every aspect of racing. In Ireland, her favorite track was Balbriggan, and in England, she enjoyed racing at Wigan. More than any one track, she simply loved being part of the BMX scene — the travel, the racing, and the friendships that came with it.
Of all her achievements, Lyndsey’s proudest moment was winning the European Championship in Barcelona. She placed second in every moto leading up to the final, when Mike Nichols, father of Sarah-Jane Nichols, gave her a few words of encouragement. In the main event, she found her rhythm and crossed the line first — a victory she describes as surreal.
The podium ceremony was unforgettable: a massive wreath around her neck and a huge trophy, just like the Formula 1 drivers she admired. Lyndsey also became UKBMX National Number 1 and was the winner of the Champion of Champions that same 1985 season.
When BMX in Ireland began to fade after the 1986 World Championships in Slough, where Lyndsey placed 4th, she then wrapped up her second UKBMX title, and her racing career came to an end. She was heartbroken to stop, as the local scene had thinned and few riders were left competing. Still, her legacy as one of Ireland’s first standout BMX racers was already sealed.
Looking back, Lyndsey recalls the incredible energy of those times — traveling across England, Spain, Northern Ireland, and all over Ireland, making lifelong friends and building a tight-knit BMX community. The thrill of the boats, the long drives, and the excitement of racing weekends made for unforgettable memories.
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