Lyndsey Gilmer rode for Redline in Ireland and Hotshot in England during her BMX career.
Her first ever race took place in Ireland at Walkinstown Park in 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 into 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 because she thought she might be disqualified if she left the course. At just six years old, she showed the courage and determination that would define her BMX journey.
Her first race in England came shortly after while 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 second that weekend and caught the attention of Pete Dawson from Hotshot, who offered her 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 favourite track was Balbriggan, while in England she enjoyed racing at Wigan. More than any one track, she simply loved being part of the BMX scene, the travelling, 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 still describes as surreal.
The podium ceremony was unforgettable, with 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 won the Champion of Champions during that same 1985 season.
When BMX in Ireland began to fade following the 1986 World Championships in Slough, where Lyndsey finished fourth, she wrapped up her second UKBMX title and her racing career gradually came to an end. She was heartbroken to stop racing as the local scene had thinned out and fewer riders remained involved. Still, her legacy as one of Ireland’s first standout BMX racers was already secure.
Looking back, Lyndsey remembers the incredible energy of those years, travelling across England, Spain, Northern Ireland and throughout Ireland, building lifelong friendships and becoming part of a close knit BMX community. The excitement of the ferry crossings, the long drives and the anticipation of race weekends created memories she has never forgotten.
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