Podcast – Simon Dando
The day after the Inaugural British BMX Hall of Fame event, I sat down with longtime friend Mr. Simon Dando and recorded a Podcast.
We briefly talk about the Hall of Fame night, thoughts on how it went, and how cool it was seeing friends we’ve not seen in over 30 years and a few other key notes for the night.
We then talk about Simon first discovering BMX in Devon in the South West in the 80s, riding with Nicky Dalton, Paul Ray and some of the riders that came out of the South West that went onto getting on factory teams and winning British and National titles.
Simon talks about riding for BMX Superstore, winning regional titles, and easing into Nationals on the NBMXA side, moving up to Milton Keynes, meeting Steve Keech and Steve Driver on the train to the British Championship at Derby who later became lifelong friends.
We chat about Simon doing some modeling, racing in the West Midlands, meeting Ross Hill (RIP), starting his own number plate brand (Hot Plate) after getting Murray’s, Todd Corbitts, plate at the Slough Worlds and going onto making custom Gold Plates, and sponsoring 10 plus UK number 1 plate riders during the Hot Plate years.
We then talk about Pontins, racing with a hangover and all the escapades that went on with the Pontins weekend.
Simon then mentions reading an interview in BMX Action with Eric Carter talking about surfing that inspired him to slow it down in BMX, move back to the South West, and get into surfing which he continues to do today in Newquay.
Simon shares why he’s never been on social media and why, working these days in firm and TV as a prop hand, working on EastEnders, cruising around London between sets on his 20 inch, being friends with Andrew Ridgeley from Wham and more.