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, along with a few other key moments from 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 who went on to get on factory teams and win 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 and 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 modelling, racing in the West Midlands, meeting Ross Hill (RIP), starting his own number plate brand, Hot Plate, after getting Murray’s and Todd Corbitt’s plate at the Slough Worlds, and going on to make custom Gold Plates and sponsor 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 during those weekends.

Simon mentions reading an interview in BMX Action with Eric Carter talking about surfing, which inspired him to slow things 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 talks about working these days in film 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.