RIP Jeff Dovey Sr.

As magazines waned in popularity during the late 80s and into the 90s, one of the few alternative sources for obtaining information or documentation of races in the UK, alongside race programs, zines, and occasional magazines featuring racing, were actually videos filmed at the races by BMX dads. These dads would often stand out in the middle of the track all weekend, sometimes enduring atrocious weather, to capture the racing action.

One such dedicated dad was Mr. Jeff Dovey Sr., father of Sam and Jeff. Jeff spent well over a decade in the thick of the action from the mid-80s onwards, recording Regionals, Nationals, European events in the UK, and even the Brighton World Championships in 1996. He would then transfer these recordings onto VHS tapes and make them available to anyone interested, myself included.

Unfortunately, we recently lost Jeff Sr., marking a very sad time for everyone who knew him in the BMX community. He was a highly popular figure at the track, always making time for a chat on race days. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sam, Jeff, and their family. Through his camera, Jeff Sr. almost single-handedly preserved British BMX race history during the years he filmed, and for that, we are immensely grateful.