For the Maxwell family motorcycling is in the blood.
Between Abigail and her father David and grandfather – also David – the trio have almost 90 years of experience between trial riding and scrambling in the sport.
The three generations are or have been members of the Galloway Motorcycle Club which was formed in the 1930s and closed in 2011 but reformed in 2018.
David senior’s love affair with motorcycles started in 1954 when he accompanied a pal to the Isle of Man.
The 84-year-old, who still has his original membership card with the Galloway Motorcycle Club and now lives in Kirkcudbright, said: “I hadn’t been interested in bikes before that. It cost £1.10 to take the bikes across and 18 shillings return for us on the ferries.
“There was racing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday but on Tuesday there was a scramble at Douglas Head. I thought it looked interesting and then I found out there were scrambles most weekends around here.
“I went and spectated a few and then got involved and started competing in 1956 after joining the Galloway Motorcycle Club.”
Over the years that followed David travelled across Europe competing in various events in Belgium, France, Sweden and the Czech Republic to name just a few. Remarkably his last race was 18 years ago at the age of 66 in Denmark.
And the biking bug was passed down to his son David, of Thornhill, who now helps set up trial courses for Galloway Motorcycle Club events. This year promises to be a busy one for the club with 11 trials organised including a Summer Series event.
The 55-year-old said: “I watched my dad and I had a couple of years trying scrambling and I even went to the Isle of Man the same as he did.
“I never went to the extent of my dad with his travels. I travelled up and down country competing from the Highlands to central England and the east coast as well and I still compete.
“This year is a big one and we have a lot planned for the club including the Drumlanrig Offroad Motorsport Festival on June 16-19.
“I’m a postie so when I’m out delivering I’m always looking for potential areas for competitions. I’ve met a lot of farmers and whenever we’ve asked usually they very kindly let us use a part of their land.”
She said: “I went along and watched my dad and I fancied having a go. I went to my first competition at Cumstone Farm near Lockerbie last year and went to some of the Summer Series events. I’m enjoying it and it’s something a bit different.”
