Bernie Summers Trackside

The moustache is reminiscent of those sported by the courageous Spitfire pilots of yesteryear, the deeply etched lines around the face indelible proof of a person who loves to smile and laugh frequently, and the slight limping saunter evidence that at some stage, he’s probably been on a first names basis with an orthopaedic surgeon.

They’re easily recognised features of Bernie Summers, a very much-loved stalwart of the Australian motorcycle racing fraternity which prefers to call him “Bummers”.

But the nick-name came well before some of Bernie’s many famous slides on his backside down motorcycle circuits around Australia.

The veteran motorcycle racer and highly regarded voluntary motorsport organiser, collected the “Bummers” moniker in school: an easy, seven-letters-saving contraction from: “Bernie” and “Summers”.

Like one of his idols, Mike Hailwood – arguably the greatest motorcycle racer in history with nine world championships, 12 Isle of Man titles, an MBE and a George Medal for bravery – Bernie picked up his limp from a car crash, not a motorcycle race that went wrong. (Hailwood’s leg smash came at the Nürburgring circuit in a Formula One race car; Bernie’s came less colourfully, but no less spectacularly, in a Morris Minivan crash into a telegraph pole in New South Wales).

Ironically, Hailwood and Bernie once went head to head – mano a mano, macchina a macchina at the Australian Mecca of motorsport, the Mt Panorama circuit at Bathurst in 1978.

Bored with an accident-inflicted retirement from F1, Hailwood was undertaking some preparatory motorcycle races prior to making his emotionally charged and outrageously successful return to the Isle of Man and its 60.7km of life-taking corners.

Bernie also was there at Bathurst that year, preparing locally for his first assault on Daytona in the United States.

It was a memorable day – very memorable.

As the skies began painting the circuit in a slippery concoction of rain, wind, oils and rubbers, Bernie, who had a very close relationship with Bathurst, but who wasn’t even on speaking terms with the word ‘fear’, dived under Hailwood at Murray’s Corner, thereby lapping the Greatest Motorcycle Rider Who Ever Lived.

Bernie was ecstatic … and distracted.

“I’ve just lapped ‘Mike The Bike’,” Bernie thought as he held the throttle fully open cannoning down the pit straight.

And he was still thinking about that most unlikely over-taking move when Bathurst’s Hell Corner began approaching, fast. Way too fast. Survivably fast? Probably, but nonetheless, at a speed sure to end in tears.

So as Bernie lived up to the Bummers nick-name yet again, The Greatest Motorcycle Rider Who Ever Lived rode past, the still sliding Bernie. As every motor racer knows, to finish first, you first have to finish … and not on your bum.

In a 19-year motorcycle racing career, Bernie won the New South Wales 250cc championship; won the Victorian 350cc championship and racked up a string of other impressive results including coming fourth in the 750cc class in the Castrol Six Hour with Rob Scolyer. Injuries prompted his retirement.

But after a 17-year break from the sport, the scent of high octane racing fuels and the red line fever of the tacho lured Bernie back. This time, to have a crack at the newly introduced historic racing series and here, he found his forte. Second places in his capacity class in the Australian Championships and the Barry Sheene Memorial before taking Queensland and Victorian titles in the Historic Racing 125cc championship.

Then at another historic meeting, very appropriately staged at Morgan Park, near Warwick west of Brisbane, in September 2009, Bernie claimed his first national title, the Australian P5 “Forgotten Era” Historic 125 class.

And ever since, Bernie has remained in the top clutch of riders in the historic 125cc class aboard his Kawasaki KX125 of 1975 vintage. It’s an outstanding achievement, but is rivalled by his contribution to the sport.

At the end of September this year, Bernie also was a key player in the organisation of one of the best motorcycle reunions held in this state – Graeme Crosby of “Which way does the circuit go and what is the lap record?” fame; Tony Hatton, Murray Sayle and Jeff Sayle; John Warrian, John Titman, Bob Rosenthal, Dennis Neill, Dave Robbins as well as a host of other motorcycle identities like Geoff Howie and Barry Taylor and revered fossil-like commentators Bob Johnston and Mark Bracks were there.

He also personally put out the “Patrons must wear closed shoes in the pits” notices and organised the drawing of the raffles before even thinking about turning his attention to his own race bike, because that’s the kind of guy Bernie is.

The Greatest Motorcycle Rider Who Ever lived died tragically at 40 years of age in a car smash in England in March 1981, while going to get some fish and chips with his daughter.

A couple of weeks ago, in between races, Bernie was tucking into some chips at the Lakeside circuit at Narangba north of Brisbane. A guest commentator noted that Bernie once had lapped Hailwood.

And on that day, Bernie aged 63, stayed aboard his Kawasaki in every race and finished second overall in his class, but in an even higher standing the way some people measure success…