Them bones, them bones, them broken bones (From Wiltshire Times)

Them bones, them bones, them broken bones

2:45pm Friday 29th February 2008

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Melksham motorcycle racer Darrell Higgins has spent more time in hospital than most.

The speedster has broken 69 bones in 19 years of racing, but his need for speed has not diminished one bit.

The 38-year-old is so used to fractured limbs, he now describes them as an "inconvenience."

He even keeps a tally of his injuries on a model skeleton, colouring in the broken bones in black paint.

Injuries have not stopped him winning 10 championships and 127 races, and Higgins said the thrill of victory was the reason he carried on.

In nearly 20 years of racing, the longest he has been without an injury is 18 months.

Higgins said: "I've always had something hurting, but you get used to it after a while.

"I've done most of the hospitals in the country. Great Western in Swindon was the best but Salisbury Royal Infirmary is quite good.

"Injuries are just an inconvenience. I don't ever think, I'm not going to ride again'."

Higgins said the only time he had been scared was when he spent three months in a Norwich hospital after breaking his back.

Higgins said Melksham osteopath Colyn Blundell had worked wonders for him in his career.

Higgins sad: "He has really helped me get better over the years. I've literally crawled in there some days and walked out again like a teenager.

"He's been absolutely fantastic, half the things I couldn't have done without him.

"He knows how to fix me, he's been ever so good."

Higgins plans to compete at Cadwell Park in two weeks' time as preparation for the British 250cc Championship which starts in April.

His best finishes in the championship were fourth, sixth and seventh in the nineties.

Higgins said he would not be letting up his pace in future races.

Higgins said: "I either win or crash, that's the way it is. If you want to win you've got to push, it comes with the territory.

"There's no forgiveness, it's not like getting a tennis ball the wrong side of the line.

"You don't notice the speed. It's only when you fall off you know how fast you're going.

"Your brain gets used to it and the more you can slow it down in your head the faster you go.

"They always say once the fear of crashing becomes greater than the fear of losing, you've had it'. I just want to win."

Higgins has seen other riders write off their machines while racing, but despite his many crashes he has never done it himself.

Higgins said race bikes were able to sustain a lot more damage than road bikes and could be rebuilt a lot more easily.

Higgins has won at every major race track on the British Racing circuit, including Brands Hatch and Donington, with Oulton Park the only track he can't seem to win at.

You might expect him to finish on doctor's orders, but Higgins' GP is a motorcycle racer himself.

It seems the need for speed runs in the family, as his son, Travis Vince, 11, has taken to racing.

Travis has been riding since the age of four and won the Hullavington Indoor Series, a Mini Moto championship, at the first attempt.

Higgins said: "He's one of the few that has got the talent, he knows nothing else. Everything comes effortlessly for him."

But Higgins said he would not force his son to continue motorcycling.

Higgins said: "He's got to make his own mind up. I'm not going to push him, that's not fair. He will go his own way."

Darrell Higgins has broken 69 bones in his 19 year racing career.

They are:

• Clavicle, 10 times.
• Pelvis, five times.
• Back, once
• Shoulder blade, six times.
• Right leg, three times.
• Right arm, fingers, toes, and ribs, lost count.

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