A stalwart in the racing scene, Dave Cullen’s still as enthusiastic as he was when he started
You’ve had a career as a technician spanning five decades and everything from domestic series, GPs, IoM TT, WorldSBK and even a year of World Motocross. Any chance of slowing down?
Yes and no. I’ve been working with Broc Pearson in ASBK Supersport, but after his big crash at The Bend he needs time to recover, so we’ve missed the Hidden Valley round. Broc’s had some horrific ups and downs but he’s got a great career ahead of him that started with success in the Asia Cup a couple of years back. Outside racing I’m just as busy as ever.
You’re well known for your suspension work (Radar’s Performance Motorcycles, Labrador, Queensland) and are a familiar face at Queensland track days. Talk us through that.
Some big things are about to happen up here. John Tetley and Terry O’Neill have teamed up to run 40 or so ride days at Lakeside and Queensland Raceway and I’ll be on hand to help with suspension adjustment. There will also be premium packages where I can give more concentrated and personal help on individual set-ups.
After years of previously working with Champions Ride Days you must have seen it all when it comes to the riders and bikes at these events.
There is a real cross-section of riders, bikes and abilities looking to create a personal best time. Many riders turn up on their bikes with the suspension set up exactly as they bought it, which is usually too soft for fast track work. There are two main types of riders, those who just want to run around and have fun and those who want to race their mates and chase horsepower so they don’t get overtaken down the straights by slower riders.
Do you think a lot of trackday riders would have more fun on, say a 600 than a 1000cc Superbike?
I reckon the best compromise is something like a Suzuki GSX-R750. That’s halfway in between. Having said that, a lot of the new sportsbikes have electronics packages that give you power and suspension adjustability at the flick of a switch. A ride day is a great chance to become aware of the importance of bike setup, which will help you go faster and safer. I find it rewarding to see the improvement and the gratitude of riders after I’ve helped them.
Talking of racing, I hear you’ve kept a bit of an international career happening.
The last few years I’ve been helping out in New Zealand. Later this year I’ll be there working again with Dale Finch, an ex-speedway champion who races an MV Agusta in the NZ national series. I also returned to the US with that team last year (Rod Price Helicraft Racing) when Alex Phillis did two rounds of the MotoAmerica Supersport series. One was at Laguna Seca and the other at Sonoma, northern California. Sonoma used to be Sears Point when I was last there and it still is a daunting track with a tunnel of Armco.
You also pop up at classic race meetings?
I help out with Tom Dermody’s magnificent fleet of racers, including the Suzuki XR69 and the McIntosh Suzuki. This year I was also reunited with Steve Parrish (pictured, left) on the Suzuki RG500 for the first time since 1979 (at the QBE Insurance International Festival of Speed).
All this must bring back memories of the early 1980s?
Oh yes. Graeme Crosby and I tested the first XR69 at Brands Hatch after a crazy trip from Italy. Croz got a bit tired and sent me out for a few laps! We then got Joey Dunlop involved at Cadwell Park, which led to his first factory ride. All I did was move the handlebar position and fuel it up and he tagged onto Croz for second place all weekend. Joey was a natural.
By Hamish Cooper
