Written by Jacky Grassman / Red Star Raceway.
At 81 years old, Neil Heslip is not your typical retiree. While many people his age settle into quiet routines, Neil can still be found gearing up and hitting the track on two wheels. His story is one of passion, perseverance, and the thrill of discovering new chapters in life, even in your eighth decade.
Born in November 1943 during the Second World War, Neil never imagined himself as a biker. It wasn’t until he moved to South Africa in 1971 that the idea of owning a motorcycle even crossed his mind. Inspired by a friend who was into motorbikes, he decided to buy his first bike at age 27. But after only four years of riding, life moved on, and he believed his biking days were behind him.
Then, at 62, everything changed.
Having just paid off his townhouse and feeling a newfound sense of freedom, Neil spotted a Ninja 1000 on the streets of Pretoria and felt the old spark reignite. He purchased a CBR 600 and, not long after, decided to try his hand at track riding at Zwartkops Raceway. That decision would alter the course of his life yet again.
“I never thought I’d get back on a bike,” he says. “But once I did, it felt like home.”
Since then, Neil has become a regular fixture at racetracks around the country, including Red Star Raceway, where he is affectionately known and admired. His return to biking wasn’t just a nostalgic indulgence, it was a complete reinvention.
At 78, Neil undertook what some people believe to be a most remarkable feat: riding solo from Gauteng to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), participating in a three-day event that included a full race, and then riding all the way back. “That ride turned a lot of heads,” he chuckles. “But to me, it was just another adventure.”
What makes Neil’s story even more surprising is his past: a librarian and university lecturer in Information Studies, not exactly the stereotype of a thrill-seeking biker. “I was never sporty,” he admits. “I didn’t grow up athletic. But there’s something about riding the focus, the freedom, the speed that clicked for me.”
In recent years, Neil has transitioned into short track riding, embracing yet another learning curve with enthusiasm. He continues to ride regularly, with a deep appreciation for the mental clarity the sport offers. “When I’m on the bike, nothing else exists. It clears the mind completely.”
His health, remarkably intact, allows him to keep going. He doesn’t take chronic medication and credits good genes, mental fitness, and the community he’s built around himself in the sport.
Neil is proof that age is just a number. His story is not only about motorcycles, but about the enduring human spirit. It is a story of curiosity, of trying something new, of not giving up on the things that bring you joy.
“It’s never too late to start again,” he says with a smile, helmet in hand.
And with that, Neil Heslip hits the track once more chasing freedom, one corner at a time.
