HIS 26-year speedway career took him to Australia, Europe and round Britain and to a World Team Cup win, but Paul Thorp says Hull Vikings' 2004 treble provides his career highlight.
Then 40, he was the elder statesman and was happy to take the pressure and dispense the advice to his younger team-mates.
"It was the most enjoyable season from start to finish of my career," said Macclesfield-born Thorp, who now drives wagons for a living.
"As captain it was my highlight.
"I captained England a few times, rode in the World Final and the World Pairs, they were all highlights, I won a few things at Bradford too, you never forget any of them.
"Because I was the captain and the older person I was looked up to, that always made me feel quite good.
"The worst thing about it was it went so fast. It was just one of those seasons everyone wants but not everyone gets. It was right people, right management, right atmosphere, right everything."
Having picked up the 2003 wooden spoon, few had any hopes for 2004, especially as Vikings had missed out on some of their rider targets.
Thorp and Co thought differently.
"We knew it was a good team straightaway, but didn't want to say too much in case we looked fools at the end," said Thorp.
"Anything can happen, not necessarily your fault, it could be the other rider's fault, bike break- downs, blow-ups or injuries.
"You could see the young lads had ability, but to be as good as quickly as they were, that was probably unexpected."
It wasn't just the riders – team boss Eric Boocock played a massive role.
"Eric knew which riders needed a kick and who needed mollycoddling," said Thorp.
"I've always thought that about Eric since riding for him aged 20 to when we won the treble in Hull, I think that's a special talent."
Boocock has since said while the team gelled fantastically, Emilano Sanchez and Thorp were the key – Sanchez's dare-devil riding that got Vikings out of holes and Thorp for his unflappability under pressure.
The skipper had the reputation for being so laid-back he was practically horizontal.
"I was never the most confident of people unless I got angry, but for me to get angry was hard work," said Thorp. "I was always too laid-back, I hated being laid-back, and wished I could be more of a hot-head.
"I could never see why people thought I was not approachable.
"I remember when I was eight I asked a rider at Belle Vue for his autograph and he shunned me.
"I vowed then if I became good in any sport I'd make time for the kids as they pay your wages, some riders used to forget that.
"In fact, if I got to meetings too early I'd become too friendly, and I did my best meetings when I was late and had been rushed!
"Booey knew that so he would never worry about me being late."
Thorp looks back fondly on his years at Craven Park, having first arrived in 1995, not long after a crash which left him with a ripped urethra, collapsed lung, broken ribs and a pelvis broken in three places.
Crashes are an occupational hazard for riders who reach 60mph on bikes with no brakes.
"I feel good, I'm active, still 11st 7lbs, and feel about 21 in my head, which is quite worrying," said Thorp. "I can tell when the weather is going to get bad, or when it's going to start warming up, because my bones tell me.
"When I broke my pelvis it healed twisted and when I get older I'll suffer a lot of arthritis, but considering I was 26 years in the sport I've got away quite lightly."
The intervening years have been less kind to two of the 2004 Premier League title, KO Cup and play-off winning septet.
Garry Stead is in a wheelchair after a speedway crash in 2007, while Emil Kramer died in a road accident in 2009.
"Emil is sadly missed I've still got his number on my phone, I will never delete it, and photos on my PC, he was a great guy," said Thorp. "Steady was a freak accident, it goes to show you can't protect yourself completely."
Thorp said that as a rider he put the perils of racing to the back of his mind.
"It's not something you think of when you're racing," he added.
"Once I got to the start line thinking about getting injured or not winning I said I'd retire, but I was lucky, I never got to that stage."
Thorp raced for Vikings in the ill-fated 2005 season which saw the team succumb to money woes.
Forced to move elsewhere, the skipper never again hit those dizzy heights.
"In 2004 I think it was just the spirit of everyone, it was just a great year, the team spirit, the camaraderie of everyone, that's the abiding memory," said Thorp.
"Booey always said a happy rider is a good rider. There weren't many seasons where everyone's in a good mood all the time. In 2004, there weren't many down times, we were busy and riding a lot, it was just a great season.
"I saw the writing on the wall in 2004 for 2005, but I've still got some great memories of Hull and what we achieved there."
