The Dunedin jewellery business owner finished fourth in the five-round New Zealand superbike road race championship's super stock class, competing on a tight, self-funded budget.
After buying his 2010 ZXR 600 Kawasaki Ninja motorbike two years ago, Lee revived his teenage enjoyment of racing and began competing in select, clubmans class rounds of the national series.
This year, he made the financial commitment to move up to the 600cc super stock category and race at tracks at Christchurch, Timaru, Invercargill, Hampton Downs (near Auckland) and Taupo.
At the beginning, he was up to 8sec a lap slower than the front runners but by the series' end had closed that gap to about 2sec.
"I have stepped up but it is really hard without any support when you are buying second-hand tyres and you are paying retail prices for all your parts."
An Otago Motorcycle Club member, Lee said he is mostly racing against well-sponsored riders in their late teens or early 20s.
When he was their age - 20 - he placed second in the national Yamaha 350 series.
Now, 30 years later, he still loves the thrill of bending a 115hp machine, capable of 290kmh, to his will.
"You are right on the limit, the bike is sliding around ... It keeps me alive. I know it's dangerous, but it's my passion."
Lee is hoping to find funding that will allow him to race in the super stock series again next season.
"I'm never going to be world champion but at my age it's a sport where you can get away for the weekend and compete against the top riders in New Zealand."
