Those black clouds look ominous, I hope they aren't...too late, hailstones large enough to sting through my leathers. To be in England in the summertime... A quick glance at the clocks caked in ice begged the question, 'Why am I doing this?' I was on my way to Santa Pod raceway on my Triumph speed triple to begin Nick sanders Motochallenge 2004. I must be mad. On the contrary, I said to myself. Happiness is all about finding the right balance. A motorcycle is the perfect example of balance. Balance to stay upright, between pleasure and pain, between sane and insane. It doesn't matter what life throws at you, there is no better way of experiencing life than on a fast motorcycle. So many people assume bikers must have a death wish. The exact opposite is true. We are well aware of our mortality. We experience the environment first hand, most car drivers are aware of nothing. When you're alone inside your head on a motorcycle, it only takes a few minutes to remind yourself that however mundane life can get, it is glorious. That was why I spent the next eight days travelling nearly 3000 miles around Britain with a group of like-minded motorcyclists.
The Motochallenge of Great Britain was organised (for 'organised' read 'chaos') by the fastest man around the world on a motorcycle Nick Sanders. It was like a treasure hunt without the treasure, incorporating drag racing, hill climbing and short circuit racing. I was fortunate enough on the first 'organised' day to get lost with Mark Wallis, who enjoyed a laugh as much as a pie, his laughter lines and waistline proves my theory, Lee Crahart whose bike was as unsuitable for touring as mine, (we both adopted the idea of follow someone and blame them when we got lost,) and Geoff Thomas, who lived only two miles from me and being avoided by most because as a courier, we concluded he must ride like a nutter. Geoff had proudly visited as many Hein Gericke stores on his way to Santa Pod, gaining as many points as possible, without realising this was unneccesary. The idea was dropped after the first motochallenge of 2003. His competitive efforts were admirable. As were his efforts to ask everyone if they would be so kind as to extract themselves from his immediate vicinity. I concluded this bloke could prove to be a rich source of mirth, and to this day, still is.
The Motochallenge of Great Britain was organised (for 'organised' read 'chaos') by the fastest man around the world on a motorcycle Nick Sanders. It was like a treasure hunt without the treasure, incorporating drag racing, hill climbing and short circuit racing. I was fortunate enough on the first 'organised' day to get lost with Mark Wallis, who enjoyed a laugh as much as a pie, his laughter lines and waistline proves my theory, Lee Crahart whose bike was as unsuitable for touring as mine, (we both adopted the idea of follow someone and blame them when we got lost,) and Geoff Thomas, who lived only two miles from me and being avoided by most because as a courier, we concluded he must ride like a nutter. Geoff had proudly visited as many Hein Gericke stores on his way to Santa Pod, gaining as many points as possible, without realising this was unneccesary. The idea was dropped after the first motochallenge of 2003. His competitive efforts were admirable. As were his efforts to ask everyone if they would be so kind as to extract themselves from his immediate vicinity. I concluded this bloke could prove to be a rich source of mirth, and to this day, still is.
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