This is a series of articles penned by guys like us ; dead keen on their bikes and lifelong devotees of two motorised wheels for one convoluted , but individual reason … it makes their life better .
WORDS : Peter Elliott PHOTOS : Supplied Chris Smith
In life we meet many people . Some pass through with nods and the odd word , others may become lifelong friends , and some - very few - become teachers of note . Chris Smith is not an immediately obvious candidate for the latter , in fact he mostly looks like he hasn ’ t got any time to spare , but he is a committed teacher and dedicated to safety on a motorcycle . He is a mentor to many , and that ’ s no idle statement . Chris always looks like he just got off his bike after setting the hottest time at the track , and probably has . There ’ s a hint of sweat and serious racing endeavour about the man . That may be the ex-stunty in him , but his aura is almost that of an addict ; he ’ s out looking for his next hit , but he ’ s going to make enough time for you to be safe , while you go out and chase your own bike dreams . There ’ s no mollycoddling here , but a great heart , and if you ’ ve had the good fortune to have him grant you the time , you will have been gifted with no-bullshit facts , useful and repeatable knowledge , and your bike will suddenly feel like God tuned it . Fact . Most significantly he has a unique ability to rewire you up to that real excitement we feel as bikers ( but never acknowledge to non-riders ) - inspiring one to get out on the road , ASAP .
A WAY OF LIFE I phoned him and asked him to send me a few facts and figures of his bike career , and immediately he ’ s off on his adventures . “ I can ’ t tell you everything ... some of it ’ s illegal ! And some if it is probably immoral ...”. Oh , yes , you bloody can , Chris .. “ Well ... when I was in the UK , shooting movies ...” - Chris is a hugely talented UK-born stunt rider and rigger - “... we ’ d have to go and shoot something on the Isle of Man , but I don ’ t fly , so
Wheelies come easy to a pro stunt rider
I ‘ d get a ferry ticket , and take a decent bike with me for down times . It was great to get out and play when I could , but then they instigated a speed limit - 135 miles per hour - and it ruined everything !”. I laughed – part envy , part fear ; you ’ ve probably seen those IOM crashes on YouTube . Motorcycling was always uppermost in his mind . Chris tells of him and mates gathering in a Marlow pub on a Thursday night , sticking a map of Europe on the dartboard and chucking a dart at it to see where they ’ d go for a ride , “ The plan was to try to get as many passport stamps as possible by the time we were back for Monday morning work – of course that got ruined by joining the European Union , but I imagine it ’ s all back on again now .” [ Post Brexit , passport controls are back ]. He also remembers a vivid experience of racing a Kawasaki ZRX1100 , complete with a strapped on booster , at some French town in
KIWI RIDER 79