PETE ’ S PEOPLE
was not outrageous enough to cause any comment . The event is run by the Motorcycle Action Group and runs for three days and is a major fundraiser for bikers ’ rights . It hosts many bands on two stages , with additional fairground attractions , caterers and the usual gypsy-style alternative traders . It ’ s famed for being extremely loud .
IT ’ S A PASSION … Most of Chris Smith ’ s history centres around this astonishing passion for Motorcycles , and as a professional stunt-rider he has an enormous wealth of experience , knowledge and understanding , all of which means he is a gifted trainer and instructor . He ’ s been teaching since he was 19 and arrived here in Aotearoa in 2008 . He rides between sixty and eighty thousand kilometres every year , throughout the length of country , sharing the wisdom . One of Chris ’ key phrases is “ every day is school day ” and he means it . You can learn from every single ride , and his teaching helps riders understand that . He confesses that he himself is probably the world ’ s biggest student , and he says he ’ s “ constantly striving to learn new stuff and to pass it on ”. His aim is to make everybody else ’ s riding day one hundred times safer than his own ever were . But at his heart , Chris is a total enthusiast , and if we ask him what makes his heart beat when he gets up in the morning it ’ s this : Chris likes motorcycles . Through bikes he has forged friendships and developed lifelong mates , and he has become a mentor to many . On another level he “ loves the sheer stupidity of motorbikes ” and it ’ s easy to see what he means . Frankly , few are so honest . So here in no particular order are things that really excite the man . Superchargers . ( Well , what can you say ...). Chris loves fixing and tweaking Suspension set ups , ( yep , capital s ). More than that , however he knows that with suspension working as it should , with rider weight , tyre choice , surface , speed and balance all acknowledged , he can
Chris even teaches the police how to ride
make brakes and traction work as they should , and get you round corners like one cannot believe possible - in safety . Wheelies . Yes he does them everywhere , whenever he can , like a pro . He is a pro . And he loves the fact that motorcycle technology is constantly changing and getting better . Exploring those edges where science makes things better ( or worse ) is Chris ’ secret world , and only someone with insane mileages , experience , skills and passions should be doing that . But when you get him to teach you , there ’ s no-one better . We could go on for thousands of words , but we have to stop somewhere . Last word for Chris ? “ If it wasn ’ t for Motorcycles I would never have ended up in New Zealand ! It ’ s a weird and wonderful web they weave , eh ?” Couldn ’ t put it better myself .
Chris is Pass Masters . They run all sorts of classes and instructions – learner , restricted and full , scooter , and Bronze , Silver , and Gold Ride Forever courses . Check them out at www . passmasters . nz then give them a call on 09 947 9409 or email info @ passmasters . nz
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