KIWI RIDER 09 2019 VOL2 | Page 85

the resources pool is a bit light on what it was 20 or so years ago. It just seems more of a “who cares?” attitudinal change, which is unsettling because the vast numbers of road users out there who possess the attributes of lawfulness and simply being sensible just want safe streets to journey through. It’s the usual rebels and they’ve always been there… it’s just that lately it just seems to be more prevalent. Probably because there are more cars around today. And yeah, there are motorcycles pushing the limits too of course, and I think we can all put our hands up if asked if we ever breached the speed barriers in town and country. One did, but never made a habit of it. I found more open throttle solace in taking part in bent sprints on closed stretches of rural road, and track days are an absolute tonic. That’s where pace and power belongs. On tracks. One thing I was slightly amused to witness during a couple of track days was how tentative some clearly (initially) confident riders were on the tracks where continual pace and hard braking was the order of the day. My last outing was at the age of 60 and it was grand to out-brake a few young chaps attired in all the sharp gear. I daresay a fair number of the street racers out there would also find going full tilt for 15 minutes or so would be both daunting and challenging… so they’ll take the “safe” option and save their dangerous pace pursuits for the public roads. It is a bit of a worry but then I guess it’s a factor of motoring and motorcycling that’s been there since the first wheels were turned by combustion engines. It just seems to have become frightening more prevalent lately… or am I just getting old and grumbly and imagining things? I don’t think so. I’ve just heard a distant bike revving at what sounded like five figures worth. Maybe there’s one advantage to electric engines… you won’t hear them.