Sadly this morning I will be attending another funeral. Illawarra motorcycling lost one of its brightest last week when Martin van Meegen, Sales Manager for City Coast Motorcycles, collapsed and died not long after arriving at the shop for work. Urbane and well spoken, Martin was everybody’s mate and was the perfect person to be the public face of a dealership selling Triumphs and BMWs. It didn’t matter that you weren’t buying something, Martin had time for a chat and was universally admired in the close-knit local community. My condolences to his friends and family, Martin, husband, father, stepfather and grandfather, was only 59 years old.
The encroachment of “user pays” TV into the area of motorsports is now almost complete. Where, not long ago, we were able to see all manner of bike and car racing on free-to-air TV channels, now only F1 (which is about as interesting as watching paint dry) and MotoGp (just the big race) are accessible unless one has satellite TV or pays to watch them online at a price. While my passion for the sport remains unabated, my enthusiasm for watching it on TV has waned greatly in the last few years. No World Superbike, no Moto2 and Moto3 and none of the other diversions which used to attract me to the box. Hence my limited commenting on the state of the sport and what is happening in the various championships. I am aware of who is winning what but if one hasn’t watched the races, one feels somewhat of a fraud if one comments upon them.
On another subject, someone posted this YouTube video up the other day and it is worth watching even though one knows what is going to happen.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEC-AanEl5Q[/youtube]
The title tells you pretty much what it’s about but, like a rat is mesmerised by a cobra, one can’t avoid watching it. This rider commits pretty much every basic error that is possible in his lurid progress up the famous Deal’s Gap road in the USA. And it is the perfect opportunity for me to again provide the link to my article of some years ago about how to use the right line when riding on the road.
On the subject of the right line, while riding on the weekend, I was pleased to follow a couple of riders who have only just got their licences and to note that they are putting into practice the lessons shown above. I am guessing that it must at least be getting a mention in rider training these days. Not before time, I might add.
It’s the long weekend this weekend in NSW so that will mean the inevitable Double Demerits campaign again. It never ceases to amaze me how people get stressed about this. If you’re riding sensibly and observing the law, then you don’t have anything to worry about. If you don’t have the maturity or self-control to do so, then leave the bike in the garage. It’s not rocket science. 🙂
The Isle of Man TT kicked off yesterday (though hardly a wheel has been turned in anger so far with the first two practice sessions being blown off the course by howling winds and rains). Newcastle’s Alex Pickett, son of Cycle Torque magazine’s editor, Chris, is flying the flag for us Aussies along with the better known Cam Donald. Let’s hope the monsoon goes away and we can get some racing done. With the loss of several of the important races from the recent NW200 due to similar conditions, the road racing mavens need to cop a break soon.
And, speaking of the IoM, the sad anniversary of the death of one of my heroes, Kenny Blake, is coming up. Kenny was killed on June the 9th, 1981 and his death is always remembered by his fans and friends. It was a great loss to the motorcycling community and the reverence with which his friends remember his death, some 34 years ago now, is an indication of how much he is still missed.
The winter has arrived here on the coast. Perhaps I’d better see about getting those heated hand grips that I bought about a year ago actually fitted to the bike. Yeah, that’d work, wouldn’t it?
dunc says
yes phil martin was a real gentleman and will be hard to go in there and realise he is no longer with us
Phil Hall says
You’re not wrong.
jeffb says
I didn’t know Martin but by all accounts (yours included) sounded like a wonderful man. Very sad times fro his family. re. the video- watched just to see the gap road-glad I wasn’t on a ride with that guy (inspite of him riding a terrific bike!!) as it was a scarey video. Outcome was to be expected. Ride safer than that everyone. Jeff
Phil Hall says
Yeah, like I said, if I rode that badly, I sure woudn’t film it and I SURE wouldn’t PUBLISH it!