The total tally for the last 2 weeks is 12…

          

Rvl’s Pick:

The Final Charge – Hans Zimmer

Yes, 12 rear-view mirrors either broken, bent or busted. After a long absence of a few months since I last lost my temper riding, the angry swarm came gushing back within the past 2 weeks. I’m guessing it has something to do with school holidays being over and the beginning of the New Year which basically makes very bad and impatient drivers out of road users. I won’t lie, some of these drivers did try fighting back, at which they were stopped dead in their tracks by a carbon reinforced glove or steel capped safety shoes.

I’m not a very angry person, nor I am a very violent one, but I do lose it faster when it comes to inconsiderate motorist, whether being too slow, rude, reckless or just plain dumb. I hate to think about what they’ll teach their children in those ever filling up households. I think people shouldn’t be allowed to make babies if they themselves are still one.

On another note, i feel compelled to tell a story on a chance occasion several weeks back. I rode out to join the fellas for late night coffee and the usual “zombie shooting fest”. After our goodbyes and engines fully warmed up I head started to track back using the usual route home. as I join the flyover to cross into the next section, a quick glance in the mirrors confirm set of headlight fast approaching on the right lane from behind. Thinking that its probably another “boy racer” in a half souped up tin can, I stayed closed to the left lane to let the car past.

The following chain of events is still until today a minefield of blurs to me. As the set sets of xenons went past me at a heart punching pace, I quickly realised that this was no ordinary car, in fact it was once of the exotics I’ve always dreamed of owning myself. A quick mental and physical prep and half a second later, I was in hot pursuit of the Italian monster. I didn’t have to tail him long before he understood that the game is afoot.

Approaching the 1st left sweeper, I spearhead into the lead and got the cleaner patch of road. Gunning full throttle I shot out into the next series of bends. Heart rate off the charts and all manner of adrenaline has taken over. I had no intention of keeping it too fair as this was no a typical road vehicle, this Italian special had 4 wheel drive, over 600 ponies and from the looks of it quite an impressive driver. I, on the other hand had a measly 600cc engine but coupled to a lightweight and nimble chassis, with an idiot wannabe as a rider.

I managed to keep the lead into the next series of sweeping rights and lefts and we both shot up the next hill at well past 170kph. The next corner is the tricky bit, this is where knowing your turf comes as an advantage. The downhill section quickly progresses into a mid speed right hander, but the catch is you can’t use or come close to the apex for fear of hitting potholes and rain gutters near the edge. On the bike I, frequently cruise the corner at about 130kph using one lane, tonight however, I would be using all three lane at a speed I myself am unsure about. The car can use its 4-wheel drive and 4 fat tires to get ahead, and that he did, braking far later if any at all and slingshots himself out the other end but as the road straightens out the bikes power to weight ratio meant I was neck and neck as we brake hard at the lights.

Round One: Draw.

I knew that it was not over and Round Two begins on green and the roads ahead is all about power and high speed stability, that is, if he’s going in the same direction as I am. I took it easy at the lights as he was stuck behind 2 cars and charged into the next fast left hander. I was already at the next light before he’d caught up and this time it was all clear ahead. I glanced over and I just knew that he had engage launch control, bad news for me, very bad indeed. I was never good at standing start on the bike and was left wheeling in 1^st and 2^nd trailing slightly behind as he powers through with no drama, just an exhaust note of a raging Banshee. Into 3^rd gear and the Akai Onna upped the paced the next left hander is no good for cars or bikes but stupidity or bravery took the helm and I gunned it past the stampeding bull and upon seeing the green light ahead, pinned it to the stop and never looked back. It took him about 3-4 seconds before he’s alongside me again at the last lights.

Round Two: Me!

As we both sat stationary I think we both understood the fact that this final round was the decider. About 4 high speed turns and a series of low speed corners would come next. My strong point, those slow esses, and for him, he had to make as much ground as possible before the esses because once in there the bike would out corner and out pace him coming out of it due to the car’s weight. After those bends, a fork in road and I assume that game’s over. What happens next is between the driver of the Murcielago and I. you lot can come up with your own conclusion. I spent 30 minutes smoking in the front porch to calm the nerves down. It was a magnificent night indeed.

-Sayonara-