- Joined
- Jun 30, 2012
- Messages
- 13,921
I don't think age has much to do with road racing. One thing I would never do is start road racing late in life. The most dangerous time is when you are a beginner. I used to crash a lot, but you get past that stage, if you keep going.
I have known three car racing guys who thought they knew something about motorcycle road racing, and didn't. They all crashed almost immediately and never raced again. The last one was a Formula 5000 champion. He grabbed a big handful of throttle where you should not. He is very lucky to be alive.
I was bloody disgusted - I tried to tell him, but he was deaf.
If you ever encounter one of those - do not help them.
I am no hero - I don't do stupid things. I would never try to race a modern sports bike as a beginner. When he did that, I was devastated. It is probably dangerous to watch other guys road racing and fantasise. For him motorcycles were cheaper than cars, but he had plenty of money. So he was just being stupid.
One thing I have never done is worry about death. I should been dead many years ago, and I do not care where i die, as long as it is not in a cancer ward.
What many people do not realise is that death is inevitable. You cannot save up brownie points to live longer. If I died in a road race, I would not worry.
At age 81, I am already a winner. Most of my friends have died already.
It is really funny - when you are old, if you are lucid you know all the tricks. Ron Toombs would have been nearly 70 when he died during a road race at Bathurst. I would not even race there. But If you ever thought you could beat him, you would really be kidding yourself.
I would like to race again - just once. It would be enough to prove my bike is as good as I think it is. For me, it has never been about just winning races. That bike came out of my brain. Everything in my professional life has been at least distantly related to my love of old motorcycles. What is the connection between chemistry, engineering and old motorcycles ? - What do you like doing ?
Most of the guys in my class at Melbourne High School became medical doctors. I never wanted to do that. Do you think they really enjoyed their lives ? Money does not mean much to me. Your interests keep you alive. Being bored shitless is dangerous. Two of my mates became dentists - that would drive me insane - you would really get an adrenalin rush out of that. But I suppose holding someone else's life in your hands as a surgeon, might be exciting. Sidecar racers also do that.
I used to work in very dangerous places - keeping other people alive is important. Most of what i did in my life was about finding better ways to kill people. You need to be able to rationalise what you do. But having fun is also important. I love firing 5 inch naval guns. - 'Some things are so bad that they are good' ? I had the best jobs anybody could ever want.
- Motorcycle road racing is not dangerous unless you are stupid.. Many guys do not think - it can become a habit.
www.oldbikemag.com.au
I have known three car racing guys who thought they knew something about motorcycle road racing, and didn't. They all crashed almost immediately and never raced again. The last one was a Formula 5000 champion. He grabbed a big handful of throttle where you should not. He is very lucky to be alive.
I was bloody disgusted - I tried to tell him, but he was deaf.
If you ever encounter one of those - do not help them.
I am no hero - I don't do stupid things. I would never try to race a modern sports bike as a beginner. When he did that, I was devastated. It is probably dangerous to watch other guys road racing and fantasise. For him motorcycles were cheaper than cars, but he had plenty of money. So he was just being stupid.
One thing I have never done is worry about death. I should been dead many years ago, and I do not care where i die, as long as it is not in a cancer ward.
What many people do not realise is that death is inevitable. You cannot save up brownie points to live longer. If I died in a road race, I would not worry.
At age 81, I am already a winner. Most of my friends have died already.
It is really funny - when you are old, if you are lucid you know all the tricks. Ron Toombs would have been nearly 70 when he died during a road race at Bathurst. I would not even race there. But If you ever thought you could beat him, you would really be kidding yourself.
I would like to race again - just once. It would be enough to prove my bike is as good as I think it is. For me, it has never been about just winning races. That bike came out of my brain. Everything in my professional life has been at least distantly related to my love of old motorcycles. What is the connection between chemistry, engineering and old motorcycles ? - What do you like doing ?
Most of the guys in my class at Melbourne High School became medical doctors. I never wanted to do that. Do you think they really enjoyed their lives ? Money does not mean much to me. Your interests keep you alive. Being bored shitless is dangerous. Two of my mates became dentists - that would drive me insane - you would really get an adrenalin rush out of that. But I suppose holding someone else's life in your hands as a surgeon, might be exciting. Sidecar racers also do that.
I used to work in very dangerous places - keeping other people alive is important. Most of what i did in my life was about finding better ways to kill people. You need to be able to rationalise what you do. But having fun is also important. I love firing 5 inch naval guns. - 'Some things are so bad that they are good' ? I had the best jobs anybody could ever want.
- Motorcycle road racing is not dangerous unless you are stupid.. Many guys do not think - it can become a habit.
Ron Toombs – King of the Mountain - Old Bike Australasia
In one of the sport’s greatest ironies, Ron Toombs lost his life on the very circuit where he was the acknowledged master. Had Ronald Arthur Toombs still been with us, he would have turned 80 [...]
www.oldbikemag.com.au
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