All it takes is a dream and goal to accomplish just about anything in life. Last month I talked about the dream of three men that transformed into a world renowned corporation we like to call Harley-Davidson. From that dream, many riders have created their own dreams and goals around their personal dream machine. From racing championships to breaking world records for speed and distance jumps to awing audiences with extreme stunts – there are a few brave men that have raised the bar on achieving dreams.
Some riders are significantly braver than others; for example: Billy Baxter. This rider from the United Kingdom currently holds the Guinness Book of World Records Blindfold Motorcycle Speed Record. Riding at 1200cc Kawasaki Ninja on August 2, 2003 this man reached a speed of 164.87 miles per hour.
Evel Knievel may have sparked the world of thrilling motorcycle stunts, but it is currently kept alive by Bubba Blackwell. One of the first major stunts was the long distance jump. The record was set in 1975 by Knievel and then broken in 1999 by Bubba Blackwell with a distance of 157 feet. Of course, an up and coming free-style rider – Seth Enslow – beat Blackwell’s record last month with an astonishing 183.7 feet. However, he has a long way to go before gaining the recognition that Blackwell and Knievel have. Blackwell is currently known for jumping fourteen semi- trucks and fifteen tour buses.
Aside from attempting to break world records, riders are competing in races all over the world to prove who is the fastest and who has the most creative stunts. Travis Pastrana is one of those riders that pioneered the way in freestyle motocross. Setting record after record and creating stunts such as the double back flip is one of the many reasons why we love him. More importantly, he has created a whole world of extreme sports and tactics that we can’t help but enjoy watching. A multitude of accidents and injuries aside, he and his team attempt death- defying stunts across the Grand Canyon (as well as others) on his show Nitro Circus and then he turns to raising the stunt bar on the dirt track.
No matter what you want your goal to be with your bike, it only takes a dream. Travel the world, discover yourself or create something strange and amazing for the rest of the world to see and enjoy.
Leanne Clute
Staff Writer
