When life stops, what options do we have? Work, government, sports, live events, and gatherings are at a stand still from a global pandemic. Stay-at-home? Shelter-in-place? How do I balance my responsibility to society but not live in fear from the imminent nuclear fallout and the pending financial doom and gloom.
My new adventure begins with a motorcycle in my own backyard. Starting local, I’m exploring the natural beauty of the Palos Verdes coastline and the local beaches. The familiar roads, paths, and highways are now wide open. Time to explore, discover, and find new opportunities in this well-engineered two wheeled rally machine.
My first discovery was an old road I was introduced to while working at Honda R&D. The car and motorcycle designers would refer to this spot as ’genteki’. I would later find out ‘genteki’ is “from the Japanese ’gen chi’ meaning ‘local, on the spot’ and ’teki yo’ meaning ‘adapt/use’“. Genteki provides real world feedback to Honda’s engineers outside of the R&D lab. The commercial practicality and local popularity of the road is undeniable as I would cruise past motorcycle hooligans, Harley-Davidsons, Porsche enthusiasts, exotic car collectors, and even 1960’s VW bus line!
As J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain curtain of this road rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it. White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise”.
Let’s not fear the reaper. Cheers to new beginnings!
One reply on “Rally Motorcycle: Beginnings”
Nice first post. I enjoyed it.