If you haven't seen the movie "World's Fastest Indian," I highly recommend it. More than a story of motorcycles, it is about Burt Munro, who just happens to ride the world's fastest Indian. And based on fact, he really did, as the time slips and news articles of the day say. There is even enough legend within to make it even more believable. A good time for all-based on truth-still the best time of all. And the fastest.
When I visit the Orange County Vintage Bike meets the second Sunday of each month, there are still remnants of a generation before me, who I shall refer to as Pre Honda. They rode in the 50's, before time clocks, bike magazines, and factory prepped bikes. Their speeds were based on what a wildly optimistic speedo would show, or what the local cop who chased them clocked them at. They were fast for their time, and maybe even showed more courage based on the equipment they rode. But within another decade they will be gone-moved into eternity to race again-at a much different level. With very little to back up their exploits on earth. But the legend lives on.
I tend to be part of the Pre Post Brit Bike generation. PPBB. During the 60's when meeting the nicest people on Hondas, many bike magazines were published, and real road tests were done. Stop watches on bikes raced in alleys, paced off to be about a 1/4 mile long, then even onto real drag strips sometimes-all verified in print, and legitimized by those of us who were there. A time of dreamy ads, and even more legends were created. Imagine if you would, a road test for a Sportster, all 1000cc's of it, being told "it will put hair on your chest, and if you already have hair there, it will part it!" A huge boast for those of us not shaving yet, and the sign of a true man when I was growing up. WOW-and the dream of riding one someday was planted. 40 years later they are just as fast, except anything bigger than 500cc's is faster-much faster! Fast enough to take the hair off your chest! But as we look back we see how legends can be a bit strained-750 Hondas were really no faster then the BMW R75, or stopped any better despite the front disc-and were no faster then my Bonneville today. No 350 Honda ever beat a Mach III, and no Water Buffalo ever outran a Z-1. But yet the legends remain, but thankfully so do the facts. And within another 20 years, as those of us who rode then will be gone, the facts will have to stand on their own. Add legend as needed...
Leaving the Post Brit Bike generation, PBB, to carry on for us. And so it goes...
"How can you believe that old book? The Bible is so old, and there are so many incorrect things in it..." they say, but when asked about them, they don't know-they haven't read it. Mainly because they don't exist. So when an old friend, Bill Evans and I met while at Coke, we got to be good friends, and although he was a Jehovah Witness, he had Bible questions. And one of his arguments was about the validity of the Bible, only theirs was true. It's not-and not even close. Changing a few words to deny Christ-that makes them a cult. But I told Him once, that God wasn't stupid, and would not let His Word be misinterpreted. He would not trust men with His eternal word-His spirit was always there. A fact which stuck with him, for when we went back to Durango after moving to Escondido, we visited-he had seen us on the 700 Club,and was still searching, as those who are lost do, and also as those who buy into legalism do too-studying, rather than trusting the spirit. But the fact that I told him God wasn't stupid had caused him to give up on the JW's, and was seeking the truth, I hope he found it. God's word will not return void!
Scripture was contemporary enough that when it was written society would have denied its validity at the time. Too many were still around who were there when Jesus walked the earth. if it wasn't true, they would have said. But for some 3000+ years, prophecies, and the word of god have stood the test-they are truth because they are true-always have been, and always will be! Would you expect anything less from an all knowing, ever present God, eternal and loving God? Would you put your life into the hands of anyone else?
Generations will come and go-sometimes not realizing what they have left behind. But God's word-the Bible is an eternal gift-one that never goes out of style, and never has lost its meaning. Eternally contemporary, and unlike my fellow bikers, will live forever. Trust its words today-seek Jesus, and trust Him. Today is the day of salvation-maybe yours! Let the angels sing in heaven about you!
There are still some old bikers left who rode that Sportster. The legend lives on-if only in our fertile minds. But if you happen to run into one who has hair on his chest, parted in the middle-stand closer when he talks. He is the stuff legends are made of. And when someone shares the love of Christ with you, stand even closer. A living god is better than a dead legend. God isn't stupid-don't you be either. Stupid hurts. Only Jesus saves.
Ride safe. So many roads, so many stories, and so little time.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com