Honda Pan European Longest Day Challenge

Описание: Short interview with Josh around the preparation of a scrap ST1300 for the Longest Day Challenge

What is the Longest Day Challenge ?

Well its a fair challenge. Created by John McAvoy long time contributor to Performance Bikes and Managing Director of Bike Jobs, John thought he would raise some money for Cancer Research Uk by riding from Lands End to John O'Groats. No big deal in itself. But lets put a few hurdles in the way. The motorcycle should not cost more than £600 pounds and a pre determined route must be followed that includes five check points. The route keeps away from Motorways and has for the last few years included a ferry crossing of the river Clyde using the Gourock Western Ferry. This all takes place on the longest day of the year which is June the 21st. There is a Ceremonial start from Lands End late afternoon of the 20th then everyone has a meal together at the Premier Inn Hale and tries to grab a bit of sleep before the start, which is as the sun peeps its face over the Horizon just after 02.00 hrs on the 21st. The objective is then to arrive at John O'Groats before the sun rises on the 22nd, following the pre determined route and checking in it at all the check points en route. Its not a RACE! Only a challenge. Nearly 1000 miles in 24 hrs requires an average speed of 41.66 mph which takes some doing you have to be pretty much on the speed limit all the way to do it. There are dual carriageways but also rush hour traffic to contend with, you also need fuel food and the toilet etc etc. I have completed the challenge previously in 2019 and I did do it in time but any number of obstacles can present themselves so there is no guarantee of making it this time.

The bike I'm using is a clapt out ST1300 Honda that been left to rust. Josh our apprentice at Youles Honda is preparing the bike for me. He will make it safe and hopefully reliable all within the rules. But it won't be pretty. There will definitely be a period of testing required prior to the event.

What is the motivation?

Last time I completed the challenge it was in memory of my best pal Rob the slogan on our T shirts was #RIDE FOR ROB. Rob had done the challenge the year before and then Rob was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident on the Isle of Man. A large group of us elected to do the ride in memory of Rob. Robs father subsequently died of lung cancer caused by asbestoS.

More recently one of my friends died of cancer a man called Tony Raynor. Tony started off as a supplier selling me my first phone system via his business Abbey Telecom. Abbey is based across the road from our Blackburn store and Tony always liked to pop in for a chat. Although really a Harley man he did buy a Rocket from us and subsequently added a Supercharger! He owned loads of bikes and we both had a common interests in Business and Bikes. We would discuss many things relating to business the wider economy and life in general. Tony was passionate about Blackburn and the Business community he understood how business can feed back into the community. He was very passionate about growing your own teams, all of these things resonated with me. When he was diagnosed with cancer he sold Abbey Telecom and had seven mainly good years where he did many of the things that he really wanted to do. Towards the end we became quite close and discussed things that you probably only open up to a very select number of people about. His death although not un expected just spurred me on to do something and although what I am doing in the grand scheme of things is nothing. Its something Tony would have appreciated, and daft as it sounds I will actually enjoy the ride. Well a week after when I've recovered I will.