The Lost Rambler: Isle of Man TT
“I talk to myself, I gibber in my head – I tell myself, right, relax, just get into it. When I’m going through Crosby [ a 170-mph (275-km/h) left where his friend and former winner David Jefferies was killed in 2003 ] I always ask DJ to look after me – I say it every single lap I’ve done, every bike, every practice session. I say a prayer, I ask everybody, its my own way of relaxing into it."
This is what John McGuinness, the second most successful rider(Joey Dunlop with 26 wins is the most successful) in the Isle of Man TT races, says about the race. This event has witnessed 240 deaths in official practices and races with 1970 being the worst year in which six riders lost their lives in the race.
Isle of Man TT races are something that make Moto GP look like a child's play. They are the Woodstock of the motor racing- the final frontier, the epitome of "living on the edge", the ultimate adventure and the kill bill of thrill. Open mountainous road, engines revving at the max, no warm up laps(remember that!), 6th gear, machines cruising at around 180 mph (290 kmph) with wind blasts making it difficult to move the feet by even an inch, six 61 km laps without any rest and hanging on to the life in the fast lane, makes TT(Tourist Trophy) races the ultimate motor-sporting test in the world today. The riders achieve very high speeds on narrow, meandering streets, asphalt roads and city lanes flanked by stone walls, trees and buildings. The participants of this race have a single opponent- the time. The race is conducted in a time trial format on public roads closed for the racing in the Snaefell mountain course in the isle of Man, which according to Oxford companion to world sports and games, is the oldest motor-cycle racing circuit still in use. This race, claimed to be the greatest motor sporting show of the world, started in 1907 and the event is now celebrated as Isle of Man TT festival.
Starting at the town of Douglas on the south-east coast, the course takes a wide sweep to the west and north to enter the town of Ramsey on the north-east coast and thence return to the starting point, each lap measuring 37¾ miles (60.7 km) and taking in over 200 bends while climbing from sea level to an altitude of over 1,300 ft. (396 m). This circuit is the epitome of the natural road course, as all the roads used are ordinary public highways (closed for public during the racing and practice sessions).
Here is a quick trivia about this race:
- First race: 25 May 1907
- First Winner: Charles R. Collier
- Maximum Wins: Joey Dunlop
- Lap record: 17 Minutes and 11.572 seconds at an average speed of 131.671 mph (211.904 km/h) set by John McGuinness during the 2013 Superbike TT Race
- Race record is held by Michael Dunlop in 1 hour, 45 minutes and 29.980 seconds; an average race speed of 128.747 mph (207.198 km/h)
This race is the ultimate spectator's dream and is at the top of my bucket list. Here is a small peek in to the hair-raising thrill which anoints Isle of Man TT as the greatest show on the Earth.
[ "The Lost Rambler" are a series of motor sports, automobile, adventure and travel posts by Nikhil Anand ]
Credits: Derekclegg.net/blog , wikipedia.com, BikeIndia, Motorcyclenews
Credits: Derekclegg.net/blog , wikipedia.com, BikeIndia, Motorcyclenews
Tag :
courage
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Freewheelin
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Isle of Man
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Isle of Man TT
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Joey Dunlop
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John McGuinness
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Motor sports
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racing
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speed
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The Lost Rambler
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thrill
,
TT
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Will
Things That Make Your Day : Legend of Dr. Prajak Arunthong
[Things that make your day, as the name suggests are a series of short blogs that will be a celebration of hope, talent, love, beauty and life ]
There is an urban legend in Thailand about a doctor who repays back his old debt. Everyday we come across stories floating across in social media, internet and community grapevine. There are unverified stories of deceit, violence, propaganda on one side and stories of hope, positivity and harmony on the other. From this pile we choose to believe in the truth of the legends as per our inclinations and comfort.
I am thankful and proud that I choose to believe this legend of Dr. Prajak Arunthong. I believe that this is a true story. And there are more such stories. Watch for yourself:
This is an advertisement that was created by TrueMove H for a Thai Telecom company and it has to be one of the best advertisements ever (already more than 7M views at the time of writing).
[Contributed by +Nikita Amartya , Originally sourced from http://mashable.com/2013/09/16/thai-ad-true-corp/ ]
Tag :
Best Ad
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Best Advertisement ever
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hope
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Positivity
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Prajak Arunthong
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Thailand
,
Things that make your day
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TrueMove
,
Will
Stories of a Seeker : The Hare and the Tortoise
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I was Shashank. Now I am Shashank, the Buddha.
I was born in the Sharvnaag valley of Kulantapeeth (modern day Kullu) in a grove on the banks meandering Vipasha (Modern day Beas), the daughter of the Himalaya. This valley was abode to many animals most prominent of which were clans of Ruru deers, Shyamak crows and my kinsmen known as the Anugaur hares, the fastest of all the creatures that dwelt this valley.
There was one more, sort of an anomaly in this normally vibrant valley; Mahakachhapa, the great tortoise. He was unlike anyone I had ever seen, for he was a Buddha, an awakened one. He was a creature of remarkably few words and fewer outward actions. I had seen him since my childhood, sitting there by the Vipasha, often in a steady lotus posture. It appeared that he had been there in that pose since the birth of time.
His enigmatic composition attracted me. But his incomprehensible meditativeness confounded my kinsmen who took refuge in making fun of his slow speed. While I observed him meditating from distance, my cousins ran around him mocking in contempt while he smiled at them in content. I could sometimes see him gazing intently at me almost as if looking inside me.
He used to say- “The truth is that works”, so I speak of the truth, of the event which bestowed upon me my enlightenment.
I will not dwell into the intricacies of time, for time is a phenomenon non-existent for the awakened. Let us just say, it was the time of the year when mountains, the silent guardians of the valley start to disrobe their white snowy attires and cover themselves with the blossoming sheets of hilly flowers of myriad hues. It was that time of the year when the prestigious annual race of the valley was organized. Anugaurs had been making their clan proud by winning this race every year since its inception. I was chosen to represent my clan that year, for I was the swiftest even amongst my kinsmen. I was sure of my victory and with this assurance, I glanced towards the cheering audience comprising of almost every inhabitant of the valley.
“I am going to win” I said to myself and took my stance.
“But to what end?”
“Shall I gain peace?”
“Will it end the torment that your innocent soul is bound to suffer in the world of Maya?” said a voice inside my heart, voice that has always been posing questions to me, questions I never understood. This is a voice that probably echoes inside all of us, that we do notice but never heed to.
“Save your questions for another day and let me concentrate on the race” I mumbled to myself and imagined myself crossing the finish line and to be the undisputed champion. Then something curious happened.
I felt a slight murmur rising up among the audience which gradually became a loud muddle of indistinguishable sounds. I broke my stance and looked around to find the source of exclamation, and lo! I saw the master Mahakachhapa approaching the race track with steady and aware footings.
Mahakachhapa was never sighted entering the premises where any worldly event was to take place. I, like everyone else was stupefied at this unusual site. He was walking straight towards the starting point of race track, where I was standing, all the while looking into my eyes for eyes are the gateways to one’s soul.
And then came the first of many taunts that were to follow- “Behold the fastest of all creatures, whom even stormy winds cannot surpass, our own Mahakachhapa!” There was a loud thunderous laughter; it was my cousin Gaurang. I saw the whole valley cachinnating at the great tortoise.
“Are you here to participate in the race, O great sprinter?” asked Gaurang with a hysterical laugh, to be answered by the master with sweet, calculated words uttered in a calm and musical tone
“Is it so?” said the master.
“Look everyone, the great lord Mahakachhapa belonging to the fastest species in this god made world is here to defeat our champions!” sniggered Gaurang.
Each one but me, of all the contestants then left the track feigning a fear of defeat on the hands of Mahakachhapa, but he stood there silently, gazing at me and asked
“Will you run with me Shashank?”
Though the question was directed at me, reply came from Gaurang- “Look… look… everyone! The great sprinter is here to defeat Shashank! Shashank my brother I know you must be terrified on account of this great runner challenging you, but in the name of the honour of our clan, I implore you to race with him. Even if you are defeated, you will be proud to have competed with the Lord Mahakachhapa himself” said he, giggling all the while.
Old Mahakachhapa gazed at me smilingly, and asked again
“Will you run with me Shashank?”
“Yes! I will my lord!” I said unable to escape the magic of that set of compassionate eyes. My reply stopped Gaurang’s uncontrolled laughs and caused him to stare at me in disbelief.
“You must be really crazy to have accepted the challenge of this lunatic. Have you forgotten that one must compete with equals? Even the idea of competing with this lowly creature seems insulting to me” snarled Gaurang.
“Brother please leave the track. He has challenged me, not you and this is me who am going to race with him so there is no reason for you to feel insulted” I said.
“When this is all over I am going to kill both of you” were the parting words of Gaurang before he left the track and headed for the audience’s space.
Mahakachhapa looked in my eyes with that inward gaze of his; gently placed his staff on the ground took his stance. I too followed him and took my stance.
Mahakachhap himself began to countdown “Anupashyah, Anudhyaayah. Unmuktah” (let us see, let us focus, and break free!) and on his third word I sprinted with the speed of an arrow shot from a bow. Though I was running, my mind was fixed on his words-
“Anupashyah- Let us see!
Anudhyaayah - Let us focus!
Unmuktah- Break free!”
With every passing moment my attention started shifting towards master’s words.
“Anupashyah! Am I really seeing things as they are?”
“Anudhyaayah! Am I focused?”
“Unmuktah! Will I break free?”
My pace began to slow as I; nay my whole being was immersed in deep contemplation over master’s words. I felt a trance cocooning me gradually and steadily.
I stopped in between the race, looked back and saw master approaching towards me with graceful and contemplative steps, smiling as if inwardly and silently. I observed him; there was neither any fear of lagging behind nor any desire of reaching anywhere, he was present. He was present ‘here and now’ in his totality.
I could see how his whole persona was radiant with the message of “Anupashyah, Anudhyaayah. Unmuktah”. He was uttering these magical words with every little action as well as with silence of his, he was also preaching me do the same.
Anupashyah- I wanted to see. One can see, only when one is steady, so I decided to be steady. Then I started to see. I saw the mountains meditating. I saw the trees. I saw the grass. I saw the shores of the Vipasha. A sudden realization came over me; it wasn’t me who was looking, it was the existence which was revealing itself to me.
Anudhyaayah- as I began to see things as they really are, I became more focused. I could listen to the river. I could comprehend the songs of wind. I could join the jubilant existence dancing all around. I was listening how whole existence was reverberating with the incessant sound of ऊँ (Pronounced: Om). I could clearly see that existence is not steady, not even for a moment. It was bursting forth with the energy of creation and destruction without a cease.
Unmuktah- the more focused I became, more clearly I could observe that there is no “I or you”. My ‘I’ was nowhere. As there was no “I”, the “you” ceased to exist automatically. There were no boundaries between me and beyond. There was no person, no soul, and no supreme soul. There was just a void. There is only one hollow, whose being exists in naught. And that one was all around, that one was in me, that one was me.
My eyes began to close to welcome the unbroken eternal moment of trance from which there is no coming back. The last thing I saw before embracing the ‘Mahabodhi’ was the sight of my master Mahakachhapa crossing the finish line.
He had not only defeated me but also won over me. He was now my master, my teacher.
A tortoise master had defeated his hare disciple. But with that he also awakened me from that clouts of the deep slumber which is perceived as life by the dreamy creatures like us.
I was Shashank. Now I am Shashank, the Buddha.
[This story is a tribute to Herman Hesse, the author of "Siddhartha"]
[This story is a tribute to Herman Hesse, the author of "Siddhartha"]
Tag :
Aesop fable
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Buddha
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hare and the tortoise
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philosophy
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Shashank
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short story
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soul
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Stories of a Seeker
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You
Things That Make Your Day: Mädir Eugster
[Things that make your day, as the name suggests are a series of short blogs that will be a celebration of hope, talent, love, beauty and life ]
Mädir Eugster is an anomaly. Or maybe he is someone who has located an anomaly. His experiments with the gravity defying equilibrium, counteracting torques and extension of his own balance from living to non-living realm are phantasmagorical. He is the symbol of man's mastery over the forces of nature. He calls himself a balance artist but to me he is a Zen of physics and a master of dance.
I came across Mädir Eugster in the latest Titan advertisement, and a simple internet look-up showed me something that absolutely made my day. Eugster performs at the Rigolo Swiss Nouveau Cirque and that goes into my bucket list. Have a look at these demonstrations (which made one of the viewers go "God, I want to report a bug" )
[ You can subscribe to Mädir at facebook ]
The Feather Balance
The Archimedes of Equilibrium
The Driftwood Centrifugal
Tag :
art
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balance
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beauty
,
dance
,
eugster
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madir
,
Mädir Eugster
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Rigolo Swiss Nouveau Cirque
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Things that make your day
,
Titan
