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Motorcycle Safety and Awareness
Welcome to Think Bike, the podcast about all things motorcycle and the voice of motorcycle safety and awareness in Alberta. Your host is Liane Langlois.
Liane:Hey, everybody. Welcome back to another episode of think bike. This week, I have Matt MacKenzie, one of the founders of a little organization called Motorhooligans, which we'll get into that whole name at some point. And people might be going, why do you have hooligans on your safety podcast? But we'll get there.
Liane:Welcome to the show, Matt. How are you today?
Matt:I'm great. How are you? Thanks for having me.
Liane:Yeah. So we met at the YG Bike Show, and we had quite a good conversation there, which we'll get into here in a little bit. But first, tell our listeners who is Matt MacKenzie, and what got you into riding?
Matt:Oh, that's a really deep, dark question to me, honestly. I mean, how much I don't know how much time you have here. Who am I? So my name is Matt MacKenzie. I'm currently living in Edmonton.
Matt:We can go all the way back. I was born in Lloydminster, did a huge bunch of a bit of kinda traveling throughout my life. I've been on the West Coast for a while. I did some overseas stuff. I kinda have been very fortunate in the sports world and school world to kinda travel all over the place.
Matt:And then a couple with that, like most people in the bike world, bikes have been pretty much ingrained in me since I was in diapers. I almost guarantee you I have a picture of me in diapers on a little pedal bike or a dirt bike or I think back then, I actually pretty sure I have a picture in a on a trike before they were deemed illegal. So like, most, like, most people in the bike world. Yeah. Honestly, like, the the thing that have kinda for me got me into riding, I I was surrounded by it as a as a family member.
Matt:My family, I would say, like, most people, we grew up farm wise. We grew up riding on the like, I spent so much time very fortunately to live kinda in the Abbotsford area for a lot of my younger parts of my life. So tons of time down by the river, tons of time in the mountains area, whether that was quads or dirt bikes or side by sides or sand rails or all that fun stuff. I'm pretty sure I I learned how to grow up in a 1982 Honda Odyssey. So, like, those kind of things in terms of the motor sport world, I've been in it my whole life.
Matt:I'm 36 years old now, and I constantly evolved in it, constantly working on it, been doing it forever. Got to race some motocross when I was younger, a little bit into my teens as well, did a little bit of the street GP stuff as well, and then really never dropped it, to be honest. It's kinda stayed the course. Obviously, life happens. You get sometimes you get a bit of a big boy job and you kinda stuff like that.
Matt:But like most people, you just you never I don't think you ever give it up and you keep it forever. But yeah. Like most store kind of bike stories, started super young and just I refused to let it go no matter how how old or anything that happened. So, yeah,
Liane:that's gonna be use the quotey fingers for how old you Quotey fingers. Cool.
Matt:I I have less seasons than some. That's we'll stay there.
Liane:I'm just talking about the, the male maturity pathway. But talking about it's a shame, though. Sharp. Sharp.
Matt:K.
Liane:Alright. Talking about your big boy job. Let's talk about that first because you are a paramedic. Yep. And that means you see things sometimes that are at the result of people being irresponsible on the roads.
Liane:Do you have anything that you can share without it being FOIP related, I guess?
Matt:In in what way? So what like, what do you what do you kinda what are you kinda going for? Like, you looking for like the safety kind of thing? Or
Liane:Sort of. I mean, we had I'm sure you know Justin Knappick. He's a fire captain in in the city as well. We've had him on. And there was one question I asked him.
Liane:Okay. I'll ask you this question because you've been in the motorcycle world for a long time, and you probably know a lot of people who ride. When you're responding to a call as a paramedic to what you know is involving a motorcycle, do you have, like, fear or thoughts of this could be someone you know, or how do how do you react to that?
Matt:So I can actually ask you this question in real time. So this actually I obviously, I won't give you too many details. But there was a call literally, we'll say, just for the thing inside of the last two weeks. Mhmm. Where it was a motorcycle call.
Matt:I was dispatched to it. I was en route to it. And I actually, while driving to the call, put in our group chat of our 15 biker friends, which one of you guys is this? And it better not be any one of you. And that was literally within sight of a week ago.
Matt:So the to answer your question, 1000%. I've been very fortunate that I haven't made a lot of enemies in Edmonton, and I stay pretty positive in the bike world. So being interconnected between the Harley guys and the Super Moto guys and the kids on Grom's and the kids giving them Surrons and all of these people, it's a bit of a blessing and a curse because you know so many people in the bike world and that and and I think you can contest this. We actually talked about this in April. Like, the five degrees of separation is one in a lot of cases.
Matt:Like, it's not even fucked because this the bike community is so tight knit that you almost guaranteed to know someone who knows someone who knows someone who that happens to. Like, that even it's not it's public knowledge because he's been posting about it the past two days. But one of our my really good friends and his brother were just involved in a motorcycle accident two days ago. And then I went to work today, and I work out of a fire hall in Nisku. And the crew that I saw today was the crew that responded to them.
Matt:So it it's one of those things that that conversation is always very much in the forefront of my mind on a regular basis, whether that's, are you going to this call? Do I know what happened? Do I know the severity? And unfortunately, for a lot of a lot of scenarios and cases, you'll find these people that you're responding to these calls, And because of the history that you know and, like, the experience I have, I know how bad it can be. So you don't like, something as simple as, oh, I just slid off my bike.
Matt:Like, that can be very serious. It it's not always like, people misunderstand the concept of, like, oh, they just slid off into the ditch or they just did this or they were wearing a leather suit, so they must be fine. Like, that's a conversation that goes way further than just like a, oh, what could potentially be these injuries be? Right? Like, it's yeah.
Matt:So I definitely to kind of, like, bookend your question for sure, it's definitely a a forethought in my mind because I've been so fortunate to know so many people in all disciplines.
Liane:Yeah. I can imagine that would be that would be difficult. I once went to a a collision scene that I was asked to come out to because of the group. I was supposed to be riding with them and was meeting up with them later, and I I can't do that again. I I can't unsee a body under a white blanket.
Liane:I will never unsee that. But with the statistics that we've we've had for since 2020 on where it's a really, really high rate of rider error, collisions that happen and fatalities that happen where the allegedly, the rider is at fault. As a paramedic who has to answer to these things, what do you say to our community who essentially are going out there and riding beyond their means or whatever that you have to go and pick up those pieces. Like, what would you is there a plea you can do to help us lower those statistics?
Matt:I think it's hard, to be honest with you. I think you're finding, unfortunately again, we have both been in this industry for a very long time. We both me, you a little bit more than me, but the the whole the whole point of these pieces is I I just I don't see the development of the rider as much as we used to. You saw these kids that were riding dirt bikes when they were three, when they're four, when they're five. Then they got they got a 50, then they got a a one twenty five, then they got a two stroke, then they got they and they slowly worked their way up, and then they bowled their dad's CBR 500 Cafe Racer because it was the first bike they ever got.
Matt:And they huddled around the city, and then their dad took him or mom or whatever. And then they really kinda got a really good sense of riding. I'm finding, unfortunately, for our industry or our, like, we'll say our social club in throughout the bike world, you're seeing more and more people that are like, oh, I have some money. I wanna buy this bike. I didn't really do the proper processes to, like, really learn how to ride.
Matt:Or and I've been guilty of it myself. So this isn't kettle bought black scenario, but, like, buying the bike that's maybe too much in the moment. Right? Because you saw it on Instagram or someone like the Motorhooligans posted a cool looking bike, and I need to I need to get that bike because that's super cool, but you're not really prepared to ride it. Now I think there's phenomenal programs out there for, like, teaching and, like, all that kind of stuff, motorcycle schools, you guys, like, awareness, like, the think bike campaign's phenomenal.
Matt:Like, all of these things that are happening are great, but I think, unfortunately, for us, I think it's a little bit of blindness in a lot of ways of, like, it's that whole piece of that won't happen to me. And that's that that part's hard.
Liane:Yeah. And so the the last question so then we can start talk get off our soapboxes and start talking about fun things. So I guess my last question, unpopular opinion, would you support like, since there is that blindness to it and it's not how like it used to be and people are just going out and buying whatever they think is cool and not necessarily the training with it, Would you support potential legislation that might make training mandatory for one, or like what they do in Europe with restricted CCs as you grow in your career in motorcycling?
Matt:Unpopular opinion. Yes. I'm being honest. And that comes from someone who did the process of dirt bike, this little bike, 100 cc, 50 cc moped, all the way up to now big bike. Right?
Matt:I just I I I really think the where it gets sticky is you get the young kid or guy, girl, who doesn't matter, who's been racing their whole life. And then on a a leader bike can do 300 kilometers an hour on a track, and it's like, oh, I can get on the road. Different world. Different world, different thing, different aspect, different scaries. Right?
Matt:Mhmm. So, I mean, I again, I whether the bike community wants to realize it or not, if we wanna stop some of these injuries and some of these bad things from happening, you need to start looking at stuff like that. And what's the worst case scenario? You're gonna get some better training. You're gonna have be a little bit better on the bike.
Matt:You're gonna be safer on the bike for you, yourself, the people you're riding with. Like, is that really that bad of a thing when you actually break it down? Probably not.
Liane:Probably not. Alright. Let's step down from our soapbox because
Matt:have a I have a good thing I have a good thing to say about this, though. I've been I've been we've been holding this thing for you forever. One point that I really one point that I really wanted to make to finish that part of that conversation that I think for one more serious note before we move on to fun stuff. I think, unfortunately, right now, one of the huge factors is also the autonomy of cars and trucks right now. Mhmm.
Matt:I've thought about this forever because the same technology that you and I drive in a normal day when you're not keeping two wheels down on the pavement to help take away some of the fatigue of driving, whether that's lane keeping aid, this button, this piece, you can kinda turn your brain off, is the same, I think, technology that is hurting bikers. Because people, when you're riding, they shut their brain off, and they're not really thinking bike. Right? They're not thinking that concept of like, oh, well, the car will tell me or I'll get out of the way or you almost, like, in a way, the autonomy is hurting us because of that scenario. Like, that to me, I wanted to bring that up with you because I just it's been on my mind since April since we all like, I have to talk to about this.
Matt:Because it was like a it was a concept to me that I think a lot of thing people miss that where it's such a good it's such a good concept to have, but at the same time, it's also, like, detrimental in a way too. Not saying it's a bad thing. Safety features are phenomenal. And I'm sure it's helped lots. But I think from a driver's perspective as a biker, it's called the Moto Hooligans for a reason.
Matt:We like to be cool, have fun, all that fun stuff. Right? But I think a lot of bikers like, even think about this. How many times and I'm gonna call them my own group out. You're riding one handed on your handlebar, one hand on your hip, cruising looking cool, listening to tunes in your cardio.
Matt:Are you really prepared for the tire to blow out, car to change lanes? No. You have to take that moment to, like, oh, home oh my goodness. Who's coming? Grab the clutch this.
Matt:Grab the handlebars. Try to get out of the way, and then all of a sudden, it's too late. Right? Yeah. So I think I think as a team, I think as a collective, be a little bit smarter, I think, in some of those things.
Matt:But, yeah, that's my
Liane:last I know. I love that because, like, technology is great, but it is making people complacent. So I I agree with that too. Alright. K.
Liane:Now off the soapbox. K. Moto Hooligans. So I remember coming over and going at the bike show going, who are you? And, like, I'm I'm I'm a safety advocate.
Liane:Now we have this hooligans actual hooligans group out here promoting hooliganism. And for the people who don't know what hooliganism is, I mean, go look it up. It's in movies everywhere. It's whatever. Why Moto Hooligans?
Liane:I mean, what is it?
Matt:I mean, first off, let's just talk about how tactful you were with your response in talking to me about it. We'll we'll just go there. I think, are you, and what are you doing? You're not safety. Hooligans do hooligans stuff.
Matt:So I think that's let's just let's call the spade a spade here about your approach. We'll start there. But Truffeet started as just a name. It wasn't there wasn't too much. It it started with actually a friend of mine, Roman and I.
Matt:We kinda started riding together. We're getting same concept. He is almost a control c, control v pace of me. Like, started growing up riding. We started doing all the things like raced for years, did freestyle, all that fun stuff.
Matt:And we just started as just a couple buddies riding, and then we just kinda gave him with the name Hooligans, and it kinda grew from there, if I'm being honest. It wasn't anything anything super crazy, super special. The the Hooligans group name, it's I mean, I'd be a I'd be a liar if I didn't say it just sounded cool. Because at at one point, we were we were actually the Super Moto Hooligans is what is where we first started. And then I I ran into a little bit of everyone's, like, the dirt world and the Harley world was kinda, like, possibly, oh, well, Super Moto's cool.
Matt:And then and then I was like, oh, man. We should've done a focus group or something. Is this the name's wrong? Like, oh, no. Like, I had I had multiple cases where people were like, well, Super Motos are cool.
Matt:Like, they are cool, but so is everyone else. So so then it kinda turned into, okay. You know what? Let's let's do a little name change, little name alteration, and go the Moto Hooligans with the kind of concept of its motorcycles and two wheeled worlds combined. And that's that like, that's kind of our mantra, whether you're from Harley, Super Motos, dirt bikes, and beyond, it's it kinda encompass everyone.
Matt:So, yeah, that's where the kind of the piece came from. And Hooligans are cool name. So I just realized we're sticking with it. I like it. So
Liane:I I I mean, when I came to you, it was, like, kinda tongue in cheek a little bit. I do belong to the Gridiron Rebels, and that's a bunch of like old British bike cafe racer style people who hooligans like the best of them.
Matt:Yeah.
Liane:And so, yeah, I'm I'm aware. And it's it's just really it's it's a culture thing and part of the motorcycle culture. So I do appreciate it. But because we did talk about you do put, like some safety aspects into the Moto Hooligans brand and the and that world. And remind me about what we had talked about with that.
Liane:Because I think you said you're like, when you guys are out trail riding or off roading or whatever, that might be a little more a little more hooligany than you would be on the street. You try and be more responsible?
Matt:Like, like, we've been I mean, you did talk about it. You didn't talk about that age group with guys. Well, let's just we'll start there. Yeah. The the the the the whole thing with the like, again, I wanted when I started this, to me, was growing the community and keeping people in the bike world.
Matt:Because I really think that, like, and, mean, the lovely listeners and people listening right now, they don't they don't know what we talked about in April, but one of the biggest conversations we had was about the fact that there was a big uptick in bikes, and then COVID happened, and there was a big downtick in it. And now we're slowly seeing I would I would argue that we're seeing a little bit of that uptick again. Now cost of living and let's be real. If you have a bike, it's a little bit of fun money, and we understand. It's kinda like boat break out another thousand.
Matt:Like, those those kind of concepts, like, we are seeing a bit of an uptick in a little bit of expendable cash, and these hobbies are coming back. So for me, it was always about that togetherness of the bike world and keeping all of them. Now with the Hooligans piece, just like you said it, you do get attached to the name a little bit. They're like, what stunts are you doing? Are you doing this?
Matt:Is it illegal? Are these kind of things? Like, you have friends that are police officers. Are they okay with this? Like, you you get you get these conversations all the time because, I mean, you can't hide it.
Matt:We're called the Moto Hooligans. You're gonna the second you look up Hooligans, you picture the guys out in Sweden doing ridiculous things and where their rules are more lax. Right? Like, you're kind of attached to that by proxy. But for us, like, again, been so fortunate in the people that I meet and the people that I know.
Matt:The people that are involved in our group are also the guys that do the stunting stuff in the shows. Right? Whether that's Freestyle Motorcycle Safety there's a Hooligans. Whether it's the some of the Twin West crew guys that do the stunting on the Harleys. Right?
Matt:Like, they're in their own show, they're doing their own thing. Right? So you do really try to keep it off the street because that's again, my background is in paramedicine. Like, I don't wanna go to the my buddies that are doing this shit doing their going in between cars. Right?
Matt:Like, that's the stuff that, like, gives a bad name for all these people. Yeah. Whether that's my crew or that someone that's affiliated with me or someone who knows me or is repping the sticker or the hoodie or the hat or the whatever. Right? Like, there's a time and a place for all that stuff, and the vessels in which you can do it are limitless because you you have between, like, lots, private tracks, private things, like, all those kind of things.
Matt:Right? And then to carry on to your conversation, the dirt world is where you get into more of that stuff. Like, whether that's doing enduro or racing motocross or being a freestyle guy or, like, a group of us every year goes down out to BC, and we do, like, a bunch of enduro stuff at the MacKnot Mountain and in Victoria. And, like, you bring supermodels and you, like, all of that stuff, you really try to keep it to the right pathways and avenues so that you avoid that. Right?
Matt:Because, again, the last thing I want is, hey. You were trying to do some stupid wheelie, some stupid stunt going down the Walter Dale Bridge, hey. I have to read about you in from my buddies who were working that night of, hey. I I transported this person. They had your sticker on their bike.
Matt:Right? Like, it's the last thing you want. So Yeah. Try to keep it to there's a time and place. I said that to you when we did a little live thing in April.
Matt:Right? It's like there's a time and place for it. Just be just stick to it to the best of your ability. Now let's be real here. Every biker has a little bit of little kid, and I'm like, the odd burnout done on Gateway might happen.
Matt:Like, not me, though. That's close course only. But, like, those kind those kinds of things, like, that stuff happens. And same thing with car guys. They're the same.
Matt:Bike guys are the same. Yeah. Plane people are the same. We're all the same in that regard. So but I I would I really try to stick to limiting it to the best of your ability as best you can.
Liane:Yeah. It comes down to, like, the time and place. Right?
Matt:For sure.
Liane:You know? Like, the last thing like, again, like, the last thing you need is to show up at a scene and somebody's in a Moto Hooligans hoodie, and they've done something that either seriously interests themselves or someone else that was just innocently there because their stunt You went know?
Matt:And God forbid, it's like I mean, obviously, the more that this brand grows, the more I wanna see people kinda grow their grow their brand. Mhmm. But at this or grow my brand, sorry, or our brand. But at the same time, like, God forbid it was an ambassador, or it was like someone who we sponsor or something like that. Right?
Matt:Where he's like, you are an extension of my arm. So if you're gonna be that way, like like, it comes back to me. Like, I have met the police chief. I've, like, had lunch with him. Like, you know, there's things that like, there's pieces involved in here that it's not just, oh, like, who's that Hooligans brand?
Matt:Right? Like, it's smart about it to a degree. Right?
Liane:Oh, absolutely. So what would be some of your biggest, like, the most important safety tips for riders from both, like I mean, I think like the hooligan thing is great because you've you've really explained that it's not a hooligan all the time. Just, you know, in the right places. But like, what would be as a paramedic your biggest safety tip for our listeners?
Matt:I cringe when I see the guy in flip flops tank top and shorts and a crotch rocket.
Liane:I just cringe. I get
Matt:icky. I get, like, I get itchy. I'm like, nope. I don't even wanna look at it. Like, don't even look at it with me.
Matt:Like, it's I I'm gonna be cliche and cheesy because I'm a big fan of the dad jokes here, but, like, the like, prepare for the slide. Right? Like, prepare for the slide, not the ride kind of thing. Right? It just you get a little sweaty, but then when you hit the deck doing a 130, like, are you do you know what I mean?
Matt:Like, it's still not gonna save you, but, like, it's gonna help. Right? So I just I mean, yeah, there is a ton of verbiage, a ton of studies on it, a ton of different things. Yeah. I just that'd be my biggest thing.
Matt:Wear the gear. Spend the money on it. Don't go to Amazon and buy a $100 helmet. It's your brain cage. Like, spend the money.
Matt:Like, what are we doing? Like, what are we doing? And again, this falls under, and, like, let's let's full circle bring this back to our whole concept of, like, the the new riders. You spend $30,000 on a bike, but you spend a thousand dollars on all your gear.
Liane:Yep.
Matt:Right? Like, that's crazy to me. Like, let's let's maybe think about the other side. Right? Like, I mean, again, I almost, in a way I mean, I'm in a position where I say, like, you add it to that legislation piece.
Matt:Right? I almost think you should have to prove that you have full riding gear before you're allowed to get your license.
Liane:Oh, they do that in Saskatchewan.
Matt:Phenomenal. Didn't even know that.
Liane:Brand new riders.
Matt:I was born in Lloydminster. Have a Saskatchewan purse ticket. Love my people. Yeah. So So do you know what I mean?
Matt:Like, it's just
Liane:Well, I wasn't born in Lloyd, but I was born in Saskatchewan. So, yeah, they changed that rule a few years ago. They they have a mandatory minimum gear requirement for new riders for I think the first three years. But I mean, if you're doing it for three years, you're gonna continue doing it because it's created a habit.
Matt:For sure.
Liane:You know? I remember when I got into a full face helmet, and I still had my cruiser at that time and a sport bike. And then I went I wasn't going far from my house, and I put my half helmet on to go, to where I was going on my cruiser. Oh my god. I I put that it's collecting dust and has been for years.
Liane:I don't it doesn't feel the same. You know? Like, I like my tattoos. I've spent a lot of money on them. I want them intact.
Liane:I like my face. You know? Like, those are Ditto. Like, you know? I kinda
Matt:I got I got a face for radio. I wanna keep it. So it's it's like it's it's one of those things that, like, it's you definitely need to. Like, you just Yeah. I mean, that that would be my thing.
Matt:The gear thing's big for me. And then, honestly, like, to piggyback the conversation I brought up to you about the autonomy and stuff with vehicles and people being less aware and naive in a lot of way a lot of ways. Be mindful of that. Have that experience. Have that knowledge.
Matt:Do the research. Understand what those kind of things are. Like, it's more than just that's a car. Oh, look at this type of car. Like, I know that if I see a Tesla, there's a chance it's driving by itself.
Matt:So just understanding that, oh, that's a Tesla. That's what this is gonna be. There's a chance that this car is gonna do this. Right? Like, even, like, little things like that at diving deeper into the industry, the riding, the types, the bikes, the cars, the the culture of this kind of thing.
Matt:Right? Like, that's that to me, I think people need to really do. Like, dive into it. Dive into it. Take the time.
Matt:Take the time to understand more.
Liane:The, that little light that comes on on the rearview mirror of the car, it it's on because you're in their blind spot. Get out of their blind spot. You don't wanna see that. Those are the things that watch the tires. Like, we have a responsibility to ourselves to stay safe.
Liane:We can't control what other people do, just what we do. So if we see the signs, put yourself in a safe space and wear your gear.
Matt:Well and also to you, like I mean, I I wanna make this very clear in this in this, like, avenue as well. That doesn't mean I wanna scare people away from getting into riding because they think there's 9,000 more things they need to do. I just want I want people to realize that, like, the safer you are, the more fun you'll have, the more friendships to make, the longer you'll be riding. Because you won't scare yourself out of a bike. You won't scare yourself out of a situation, and you'll be more prepared for it.
Matt:You might be angry in the moment that someone cut you off and you're like, oh my god. But you'd be like, hey. I came to a stop. I'm doing okay. I'm still going for coffee doing podcasts.
Matt:Right? Like, those kinds of things, that matters more. Yeah. So don't be afraid to get into the bike world. Like, I've been very fortunate.
Matt:I have aggressively suggested a bunch of my friends that have never rid bikes before bought bikes this year. So but and that happens. So, like, those kinds of things, like, they're spreading a new world. And, like, that's the the kind of the passage I want to make sure that that gets across to everyone because we can sit here and talk about this again. You've been riding.
Matt:We're not gonna say than I've been alive. So, like, those those kinds those kind those kind oh, not quite. You look 25 for the fourth time. Like, those those things, those those scenarios are like, that's what matters the most. Right?
Matt:Like, that's the stuff that I think I don't want it to be lost on people because and that's the point with us.
Liane:Note. Last question because K. Because, you know, this 100 year old lady needs to go to bed soon.
Matt:Never said that. You brought that on yourself.
Liane:K. Last question. Sure. If people wanted to learn more about motor hooligans, where would they go?
Matt:Everything's super simple. I've made it streamlined, so big dummies like me can just make it simple. The Moto Hooligans is everything. So the Moto Hooligans Instagram, the Moto Hooligans dot com is the email, Our info at The Motor Hooligans. My handle's mMckenzie@TheMotorHooligans.com.
Matt:The website, The Motor Hooligans dot com as well. Like, everything is tied to that. Perfect. Super simple, super easy. There's been very fortunate for everyone.
Matt:Little innocent plug here. Tons of merchant stuff on the website. Very fortunate to rep gear. All these kind of things. I I did promise I would give a shout out to Alicia at PsychWorks, the GM at PsychWorks.
Matt:We've been very fortunate. We have all of our stuff in there now. Gear and all that and great things coming. So if you wanna learn about us, absolutely, there's a contact page on there. We have an ambassador program.
Matt:We do clinics. We do rides. We host stuff. We do all sorts of stuff. So you wanna learn more about us?
Matt:That's the way to go for it. And any sort of info, any set of contact, we have someone that always monitors it, and it gets put in the proper channel. So I I almost I'm a little little con not controlling, but I like to know everything that's going on, so I I'm aware of all the questions that come in. So you'll probably hear from me. So you're gonna ask a question, you're gonna hear from the source itself.
Liane:That's awesome. Matt, I wanna thank you so much for taking some time for me. We might have to do this again because Love to. Yeah. Yeah.
Liane:No. Appreciate everything, and I appreciate what you're doing for the community. So thank you for taking some time.
Matt:Ditto. I think you guys like I said to you before, I think you have an amazing thing going.
Liane:Thank you.
Matt:Lifelong support for me. Whether you like it or not, you're getting it. So I'll
Liane:I'll take it. Alright. For everybody else, just hang tight for the mixed bag. On today's mail bag, we're gonna talk about can track days be affordable? There's always a lot of people who complain that going to the track is expensive.
Liane:And I'm not gonna lie, parts of it will be just in equipment alone. However, the cost to run isn't as bad as you think. For example, Friday night street legal drags at RadTork Raceway is a mere $11 to $43 per person depending on the age and if you bring a crew. Most road racing organizations appreciate their volunteers for their race rounds and reward them with coupons towards a track day. So basically, if you hang out in a corner on the track, which let's face it, is the best view you can have, if you do it enough times, you can get enough coupons to pay for an entire free track day.
Liane:Look into what you want and ask the questions about how you can make it more affordable to grow your skills and take it to the track. And that's it for another episode of Think Bike hosted by me, Leanne Langlois, produced by Bryn Griffiths at Mighty Mouth Communications. If you have an idea or a question for the show, reach out to info@ab-amss.org or find us on all the socials. Always remember to ride smart, ride safe, and think bike. We'll see you out on the road.