Motorcycle Racing

[TotallyOz]

Often in Banglamung on the weekends, you will find some of the roads closed for motorcycle racing. The guys get out their modified bikes and race to their hearts content. Accidents happen. Often there are over 500 of these modified bikes in attendance.

 

As typical, most of the Thais enjoy a wager and these guys are no exception. You can have a race and bet cold hard cash, pink slips to the bike or your girl. I asked my friend why on earth they would bet their girl and was told that often the ladies liked going with the winner.

 

All in all a strange concept to me but it looks like a bit of Hong Kong racing has made its way to the area.

 

[Guest gonefishing]

Often in Banglamung on the weekends, you will find some of the roads closed for motorcycle racing. The guys get out their modified bikes and race to their hearts content. Often there are over 500 of these modified bikes in attendance.... it looks like a bit of Hong Kong racing has made its way to the area.

 

Exactly where "in Banglamung"? Modifying bikes and / or racing them on public roads is one of the few things the police crack down on, with some success and a lot of fines (a % of which goes to the police involved, which probably explains why!). As a biker, with a lot of friends in the "legitimate" local (Thai) motor-bike groups, including an old friend whose brother was killed road-racing in Bangkok, I sense a bit of poetic licence here. As for closing "some of the roads" and "over 500 ... modified bikes in attendance" or any resemblance to the illegal racing scene in Hong Kong (where I lived and worked for a number of years), this simply does not happen.

[TotallyOz]

this simply does not happen.

 

Perhaps my eyes deceived me. I was once told believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see. I am getting old so I'll go have my eyes checked.

 

Having one BF who has a high powered modified bike and going with him in the past, I think that perhaps he was just lying to me and called out all of his friends to play mind games with me. Worst things have happened.

[Guest gonefishing]

I am not saying road racing does not happen - it does, and used to happen more "in the past". Your post, however, implied that it was current and stated that it was "often" and that the casual observer / driver would come across "some of the roads closed for motorcycle racing", with "over 500 of these modified bikes in attendance". It is the scale, frequency and location which I am saying simply do not happen. 500 bikes is more than are at the Pattaya Bike Week at any one time; 500 "screamers" (modified small bikes) would be audible for miles and would be clearly noticeable as they converge / depart from the area. These meetings used to attract about 50 bikes and be held on a monthly basis, in locations around Mabprachan and Huay Yai before they were developed; now they are less frequent, less popular as modifying small bikes for show rather than racing is more fashionable, and are held further away from Pattaya and the police, generally on unopened stretches of motorway.

 

The chances of anyone "uninvited" casually coming across it are very slim. I think Pattaya has enough genuine and dangerous known illegal activities without adding one more. End of my interest in this.

[TotallyOz]

It is the scale, frequency and location which I am saying simply do not happen.

 

We all can be wrong on occassion. Just because the ones who race for money don't show up at Pattaya Bike Week doesn't mean they aren't willing to show up for some hard cash. I stand by my numbers. I didn't give the frequency but I am told twice per month. I've been there. I've seen it. I watched. It simply does happen.

[Guest gonefishing]

We all can be wrong on occassion.

 

We certainly can, and I apologize for casting any doubt on your powers of observation and accuracy of reporting. Pattaya Bike Week is mainly for serious bikers and large bikes, so it is no surprise not to see them there.

 

As I still find this of some interest and just so we can all enjoy this motorcycling extravaganza (and to remove any lingering doubts) why not let us all know when and where the next meeting is; after all, given your description, it should be difficult to miss.

 

I won't be holding my breath ...

[TotallyOz]

I won't be holding my breath ...

 

Hold. Don't let out until till you feel the niceness set it.

 

When I return to Thailand, I'll take you if you are interested. However, an event like that might be over the top for you.

[Guest gonefishing]

When I return to Thailand, I'll take you if you are interested.

 

WWhen you return to Thailand maybe it would be simpler to let everyone know where and when this happens, dispelling those lingering doubts at the same time?

 

If it cannot be found without your personal guidance then the statement that "often in Banglamung on the weekends you will find some of the roads closed for motorcycle racing" is clearly not correct, and begs the question of why post about something only you can find. Maybe it is near the alien abduction site ...

 

Although I doubt if "an event like that might be over the top" for me, I regret I have to decline your invitation, as I think the company very probably would be.

 

 

[TotallyOz]

Although I doubt if "an event like that might be over the top" for me, I regret I have to decline your invitation, as I think the company very probably would be.

 

So true.

 

Thanks for taking the bait. I am glad that your post early said you were finished with this but you keep coming back for more. Just can't resist can you? I guess the monkier gonefishing can't resist a bit of bait now and again. Anyway, this is childish going back and forth. I'll just say, "I'm right and your wrong., na ne na ne boo boo."