TMX Says: I'm feeling the need for speed
By TMX Archives on 8th Jun 16
Average speed cameras are the bane of my life and as someone who measures distance by the time it takes me to get somewhere well, it seems like everywhere I go is getting further and further away.
With huge stretches of the nation's motorway network now watched over by these devious devices the days of travelling at a steady 70mph – yeah, right! – are long gone and more often than not I feel like I not only spend ages queuing to get into the 40 or 50mph zones in the first place but then spend the next bazillion miles or so constantly tapping the brakes to stay below said speed limit.
These average speed check zones have certainly taken a lot of the fun out of travelling anywhere...
I guess for the majority of motorway users it ain't that bad as the more centrally based you are it stands to reason that you'll have to pass through fewer of these mind-numbing zones on your way from A to B than someone who lives out on the extremities.
Living in Morecambe I currently have to pass through miles and miles of the b*****d things to get anywhere south of Stoke-on- Trent so as you can imagine a trip to Canada Heights, Landrake or Lyng is particularly hellish.
However, after driving to Livingston on Saturday afternoon for the Scottish stop of the Nitro Circus Live tour I'm starting to think that maybe things aren't so bad and I need to man-up a bit.
That's because I've discovered a new found appreciation for our friends who live north of the border and find the time/ finances to compete in the British championship in any one of our off-road disciplines.
For me to get from my house to the Tony Macaroni Arena – which is situated pretty much slap bang between Glasgow and Edinburgh – took me about three and a bit hours which means that for guys like Bryan MacKenzie, Alexander Brown and Ross Rutherford who are all from that kind of belt that's a good chunk of extra travel than I have to endure each weekend.
And for someone like Tony Craig who's reet up north... well, I don't envy him his travel times or fuel bill one bit.
Speaking of MacKenzie, his journey home on Sunday afternoon after going 1-1 in the Pro MX2 class at Landrake was around 10 hours or so and included a fair old stretch of average speed check area.
Despite the length of the drive I bet that journey felt a damn sight shorter than the eight hour one from Lyng where he went 11-17 at the first round of the Maxxis. Oof!
Of course, the pay off of living north of the border – aside from regularly seeing Scottish pipers hanging out in touristy lay-bys – is the short journey for Desertmartin this weekend and an even shorter journey for round six of the Maxxis series which goes off at Leuchars on July 3.
That's when all you southerners get to suffer the journey these boys do week in, week out!
Regardless of how far you're driving this weekend for your sporting activities make sure you do it safely and if you do happen to drive through any camera-infested average speed check areas then give 'em a shake of your fist from me...
