Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Who are you, Why do you live where you live?

Me, well, born in the UK and worked as a Fleet Engineer in the Health Service until 50 when I was made redundant.
Used the redundancy money to open a garage specialising in performance tuning VW/Audi cars.
Spent 12 years drag-racing with the VWDRC and built several cars including the Beetle in my avatar and this little baby.




Won the championsip in 1998 and decided to call it a day.

Decided on a change so I sold the garage, bought a 36' Winnebago and ran a summer campsite in the UK. Down to Spain every winter for a bit of sunshine.
We lived, full-time in the Winnie for five years and then decided it was time to settle down (a bit).

I love the UK, both the countryside and the people. What I didn't like was the increasing 'political correctness' that has crept into that society. Shouting at the television was the signal that it was probably time to move.

We used to visit France when the kids were little and loved the place so we stopped one January in Poitiers (its in the middle) and looked around at properties to buy.

Eventually found the rambling old farmhouse we now live in and are very happy. It is very quiet, few neighbours, virtually no crime. Bike roads are excellent but the police (gerndarmes) have recently discovered the vast untapped income available from speeding motorists and so speed-traps are now part of everyday life. I've just slowed down and am able to smile smugly in my helmet as I pass their hidden cameras.

Bikes, well a lot of sports bikes and stuff. My last three bikes were Triumph Sprint ST's. (great bikes) This is my first cruiser.(2009 America). I bought it from England over the phone, flew over and rode it back.

By the time I got home I hated it, uncomfortable to a point of real pain. I thought I'd made a big mistake.
Solved it with a backrest and gel-seat and now I'm very happy with it. first bike I've ever had that doesn't want you to go fast all the time.

Thats me in a nutshell. just turned 65, arthritis in most joints, deaf from messing with loud engines. I still have all my hair even if it has turned a vivid shade of grey. (My wife says I look distinguished)


Gary.