'In a completely sane world, madness is the 4 only freedom.' I read this quote by English novelist J G Ballard on the internet some time ago. It had such a profound effect on me that one fine day, I not only decided to lose all my sanity but also my savings by deciding to travel to Australia on a whim. I booked my tickets rather impulsively, ignoring the desperate pleas of my credit card, and then flew to Sydney in early October. Why? To do what I had always dreamt of - watch the Phillip Island MotoGP from close quarters (full feature in the motorsports section) and ride a motorcycle on one of the greatest coastal roads in the world, the Great Ocean Road.
COLD OPEN
I found myself in Sydney on a cold and windy afternoon, and after indulging in a few typical tourist activities - like clicking awkward pictures in front of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge - I shifted my attention to my main adventure in Australia, which meant the very next day, I was on a flight to Melbourne.
After idling away a day in Melbourne, I contacted a motorcycle rental company only to be met with a disappointing response oozing with the Aussie accent, 'Sorry, mayte. All the bikes are out for the GP weekend. There's little chance of you finding a spare motorcycle anywhere, but I hope you find something. Cheers, mayte!' Two things instantly became clear to me - first, Aussies can't do without using the term 'mayte', and second, I was royally screwed, mayte.
This story is from the November 2023 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2023 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Honor-able Mention
Aiming at users who like premium smartphone features at mid-range prices, the new Honor X9b promises to offer it all. However, can it truly deliver on these promises?
LIGHTS OUT
MotoGP 2024 kicks off in style as the usual stars and a rookie sensation shine under Qatar floodlights.
'I've Seen How Quickly Things Can Change'
Nick Cassidy of Jaguar TCS Racing discusses the level of competition that his team is facing in Season 10 of the FIA Formula E World Championship.
UNBEATBLE AGAIN!
The new season seems to unfold a familiar narrative Red Bull, led by Max Verstappen, all set to secure the championship once again.
Chilling Point
It's not every day you bid farewell to winter by frolicking in the snow. So, when the opportunity presented itself, we decided to master the art of chilling.
FULL THROTTLE
What happens when you put your foot down in a VW and refuse to lift it for 24 hours?
ICE BREAKER
If drifting an Audi on a frozen river in Lapland sounds exotic, well, that's because it is. Suffice to say, it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on - ALL your clothes!
DREAM DEBATE
GT3 RS or GT4 RS? Talk about first-world problems… but if you’re going to choose, you should be so lucky as to be in a position to decide between two of the most focussed driver’s cars ever made.
TEUTONIC COMBAT
BMW and Mercedes are once again trading punches - this time vying for supremacy in the realm of full-size luxury SUVs.
DRIVING IN STYLE
The updated Range Rover Velar offers a unique package-stylish, yet capable-but what do we think of it after spending a few days on the road with it?