Speedy, HERE'S something to make someone go WEEEEEEEEEEEE:
Biker touches 175 mph, is jailed
LONDON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A motorcyclist has become Britain's fastest convicted
speeder after making a video of himself doing 175 miles an hour -- about the speed
of a jumbo jet at take-off -- down a highway.
Daniel Nicks said it was his last ride aboard his Honda Fireblade 900 and that he
strapped a camcorder to the handlebars to record the event for posterity as he sought
to find out just how fast his wheels would go.
The cyclist was caught when he crashed the $12,000 machine on a highway north of
London. He survived, as did the camcorder, which gave a detailed 27-minute view
to police of how he hit 175 mph as he passed a service station.
Authorities said the camcorder showed the 37-year-old overtaking cars on the inside
lane at 110 mph and whizzing around a traffic circle nine times, then weaving in and
out of traffic in the process of going down in the record books for illegal speeding in
Britain.
He also earned a 6-week stay in jail, including the Christmas holidays.
"We are aware that that there were no stolen cars, drink or drugs involved," said
magistrate Roger Barrett. "But there was prolonged excessive speed, showing off
and danger to the public."
Nicks's defense attorney, Victoria Pinkney, said her client "had decided to sell the
bike and foolishly decided to video himself as a record."
"By definition," she told the court, "every case of dangerous driving is dangerous.
But what we don't normally have is a video which can be broken down shot by shot,
which gives a shock factor to this case." |
