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Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:13 pm
by Ben
This is an excerpt from a news story from 2002 about a biker who was caught speeding, having ridden this route across the Brecon Beacons:

https://goo.gl/maps/TWVuouiD5CjSvHUH7
Of course exceeding a speed-limit by as much as 105mph must incur a severe penalty, in an age when Big Brother considers that any motor vehicle doing over 70 is lethal.

But one can feel a certain amount of sympathy for Mr Wayne Soman, who covered more than 40 miles on his big Kawasaki 900 bike in 25 minutes, between Pontypridd and Llandovery, roads that are not usually traffic-infested.

Mr Soman showed some restraint, respecting 30mph limits, and was able to pull up normally at a routine Police check.

But in other places he had ridden at 150mph, and once got up to 165, so of course one must not condemn his year's gaol sentence.

Mr Soman would not have been summonsed had he not made a video recording of the bike's speedometer and tachometer readings during his enthusiastic ride. The Police watched this video before making their arrest. I suppose there is nothing illegal in so recording such items of performance. Whether it is advisable is, clearly, another matter.

The Judge who handled the case admitted that Mr Soman possessed "undoubted driving skills", but said that you mustn't abuse public roads by using them as racetracks.
You'll be pleased to know Mr Soman is alive and well and currently rides a BMW HP4. So what do you reckon, then: hero or villain?

Re: Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:04 pm
by RiceBurner
Bit of both - obviously (well - without seeing his actual riding) he's got the wherewhithal to ride rapidly which is to be commended, however, his choices of where to use that skillset (and how to brag about it) are somewhat questionable.

Can I vote both ways?



and err - can someone get a ladder? this fence is a touch high to jump off!

Re: Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 7:10 pm
by BikerGran
Same fence, same thoughts!

Re: Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:27 pm
by Gio
Many years ago on my 1st BB I got up to 165 indicated on the M3 before I chickened out, not realizing that I'd been caught by a gatso, however it all turned out happily for me as they had to have 2 pictures as evidence, and they only got 1.
BTW the guys a hero.

Re: Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:23 pm
by Seafarer
Got to be a fence sitter as well
Back in the 80's as a carefree younger man I had a commute between Worcester city and Dormston in the countryside.
In the day it it was mostly quieter A road 60mph 2 villages of 40mph 2 roundabouts and a short 30mph stretch. Just about 11 miles.
On a good day my VF750Fwould transport me in 11 minutes .
It was exhilarating and I thought skill full untill running through a Radar trap , Cop in the hedge didnt see him.
It was the Not seeing him that was a bit of a wakeup what else had I missed.
If you wish to convict yourself by dashcam then I guess you must expect the sentence
But great fun at the time.

Re: Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 5:55 pm
by Demonbiker
40 miles , 25 minutes??




Challenge accepted!! ;-o

Re: Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 2:51 pm
by fatboy
Hero for riding according to conditions, hero for ballsy mph,hero as he's still here.....
Fool for recording it

Re: Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 3:03 pm
by mangocrazy
fatboy wrote:
Sun Feb 23, 2020 2:51 pm
Hero for riding according to conditions, hero for ballsy mph,hero as he's still here.....
Fool for recording it
Absolutely Paul, why incriminate yourself?

Re: Wayne Soman - Hero or villain?

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:05 am
by Ben
Currently 60/40 on the Hero to Villain stakes.

You also have to remember when he was done for this, not many people were strapping a camcorder to their bike, so the chances of being caught were always going to be minimal.