“Age is just a number” is a phrase that Kiwi centenarian, Stan Carnegie, took to heart when he decided to participate in a motorcycle race. This may not be a big deal in most countries, but hey, we’re talking about New Zealand, where the biggest threat on the roads is the occasional sheep crossing.
Carnegie, who is a sprightly 98 years old, completed the race just three weeks before his birthday, and his accomplishment has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the “World’s Oldest Competitive Motorcycle Racer.” We can just imagine how thrilled he must feel, as this achievement has definitely made him the talk of his retirement home.
Many are marveling at Carnegie’s resilience and determination in the face of his age. But let’s be honest, folks – we all know that he probably just forgot his glasses at home and thought he was driving a car. Or perhaps he was trying to escape from some hapless caregiver who was chasing him with prune juice.
We’re just grateful that the rest of us on the road were able to avoid him. The last thing we need is an octogenarian with a death wish, riding around on a motorcycle, competing with the likes of Valentino Rossi. Although, honestly, watching Carnegie take on Rossi and the younger motorcycle racers on the track would surely make for the greatest comedy show on earth.
Don’t get us wrong, we’re happy for Carnegie and all, but we can’t help but wonder – what’s next on his bucket list? Skydiving? Base jumping? Or maybe just a leisurely bungee jump to make things interesting? We can’t wait to find out.
Can you imagine what it must feel like to be Guinness World Record’s “World’s Oldest Competitive Motorcycle Racer?” We sure can’t. But we can imagine feeling pretty satisfied with life, and thinking, “Yes, I may have lost my teeth and my hair, but I can still ride motorcycles faster than all you whippersnappers.”
At the end of the day, Carnegie’s accomplishment serves as a reminder that we shouldn’t let age be a limiting factor in our lives. We can all aspire to overcome barriers and achieve our goals, regardless of our age. And if that just happens to involve jumping out of an airplane or racing a motorcycle at 98 years old, then hey, more power to us.
So congratulations, Stan Carnegie. You’re an inspiration to us all. And if you ever need a ride to your next race, just give us a call. We have a wheelchair that can hit some pretty impressive speeds.
