 |
| The team of supporters who helped Matthew ‘Bushy’ McKelvey (in black jacket) reclaim his world record last week. (Photo: Jen Miller) |
It took him five years and several attempts, but Matthew “Bushy” McKelvey has finally reclaimed the Guiness World Record for the greatest distance covered on a motorcycle in 24 hours by an individual.
Pietermaritzburg’s well-known bilateral amputee rode a total distance of 3 477,36 km around the 2,5-km Phakisa oval in Welkom on a BMW S1000 XR last Saturday.
His new record adds over 67 km to the previous record set by endurance rider Carl Reese in Texas in February 26, 2017. McKelvey, who turns 60 in February, set his latest record the hard way, fighting centrifugal forces at an average speed of over 170 km/h around the steep, 2,5-km long Phakisa oval.
“My hands are still blistered, four days after the ride,” he said yesterday.
By comparison, the Uvalde track in Texas on which Reese set his 2017 record, is a three-lane wide, 13,7 km oval with gentle 1,7 km radius turns that allow for really high speeds on a bike.
Reese also bought his own tyres, and could afford only six, which he rotated back to front when things started to get slippery at the back.
 |
| Bushy McKelvey racing around the Phakisa Oval near Welkom on 18 December 2022. |
HELP RAISE MORE FUNDS
McKelvey used the record attempt to raise funds for the Grand Lodge of SA’s one million meals for children initiative. Readers can add to this by sending an SMS “RACE” to 40554, which will contribute R20 to the fund up to the end of March.
He thanked BMW Motorrad SA and SMG BMW Motorrad Umhlanga and their dedicated team of supporters for their wholehearted support.
McKelvey also thanked his sponsors, which include his charity, Out on a Limb, prosthetic limb maker Ossur, ER24, Gold FM (local radio streaming), Pick ’n Pay Howick and the Widows Sons.
 |
| Bushy McKelvey gave his legs and gloves a bit of a rest. |
THE NEXT MILESTONE
Will McKelvey now finally rest on his laurels?
He said he would certainly like to, but there is now another record that is nagging him.
The World Record Academy, a rival institution to Guinness World Records, lists Eduardo Antillon from Mexico as travelling 3 784,8 km on a BMW R1200GS Adventure Rallye around the 12,8 km long oval at on the Bridgestone Texas Proving Grounds in 2019.
This is 307,6 km further than McKelvey’s feat around Phakisa last week.
The Maritzburg rider said if he could close off a loop of public roads of similar length — there being no high speed ovals this long in South Africa — he could certainly take on this record too, but not just yet.
GUINESS WORLD RECORDS
• 2022 Bushy McKelvey (SA) 3 477,36 km
• 2017 Carl Reese (USA) 3 406,17 km (2 116,5 miles),
• 2014 Bushy McKelvey 3 256,5 km (2023,5 miles)
(First published in The Witness)
