Alan's reflexes are as sharp as a tack. His reaction time at a previous event clocked at 0.007 after the lights came down.
Alan also ran three years at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to compete for the land speed record.
"We were up to around 200 miles per hour over there," he said.
There have been accidents along the way, including a memorable crash at Bonneville in which Alan lost control and managed to destroy not one, but two of the distance markers.
"It was the three or four mile market and I hit something. To this day I swear it was a tear-off visor, but it was enough to make the back wheel to slide out to the left."
But the rules of Bonneville are don't brake and decelerate slowly, so that's what Alan did.
"I was at 180 miles per hour and right in front of me was one of their timing marker posts made of four-by-two timber and PVC.
"I crash through that and it took the bearings and bits and pieces off. I had my head down trying to get the bike back into line and had come parallel to the track again. I took a deep breath and looked up and when I looked up I had covered a half mile and I took out a second marker."
When he finally came to a stop Alan looked back to see half a mile of destruction on the pristine white track.
"The adrenalin overcomes any fear that you have."
His fastest speed was 214 miles per hour, achieved on the Hamilton Airport runway.
FRANKTON THUNDER
Alan and Violet are also involved in the organisation of Frankton Thunder, a car and bike show to be help in Frankton Village this weekend.
It will feature every genre of motor vehicle, including classic cars, hot rods, motorcycles and military vehicles.
The event kicks off at 9am tomorrow with a car and bike demonstration on High St and live music at 10.30am.
Miss Frankton Thunder will start at 12.30pm on an erected stage on High St, followed by a burlesque show at 3pm.
Forlongs' carpark will be the venue to be at on Sunday morning, kicking off the day's events from 8am with a car and bike swapmeet, with other highlights including a stunt show at 11am followed by a Ullysses Child Cancer Toy Run.
A tattoo competition will also be held from 1pm.
"There will be drifting, some stunt bikes, there will be demonstrations and drive-through ... The idea is to create something different.
"We felt Frankton in the past had a lot of motorsports. That's kind of gone by the way and we thought it was time to get something happening again," said Alan.
Entry is free and the event will run in association with the Frankton Market.
Visit www.franktonthunder.co.nz for more details.
