Tragedy close to home...

[Bill_Rockoff]

Randy, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. 

[rusjel]

May all of you be close, very sorry to hear your sad news Randy, will try to take your advice.

[racerrad8]

In more ways than one I'm afraid.

My brother in law was killed today in a motorcycle accident, just a few blocks from my home. I have no details at this point and frankly, I don't really care as ultimately he perished.

The ultimate tragedy close to home is in more ways than one.

Be careful, and remember everyone driving a car is trying to kill you when you are riding a motorcycle.
Stay safe and be careful.

Randy - RPM

Well, it has been one year ago tomorrow, May 16th 2014 that my brother in law was killed in a crash involving a car that turned left in front of him.

I will take this opportunity, as it is also rally season, to start an annual reminder that everyone on the road in or on a vehicle is out there to kill you while you are on your FJ.

I was sent a video a month or two ago where a motorcycle crossed over the double yellows on the Crest Highway causing the other rider to crash.

My son Robert crashed his R6 on a ride we had a month and half ago after swerving to miss a diesel truck tire carcass in the roadway. He ultimately ended up off the roadway and got bucked off. Top quality safety gear did its job as well as his car racing experience are both attributed to most likely saving his life. He was able to choose the fire road instead of hitting a shear wall mountain. He sustained a broken shoulder blade and a severe concussion.  As you can see by the front of the helmet it does look too bad, but when the liner was removed the interior protection foam is cracked in several places.

That is him in the reflection sitting in the hospital bed, not the view he started the day out with...





We should also remember those members who were lost as well such as Mark Glorioso (Poker007) and Joe Yatras (Wog57)



Be careful, and remember everyone driving a car is trying to kill you when you are riding a motorcycle.

Hope to see everyone attending the western rallies in a few weeks.

Randy - RPM

[Firehawk068]

Excellent reminder Randy!

Riding season has really geared-up full force!

Everyone be safe out there, and be pro-active in your actions! 

[FJmonkey]

Good timing on the reminder and good reinforcement on ATGATT. I saw and touched that helmet after Robert's dismount, it did it's job well...  It was also good to hang out with him after his crash, he was in good spirits considering the condition he and his bike were in. The other drivers may not be actively trying to kill us, but they are not looking out for us. We are on our own when it comes to safety. Ride defensively, as if they really are trying to kill us.

[Mark Olson]

Good reminder , Keep your guard up .

[fj1289]

Very timely reminder

One of my favorite quotes I apply on nearly a daily basis -- "Never confuse enthusiasm with capability" by Gen Pete Schoomaker (google him and you'll find he had plenty of capability!)

People often talk about "pushing the envelope" to get better -- in reality you improve your skills and that pushes your envelope out larger.  And improving your skills requires focus and practice - in the right environment.  The environment most of us ride in most of the time is unpredictable and unforgiving -- leave yourself a safety margin and keep your skills sharp so you can use that margin to handle the unexpected, and not waste it on your own inattention, rustiness, riding over your head, etc.  

Oh, and have fun!

[fj johnnie]

 Thanks Randy. Last weekend I came closer to being killed than any other time on a motorcycle.  33 years of riding.We were approaching a couple of cars stopped, waiting to turn left, in the other lane. Some idiot decided to pass the stopped cars waiting to turn left. He came directly at us, we were doing approx. 60 mph and the oncoming car was going very quickly as well. He saw us at the last second and went to the shoulder on our right. Had he not done so we most certainly would have hit him head on. It can happen so fast you cannot even react. The general attitude towards motorcyclist ( not bikers ) is simply terrible. Always, always, always, ride alert. Most people are aware and alert, but the others will kill you.

[movenon]

Good points to bring up.  Everybody please ride safe.  Expect anything from anybody at anytime.  Assume you are invisible and ride accordingly. The invisibility thing does not apply to LEO"S.. Sorry about that.
George

[Troyskie]

Randy, huge condolences to you and the family buddy. You are absolutely right, every cage rider is out to get you, we must look out for ourselves, and ATGATT.

[jo-sommer]

Late concolences to your loss, Randy and all the best for Robert's quick recovery.

I know all this mess quite well; broke my spine just one and a half year ago cause of a picture of a nice landscape, just got rid of all those metal in my back.

Ride safe everybody out there!

Greetz Jo

[racerrad8]

Well, today I really seemed to be off. I was having issues of all sorts and I just seemed to be misguided. I even told Robert a couple of times today that I was stressed out today.

I had to go home today to meet with a delivery driver. I drove through the intersection where my brother in law lost his life due to a driver of a car that turned left in front of him.

The white paint dots painted on the road indicating the locked wheel skid have been fading now for two years, but today the seemed to really be standing out.

When I got home tonight my wife was quiet...

I asked what was wrong and she reminded me it is the day of the crash...two years ago...right now.

Guys, I want to say it again; please ride like everyone in a car will not see you and then can kill you.

From the distracted drivers, the elderly and the ever increasing impaired drivers.

Ride smart, give every single car a wide berth and just remember...every car is going to turn left in front of you.

Ride safe, ride cautious and ride prepared.

AGATT.

Randy - RPM

[PaulG]

Guys, I want to say it again; please ride like everyone in a car will not see you and then can kill you.

From the distracted drivers, the elderly and the ever increasing impaired drivers.

Ride smart, give every single car a wide berth and just remember...every car is going to turn left in front of you.

Ride safe, ride cautious and ride prepared.

AGATT.

Randy - RPM

This is especially true with those of us who have a prolonged off-season.  It's been at least seven months since I've been on the bike due to winter and maintenance.  This week I will get her out for the first time.

There is always a certain level of paranoia at the beginning - more so with myself as opposed to the bike.  I know it will run fine, me - not so much.  For those who enjoy year round (or close enough to it) riding conditions this may be taken for granted.  The enthusiasm to get out and make up for lost time can  overwhelm your sensibilities.

So take it easy, re-learn what you have forgotton - especially your muscle memory.  Go to an empty parking lot and practice some panic stops, acceleration, and countersteering techniques.  Your body and brain has to get used to doing things usually opposite to how you drive a car.

I'll see some of you guys real soon.

Ciao. 

[Pat Conlon]

Go to an empty parking lot and practice some panic stops, acceleration, and countersteering techniques. 

Spot on Paul

Practice, practice, practice.....and practice some more.

[Zwartie]

Exactly! That can't be stressed enough. Did anyone mention practice? We tell our students in the motorcycle course that they should take their own bike to a parking lot, empty road or wherever so they can practice braking quickly, swerving and of course slow-speed maneuvers (clutch control and eye-lead). We're fairly early into the motorcycle season here in SW Ontario and there have already been four (4) motorcycle related deaths. Not a good start. There was a recent news article that showed that just over half of motorcycle related deaths are not the fault of the motorcyclist. That being said, if you stay alert and vigilant you can greatly reduce the risk of getting into an accident. Just giving yourself enough space (and time) between you and the other vehicles out there will greatly increase your ability to take evasive maneuvers when required. Keep the tricks and stunts for the track.

Oh, and in case it hasn't been mentioned yet - practice, practice, practice!

Zwartie

Go to an empty parking lot and practice some panic stops, acceleration, and countersteering techniques. 

Spot on Paul

Practice, practice, practice.....and practice some more.