I must be getting OLD... I have been racing since I was 17. I professionally roadrace motorcycles (in my spare time!!). I race all over the country and am ranked 'expert' in my division. I won 3 regional championships and two National championships last year alone. This year I have lost my drive and have missed 2 of the first 3 races.
This past Jan. 5 I lost my mother to an automobile crash. She would never come to watch me race because she was afraid of me getting hurt. Two years ago in Sept. I lost a friend to a motorcycle crash on the street. My mother and I were at the hospital after his crash and she asked me to quit racing. I told her I couldn't.
I'm not sure what is happening to my lust for speed. There is no equal feeling to speeding down the back straight at Road Atlanta at over 150 mph with 50 guys chasing you down. That's me - 301 - at RA.
My mothers accident made me realize how quick things can change. I have a wife and two children. I don't want to miss them growing up. I'm pretty confused and I miss my mom. Does anyone else on this board race and get the same feelings???
Here is a link to my race team if anyone is interested: Team Pure Sports Designs Posted by Bill Foshay (Member # 4526) on :
I still own my RD 250 street bike I bought as a kid, much to the consternation of the parental force.As I get older I have less and less desire to ride it on the street. It seems many of the roads are in much worse condition, and the drivers out there are just plain clueless as to bikes.
The bike has been stored for most of the last decade, and I'll probably put it up for sale whenever I figure out where to maximize the price I get.
Getting older sometimes stinks...
Just maybe, someone is trying to tell you something. Follow your instincts..
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
My suggestion is you find another outlet to give you the fulfillment you need. Your family is too important for you to take the risks that you do.
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
Bill
I haven't rode on the street for nearly 5 years. In my opinion, I feel safer on the track. There are too many gray hairs with blinders on that will pull out in front of you. (If anyone here fits into that category I'm sorry if I offend you, I just don't trust you on the street)
I am a part time instructor for SportBike Track Time, which is an on track school for street riders. We teach you the proper way to corner, brake, etc. Most people tend to think this is for racing only, but everything we teach can be used to make you a safer rider on the street.
Teaching may be my way to keep the speed, just not rubbing elbows for the lead.
Posted by faye adele welsh (Member # 4164) on :
i was just going to post that you should share your skills. you know in your heart what is best for yourself. sometimes it is just "a time out", other times it is a directive to spare you pain. it takes wisdom to know the difference and courage to accept it. enjoy watching youth, and teach them what you know. it is greatly rewarding.fiddles Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Jerry, I've been around racing in one form or another for 45 years. You know the answer already. If your head is not in it, it's gonna cost you, dedication and concentration. Worrying about getting hurt and how that will affect your family will cause you (subconsciously ) to ride cautiuosly, loose your rythm, brake earlier...you know where I'm going here. Racing is all attitude, there is a saying, "if you go to the track expecting to lose...you will" The same goes for crashing, if that's on your mind it WILL affect your riding/driving. Back in the old days of stock cars, before they had the five point harnesses, you would see guys have a bad crash and then return to the track weeks later. They would develop a style called "getting up on the wheel"...they leaned far forward , close to the steering wheel....they were afraid of crashing. They never were the same drivers, being overly cautious and...well they crashed a lot.
Go out on top and be happy.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Jerry, I used to race jetskis.
I'm still involved in the sport but I don't race. It became so stinkin' expensive to maintain and operate a 1200cc, 240HP fire breathing dragon.. $300-$1000 *every* weekend just to keep the engine together, not even including other parts for the boat, fuel costs, travel costs, the insurance, race fees and sanction fees, etc etc.. plus the fact the boat I have is no longer remotely competitive against the newer models because of the hull design... plus I got really fat which doesn't make things any easier.
I still have the beast but it's greatly de-tuned for recreational riding now.
If anyone reading this is into motocross, we just had a regional jetski race here this weekend and Jeremy McGrath made his debut on the water. Now that he's off the dirt he's decided to come join us in the water. He had the BIGGEST grin on his face after finishing his first race yesterday too.
Posted by Jeremy Vecoli (Member # 2278) on :
I eagerly got my private pilot's license in 1995, racked up about 150 hours and then noticed I was finding more & more excuses to not go flying, I finally realized that flying was stressing me out because deep down I knew that flying was serious business and I needed to give it 100% of my attention or risk an accident. I had too many interests competing for my attention, especially martial arts, and I have not flown for several years now. I hope to fly again when I can commit to a large amount of flying time, going up just once or twice a summer is a recipe for disaster.
I have studied & sometimes taught various martial arts off & on for over 20 years, lots of fun & never a serious injury. About a month ago I accidentally broke my training partner's forearm during Ju-Jitsu practice- a clean break of the radius bone that people heard 10' away. I felt horrible and was freaked out, and the poor guy was a good sport about the whole thing, which just made me feel worse.
I have now found myself wondering if I need a "time-out" from martial arts also. I am certainly not as enthusiastic about it lately, but I have 6 years of training invested at my current school. After I finish testing for my black belt in Ju-Jitsu this fall, I am going to take time off and concentrate on other things for a while. My body can't take much more anyway...
Not sure if I could give up the motorcycle yet...
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Jerry, although I'm no where near the caliber of racer that you are . . .I understand the "need for speed" just by bein' one of those people who likes to look over at someone at a red light, rev, wink and go for it . . . . (ah, the good ol' days when we drag-raced right through the middle of town.)
In '95 I had the priviledge of bein' asked to drive the dirt-track, Monte Carlo SS that I kept lettered-up every year . . . . I wanted to drive it SO bad!!
I thought of every reason why I COULD do it and it would be ok, but . . . . what held me back was my two girls . . . I kno' I could go out here and get killed in my own drive-way . . . but I just can't let myself ADD to all the existing possibilities around me.
If I go like that...in some heinous way, it won't be because I was taking out of the ordinary chances . . . although, I'm not livin' afraid to cut-up a little either . . .I personally have had SO many chances and close calls due to my craziness that I don't really wanna find out where the cards get bad.
I think all this has somethin' to do with the base-survival instinct that becoming a parent brings on, along with all the responsibilities we have. At some point, the "racing" I do is to see how fast I can pay-off some bill.
After all these years I can not add on both hands all the loved ones I have lost, mostly to some foolishness . . .
I think as we get older and wiser things that please us and get us high would be our thankfulness to still be alive, our kids, future hope of grand-kids and doin' things that make us reflect on the brevity of life . . .like floatin' down the river all day . . . .or otherwise spendin' quality time WITH family ...not them just sittin' there watchin' me do whatever it is I enjoy . . .
Posted by Bill Foshay (Member # 4526) on :
For any one who is into the "adrenalin rush" remember there is a reason for it. It's your body telling you DANGER....STOP NOW!!
I had a friend who left behind a wife and two little ones earlier this year. He was 40 something, and a very successful dental supply tech. He was well on the way to being a self made millionaire, but he had the need for speed.
One miscalculation on the speed of his sled, on nonforgiving conditions, led to his demise sitting several feet from the tree that killed him.
He left behind a wife, and two very little kids that miss their daddy very much.
Fun.. but at what cost?
Something to think about for any parents out there.
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
Life insurance for the family. You have to be who you are one way or the other. Gotta die of something and if it makes you happy then thats ok.
2,000 skydives and I'm still alive although I retired two years ago only because I lost my passion for it. Started riding again and that became my new passion. 17,000 hard riding aggressive miles in the past two years and the first accident in over 30 years. Had to happen sooner or later. Here's what went down.
at first I said I wouldnt ride again but I hear voices telling me to buy another bike. I'm sure I will because it makes me feel like I'm alive. I know what its like to be on a bike doing 170 mph...Words can't describe it. I've always said it aint about the quantity of life but about the quality of life.
No regrets here....I could die tomorrow and I honestly am cool with that. I feel more sorry for the people who waste a lifetime living in fear.
[ June 07, 2004, 10:31 PM: Message edited by: Bob Stephens ]
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
I read all your posts and think how many of them mirror my need for speed. I have on several occasions stopped at the local airport to get info about getting my pilots licsence. I am currently doing Shotokan Karate two times a week and getting ready to test for my GREEN BELT. I take my Artic Cat SNO-PRO snowmobile to Michgan and blitz through the trails at 80+ MPH.
I need to find an adrenaline tablet. They would be MUCH CHEAPER, and safer than most of my hobbies!!
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
bob
I checked out your post on your broken leg. You're a pretty lucky man!!! I hope things have healed up well with no lasting complications.
My worst injury on my bike was a lowside crash at Mid-Ohio Motorsports Course at the turn called 'the keyhole'. There are concrete/asphalt transitions in the middle of the turn. I was cranked over with my knee on the ground and my front tire lost traction. My shoulder hit the pavement and I tumbled into the grass following my bike. When I went to get up I could not move my arm. I thought I had broken my collar bone, I ended up dis-locating my shoulder. 10 days later I raced at Nelson Ledges Road Course near Cleveland Ohio. I had to lift my right hand to the throttle with my left hand, but once the green flag flew I didn't feel much pain. I ran 3 races that day, two second place finishes and one third place finish. I was in a lot of pain Monday morning!!! I feel safer on a track than I do on the street.
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
There's no doubt you're safer on the track than on the street. But I've always enjoyed the freedom on the road that you have when riding a bike. I learned a long time ago to expect someone would try and kill me. So you learn to be defensive while riding offensive. Its a 50/50 crap shoot I guess.
Some of us were meant to experience life and the rest were meant to fear it. I'm sure glad I took the risk I've taken. I smile when I think about my life.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Some of the crashes I've taken while on a jetski would make you think those things came with "EJECT" buttons, but the worst part of the crash is when your helmet grabs the water and snaps your neck back. Well... I guess the guy that was right on your tail now running over your head would be another sucky part too....
Something else that really gets the adrenaline going - hop on a road race bicycle, charge down a steep curvy hill and watch as the cyclocomputer nears 50MPH. That's scary as hell cause you really have absolutely no control at that point, your only thought is that your brakes will stop you before you reach the busy intersection at the bottom of the hill - 'cept you're going so fast that reaching for the brake levers could make you wipe out.
Now tackle that same giant hill on a pair of rollerblades and all bets are off - I think I still have rocks embedded under my skin from that experience.
These days, welding without a helmet on is enough thrill for me.
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