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Jackrat
6th April 2004, 15:55
It shouldn't come as any suprise to anyone thats been a member of this site for long that I don't like guys that ride fast.If it does come as a suprise,read this it may help you understand.
Easter 1985 and two other guys and myself are heading to Wellington for a club reunion.The trip was pretty uneventfull until we got to the turn off to foxton beach.The GSX1100 rider who was a good mate of mine kept leaving us behind so he didn't see when we pulled over for gas at the foxton intersection.Now I think it was Foxton but it could of been one of the other beach turn offs in that area,those of you who live down that way will know the place.The gas station is directly across the road from the intersection.
I filled up and then parked beside the Armco outside the gas station while waiting for my mate to finish doing his thing.As I'm siting waiting I see the 1100 in the distance as he has finaly worked out we arn't with him,and he's coming back looking for us.As I watch I can see he is coming real fast,what I didn't see until the last second was the Austin 1100 towing the 21foot trailer sailer coming up behind me.I guess the 1100 rider didn't notice him either,or if he did he sure didn't exspect what happened next.Just as the bike came level with the intersection the Austin turned right in front of him.I saw the whole thing unfold like some real bad nitemare and I can still see every little detail today.Of course he had no chance,He hit the Austin and bounced off that into the front of the boat,tore a big chuck off the front of the boat an then flew thru' the air an landed right in front of me,like two meters away.
I stepped out into the road and almost got collected by a car coming up behind me,I heard the noise and turned in time to see the tyre smoke and wide eyes of the driver but it didn't sink in until a couple of hours later.
I just ignored the car that had almost hit me an walked over to check out my mate.He was lying on his back but both legs were pointing the wrong way,All down the right side of his body looked like he had been done by a cheese grater.Just as I bent over to open his visor he gave a cough and blood gushed out of his mouth filling his helmet.He didn't move again after that and I just stood there like a stunned mullet.The next ten minites was real strange as some woman who said she was a nurse tryed to give him CPR,we could hear the broken bits inside him crunching as this dumb thing pushed on his chest.Then my other mate noticed the driver of the Austin siting on the road side crying,I had to drag him away as he was screaming abuse in the guys face and was set to smash him.I got him settled down and we both went an sat in the grass beside the gas station while the Cops showed up an got it sorted.The Cop had obviously seen it all before,he parked his car got out took one look,chucked a blanket over the body and then just sat in his car waiting the Ambo'.Another cop took statments from me and another couple of people who saw the whole thing and that was the last I ever heard of it,I don,t even know what happened to the Austin driver.What I do know about is the riders two kids and wife.At the service for him I could hardly look her in the eye and his kids were only two and three years old.The other guy there that day didn't even show at the sevice as he was to shattered by the whole thing.I have no problem with that as I almost didn't make it myself.
Easter has a whole different meaning to that woman and her two kids today.
It does to me as well,it used to be the big ride weekend,now it's just the weekend ##### died, I don't ride Easter weekend anymore.Not ever!!

750Y
6th April 2004, 16:08
a sobering story.. be careful out there people.

Angry Puppy
6th April 2004, 16:11
Sobering indeed. Adds perspective to the various speed and accident related topics.

Fazer Bloke

KATWYN
6th April 2004, 16:16
I can't believe you still ride a m/bike after witnessing that event.

Hitcher
6th April 2004, 16:28
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And hopefully helps you keep things in perspective. There are nearly as many people die from influenza and food poisoning each year in New Zealand than are killed on the roads, and probably even more from "hump attacks", but I still intend to eat, breathe, ride motorbikes and enjoy other pleasures that may potentially prove fatal!

Carpe diem!

k14
6th April 2004, 16:46
Woah, thats pretty sad to hear. Do you have an estimate on what speed he was doing?

Its storys like those that make me slow down and that are the best for getting the message through. I read a bit by bit account about this girl that went wide on a corner and hit a truck and came with an inch of dieing. It had a full account of her recovery etc, not nice to hear.

Cheers Jackrat.

Motoracer
6th April 2004, 17:03
Thank you for shareing your experience with us Jack. All of us can learn and benifit from this. I feel that this specially makes me want to stick to the speed limit within populated areas and intersections etc.

Hitcher is right as well. We can't stop living because of the fear of dieing. A good mate of mine just had an accident cause of some dumb ***** who did a Uie infront of him. He is someone, who I consider to be one of the top road riders out there. If it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone. My mate was only saved cause he wears the right gear all the time.

All we can really do is eliminate the harmful factors (full protection, speed limiting according to enviroment etc) as much as we can and move on with our lives.

Big Dog
6th April 2004, 17:23
Same sort of reason I don't like christmas or drink driving.
We are our own best freinds and our own worst enemies.

I don't ride a lot at christmas, mainly cos I'm in no condition to.
I just hope you lot remember the dangers when you egg on newbies.

Ms Piggy
6th April 2004, 17:48
Thanks for sharing that Jackrat - I can't imagine it would be an easy thing to put down on paper (so to speak). :disapint: Cheers for being honest & open enough to share such a personal event.

SPman
6th April 2004, 19:05
Woah, thats pretty sad to hear. Do you have an estimate on what
speed he was doing?
Cheers Jackrat.
Does it really matter? Fast!


I can't believe you still ride a m/bike after witnessing that event.
Something like that is totally shattering, but life goes on and what would, not riding, acheive? But, it certainly affects your outlook on things.

Dad gave up riding after seeing his mate killed and nearly being done in, himself, in 1939. He wishes he didnt!

A sobering account, Jack. Thanks.

speedpro
6th April 2004, 22:51
Unfortunate story. This sort of experiance has taught me to always expect the other person to do the most unlikely thing. Which is why I always pay lots of attention and give a wide berth to parked cars with drivers in them and at intersections always expect the other vehicle to act as if I'm not there. It happened a few times when I was less experianced and I've had "close" calls basically because I was expecting it.

Riders who try and place the blame totally on the car driver who pulled in front of them, even if it was a typical case of "I didn't see him", need to know that it is up to the rider to avoid the accident as other vehicles are always going to be pulling out and the rider is the one who will end up in hospital. I'm sure there's a better way of wording this but riders must take some responsibility knowing that there is an increased likelihood of this sort of thing when you are on your bike versus in the car.

Lou Girardin
7th April 2004, 06:43
For every story like this, there are thousands who don't die. My mate died travelling at the speed limit, after 25 years of hooning around.
There's a time, place and method for enjoying speed. That wasn't one of them.
Lou

James Deuce
7th April 2004, 07:26
Thanks for that Jackrat. Timely reminder, especially given the way the roads are over Easter.

The Nurse was legally obligated to attempt CPR. If she hadn't and it was proved she was at the accident she may have lost her registration.

bluninja
8th April 2004, 09:32
Sobering stuff JR. This week a 32 year old lady in the next road died failing to negotiate a bend and hit a tree, and a 51 year old died, also hitting a tree failing to make a bend....don't know the speed they were travelling, but it was enough to kill them.

I can only imagine how this has affected you....driving along the road where I hit a tractor with my bike, (going below the speed limit) I still get anxious and worried...even in a car and thats 2.5 years gone by.
TTFN

Jackrat
8th April 2004, 19:34
Don't really know what to say to most of the questions and replys.
I think maybe Lou' has it right,Things happen and life goes on.
The incident did affect me in a number of ways but most I couldn't put into words.I was having a bad day when I started this thread and now if I could go back and unwrite it I would.
Maybe if somebody got something from it,it was worth it.

Motu
8th April 2004, 20:02
It was a good thought provoking post Jack,I'm glad you wrote it - I haven't had to come across someone dying in front of me,but quite a few of my friends and aquaintances have passed away in various ways,and if they didn't have to it makes you wonder what if....?

And when you see someone do something stupid that killed a friend,you feel like killing them anyway.Many years ago a couple of guys were killed on a Duke on the Greenhite Bridge - they were people I vaguely knew,like I had met them.Only a few weeks later one of my brothers in law came down there at 140mph,with my other 14 yr old bro in law on the back - I was spewing - but it fell on deaf ears,they thought it was fun...oh well.....

James Deuce
8th April 2004, 20:21
Don't really know what to say to most of the questions and replys.
I think maybe Lou' has it right,Things happen and life goes on.
The incident did affect me in a number of ways but most I couldn't put into words.I was having a bad day when I started this thread and now if I could go back and unwrite it I would.
Maybe if somebody got something from it,it was worth it.

Don't stress mate - It's good to get stuff off your chest. We know you a bit better now too.

dangerous
8th April 2004, 22:00
Emmmm......and you know its not just speed, sports bikes or big cubes that can kill you. I have had 2 mates die on 50's one on a steppie in town he was staionary an run over from behind and the other guy was on a RG50 on his way to the brass monkey he was trying for the furtherest traveled on the smallest bike, needlest to say he wasent even doing the speed limit and a car turned in frount of him.

But more recently I had a good mate die but it wasent on his MG1100 sport but in a top dresser plane while at work near Castle Point 2 years ago (thanks to some dip shit meachnic). He left a new born and a little girl.
So when I remember him, its on the bike. I ride for him and I appreseate the good innings and the good times we had riding our bikes.

KATWYN
8th April 2004, 22:08
THE BIGGEST RISK IN LIFE....IS NOT TAKING ONE

SPman
8th April 2004, 22:13
THE BIGGEST RISK IN LIFE....IS NOT TAKING ONE

.............................http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_3_20.gif

shafty
8th April 2004, 22:51
Sorry to read your story and thanks for sharing it - sorry to hear about your mate.

Considering myself lucky to make this age, I try to ride a lot, and to take calculated risks. I'll have a short ride this weekend, but am really wary of the 'craziness' that pervades over weekends like this. I like to avoid doing what every one else does any way, but am 'specially aware of the situations that can arise with big traffic volumes of tin tops on "crazy" weekends like this.

Ride to remember ya mate

Shafty

Ms Piggy
9th April 2004, 09:58
if I could go back and unwrite it I would.
Maybe if somebody got something from it,it was worth it.

Hey Jackrat,
I don't think anything you wrote in the thread was inappropriate and it doesn't need to be changed at all.

I got something from it and for all the KBers that have replied there will lots who read it and were also given something to think about.

It's good to get a story from someone who has been there, it makes it more real than "I had a mate who was there when his mate was killed speeding on his motorbike" It doesn't quite have the same impact.

So, thanks again :niceone:

What?
9th April 2004, 19:57
Damned right. Thanks, Jack. You seem to have said more than you actually put down.

Kwaka-Kid
9th April 2004, 20:31
im with you what?. just amazing story... sinks in, gives me those funny shivers down the spine.

Firefight
10th April 2004, 08:48
Jack , thank you for sharing this story with us, I can fully understand how you felt, In 18 years as a professional firefighter I have seen many horrible and needless deaths, however an event that affected me deeply occurred while I was off duty, about 8-9 years ago while travelling Whangaeri to Auckland, I came across a two up motorcycle crash just south of Wellsford.

The bike had been north bound, at est speed of 170 ish, went into loose metal LH side of road, up a bank and became airbourne impacting on a large pine tree on rh side of road approx 200m from first point of hitting the metal. There is no point in graphically detailing the extent of the injuries, nor would it be approprate to devulge details of the people involved or the condition of rider or bike , what I can say as that despite efforts of myself(ex ambo) local doctor and an a&e nurse who was passing the rider passed away. The pillon, much younger also suffered hurrendous(sp?) injuries, survied, after a long time in intensive care.this being a credit to the dedication and skill of the ICU staff at AK hos.

A day after the incident I was contacted by the family of the pillon, who asked to meet with me, we meet at the bedside of the patient in ICU, normaly in our line of work we would not do this, but at the time the Doctors did not excpect the patient to recover, and the family needed to try and have contact with the last person who had been with the pillon.

This incident has had a lasting impact of me, I no longer ride up north(some may consider that stupid), I did try , onetime Big Dog and I rode up SH one to wellsford and back down 16, I remember feeling sick as we passed the spot marked by the cross, and did not enjoy my lunch, BD may have found it hard to undestand at the time why I did not accept his offer to stop for a chat and a drink when we got back to West Ak.

So thats my story,This is the first time I have told it to so many, and I feel better for having done so, It has not cooled my love of bikes, nor will I stop rideing, I consider myself to be a average rider, and I ride reasonably fast, I hope to for as long as I am able.

Firefight.

Jackrat
10th April 2004, 10:46
Jack , thank you for sharing this story with us, I can fully understand how you felt, In 18 years as a professional firefighter I have seen many horrible and needless deaths, however an event that affected me deeply occurred while I was off duty, about 8-9 years ago while travelling Whangaeri to Auckland, I came across a two up motorcycle crash just south of Wellsford.

The bike had been north bound, at est speed of 170 ish, went into loose metal LH side of road, up a bank and became airbourne impacting on a large pine tree on rh side of road approx 200m from first point of hitting the metal. There is no point in graphically detailing the extent of the injuries, nor would it be approprate to devulge details of the people involved or the condition of rider or bike , what I can say as that despite efforts of myself(ex ambo) local doctor and an a&e nurse who was passing the rider passed away. The pillon, much younger also suffered hurrendous(sp?) injuries, survied, after a long time in intensive care.this being a credit to the dedication and skill of the ICU staff at AK hos.

A day after the incident I was contacted by the family of the pillon, who asked to meet with me, we meet at the bedside of the patient in ICU, normaly in our line of work we would not do this, but at the time the Doctors did not excpect the patient to recover, and the family needed to try and have contact with the last person who had been with the pillon.

This incident has had a lasting impact of me, I no longer ride up north(some may consider that stupid), I did try , onetime Big Dog and I rode up SH one to wellsford and back down 16, I remember feeling sick as we passed the spot marked by the cross, and did not enjoy my lunch, BD may have found it hard to undestand at the time why I did not accept his offer to stop for a chat and a drink when we got back to West Ak.

So thats my story,This is the first time I have told it to so many, and I feel better for having done so, It has not cooled my love of bikes, nor will I stop rideing, I consider myself to be a average rider, and I ride reasonably fast, I hope to for as long as I am able.

Firefight.

Mate, folks like you will probably never get the full credit you deserve but I can tell you now, you have my utmost respect.
Keep up the good work and thanks.

Antallica
10th April 2004, 10:58
Yes Northland isn't exactly the best place for bikers huh. Thanks for sharing with us guys, this is only my second year on bikes but I plan to have plenty more, and at the speed limit ;).

Save it for the track & enjoy the legal ride and it's scenery.
"Live long and prosper!" ;)