Small Tribute

[Sniper]

Sorry to hear that, its sad when a great biker who was also a great friend passes away. All my best to Chic'c'charge, Stevo, Kickaha and Collins wife.

And may you never forget what a great man he was

[TonyB]

Tragic news. Sincere condolences to Kickaha, chick n charge, stevo and all other family and freinds.

[Kickaha]

A Sidecar rider died a few days ago

His name was Colin Hooper and at the age of 66 was still racing Sidecars
he was for a person I had immense respect for and had contributed a lot to my enjoyment of sidecar racing,I was riding one of his outfits that day and challenging him for 2nd place when I saw him go into the wall

I don’t know if there’s a good way to die, but Colin died doing the things he loved
He died going hard and fast on a sidecar that he loved to race and running up towards the front of the field
He died at a track he’d had a big input into constructing and maintaining
And he died with his partner by his side

We got the accident scene within seconds of it happening and another crew was already there and doing what they could, his partner Gloria was on a flag point a hundred metres from the accident and saw it happen and was there as fast as she could and although it seemed an eternity the ambulance arrived quite quickly we stood by the side of the track as they administered CPR and his partner held his hand asked him not to die and we knew then that it wasn’t good and we stood there feeling helpless and angry that this would happen to such a person

I made a call to his Kelly his stepdaughter who was closer to him than his own family and who I used to race with and told her that he’d been badly injured and thought that she should come from Picton to be there and to go straight to the hospital, we watched them work on him and realised there was nothing to be gained by staying there and we then packed our gear and loaded his smashed outfit and went back to the pits, not long after we got word that he’d died at the scene and I called her again and told her the bad news, I didn’t know how to put it and when she answered I just blurted it out “He’s died, they resuscitated him but he’s died”.

I made some other calls the same and the general reaction was,” you’re bloody joking” as if I or anyone else would make something like that up

Soon a couple of others that had known and raced with him arrived and we stood around the pits and made small talk and their was an air of disbelief that such a thing could happen when the day had been going so well for everyone, he’d been talking to my swingers mother not long before we went out and had remarked to her how well we were riding and that was high praise indeed from him.

The police came out and took statements and details to investigate the crash and we made small talk amongst ourselves and pondered our racing future, but you know what? First chance I get I’ll be back out and going as hard and fast as I dare and while it’ll always be in the back of my mind I won’t stop doing the sport I love, he’d had friends die while racing and he’d carried on and he’d expect us to as well and we will.

I’ve cried a bucket load since it happened and are still struggling to come to terms with it and why it happened, but all I know is my world is a poorer place with his passing .

[Joni]

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Sincere condolences.

Life is so short, none of us know when our time will be up. Let's spend whatever time we have wisely.
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Amen Lynda, could not say it better myself.

My consolences to all.

[Ms Piggy]

A Sidecar rider died a few days ago

His name was Colin Hooper and at the age of 66 was still racing Sidecars
he was for a person I had immense respect for and had contributed a lot to my enjoyment of sidecar racing,I was riding one of his outfits that day and challenging him for 2nd place when I saw him go into the wall

I don’t know if there’s a good way to die, but Colin died doing the things he loved
He died going hard and fast on a sidecar that he loved to race and running up towards the front of the field
He died at a track he’d had a big input into constructing and maintaining
And he died with his partner by his side

We got the accident scene within seconds of it happening and another crew was already there and doing what they could, his partner Gloria was on a flag point a hundred metres from the accident and saw it happen and was there as fast as she could and although it seemed an eternity the ambulance arrived quite quickly we stood by the side of the track as they administered CPR and his partner held his hand asked him not to die and we knew then that it wasn’t good and we stood there feeling helpless and angry that this would happen to such a person

I made a call to his Kelly his stepdaughter who was closer to him than his own family and who I used to race with and told her that he’d been badly injured and thought that she should come from Picton to be there and to go straight to the hospital, we watched them work on him and realised there was nothing to be gained by staying there and we then packed our gear and loaded his smashed outfit and went back to the pits, not long after we got word that he’d died at the scene and I called her again and told her the bad news, I didn’t know how to put it and when she answered I just blurted it out “He’s died, they resuscitated him but he’s died”.

I made some other calls the same and the general reaction was,” you’re bloody joking” as if I or anyone else would make something like that up

Soon a couple of others that had known and raced with him arrived and we stood around the pits and made small talk and their was an air of disbelief that such a thing could happen when the day had been going so well for everyone, he’d been talking to my swingers mother not long before we went out and had remarked to her how well we were riding and that was high praise indeed from him.

The police came out and took statements and details to investigate the crash and we made small talk amongst ourselves and pondered our racing future, but you know what? First chance I get I’ll be back out and going as hard and fast as I dare and while it’ll always be in the back of my mind I won’t stop doing the sport I love, he’d had friends die while racing and he’d carried on and he’d expect us to as well and we will.

I’ve cried a bucket load since it happened and are still struggling to come to terms with it and why it happened, but all I know is my world is a poorer place with his passing .

Well said my friend.

[dangerous]

Well said my friend.

and it bloody well was too.......aye

[Biff]

Respect and sincere condolences to all.
W - my PM says it all.

[gav]

KIckaha, mate, beautiful, I know how hard that must have been, take care buddy, anything I can do, just let me know....

[Ms Piggy]

I suggested this to Kickaha and also asked Stevo but, I was wondering if we post our condolences so they can then be printed off and sent to Gloria for her to keep.

[2_SL0]

Sad news, my thoughts go out to the family and friends.

[Will]

A Sidecar rider died a few days ago.....
but all I know is my world is a poorer place with his passing .

Sad news but try to think of how much richer your lives have been for knowing him.

[RiderInBlack]

Sorry to hear that another top bloke has past away. Thanks Kickaha for sharing what happen. Must of been hard being there.

Just a query (no need to answer), but I was wondering how is his sidecar partner. Didn't catch what happen to him/her ( just kick me, OK)?

[Sensei]

Sorry to hear . Condolences to all Family & close friends . My you find Happyness in his memorys

[Ghost Lemur]

Can't really think to of anything much to add that hasn't been aloquantly said by others already.

Kickaha, please foward all our condolences to his wife. And let her know that the KBers are all behind her.

If there's anything else they need, whether it be to take up a collection, or celebrate his life with a fun ride, etc, let us know.

I have the utmost admiration for anyone who can live and die with passion. A person who legacy of inspiration, mentoring, or merely companionship, out weighs the sum of the indervidual acts themselves. Colin sounds like such a man.

[Ms Piggy]

I suggested this to Kickaha and also asked Stevo but, I was wondering if we post our condolences so they can then be printed off and sent to Gloria for her to keep.

Ok - Stevo has asked me to go ahead and gather condolences and post them off. People can either post them here or PM me with them. The funeral is on Friday, so it would be great to have it all done to send to Gloria on Saturday.

I'm not a computer whizz so I was just going to print off what people post, if anyone has a better suggestion please let me know. I know it was done for that couple who were hospitalised but I'm not sure what the procedure was.

Cheers all.