My Tribute to Uncle B - Please add your own!

[Lissa]

I remember the first time I met Uncle B was in Martinborough along with Skelstar.

This big tall man who strode up to me, and talked to me about which bike to purchase. Which incidentally he told me NOT to get a GN250, but later changed his mind. Every time I saw him he would pester and pester me about when I was getting my bike, and when I finally did, he named her Elvira. I just couldn't get over why a complete stranger would go out of his way to give me pointers and tips about riding. Would come to my house and ride with me a little ways. He even rode to Masterton and escorted me to the October Sprints, for payment of chocolate muffins.

I found out he had died at Martinborough with Skelstar, through Flames Txt. We sat in Martinborough for a very long time thinking about him.

The most patient and thoughtful guy I have ever known. He told me about how he was mentoring Hels whom at that time I hadn't meet yet... and he told me to get in touch with Trudes, and how she would look after me on the chicks ride we had planned before he passed.... always, always thinking of others. Just wish I knew him longer.

[MSTRS:Me]

I met Bruce many times on here, but only once in person. It would be difficult to find a finer bloke. A little bit of me died when I heard the news, and it's remains gives me a tweak at odd times. We all miss you, Bruce.

[Colapop]

I met Bruce at the top of the Rimutakas. I knew nobody. I'd had the RF for about a week and was still getting used to riding a 'real' bike again. I pulled into the carpark and sat on my bike feeling like shit. I'd just rode up the 'taka's for the first time and was all over the show (I'm not that much better now!) Bruce came over and said gidday. He was from the flash bike group over there. He asked me about my bike and where I was off to. I told him I was gonna turn around and head home coz I was a bit freaked out. We talked about riding and he offered to follow me down to Featherston and back up to see if there was anything he could help with. It was funny coz his offer was not in an arrogant "I'm a shit hot rider" kind of way, it was like "Hey, maybe I can help." I'm forever greatful for that help.

Bruce was a shit hot rider and a great guy. Ride well, mate.

[cowpoos]

Bruce was one of the good guys/top blokes you meet in life...met him on many occasions while I was living down the cool end of the country!! admired by sooo many people for the person he was..and by myself for putting such a awesome effort into teaching so many so much..and his humour was a winner!!

I was sitting in a paddock outside my house in the rapa in the sun with drew...having a few beers and yakking about LB and DSS3 when drew got the call..I was confussed to start with..thinking drew had it wrong! was a hard week...hard to believe..

Last road ride I did at that stage was with Uncle B..random meeting at featherston red pub..and off we went..

A sorely missed brother for sure!!

[SPman]

I only met Bruce a few times and rode with him, but once.

Nothing I could say would be as eloquent as Jims initial thread on the day........

[Pex Adams]

Many times have I wanted to give you all an insight into the Bruce that I know, and many times I've just found it to hard to do.

This past year has been a really lonely year, with missing a guy who should have been there at my wedding, at my house warming, and especially moving me out of the old place...

Today is the anniversary of the worst day in my life, and for some of you, you feel the same.

Please ride smooth and safe. Thats all he ever want

[bull]

I was fortunate enough to have met Bruce, about a month before he passed away. He had pm'd me to say hed be happy to mentor me. He came up to my place one night for my first ride and took me to the local car park to teach me emergency braking. I was as green as a noob could be and had lots of questions to ask UncleB and he answered them all without making me feel like an idiot. Spent a good hour down there at the car park an then he escorted me home, came inside and had a drink and we chatted a bit more about riding.

My partner Aroha asked Bruce lots of questions also and she told us both that she was happy that Bruce was going to mentor me. Bruce being the cat lover he was was immediately attracted to our friendly black cats and enjoyed having them purring away as he patted them. As we talked about biking he mentioned that he was also mentoring Lissa and Str8 and how he was really impressed with the progress you had made.. He left later that night and we agreed to meet up again the following week - not the Monday though coz he always had dinner with his mum and dad on Mondays.

We decided we would meet at the local car park again and he would take me up and over the blue mountains road. This was daunting for me as i had only been around the local streets getting use to the bike. As i was waiting at the car park in rolled Bruce on his black Gixxer. He stopped, took off his jacket and rolled the obligatory ciggy and tole me he was waiting for another rider to show up too. On this night i got to meet Pex Adams. So off we headed for blue mountains road and on the way up Bruce pulls over to say he needed petrol, so Pete then took over as escort and took me through the rest of the way to Mangaroa turn off. We stopped and chatted and waited for Bruce to show up and he did within a very short time, oh the speeds he must have been doing.

We then tootle off towards Maymorn and then pulled in at the top of Timberlea to say our farewells. That night was the last ride i had with Bruce, and i loved every minute of it. The day Bruce died im sure i saw him heading towards the takas as i was heading towards the haywards to go upto Waikanae with my family. I gave him a wave from the truck and wished i was out riding too on that beautiful day.

Once i got home i jumped on KB to see where people had been that day and read the posts from Stonechucker and then began to cry. I was gutted and overwhelmed with sadness. Like Str8 said, if this could happen to Bruce then it could happen to anyone, and as a new rider it gave me alot of anxious thoughts.

Whilst i didnt know Bruce half as well as most of you his passing really affected me, Bruce was the first KBer i met, he mentored me and got me on my first KB group ride(albeit his funeral ride). I still carry his Funeral Service book in my Jacket pocket as i cant sem to just throw it away. I really miss UncleB and i talk to him everytime i ride my bike.

[riffer]

Damn. One year later I still can't say it properly.

Miss ya UncleB. The chats at the top of the takas, checking out the bling on your bike, or just watching you ride so easily and smoothly while I'm ringing the guts out of the bike and sweating trying to keep up.

*sigh*

[Sparky Bills]

As my sig says...
Always Missed, NEVER FORGOTTEN!

RIP Mate
Best wishes to his family also.

[Hawkeye]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...&postcount=143

Today, on the anniversary of his death, I took a late lunch, put on the leathers, and took the bike for a ride. The rear pegs were up as I rode out of Wellington and the ride along SH2 was not pleasant as there was only one place I was heading.
As I approached Avalon turn-off, the feeling inside became dreadful. Coming down to the duckpond, I was relieved to see no one else there. I parked the bike up, took off the helmet and just sat on the seat in silence for half an hour.

That was at around 1:30pm which will be almost the same time of the fatal accident.

When I left to go back to work, the rear pegs were down and Uncle-B had been invited on board.

I'm glad I had that quiet moment today. Just the two of us.

.

[biggles1]

When I first met Bruce I had no idea that he too lived in Stokes Vegas.The first time I met him I had ridden my Firestorm to Martinborough and got talking to Fatjim about the Oggy Knobs on his Firestorm.He told that he and Bruce were mentoring some newbies on a ride to Masterton.When we got to the Mobil in Masterton Bruce took off his helmet and I had my first introduction to a man that in a very short time I CAME TO REALISE WAS A LEGEND IN MOTORCYCLING. I was a witness to the crash scene that day and I would give anything in this world to have not witnessed what I saw that day. God Speed Bruce I know that we will meet again, you are always in my thoughts every time I get ready to ride.

[Str8 Jacket]

2 years goes sooo fast! ALot has happened in the last 2 years but I always think about Bruce whenever I manage to get out riding. RIP mate, gone but never forgotten!

[Kendog]

Rip Bruce.

I still ride thinking of your wise words.

[Trudes]

Still practicing your lessons Bruce, I like to think you'd be proud of how my riding has improved, still a cautious bunny though! R.I.P Bruce, miss you.

[Lissa]

Never forgotten and alot of people will be thinking about you today. Still have your number on my cellphone, not sure why but I cant get rid of it. R.I.P Bruce.