Do You See The Motorcycle?

Crotch Rocket versus Volkswagen...reportedly at about 150 miles an hour.

Now do you see the motorcycle?

This graphic demonstration was placed at the Stockholm Motorcycle Fair by the Swedish Police and Road Safety Department. A sign above the display supposedly noted that the motorcycle rider had only recently obtained his license. At 250 KM (155 mph) the motorcycle was traveling at 227 feet per second. With a normal reaction time of 1.6 seconds to "SEE - DECIDE - REACT,"  the bike would have traveled over 363 feet while making a decision on what actions to take. That is an entire football field, plus another 21 yards.  Swedish police indicated that no actions were taken due to the extreme high rate of speed.

Police estimated the bike hit the slow moving car broadside at an intersection without the rider even applying the brakes.  The Volkswagen flipped over from the force of impact and landed 10 feet from where the collision took place.  The bike rider was found INSIDE the car with the two people who were riding in it.. All three reportedly were killed instantly.  Ya think??

I did some snooping around online to see if this is all a bullshit story, but I couldn't find anything to prove or disprove it.  In the background of the top photo, there is a word on the backwall that looks to me like it's not English.  On one motorcycle forum, it was suggested this was staged, but how likely is it that a test facility could accurately stuff a bike inside a car so perfectly under controlled conditions without it being cost-prohibitive?  I'd say it's probably genuine, and the wreck was cleaned of the gore for display and educational purposes.

Another suggestion I saw attempting to "debunk" these photos was one guy who commented that "there's NO WAY a car would flip over" after being struck by a motorcycle.  Well, I think Ann and Big Daddy Nelson would be the first to tell you that not only will a car flip in such a crash, but a truck will too.  As bikers we all tend to think about how dangerous the cagers are to us.  In this case, it was two people riding in a cage that lost their lives to an idiot on two wheels.

Well, it's December now and Susan and I rode for a while last Saturday.  It was a little chilly but really not bad, especially for this time of year.  The week before that, I was with Jackson and crew coming back from Rhode Island after dark when I hit a tire in the street.  I never saw it, but I sure as hell felt it.  It was very weird.  For the quickest flash of maybe a second, I thought I was going down.  There was that panic-pang in the pit of my stomach caused by my brain transmitting the fact that I was no longer in control of my motorcycle.  Then, just like that, I had gone over it and regained control.  At the next light, my question to Dave Thompson who was on my wing was, "What THE FUCK did I just hit???"

Luckily for me, the tire had no rim, or I might be pushing the button for more morphine right now.  It just wasn't my time.  But it was an example of how the reaper can come for you even when you're riding safe and doing everything right.  That's why when I see shit like in these photos I just don't get it.  There was simply no need of it.  If Death is out there looking for you, he'll find you.  I don't see any need to seek him out on your own.  Ride Safe....

Thanks to my friend and Blackstone brother Kevin "Fatboy" Morris for contributing the photos.

Let's "Face" It...

...I made a big mistake letting certain people know I write a blog.  Now, since I filed for divorce it's become a window into my private life for people I want nothing to do with.  There's one guy and his wife in particular who check my blog more often than they pee I think; it's just unreal.  I've been thinking for a while about how I can shut these jackhole voyeurs out - which isn't easy to do when you're posting on the Internet.  Then, I noticed when I said I'd have more on Susan's daughter's wedding in a later post, these nosebags have been checking back fanatically for it to appear.  Well guess what folks...you ain't gonna get to see a Goddamned thing.

I've had a Facebook page for a while that I've never used, and I think it's past time I did.  At least I can restrict it so only those I add as friends can view what I post.  So, that's where I'm going to put the wedding photos, and from now on, anything else I don't want these online stalkers to know about.  I'm also going to restrict this blog to listed readers only soon.  So, if you want to stay in the loop, send me a friend request on Facebook HERE.  I know many of you already have your own pages, so this shouldn't be a big deal.  Anyone who I don't recognize or cannot 100% verify will not be added.

So, here's my final shout-out to Haverhill, Norwell, Braintree (and Boston when you're at work), Rockland, etc, you know who you are.....   

                                    ......Pucker UP!!!!

Disclaimer: This is NOT my ass. Susan would be really mad with me if I put a photo of my own bare ass online. It's a random "moon shot" I found in a Google search. There was no intent to mislead...sorry KT DID!!!

A "Scary" Night at the BY

I just got back from Aruba where Susan's oldest daughter was married in a lovely ceremony on the beach.  More on that to come in another post.

For now I'm going back for a look at our evening celebrating Halloween at the Boneyard's costume party.

Here's Justine with a ghoulishly good make-up job behind the bar.

Krazy Karl as Spongebob in his Fruit of the Looms.

Jackson is not your average box of Kleenex....

Jackson and Wingman with Tina, aka the "Head Nurse"

Deb doing her Sister Act.

Linda had the night off from behind the bar and was able to join the party.  Shirley Temple never looked like this!

"Get thee to a Nunnery...."

Michele and Susan as Police Women...Susan opted to leave the hat behind.

I've never been arrested in my life, but I'll be her prisoner anytime.  Although our store-bought costumes didn't earn us Best Costumes, we did get a $20 gift card!

Somebody tell Dr. Andy Wingman you're supposed to use the stethoscope to check for a heartbeat...

"...just close your eyes and I'll tell you a story...it has a very happy ending..."

I guess Jax just has a thing for lady cops...

I keep trying to tell him he looks much better with his tongue IN!

"...Walk-like-an-E-gyp-tian..."

Susan and Shelly - as the Red Devil.  It must be noted that Shelly is the real deal.  On many a damp, cold afternoon or evening at the BY, the only bike out front is hers.  Nothing bothers her; she just puts her leathers on and goes.

Karl's wife Amy and Officer Michele.

"Adam and Eve"...actually I have no idea who these two are, but I do believe they won one of the prizes for best costumes.

Dave and Wendy.  "Bless me Father, for I have sinned..."

I wish he still had the mask on, but a few of the evening's funnier moments involved Mark, the guy on the right.  He doesn't ride, but he hangs at the bar frequently, and is actually an excellent Karaoke singer.  When I first got there he still had the mask on, so you couldn't see his face at all, but it's not like there's anyone else around who's that big.  He says to me, "Hey...Joker!  It's me...Mark!"  I was like, "No shit?  I never would've recognized you!"  I guess he'd done the same with a bunch of the others, so it was sort of a running joke.

Mark also won a Best Costume prize, at which time Jackson, in his own inimitable style yelled out, "Hey...give me back my bike cover, will ya!"  Luckily, Mark has a good sense of humor, and is well-used to Jackson's particular brand of wit.

Jackson's daughter Kate, her boyfriend Josh, and Linda. Josh's father is New England Patriots Running Back Coach Ivan Fears. Note the tags on his costume..."Porn Star Hugh G. Rection" and "I do all my own stunts." I point that out only because for some strange reason, people don't seem to notice much else when Linda is in the picture...

Yes, of course we did some shots!

Maybe Tina did too many...Anybody in here feel a draft???

It was a really fun evening.  I haven't dressed up for Halloween in years, so it was pretty cool.  It was nearly a disaster though.  I had ordered my costume online and paid an extra 10 bucks for rush shipping to get it on time, but when Saturday the 31st came, it hadn't shown up.  When I called, they apologized and said it had never been shipped.  Thinking I was screwed, I told Susan my plan to 'surprise' her by dressing up as an inmate to compliment her cop outfit was ruined.  That's when she went down cellar and produced the very costume I had tried to buy!  I got a full refund on my credit card, and it was all good.

Next time, I think I'll check with her FIRST....

Dead Corn

I was riding a favorite backroad of mine a while ago when I noticed the dead corn.  Something said stop and take a picture.  I wasn't in a hurry, so I did.  I guess you could say I was in one of my "fall moods" that day, enjoying my ride, yet thinking there won't be too many more before the snow comes.

There was something about that dead corn that made me think of winter's onset even more than all the falling leaves.  I rode by this corn row many times in the spring and summer, watching it grow tall and green.  Seems like a long time ago.

I noticed much on this solo ride.  It's amazing how different it is when you're alone on the road, especially since I'm used to riding in a pack most of the time.

I go by these spots almost every day, but for some reason they were more worthy of my attention this time.  An old barbed wire fence, once probably important to keep people out and maybe animals in.  Now it's food for rust, and maybe in this case, a little food for thought.

This old tree's been guarding that fence line since before I was even thought of, and it will likely still be there long after I'm dust.  Is it a maple or an oak maybe?  I'm not much for Dendrology.

Of all the things that made me pull over that day, this is probably my favorite.  An old cornerstone by a crumbling rock wall.  Makes me think of the Frost poem Mending Wall.  Was it the cornerstone for an old barn, long since fallen and rotted?  Or, does it simply mark the end of the wall and maybe the corner of the property?  There was nobody around to ask...but I bet that old tree knows.

This is a beautiful spot in the early dawn, or on a clear night at dusk, and I've seen deer out by the tree line.  On a spring day under a bright sun this place appears vibrant, full of promise, but on the day I recently stood here it seemed very lonely.  Who built the wall I wondered?  What was here so long ago, and why isn''t the land used now?  Lots of questions.  No answers.  Much left to the imagination.

I rode away and cherished every minute of the rest of my fall day's journey.  You have to once the corn is dead. 

Christmas is For Kids Ride

Blackstone's 16th Annual Ride to Benefit the Attleboro Area Council For Children's "Christmas is For Kids."  Gary O. and Jackson:  Road Captains

I got to the North Attleboro Elks at a little after 9 yesterday morning to help set up tables and chairs for the meal after the ride.  Looking at my bike against the fall backdrop was another reminder that there won't be too many more rides after this one.  As much as I love doing this ride, it's bittersweet because it is always our last "big" ride of the season.

After getting set up at the Elks, we rode down to our sponsoring dealership, Precision Harley-Davidson, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to line up.

Santa arrives and greets members near the registration table.  To his right are Ed Blair, Krazy Karl, and his wife, Amy.

Krazy Karl is Wendy's "little" brother, and this is his ride, the 1950 Pan that belonged to their father. Karl has since changed a few things of course. It's hard to get a picture of this bike because every time he shows up on it, people just circle around it checking it out. I'm sure Big D will get some drool going over this!

                           
Funny story about this bike. A few years back Karl was up in Laconia, and of course it was raining like it almost always does every year up there. He had different pipes that had bigger, wider tips and still swept up the way you see them now. Some guy stops and stands behind the bike watching Karl trying to kick her over and Karl says, "I wouldn't stand there if I were you."
 

The guy looks at Karl and says, "Fuck you...I'll stand where I please."  Karl just smiles and says, "Ok, whatever," and kicks the bike over again.  When the bike started, a projectile line of black oil and water spew shot out of his pipes and covered the guy who was standing there.  According to Karl his face and shirt were soaked black and the guy was madder than a bobcat caught in a pissfire!  Oh, would I have LOVED to have been there to see that!

Santa at the head of the line up getting ready to go.  The lime green things you see are safety vests for all the Road Captains.  We start at the front of the ride because we have to block, and then we end up in the back.

From the Attleboro Sun-Chronicle.  Santa, aka Howard Bristow, leading the ride down South Main Street in Attleboro.  For the online article, click HERE.

The parking lot at the Elks after the ride.  I know it's hard to tell from the picture, but we had a total of 205 bikes for this run, and decent weather to boot.

Inside the Elks hall where riders enjoyed a hot pasta dinner with bread and salad for a donation of $10 or an unwrapped toy.  We collected 12 big bags full of toys and made a donation in the amount of $1,400.00 for the kids.

Santa greets riders as they head to the bar for a cold one.

Wendy and Jackson enjoying a few beers after lunch.

This guy's shirt says it all.  I know I put a lot up here about us down at the Boneyard horsing around, drinking, etc, but there's more to what we do than that.

I've been part of runs to benefit breast cancer, muscular dystrophy, disabled American veterans, and a host of other worthy causes in the 2+ years I've been riding with Blackstone.  But this ride is the most important one in my opinion because it helps local kids that have very little.  I know there may be a few jackasses out there waiting to fire "Yeah, well what about YOUR OWN kids," at me.  Some people seem to think because things didn't work out between my wife and I that I don't care about my kids, and that's crap.  I provide daycare for them every day so she can keep her job.  I help them with their homework.  I always hug them and remind them I love them and will always be there for them.  They will have a great Christmas this year.

But these kids we helped on this ride have very little or nothing, whether it's a divorce, low income, or who knows what.  The point is that on this day 205 bikers came together and did what they could to make sure that these kids have something to open on Christmas morning.

Susan and I were proud to be two of them.

"Always a Good Time With Blackstone"