Remembering a fallen friend
Tim Kreitz
tickets written and other headaches from the cops, squids were crashing
all over the place, and it seemed like everybody had some kind of story
to tell. As if that wasn't bad enough, we almost lost a group member,
Crazy Dave Alders, early that summer when he and his bright orange
Slingshot got creamed one morning by a truck, resulting in major
injuries. Then, just when we thought things couldn't get any worse,
friend and fellow OSB rider Bobby Miller died.
I got the call from Rodger Gertson, who left the terrible news on my
home answering machine. Bobby had been killed the night before on a
group ride returning from Lubbock, Rodger explained, and details were
still sketchy. I was frightened and shocked beyond belief at the news.
I had planned on attending that very ride with Bobby and the rest of
the group, but had changed my mind at the last minute for reasons I
have since forgotten. But as details of the story began to emerge, my
fright turned to simple anger and frustration at what Bobby had done.
By all reliable accounts, Bobby and several other riders had been
radared by an oncoming DPS trooper, and Bobby bolted. This was his
fatal mistake. On an unfamiliar highway, in the middle of the night,
and at speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour, Bobby went off the road
and into a field. His bike disintegrated in the process, and by the
time his poor, mangled body finally came to rest, there was very little
life left in him. A Helivac was called, but the paramedics could not
stabilize Bobby for transport, and he died at the scene.
In an instant, one very bad decision to run from the cops had not only
robbed Bobby of his life, but it had also robbed a daughter of her
father, and a wonderful wife of her husband. It also robbed the rest of
us, too -- of an unforgettable friend and riding partner that we'll
never be able to replace.
As motorcyclists, we owe Bobby the honor of not only remembering him,
but also of learning from his death. All you young guys out there
who've maybe only been riding for a year or two should keep the story
of Bobby Miller in mind any time you start thinking that running from
the cops is the thing to do. No ticket or trip to the pokey is worth
dying over. Sure, most highway speed law is crooked, along with the
officers who enforce it, but don't let them take your life on top of
your liberty. Running is never worth the risk, and by accepting that
fact, we can gleen something meaningful from the otherwise senseless
loss of Bobby Miller.
Peace,
Tim Kreitz
2003 ZX7R
2000 ZX6R
DoD #2184
http://www.timkreitz.com
Bryan
"Tim Kreitz" <timk...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1138148211.2...@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
<snip life lesson>
That is truely unfortunate, on many levels.
Bryan
Calgary
wrote:
>I got the call from Rodger Gertson, who left the terrible news on my
>home answering machine. Bobby had been killed the night before on a
>group ride returning from Lubbock,
So sorry about your friend Tim. Sounds like another senseless death.
--
Don
RCOS# 7
No Riding Today
2000 - Yamaha Venture Millenium Edition
Bill Walker
"Tim Kreitz" <timk...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1138148211.2...@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
You wrote it good.. No need to add anything to it.. Regards
Bill Walker
Irving
>
Hank
> Then, just when we thought things couldn't get any worse,
> friend and fellow OSB rider Bobby Miller died.
Bummer. Dying is part of living, but it sure sucks when
folks die young...
> Running is never worth the risk
If you're already doing well over 100mph on a familiar,
low traffic road and you see the cop that just went by
doing a U turn in your rearview mirror - it sure is tempting.
It's a higher level of risk than speeding, but I'm not sure
you say running is never worth the risk unless you're also
willing to say speeding is never worth the risk.
--
Albert Nurick
Hopefully Bobby's tragic death can serve as a reminder that some risks
aren't worth taking. It's easy to feel invincible out there, but we
are far from it.
Thanks for sharing this.
--
Albert Nurick | "Everyone is entitled to his own
alb...@nurick.com | opinion, but not his own facts."
www.nurick.com |
04 FJR1300A / RCOS #7 | - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan