Shawnworks > Shawnworks's Blog Posts > GS Trophy, Part 1- Almost not there

August 09, 2008 00:20

So here I stand, on the heels of becoming a final contestant in the first ever BMW GS Trophy Challenge. Wow. Friggin’ WOW.

This has been an interesting path for me. Especially since here was a time when I thought I had taken my last motorcycle ride!

It’s been a long time coming, sharing this story for all to see. For years I’ve wanted to put pen to paper and get it out, and now seems like the right time. I hope you enjoy it.

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It was a sunny mid-year day when it happened. An 18 bike group weaving their way through California twisties. I was several riders back, video taping the fun with my shiny new helmet camera. The fog had just broken and the footage was finally getting good. I banked and weaved along, picking smooth paths around the riders, working in some smiles and waves for the camera as I passed. I settled in behind a James and Shannon, husband and wife, getting the shots as they negotiated their bike along the tarmac.

There wasn’t much warning, just a tingle in my spine that something was out of place. I remember speaking out loud, saying something typical and useless, like, Oh Sh**.... no no nono!!

I’ve seen it a million times, and even on video it’s hard to say what happened. But the end result was a low-side, a 70mph drop on a left hand sweeper. Their bike slid almost gracefully along, impacting the dirt embankment, producing a dusty explosion of parts and debris. To date it is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.

With a panicked crunch I grabbed my brakes, slowing hard and wild. Still I careened toward the dust cloud. As my speed scrubbed I made out a shape, rolling toward me from the chaos. It was James, prone and helpless, directly in my path.

Inches from him I stopped. Tossing my bike aside I leaped toward him, looking for any sign of movement. To my relief he groaned and rolled. I scampered past him to Shannon.

I slid to my knees at her side. Fear frozen, her wide eyes darted to mine. Tears were welling, her mouth gaped open.

I remembered my EMT medical training, a smattering of classes I had taken way back when. I tried to be calming. “Heeey, bit of a wild ride you took, eh?”

“Shawn! I’m scared! I think I’m hurt,” she blurted back. At least she was lucid and talking.

“Hey don’t worry, I got ya. Help’s on the way, we’re gonna get you all sorted out.”

“Is James ok? Oh my god please tell me he’s ok!!”

I looked up at James. He was on his feet, hands on his back. He looked at me, then her. I waived and gave him a thumbs up. We eyed a silent exchange. She’s ok. Don’t worry, we’re ok here.

I looked back to Shannon. “James is fine,” I assured her, “He’s good. Just doing his post-crash Yoga. He’ll be here in a sec. So tell me what you’re feeling? You ok?”

The rest occurred in the predictable manner. Lots of flashing lights and stretchers. In the end, James and Shannon came away with notable injuries, yet all of them treatable. They have since enjoyed a full recovery, and remain riders to this day.

But seeing this event took its toll on me. Once home I studied my bike somberly, replaying the events in my minds eye. It all happened so fast, I thought. No Warning. It could’ve been me laying there in the dirt. The bike stared back at me. It was different. No Joy, no passion. Nothing I was used to seeing.

Maybe I’m done riding. Maybe it’s time for other endeavors, I thought. After what I had seen, could riding ever be the same? Could I truly find the joy and passion for riding again? Or should I simply quit while I was ahead, satisfied with the fun I had, lucky to have escaped injury?

Yeah. I think I’m done. I’m done.

(For part II, go to: http://www.bmwxplor.com/riders/ShawnWorks/blog/show/969# )

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