Well damn...

[darthrider]

...I just heard that a friend crashed hard in New Mexico last week and has been in a coma about 8 days.
This guy was a rider's rider, ex-AF fighter jock and instructor. And a highly skilled, highly experienced rider.
His name is Randy O'Neil and he lives in the Fort Worth area, should anyone know him...Moose? He rides BMW's, among other things. I don't know what he was riding in N. Mex.
What I heard was "he was distracted" and ran off the road at speed. His helmet (I'm sure a high-end full face) was "crushed".
He is a very good friend of my best riding buddy who is on the way to a rally where I will join him tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to delivering this news, especially as sketchy & incomplete as it is.
Oh well.
You guys be careful out there.
Me too...

[bakernks]

In the face of adversity such as this, I honestly find it within myself to steel my resolve, up the fighter pilot lean-in with my riding, and do my BEST riding, and take pride in staying focused. Focus is your best shield. Go out there and do your best riding for us.

Regrets you have a friend that is down. Rider down is the last news we wish to hear. God speed, your riding friend.

[beekstersocal]

KUDOS' it just seems to me there has been a few to many accidents lately just hits me in the gut .thanks for representing .ride safe

[darthrider]

Thanks guys...I'll pass your comments on to my friend who is very close to the rider down.
You're right about the focus.
You're right about too many of these.
In all these years and all these losses I find myself forgetting how many there have been.
Maybe that's a good thing, don't know.
These don't scare me or worry me in any personal sense, never have.
It's just that he is such a good rider, much more of a jolt than some squid.
And harder than the faceless guys you hear about, no matter how much you feel for them and their people.
Harder, yeah.
Gotta go pack for the rally.
Send some good vibes to New Mexico...

[motozark]

my thoughts and prayers are with the rider down as well. It is always the last and most unfortunate thing we all want to hear.

[marko]

Sorry to hear about your mate and i pray he recovers.
As much as i hate to hear these stories, it shows that even the best can come to grief and reinforces for me the message to be careful, and be aware.
I am becoming more cautious as i get older (I think we all do) but on a bike you take a risk on an "Off" day. If i am tired or not feeling 100%, i take the car. I find myself these days mentally preparing before i hop on the bike.....getting "In the zone" if you like. Does not guarantee no accident but hopefully better prepared and less risk.

My best to him and hope he recovers fully.
Hope you enjoy your weekend and this does not overshadow too much.

[Pat]

I'm now visiting more motorcycle sites than just R1150R.org........
As a result, I'm having to read of increasingly more motorcycle related incidents.
Nature of the beast.

I'm given reason for pause when I open these posts and read them. It's as if I'm trying to figure out what went wrong, that I might learn from what happened. I can't divorce myself from my feelings though. It's never just academic curiosity..... the room around me becomes silent and I feel poorly about the whole situation.

Thoughts, prayers, and positive vibes to New Mexico and his family.

[roxrider]

Sorry to hear about this. I hope things work out ok.


I just saw an article about Florida motorcycle riders.
Almost 1% each year have a serious crash.

[darthrider]

Thanks guys...I'm outa here.
I'll update you Monday.

[scottybooj]

whoa...sorry about your friend.

[dallara]

Geez, Darth...

Really sorry to hear about your Bud... Terrible news.

You're right, though. Waaaaaaaaaay toooooooo much of this kind of thing going around lately. I hate to say it, but I really can't wait for 2005 to be over...

I dunno' about the rest of you, but it has been a horrible year for me. Have lost no less than a dozen friends and family in 2005, and had anothe half dozen crash their bikes and get hurt... And we all lost Yahoo Boy right here this year, and had other members crash...

For me, there seems to be good years, and bad years... And this has been one of the very, very worst.

Pray that your friend has a full recovery, and that you and yours have a safe go from here on...

Dallara

[rkdemay]

I'm from Albuquerque, but never did much riding there.

I've had two mates crash there, one seriously. He, too, was in a coma for some few days. He has recovered, but given up riding. He was very skilled, and very smart. He made one mistake.

The other friend and riding buddy who crashed in NM went down hard at an event in MO last weekend. He's still in the ICU. He'll pull through, but he's going to spend quite some time healing. I think he may hang his helmet up, too.

I crashed hard in turn 5 up at Brainerd in the August race weekend. Totaled my A bike (ripped the frame) and my gear. Thank God for expensive helmets. The blood is still visible under the finger nails that were crushed but I'm otherwise fine. I have purchased a new race bike (SV650, Yong!!!), but I can see the end of my club racing fast approaching.

I did a saddlesore 1000 this last weekend. Minneapolis to Rich Hill, MO and back; 1015 miles in 18 hours. I was fine until the final stretch. The last 100 miles were bad. The last 50, dangerous. I was stupid to be riding at night in deer country in the condition I was in. I'm grateful I wasn't punished for it, and concerned about my riding karma.

I haven't visited the site in months, but you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Certainly, my heart goes out to the brother who's down in NM. So too do I salute all y'all who throw a leg over and, knowing we're fragile and finite, ride.

Best,

-rkd

[arkline]

Geez, that's is bad. I hope he was riding with buds and not alone in the NM wilderness. Just like Texas and much of the western US, there are some long stretches of nothing between short bits of something in New Mexico. Hope this works out okay, as I always do. Do you know where this took place? Anyway, best wishes for a good outcome.

[wncbmw]

Dave - I know you've gone already but I too wish to express my hope your friend is OK. Keep us posted.

The best rider i know went down last year, turning around in the saddle to check on other riders in his group. I find most of my close calls are the times I am just cruising along. When I go faster, I focus more. And when I can't focus because I am thinking of other things, I turn around and head home!

Let us know when you find out news.

[darthrider]

Hey guys -
Here is the only update I have on the guy who crashed in New Mexico.
This was as of 10/06 and I've heard nothing since. I am trying to get more info.
Sounds like the news is pretty good, still no idea what happened.
Thanks very much for all the good wishes, you guys are great.


Randy is currently at Ft. Worth All Saints in ICU. He was transferred from New Mexico sometime this week. He is conscious, condition guarded. He has a trach tube so can't talk much but is aware and is smiling. There is still some residual blood from brain swelling which they are concerned about.
Injuries- Other than head injuries, there is broken collar bone, dislocated shoulder, bruised lung, cracked or bruised rib, and broken bone in leg.
Carl, his friend said generally they are happy with his recovery progress.

[yjleesvrr]

Dave - glad to hear Randy has regained consciousness. I hope he's able to recover well from this point onward and get back in the saddle someday.

[tipstall]

Hope for a full recovery. Good luck and all my positive thoughts are with you.

[geechie]

Please include my best wishes and sincere hope for a speedy and complete recovery.

George

[wncbmw]

Good news!

[1MPH]

Hey guys -. He has a trach tube so can't talk much but is aware and is smiling.

Smiling is good. Hope everything works out O.K.


Jack