Like they say, "It's not IF, it's WHEN".

B

biglou

This is a ride/crash report:
Went to Merwin Saturday morning to ride the track and trails. The trails are finally drying out enough to make it fun again. Did several laps on the track, then a woods loop, then more track. We had about eight of us going out for our second woods loop and we were all moving along at a pretty good clip. As usual, Jason (Blue Thunder) was waaaay out front with Wade right behind. I was leading the second group through the maze. As we were climbing one of the extended uphills, I was in a tight left-hander and somehow managed a head-on with Jason on his 426. We went right side to right side and both went down hard. I sorta impaled my nether region on the gas cap during this and was unable to stand for a few minutes. Jason didn't make out so well. He broke his first two toes and may have some nerve and tendon damage. He's sees an ortho tomorrow. There was a split in his foot between his big toe and the next toe that went back about two inches into his foot, top and bottom. It was not pretty. Ripped his brake pedal off in the process. His Cycra Pro-Bends managed to bruise all four fingers on my right hand and jam my wrist. I have a general feeling like someone has laid a serious beatin' on me. Everything on the right side hurts, and some stuff on the left! Jason says that other than the toes, he can't even tell he hit the ground. Looks like he's going to be out for a couple of months. I just remember seeing that #411 plate get real big, real fast. Then there was that sickening sound of plastic hitting plastic. They kicked his bike over for him and he was able to ride out, as was I. But our riding was over for the day. It was off to the ER for him and off for an ice pack for me. Bad thing was, we had two new guys that had never been riding with us before. At least they got to see a heck of a show. I don't know that there was anything either of us could have done. We were both swinging to the outside line and there was just no time. Rate of closure was fast. Luckily, there were no trees right against the trail at that spot or things could have been much worse. This would have been a great ride for the helmet cam!
Again-Full gear including chest protectors saved both of us from what could have amounted to something much worse than what it was. Because of the safety equipment, a little luck and a little help from elsewhere, we will be back at it soon.
 

Strick

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Nov 8, 1999
1,782
2
Big Lou, I am glad you are both O.K. Let us know the diagnosis on your buddy. These accidents are the worst! 2 or 3 guys a year die in our area (in the desert) because of head-ons. When it comes to riding gear, you don't ride for comfort, you ride for the crash!
 

70 marlin

Mi. Trail Riders
LIFETIME SPONSOR
Aug 15, 2000
2,963
2
I hate two way traffic!

hope you feel better! between a rock & a hard spot? when I"m out for a trail ride with the Boy's, I usaul ride up front to control the rate of the ride & and to take the "impact" if sombody is coming to fast, the other way© but latley I've been riding clean up, because I've had the nephew to lead the pack, and spud ric's have been having a harder time on the deeper, looser sands of some of the new trails I want to make sure they don't get left behind on a wipe out© all I can say, is I love my FRP bark busters! gives you a little hand insurance©
 

dirt bike dave

Sponsoring Member
May 3, 2000
5,349
3
Big Lou,
Glad to hear it wasn't worse. Head-ons are terrible.

One tip for group riding - if the lead guys need to turn around for any reason, they should go VERY slow or just stop and wait for the others.

Even in a race or organized ride, if you take the wrong trail and need to get back on course, there is a good chance somebody will follow your tracks so slow to a crawl anytime you reverse direction.
 

CR Swade

~SPONSOR~
Jan 18, 2001
1,764
5
Hey Lou, I sure am glad everyone is still in one piece-so to speak. I talked with Jason a few times and he seems to be doing ok, but that split foot was one of the NASTIEST results that I have seen in some time. I got to thinking about that incident after we all loaded up-Jason and I were in 5th gear on that straight, I'm just glad we are all here to talk about it.
You know, Merwin used to be a one-way trail. That mess of new trail for the last race really zig-zags around, with WAY too many places to get turned around.
I know we stopped several times to get the group bunched back up, but that last section was just a torrid pace. Thank goodness there were no critical injuries-I just can't say that enough. Give me a shout when you are ready to get the Katoom out . Wade :)
 
B

biglou

Got a message from J last night. They're going to let the foot heal "as-is". I guess the specialist didn't see anything worth opening it back up. He is always in a good mood, but it sounds like he still has a lot of pain. My wrist is feeling a lot better but is far from perfect. I think by this or next weekend I will be back up to speed (as slow as that is). I am finding a lot of other little aches and pains, but that's what happens when you get old! J is gonna need a lot of support. I'm afraid he's going to be out for quite a while and is gonna be in pain for a while, too.
 

Jamir

I come and go
Aug 7, 2001
1,939
0
I hope to see both of you fully healed and riding soon. Don't worry, I was not scared off. I was quite impressed that both you and Jason would go to that extent to put on a show for us new guys. Next time, I will be fully rested and ready to rock. I promise, I am not always that slow.
 

Blue Thunder

~SPONSOR~
Dec 20, 2000
301
0
He's alive...he's alive...wow, hate to say, but I'm glad to be back at work! Sitting at the house w/nothing to do but read lots of moto mags and videos..it's tough. LOL Things are healing well, get the Frankenstein stitches out Friday, then its up to the toes to heal themselves. I hope to be back in action by late September early October but who knows.
Like Lou said, we were at each other so fast all we could do was go outside and hope for the best, the sound of the plastic hitting is still in the mind as well as the impact hitting the foot. Had it not been for the MSR boots, the ER doc says I might not have a foot much less toes!! He wanted to see the boots I had on, they did not have a scuff on them! I was telling people at work that if you put one hand on the front and one on the back and try to compress the ends together, they don't even flex. For an injury like this to occur through such strong material is wicked.
I'm glad to be healing quickly and look forward to Saturday night out with boys, we are going to watch a local night motox event. Ahh, the smell of premix and the sound of thunder, we should sell audio and inscents with that combo. Motohealing...I can see it now! Thanks to all for the support via emails,visits and calls, we have a great riding community here in good ole KC. Jason
 
B

biglou

Like I said 10 days ago: "The next time you run into me, I might not let you off so easily"!;)
Just a hint: If you wanna knock this much mass off line, you gotta hit it harder than that!!
 

Jamir

I come and go
Aug 7, 2001
1,939
0
Hey Jason,
Can't wait to see that new Titanium foot all polished up! Of course neither that nor my U-joint elbow compare to Big Lou's replacement Stainless Steel Nads with Kevlar cup! See you guys Saturday!
 

Sawblade

Timmy Timmy Timmy!
Sep 24, 2000
1,491
0
Guys,
Glade to hear everyone is healing up nicely! Any chance for a ride at White Rock say in mid Oct?
 

Blue Thunder

~SPONSOR~
Dec 20, 2000
301
0
Wade is our resident White Rock rider, I'll contact him and check it out, I hope to be aboard the blue machine and back up to speed by then. I think that's around 4-5 hours from KC so a weekend ride is possible. We shall see..
 

Sawblade

Timmy Timmy Timmy!
Sep 24, 2000
1,491
0
Sounds good to me! I'm waiting on my son's football schedule to come out. Once I have that I'm going to make plans for a White Rock Spodefest!
 

CR Swade

~SPONSOR~
Jan 18, 2001
1,764
5
Fellas, I thought I had made this perfectly clear, I am ALWAYS up for White Rock.
Jason, you will dig this place. We just need to schedule around the Forward Motion races, and preferably wait until the leaves are starting to get thin. When the trees are full, that place is downright dense.
BTW, I just heard about Cobrakid-my prayers are with him.
 
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