As motorcyclist, we are keenly aware of traffic situations while riding and when behind the wheel. As a motorist that just read “Proficient Motorcycling”, I was heading home from vacation with the family, keenly aware of the rush hour traffic and the speed of the flow. At 75 mph, I keep as much room in front of me as I can, still, passing cars to the right of me. I was in “Get home” mode remaining in the left lane since getting on 275 from the airport. At the 471 entrance ramp I saw no on-coming traffic from 471 and thought everything was clear at the merging entry point. All at once, I notice out of the corner of my eye a car trying to pass me on the left, and the next second, being struck in the middle of my car. “Boom-boom” the front of his car hit, then the rear of his car is scraped by the bottom of my mirror. I was able to keep control luckily in traffic. Thoughts ran through my head in the following seconds. My first thought was “Thank God I maintained control”. Next, was “Damn, I just read ‘Proficient Motorcycling’ that shouldna happened.” Next was, “This is what NASCAR feels like.” Next was, “Damn teenager”. Then, “What would have happened if I were on my bike?” Following behind this maniac in his purple Neon with cow seat covers, Kim calls 911 and is connected to the police giving license YPD 434, while I’m motioning to pull over and turning on my lights. Still, this small looking teenager wearing a cap was not pulling over or making any attempt to get out of the left lane. I signal and moved into the center lane when there was the opportunity from him to get over, but he maintains his position in the left lane and speeds up. By now we are in Ohio and have been in contact with local authorities. He finally gets off at the Beechmont exit. Thinking, he was going to pull over somewhere on Beechmont, he stays in the left lane. I pull up beside him, and I notice he’s and old man. I yell at him. “You hit me! Pull over.” He looks at me, shaking his head accusing me, speaking incoherently. I tell him we have called the police and to pull over again. He maintains his position in the left lane and I fall back behind. By this time, we are advised of his address as we are still on the phone with the highway patrol. We followed behind 10+ miles before he pulls over at Veterans Memorial Park, some 4 houses from his home. I inspect my car and notice the dent on my front door and the bottom of my mirror. Looking at his car there are multiple scrapes on his. There was one at the front bumper and there were scrapes at the rear. We have our words, and this 80 year old man is not in the least remorseful and is in fact trying to blame me. I tell him he could have killed my family and caused a major accident. I’m a calm person at 42, never been in an accident, but I can understand how road rage can consume a person. The Ohio State Patrol comes and a Traffic Crash Report is filled out. The officer asked, Did you know you hit him?” “Yeah” he replies. “Why didn’t you stop?” “There was no place to stop.” He said. Out of their jurisdiction, the patrol man does nothing but take his information – no breathalizer or nothin’.
What could I have done to prevent this accident?
Being in the left lane, traveling at 75-80 mph, you don’t expect anyone behind you to be more in a hurry than you, much less to be passed on the left. Had I noticed this maniac in my rear view mirror attempting to pass using the I471 entrance, I may have slowed in time for him to get the spot in front of me before he ran out of road. “I never saw him till it was to late.” Words motorcyclist hate to hear.
I worry about this kind of driver like a deer darting out in front of me. It’s unexpected. Be keenly aware of all surrounding vehicles and anticipate the worst. Be on the lookout for a purple Neon with cow seat covers. There may be dangerous old fart in a hurry behind the wheel. It’s my mission to make sure his insurance company drop-kicks him into driving retirement.
The Prez Sez
Let the riding begin! I’d like to start things out by expressing my gratitude to Mike Crum and friends who made our Poker Run such a success. Although the wind could make things downright treacherous at times, I think everyone who took part had a good time.
I can’t say that I was totally surprised to hear that the Arthritis Foundation’s “Speed the Way to a Cure” event at the Kentucky Speedway was cancelled due to a lack of participation. They were asking for a lot of money to take a few laps at little more than highway speeds. Let’s hope that they can restructure the event to appeal to more riders in the future.
The March of Dimes organization in northern Ohio seems to be doing quite well with their annual bikers’ fund-raising event. I just received a packet of pledge forms for their third annual Ride which takes place June 24 in the Cleveland area. They ask a minimum pledge of $25 from each rider and passenger, plus whatever other pledges you solicit from friends, family, and so on.
My main thought for this month has to do with our membership requirements and what thoughts you folks have regarding them.
Without quoting our by-laws verbatim, I believe the requirements are:
- You must own a BMW motorcycle,
- You must attend at least 2 club functions,
- You must be voted in as a member at a club business meeting,
- And obviously, you must be willing to pay dues.
Other than some special cases for honorary members, that should cover it.
My question for your consideration is: Should we continue to require 1) attendance at 2 club functions and 2) being voted in by the current membership?
For historical perspective, it is my understanding that these particular requirements were included in the by-laws because at one time a less than desirable group of individuals attempted to "take over" the club. Thus the voting requirement is a safety valve to allow us to show questionable folks the door.
Why am I bringing this up? I seem to be hearing from or talking to an increasing number of people who have an interest in joining the club but seem to have trouble making it to our functions. Should we "drop our guard" and let anyone willing to give us $15 become a member? Or should we continue with our current requirements and assume that if they can't make 2 club functions, they must not be all that interested in the club?
I’ve already posed this question on the club’s e-group and have received some thoughtful responses. My plan is to bring this up for discussion at the May meeting. After all, we gotta do something to keep things exciting! If you want to share your thoughts with me prior to the meeting, my phone number and e-mail address are at the top of this newsletter.
Motorcycle Safety Tidbits
On a twisty
road where one turn leads into the next, It’s important to keep your cranial
computer working as fast as your speedometer.
Once You’ve plotted the critical windows in the approaching corner,
start scanning ahead for the next turn and deciding where the next windows
should belong before you get there. The sooner you select your line ahead, the
smoother your riding can be.
If you don’t think far enough ahead, you’ll be making quick panic
corrections as you suddenly awake to where the line should have gone.
And quick corrections gobble traction.
If you can’t get your cranial computer up to bike speed, the other
option is to slow the bike down to your processing capacity.
by David L. Hough
Poker Run
The first annual spring poker run was a fine success. For those of us unfamiliar with a poker run, the concept is simple. At the start you pay your entry fee, draw a card, the value of which is written on your official form and receive written instructions and/or a map to the break points and off you go. At each break point, you draw a card and the value is recorded. Finally, when you return to the start or designated end point, your last card is drawn and recorded. The best hand wins the prize, usually split the pot. But, our contest also had a $20 prize and included an excellent dinner at the Boy Scout event as well as a $25 gift certificate from Tri-State and the chance of a lifetime to get $50 worth of merchandise from the yard sale that accompanied the Boy Scout event. On Saturday afternoon, about a baker's dozen of us gathered in Northern Kentucky to inaugurate this run. The weather was clear and temperature moderate, but it was a tad windy (ok, it was a gale). Mike Crum gets all the credit for not only being the inspiration for this event, but also arranging it. I think he leaned on everyone he knew including family and former boy scouts to bring this off. Anyway, we started in Independence and rode some nice two-laners out to Rabbit Hash Kentucky. There, we took a break and sipped Sarsaparilla at the General Store, built in 1831. In this area, the little town is a true landmark and a real motorcycle destination as we shared our time there with a multitude of Harley riders. The next link took us over a variety of roads and a through a dust storm to wind up in Burlington, Ky. Finally, our last stop was the very interestingly named "Big Bone Lick" state park and then the return to the middle school where we were treated to an outstanding turkey or ham dinner with all the trimmings sponsored by Mike's Boy Scout Troop. The event covered about 70 miles in about 2 hours and supported a worthy cause all doing what we love to do. This format provides a very relaxed way to experience a variety of roads, some of which I had not ridden, and I have tried to find them all. Several small groups went out and several individuals as well. I think what is so nice about this kind of ride is that it is very comfortable in its' informality and lack of pressure to keep up with a group. Everyone took it at their own pace, some went gonzo, others laid-back. Everyone who participated had great things to say. Let's hope we have started a tradition.
By: Tom Collins
-Updated "R1100RS" in the Works! (04/08/01)
Years ago. MOA stalwarts
persuaded NA to re-issue the sainted R100RS, only to see to bikes languish on
the showroom floors. Now, years later, RA zealots have played a prominent role
in getting BMW Sparte Motorrad to re-issue and UPDATE the R1100RS.
This soon-to-appear machine will assuredly include all the
"1150cc" mods and perhaps a bit more. Designer David Robb isn't
talking but we'd hazard that his team has been long keen on updating the RS.
-New Motor R&D (03/31/01)
Moles are reporting more
confirmation that BMW Sparte Motorrad R&D is indeed again at work on a king
cam (tower & bevel) Boxer motor. The technology reflects improvements made
since a similar Boxer layout was abandoned in the course of designing the
eventual high-cam R259 used in the R1100RS and its successors. If such a motor
comes to fruition, OTL expects it to be used in a sport model --and that the
current 1150cc Oilhead motor will toil on the other models for a good while.
Much more to come in OTL.
Meanwhile, speculation on the successor to the current series (code K 589) is
leaning toward even more changes in engine configuration than would be the case
with a new Boxer. One source predicts the motor will be situated a different
way. Another anticipates use of the new "Valvetronic" technology just
now finding its way into BMW car engines. Such measures would entail replacing
the traditional throttle tech with opening and closing valves.