I began my love affair with motorcycles at the racetrack. I wasn't a racer. I wasn't a spectator. I was a first responder.

Every race weekend, a small team of paramedics and other first responders were assigned a turn, or group of turns. There job, if needed, was to enter a live racetrack and attend to a downed rider. Their top priority was safety; safety for themselves first, the racers second. The racers chose to risk a crash, possibly a life ending event. The responders chose to help, but only if conditions permitted.

A coworker of mine at the time, who was also an EMT and volunteered at the track, convinced me to join our work emergency response team. Later he talked me into visiting a local racetrack to help in the event of a crash. We started at Sears Point sometime around 2000, and worked Thunderhill and eventually the MotoGP races at Laguna Seca. This went on for a number of years. I cannot describe the adrenaline rush experienced when you have to enter a live track. Motorcycles fly by you at over 100 mph only feet away. I've called an ambulance for Jason Pridmore, and have picked Nicky Hayden up off the turn 3 dirt at Laguna. I've witnessed one death during my few years of service at the track, never to be forgotten.

In 2001 I took the riders safety course, obtained my M1 license, and bought my first motorcycle, a Honda 996 Superhawk. In 2004 I bought a Yamaha R1 and in 2005 another R1 (track use only). I signed up for track school and mostly ride in the 'B' group. I highly recommend track and street riding clinics, as they can only make you a better rider. In 2007 and 2008, another coworker and I took a couple trips across this great nation on Harleys. Mine was a '91 FXR. I got a few interesting looks with my full face Arai helmet with sport graphics, but the experience was life-changing. With fond memories of the cross county trips, I finally, in 2010, bought a used Fat Bob.

I have visited this forum often over the past year, almost to the point of obsession according to my wife. In the past 30 days I've spent far too much money on parts for my ride, which should begin to arrive soon. Once my Bob is 'updated' I'll post a new thread with all the details on parts, the people I've had the pleasure to work with, and the outcome. I already know some will not agree with the direction I'm taking my Fat Bob, but I know I will love it.

This is a great site with great info and great people. I'm hooked. Ride safe.

 

That's a cool backstory. My wife thinks I'm on here way too much also.

 

I'm with you brother. I check this forum out multiple times a day. So much information on this thing. Seems like I learn something different everyday. Like you, I've worked a track as a paramedic at a local motorcross track. Lots and lots of trauma skills practice.

 

welcome jp28,yea it may be even more addictive then the games on facebook

 

Great forum great people
Lots info cant not stay away from it.

 

As a former ALS Medic I know the feeling, I also worked races in my youth, even some off shore power boat races, quite the thrill when they roar by.

This place is a sickness, it leads to drained bank accounts and loaded credit cards and occasionally a smile when you help someone figure out a problem. Since I work from home it helps fill the slow moments.

 

Well put, couldn't have been said any better. Great site and people an a wealth of information and ideas.

 

I think I may be a bit obsessed ... although sometimes I find I just need to take a break for a bit ....

When I first joined and for quite a while after that, I was looking to see what direction others were taking ... what experience they had to share with performance mods ... spent almost all my time on the Dyna section since thats what I own ... also, just really dig looking at pics of bikes ...

Found a lot of interesting folks ... Battersby, Rene, Joe, Rich, Vic, Neil, Rick, Harvey ... a bunch of others ... kind of interesting to get to know the personalities of some of the folks who have been around for a while (and seem to have decided to stick around) ... also, you get to see the newcomers and whether they're just stopping by to try to find a solution for a specific problem ... or whether they're going to stick around for a while ....

After a while I kind of started looking around at the Softail, Touring, some of the tech forums ... looking at the new posts ....

Now, I spend about 2/3 of my HDForum time on the Dyna and the other third on other sections ....

You've got an interesting story JP ... sounds like you might be sticking around for a while ... just don't go joining any 12-step programs and ditch us ....

R/
'Chop

 

ask some of these guys with 20,000+ post.... naw, it ain't obsessive/addicting?

this place has got to be one of the most if not 'the most' active forums on the Intranets, Thank You Al the ***** Gore !

 

Yeah, this place definitely kills a LOT of my down time at work for sure.. I've met some awesome people on these forums, gotten a BUNCH of things for my bike for much less then 1/2 the cost of retail.. I've gotten MANY ideas for my ride from people here.. This place, simply put, is addicting. =)

Love your background story man. That sounds amazing what you do. Can't wait to see what your fat bob is going to look like!