I'm at home sick today, watching a movie called "The Worlds Fastest Indian" and it stirred up a lot of good old feelings.
Do you remember the first time you rode? The feeling of that powerful engine shaking every bone in your body, the roar of power as you you revved the engine. Those butterflies in your stomach as you put it in gear and let go, the wind in your face. The feeling of truly being one with the road, almost as if it's just you flying like Superman across the asphalt. Could you help but smile? Grinning ear to ear at the marvel of this wonderful contraption.
Sadly for yours truly it's been awhile. What with a wife and kid, and what I feel is not enough life insurance I can't justify riding now... Perhaps when the kids are in college and well on their way..
It's not that I am worried about the way I ride, I am a responsible rider. I enjoy the classics, the cruisers, I don't fancy the modern crotch rockets that you see in action movies. Ridding around like a maniac in and out of traffic at break-neck speeds that's not who I am. I take easy, just enjoy the ride. But most people in cars don't see us and that is the problem. Most motorcycle accidents aren't caused by the motorcycle rider, but by some jerk in a car who's not looking. Most people think we wear leather and flashy color suits for the looks, while there might be a little vanity involved depending on who you ask. It's for safty, take a look at one up close sometime. Try it on, it's heavy leather and metal armor! And it gets hot in there let me tell you.
Cars and drivers, running us off the road that's the problem. More often then not, they are drunk. I've lost friends and family over the years due to drunk driving and let me tell you I have ZERO respect for anybody who dose it!
That's why I want to talk to you about BADD (Bikers Against Drunk Drivers) they are a non-profit organization that operates in the US and Canada. Every year they host some great shindigs down in Daytona Beach FL.
BADD was established after 2 tragic accidents occurred to the Perkins family in just a few years. Oct 25th 1973 Kim was out with some friends on a ride in the country when a Mack truck hit him head on while negotiating a tight curve on a winding road up north from Montreal. Although they did their best getting him to the hospital, he died a few days later from extreme internal injuries. The truck driver was drunk.
Five years later in the spring of 1978, Danny Perkins had just finished rebuilding his 1970 BSA 650 lightning all winter chroming every part that could come off and spending every cent and minute he had on the bike.
While hitting 4th gear heading on a narrow road in the suburbs a drunk taxi driver swerved over and hit Danny head on at about 60 miles an hour. After several months of recovery Danny decided to do something about it and promised himself he would start an organization that could help bikers get back on their feet again, and maybe get the word out to young drivers about drunk driving and the consequences.
BADD was founded in the Spring of 1986 with a specific goal of joining in the fight against drunk driving and assisting victims.
Please check out their website for more information: http://www.baddcentral.com/
