You are someone’s Hero!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 3:56PM Remember the last time you had one of those nights you couldn’t sleep? You lay awake and finally tell yourself you might as well get up and watch TV or read because you won’t go back to sleep anyway.
Then you know why this is being typed at 3am!
Since my existence revolves around motorcycles I naturally started checking out the latest moto magazines that had arrived in the mail. I came upon a story about the most admired man in motocross, Kevin Windam. Great article! It started me thinking, I know that is dangerous, as to why he would have a title or honor set upon him like that.
It was easy to understand why he appealed to such a wide spectrum of fans, young and old. Many reasons, because of his personality, length of his career, riding style, age………….hmmmm age.
It was interesting that his age is one of the reasons he is so popular. The regular fast guys, the Ryan Dungey’s, David Knight’s or Kurt Caselli’s of the racing world are all in a certain bracket when it comes to age. Nothing out of the ordinary.
So when a guy goes beyond those normal parameters he is viewed as something special.
That my friend is you.
Most of the guys I ride with and watch at races are well past Windam’s age by a decade or two. I have always had this thought while watching my buddies ride but never got the idea to say much about it until reading this article.
The Veteran/Oldtimer rider is a special kind of person just by being motivated, enthused, driven or whatever you want to call it that makes him get on a motorcycle and go riding or racing. How many times have you been getting gas for your bike or hauling it somewhere when someone starts talking to you about what they “used to ride”.
That is what makes you more like Kevin Windam that you ever thought possible. You ride because you like to and it is still fun no matter how old we get or how fast or slow we go. When these guys talk to you about your bike and tell you what they used to ride they are admiring you and wishing they were still doing it. You are that guy’s hero and you didn’t even know it!
You probably don’t realize how many people you know that admire you for what you do. Sure, there are the knuckleheads that think we are too old and shouldn’t be taking such risks at our age. But for every one of them there are 50 others that smile and think you are living!
Isn’t that what we are here for, to LIVE! Not just exist!
So remember you have nephews, nieces, brothers, relatives and friends everywhere that see you as “that motorcycle guy”.
You have an image to uphold, So Get Out and Ride, Hero!
#33
Reader Comments (6)
Well said!
A friend of mine who is living through the same sixth decade as I am were
at a race one day, and at the time we were hanging on the side rails of a
pickup BS'ing when a couple of young riders (Under twenty) came up leaned
on the other rails and joined in. After they had left Stan turned to me
and said "you know this is the only sport I know where young and older
riders really do interact". I had never thought about that before but he
was right. When I thought about it I've spent many hours in the company of
young, middle aged or old riders sharing the same love of what we do. Sure
sometimes there are vast differences in skill levels but that doesn't seem
to matter. I've had some of those young guys or girls pass me during a
race and I've never had one treat me with anything but respect after.
After the two young guys had wandered off Stan turned to me and said "You
know last weekend I helped a friend of mines daughter at her first cross
country event and the next week she called me and asked if I would like to
go trail riding with her and a couple of her friends." "I was blown away,
here's a fifteen year old girl asking this old man to go trail riding with
her and her friends." "I went and we had a great time, I had to ride
pretty darn hard to keep up with them"
So #33 you're right I think there a lot of people young to old who look at
us older riders as hero's, I have my young to old hero's myself, hell
sometimes I even admire myself.
Doug
#21J
Awesome post...don't know if I'm anyone's hero? But watching the senior and vet dedication to the sport makes them my hero. Moreover, the grace, tolerance and knowledge shared among the older classes makes them a tremendous asset to the younger rider. Those "Dungey's" all could use a "DeCoster"!!
It's always good to see you out at E-Street, Mammoth Bar, and others!
Keep up the good work!
-Lynn 240j
You are my Hero #33!
Lynn 240j
Trust me, you are somebody's hero just by getting out and riding. I admire you for it!
#33
Thats awesome and an excellent outlook on life. It makes me feel good about the fact so much of what I do revolves around a motorcycle.