| Author | Message | ||
     Macbuell |
I was reading the Tail of the Dragon site about a accident that happened this weekend shortly after I left on Saturday and I saw this. This happened on Friday, July 22nd, 2005. (OVER A YEAR AGO! I missed the date originally. My bad)} I hadn't seen it reported here and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the guy. At 1:15 p.m. Friday as the emergency responders completed the technical rescue/recovery, another motorcycle accident was reported near Mile Marker 8. Little said a 2004 Buell motorcycle ridden by Jack Wolfe of Hagerstown, Md., went off the road on a curve, traveled about 100 feet down a steep embankment and landed against a tree. Rescuers rushed the two miles from the recovery site of the first crash to the scene of the second, then launched another technical rescue effort using a system of ropes to lower paramedics to the critically injured man. It took almost an hour to bring the victim secured in a Stokes basket back to the roadside. Friends said Wolfe had come to ride the Dragon to celebrate his birthday. He was 62 on Friday. A Rural/Metro ambulance took Wolfe down the mountain a few miles to a landing zone set up near the Calderwood powerhouse by Blount County Sheriff's Office deputies. He was flown by Lifestar to UT Medical Center. He apparently died on the way to the hospital. My condolences to family and friends. (Message edited by MACBuell on August 30, 2006) (Message edited by MACBuell on August 30, 2006) (Message edited by MACBuell on August 30, 2006) | ||
| Buellgirlie |
R.I.P. D | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
sad! how easily on can be killed all in the spirit of fun. prayers go out to the family and friends of Jack Wolfe.  | ||
| No_rice |
wow, i didnt see that. it can happen at any time. i really cant find much info on there about the accidents that happened last weekend when we wre there. it just kept wanting me to look at stuff from 2005 and later (Message edited by no_rice on August 30, 2006) | ||
| Greenlantern |
believe this happened last year. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/129622.html | ||
| Macbuell |
Greenlantern, I think you're right. My apologies. I'm not sure how I missed that. Mods / Glitch, feel free to remove the thread. | ||
| Jimduncan69 |
 seeing that puts things in to perspective. | ||
| Whodom |
That's actually a pretty cool memorial. I can sure think of worse ways to be remembered. A visit to the Tree should be mandatory for Dragon newbies prior to their first ride. | ||
| Slaughter |
NO - with the carnage that we all seem to be so willing to accept- you should be required to visit an advanced riders' course AND a peer group with the expectation that they'll work with the rider to stay within their limits - and not a meaningless/purposeless dumb-a** tree. Otherwise, keep on crashing. This is just getting old. The Dragon seems to be as popular a place to die as our Angeles Crest Highway here in CA. | ||
| Buellshyter |
Hmm, carbon fiber airbox with the vents | ||
| Altima02 |
I saw that there last month. I have some pics with that airbox in it, just no close ups. | ||
| Grimel |
The Dragon seems to be as popular a place to die as our Angeles Crest Highway here in CA. Oh, yeah, about 2 deaths a year on average out of a few hundred thousand riders. Lots of deaths there. | ||
| Skyguy |
We average two to four a month at the Crest........ We are at four just this sumer on the 18 in the San Bernardino Mountains. Thats just for a 15 mile stretch of road........................... You do not have to be riding like an asshat to crash. All it takes is something in the road you can not react to................... Have fun but don't ever forget it's a game that you don't want to lose. | ||
| Slaughter |
My whole problem is that threads like these are so terribly predictable and more and more common. We bemoan the loss of yet another of our number - and all too often it's for EXACTLY the same reasons - over, and over, and over again. Totally predictable. We never encourage responsible riding in the mountains, we tend to revel in our "outlaw" images - the hoodlum sorta thing. It's even promoted by the manufacturers themselves. I don't really know where this free-association rant is going but I've posted in 4 different boards just this month alone the very same statement that we'll all be back here again many times before the killing season is over and we'll learn NOTHING from the "shared experience." I can cite quite a number of instances where I or somebody I've been riding with have left themselves room to maneuver out of the way of a car crossing the double yellow or sudden appearance of rocks or sand. A little faster and they'd have been down. I'm not one to tell folks to slow down - just don't expect much sympathy for wadding up a bike when not recognizing that you're riding over your head. Let me know who is your insurance company so I can keep getting salvage parts for spares for my racebikes. Currently looking for another set of forks, frame and another set of wheels. Expressions of sympathy do nothing. We'll be back here again with a new name and different location before long. Count on it. And we'll learn nothing from that future incident either. | ||
| Southern Marine |
Any death is tragic, but the Dragon is not too bad, 16 deaths since 1995. Still that's 16 too many. FATALITIES: 2006 - One death as of August 1: Rider went off road and hit tree. 2005 - Three deaths: All three deaths involved failing to negociate corners - two went off the mountain and one slid into an oncoming vehicle. 2004 - Two deaths: Both deaths apparently caused by speed and then overbraking. 2003 - No deaths: There were several deaths in the surrounding area of the Dragon, but none that we know of on the 11 miles of the Dragon itself. 2002 - Two deaths: On June 16 a 29 year-old Dale Bently a Valkyrie rider from Michigan died on the Dragon. The rider was passing a car near the Horns of the Dragon when he wrecked and suffered fatal head injuries. The second death occurred on Sunday August 4 when Lendry R. Obanna Jr., 24, of Jacksonville, Florida, lost control of his 2000 Yamaha R6. 2001 - Two deaths: The entire Blount County (home of the Dragon) saw a total of four motorycle fatalities in 2001. The total includes the deaths of a 27-year-old Knoxville man who died March 10 in a collision on Old Knoxville Highway in Rockford, the May 5th death on the Dragon, the July 5th death of a 43-year-old Maryville man in an accident on Happy Valley Road, and the October 27th death on the Dragon. 2000 - One death: Blount County had four motorcycle deaths in 2000 including one fatality on the Dragon. 1999 - One death: Only one motorcycle death in 1999 1998 - No deaths: No fatal motorcycle crashes in 1998. 1997 - One death: A single motorcycle fatality is listed in 1997. 1996 - One death: A single motorcycle fatality in 1996. 1995 - Two deaths: In 1995, two men died in separate July 3 motorcycle crashes on the Dragon during the July 4 holiday weekend. (Message edited by southernmarine on August 30, 2006) | ||
| Pupu |
well slaughter, when we read the thread about your death because you were obeying all the laws and someone rearended you and you got run over, we will be sure not to post in that thread. not everyone dies from stupid things, i have wrecked for riding stupid, but i have wrecked for doing nothing at all. your "no sympathy" sounds a little uncalled for. you dont have to be sorry, just dont preach it. so you cant ever estimate riding with room to spare, you cant control the environment. some people ride well within their limits, but a car crossing lanes, or a dear, dirt, gravel, water, whatever. a loss is always sad. doesnt mean you have to morn for them. (Message edited by pupu on August 30, 2006) (Message edited by pupu on August 30, 2006) | ||
| Anonymous |
Hey guys, Slaughter isn't preaching, he's just a hell of a nice guy who has been riding fast for a long time and hates seeing anyone get hurt. Going to an advanced rider school, or two, or three is really, really good advice. It's not expensive, it is fun as hell, and you will reduce your chances of being hurt. Can it still happen? Yes. But, me, I'd go for improving the odds. Trust old (oops, I mean experienced) racers. | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
Kick ass Jack! Not many get to go doing something they love! Sure you can practice and study and become the greatest rider ever... and then die from a stroke or heart attack or.... Take your chances and be willing to accept the possibilities, it's what makes you different from the 401k, can't wait to get old so I can enjoy life crowd. Hopefully things work out better then this, but just imagine being on your death bed knowing you didn't do any of the stuff you wanted to. | ||
| Slaughter |
Pupu, no argument from me. There are NO guarantees in what we chose to do in this thing we call riding. I nearly fell asleep coming down out of the hills once we got onto the flatlands and blew a stop sign. That was FAR closer to exceeding the limits of my ability than being on the podium at Willow Springs. The truth of chosing to ride close to your/my/our limits is that we're just that much closer to trouble when the INEVITABLE changes occur in oncoming traffic, road conditions, target fixation, all that stuff. One problem that seems to happen all too often is that riders may not KNOW their limits and may not KNOW how close they are riding to their limits. That comes with some seat time. Not everybody can do track days either for a variety of reasons (though I still think it's a good idea, still cheaper than a ticket) Most people are responsible, have families and obligations. ME?? I maxed my Visa, borrowed against my 401K and went racing! I call that pretty stupid and irresponsible by any measure of common sense. I'm not really a shining example of good sense - it's just that I've seen a lot of folks dying doing the things they loved in ALL of my sports - flying, soaring, scuba and motorcycling. Again, we'll be having this discussion a few more times in the next few months. Yes, our canyons are pretty high traffic and by looking at the above stats, we probably collect more fatalaties in the Angeles Crest complex in a month than the Dragon does in a year. Maybe if I weren't seeing it happen a few times a week, I'd have a different attitude. I'd like to see it start to change, where we all take some responsiblity for the accidents that are taking place all too frequently. As it is, we see double fine zones, more and more zealous enforcement of laws - including the dreaded non-DOT pipe and EPA violations... it's only getting worse. Wish it weren't so. My heart goes out to people who have lost friends/family - but sympathy does NO GOOD in attempting to reduce future carnage. Peer pressure is non-existant. See you here in a couple weeks when we've lost a few more here in our hills. | ||
| Buellicrat |
Asteroids, Bird Flu, Global Warming, Terrorists,President Bush, Cancer, the boogeyman...... The list of killers goes on. Enjoy life while you can. I doubt old Jack was an inexperienced rider. HDbob... was on the money. There are those who want safety and security and will never take the risk that all of us that ride take every time we ride. Thats WHY we RIDE. But there is something to be said about riding within your limits........ | ||
| Grimel |
The truth of chosing to ride close to your/my/our limits is that we're just that much closer to trouble when the INEVITABLE changes occur in oncoming traffic, road conditions, target fixation, all that stuff. Which is why I think the author of "The Pace" is about 10-15% too optimistic. I figure 25% for road/my stupidity and 10% for the morons out not paying attention and exceeding THEIR limits. | ||
| Pwnzor |
You can get killed walking your doggie. Doesn't mean I'm not going to walk my doggie. I just have trouble seeing why it's bad to lament the death of anyone. Biker or not. That's a little harsh I think, Slaughter. If you don't want to read about it, skip it I say. I, for one, pray for everybody's safety. At the same time, I am a sworn helmet-hater. | ||
| Jackbequick |
I think everyone should re-read these occasionally, it's so easy to lose your focus. The Pace - http://www.ridehsta.com/html/safety.htm Pace Yourself - http://www.micapeak.com/info/thepace.html Thanks to Nick Ienatsch. Jack | ||
| The_new_guy |
The other day I was thinking about my own riding and it hit me that I do something sort of stupid often enough. You see, I really don't have the proper riding gear. I do wear boots, a leather jacket and gloves and of course a fullface helmet. Often while riding I slow myself down by saying "I have to take it easy, I don't have the proper riding gear" Then I got to thinking, will I ride harder when I do get better gear? I hope not too much harder because if I feel alot more comfortable with gear on, it seems like I'll be prepared to take more risks(I mean accept a crash). I guess it's good that I analize my thoughts and actions while riding. It can get pretty exiting out on the curves. I read most every post on this site and I think it sort of desensitizes you sometimes. Sometimes I have to sit back and think about what I'm "playing" with when I'm out there. This type of post is definitely helpful for us newer guys but we have to use the info correctly. I hope this makes sense. Just my .02 cents. Gregg | ||
| Slaughter |
(some thoughts "the morning after") Pwnzor - you're right - It was a little harsh. It is still a waste of life - that hasn't changed. We still have another rider down. We're still going to lose a half dozen more friends before the Winter season starts again. I'll still go racing, still fly, still go scuba diving in remote locations without access to recompression chambers (try getting the bends in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea) - nobody is recommending that we reduce our risks to ZERO - just that we manage the risks we chose to keep as part of what we do. Thank you for listening Doctor... it was a good session this time. (Message edited by slaughter on August 31, 2006) | ||
| Yoda |
This has nothing to do with this man's accident but I have the exact same carbon fiber airbox that's hanging in that tree. I have never seen another one 'til now. | ||
| Skyguy |
Wow, All of these experienced riders are always saying how important it is to ride with-in ones limits. I never hear anyone saying how important it is to ride with-in the limits of the road. I have been down several times over the years due to oil, gravel and most recently coolant. I try to not ride over 60% unless I have had a chance to pre-run the road that I am planning on tearing up. Even then I have almost been killed by a mid-day deer at the Crest. Not that it matters but I was two bikes behind Chuck Graves, Nick Ienatsch was right in front of me.................... We were riding the pace (albeit a fast one) on Upper Tijunga. Ride with-in your limits all you want and you still might die. It is a part of riding and those that do not know that should not ride. | ||
| Blake |
There is rarely a "good" excuse for a single vehicle accident other than poor piloting. What would my old friend Andy Spiegan say? I'm pretty sure he'd say something like "slow the !@#%$ down dumb ass!" Maybe Ted K. can chime in here. Diablo Brian? Anyone who's ever gone off-road unintentionally? I spent a week in the hospital due to carelessly riding over my head. You cannot imagine how unfathomably idiotic you feel after nearly killing yourself because you thought it was fun and cool to push the limits and ride fast on a public road. I don't recall any Buell commercials/advertisements/marketing that displayed any knee dragging or hooligan antics on public roads. I see/hear a number of folks here bragging about such risky behavior. Wise up. Take the hard earned, painful, sometimes fatal experiences of others and actually learn from them. Trust me, it ain't worth it. Instead, go find a closed course or a race track. That is worth it. I'm with Steve (Slaughter). I think his outrage is dead on. | ||
| Blake |
Andy might also caution against riding through doors.  I miss you Andy! | ||
| Grimel |
Wow, All of these experienced riders are always saying how important it is to ride with-in ones limits. I never hear anyone saying how important it is to ride with-in the limits of the road. The road condition is PART of your limit. | ||
| Lorazepam |
There are old riders and there are bold riders. But there are no old bold riders. I heard that when I was just a kid. Realized after picking gravel out of my thigh and butt, what he was getting at. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Yes Blake I will chime in! First, life is risk management. everything you do is rooted in risk vs. reward. You do your best to mitigate risk where you can. Wearing your gear when you ride is one of those ways. So is riding within your limits and the limits of the road. People do die in their beds, bathtubs, etc. that is a fact. You do not need to ride a motorcycle to die. Some days, no matter what you do you cannot avoid the hazard that takes you out. There just isn't time, or room to avoid the hazard. Trust me, people DO pull out of driveways and hit bikes head-on. When that happens you cannot hit a rewind button and put your gear on. No one plans to have an accident. If you need to go out and explore your limits, explore the internet first and find a track to do it on. Trackdays are happening more often and in more places every year. That is the place to push your bike, and yourself. There is a reason that the tracks have the minimum standards for gear that they do. It isn't because they like to have riders on the track delirious from heat stroke, and it isn't because they want head and neck injuries that many still claim helmets cause. It's because it makes it more likely the riders will not be seriously injured in a crash. I do not recall a single track day that did not end with at least one rider having crashed. The people running the track days have a lot of first hand knowledge of the results of motorcycle crashes. Remember they have MINIMUM gear standards. There is no penalty for wearing more and better gear. The good stuff is better vented than the cheap stuff so it's actually cooler to wear the better gear on the road or track. Wrapping up my rant.... 1) ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) Live it. 2) Riding is risky. Know the limits of yourself, your machine, and your environment...and subtract at least 15-20%. That's a happy place on the street 3) Finding your limits is good, in the proper venue. Take it to the track. 4) Do not intentionally aggravate the residents on your favorite twisty road. They can be your best friend in an emergency, or they can spread oil on the road in the dead of night. Which do you prefer? 5) LEOs look for aggressive body language when deciding who to stop. Hanging off, or dragging knees qualify as aggressive. (Message edited by diablobrian on September 01, 2006) | ||
| Mags |
Wow! I read this entire page and I can honestly say that the craving to go for a ride in the AM has officially gone away. I am a "FRESH" or "SQUID" which ever is preferred. I love my bike she is beautiful and a great piece of machinery. I am a grand total of 5'2 and am riding a XB12S. On the other side of the lake is a great temptation by the name of Ortega and since I got my beauty I have had no want to do the Ortega. Lost a few guys up there and am rather skiddish about it. I think everyone here has made their own valid point. Slaughter yes you may come off a bit harsh, but reality is harsh. I'll admit that you triggered a bit of anger with your brash comments, but I do agree with you. Why don't you take the initiative and form one of those groups you mentioned. You know, seasoned riders connect with new-b's to help them learn the ropes. Take care everyone. Be safe and have a great time. RIP to all of the HEAVENLY RIDERS. and condolences to their loved ones. Margarita a.k.a. MAGS | ||
| Crashm1 |
I'm with Slaughter, Blake and Brian crashing sucks(Ask me how I know). People dying or getting crippled being stupid or ignorant sucks (ask me how I know)and not knowing your limits sucks (leads to crashing ask me how I know). Track time is good. Gear is good. Thinking about why your bike does what it does when you ask it to do X is good. It all helps. I have recently started doing trackdays after reading everything I could get my hands on regarding riding fast. There are two things that stand out for me; My limits are way, way, way below my bikes and there are few more satisfying feelings than passing someone with 50 more hp than I have because he has no idea how to make his bike work. Oops three, I cannot ride as fast on the street as I can on a track without being a complete and total asshat with no regaurd for anyone else. I like to think of myself as not an asshat so I tone it down to the 70 to 80% range and relax. Something I read last year comes to mind also, if I am are really riding at 80% I have all the time in the world to react to the unexpected. I admit it's not quite as exciting as being on my personal edge but that just gives me time to practice good technique and memorize it so that when I need it it's automatic. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Mags, Don't get me wrong, I LOVE riding my bike, and I encourage others to ride. I just think people should know the facts before hopping on their bike with a "plastic yamulke" ,tank top, shorts, and flip-flops. I'll bastardize one of Court's quotes : "Regardless of the season you should always dress for the Fall" I know the people like to believe that bad things can't happen to them. It's nice to feel 10ft tall and bulletproof, but that's not reality. | ||
| Pwnzor |
When I'm roaring down the freeway in my shorts, t-shirt and tennis shoes, I am acutely aware that if I go down, I'm completely f*cked. Somehow, it doesn't sway me. I totally agree it's not the smartest way to go, but it's my way and that's just how it's going to be. To me, a helmet is for keeping bugs out of my face. I went without one for almost a full year after they implemented the law here in California, until I got a ticket and then I bought one. It's just me, I don't recommend my behavior to anyone. Personally though, I'd never wear a plastic skid lid because I think they look fruity. If you're going to wear a helmet, get a real one for Christs' sake. | ||
| Slaughter |
Slaughter yes you may come off a bit harsh, but reality is harsh. I'll admit that you triggered a bit of anger with your brash comments, but I do agree with you. Why don't you take the initiative and form one of those groups you mentioned. You know, seasoned riders connect with new-b's to help them learn the ropes. Mags, We DO take newbs out to the track, we are also going to start breaking our hill/mountain rides into two groups and I'll probably lead the "ticketless" group (note, I did NOT say slow or newbie or beginner) Pic is from our first track day as a group - 28 riders - mostly on Buells out of the Glendale Golden State BRAG group up at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park at Pahrump, NV.  We put out a monthly newsletter including invitations to the track to hang out, watch the racing, get to know an environment different than canyon racing. We still setup and encourage track day participation. We're currently expanding all these activities out of Glendale. A few of our BRAG group work FOR a track day operator on the occasional weekend: http://www.trackexperience.com Not everybody wants to race but everybody considering "canyon racing" MUST get some track days under their belt. AND they MUST ride as if there WILL be all the usual obstructions and leave themselves room to maneuver AND they must understand the limits of their bike. One fact is many crashes seem to be due to people getting into a situation where they get sucked into unfamiliar circumstances. Due to inexperience, they doubt their bike's ability to make a turn - and in that half-second of indecision, they grab the brakes and go down/slide off or stand the bike up and ride off. Either way ends badly. (Message edited by slaughter on September 03, 2006) | ||
| Daveinm |
This just happened this morning. A friend of mine hit the same wall about two years ago while following me. He's was lucky enough to ride away from it. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0903motorcyclist,0,44534 76.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines | ||
| Brucelee |
"Somehow, it doesn't sway me. I totally agree it's not the smartest way to go, but it's my way and that's just how it's going to be." Unless of course, you don't actually "go" but end up in a long term care facility. Say, for the rest of your very long life. In that case, I recommend a Long Term Care Insurance policy. Excellent coverage available from GE, Metlife etc. Think of your family and their financial position! Then again, think of all the magazines you will be able to subscribe too! |
