NOW, THAT'S USING YOUR HEAD

  • Published
  • By Rick Johnsen
  • San Antonio
Via e-mail --  With 2011 being the Air Force Year of Motorcycle Safety, Torch's emphasis on motorcycle safety-related articles (i.e., "Pedal to the Metal," cover story, May/June 2011 issue) generated the following testimonial from one of our readers. Unlike the gentlemen featured on page 6 of this issue ("Tales of the Strange") the guy who sent this letter learned the importance of wearing a motorcycle helmet just in the nick of time.

Well, it has been an interesting couple of days for me. I left my house on a recent Saturday morning to go to the office for a couple of hours. I got on my brand-new (three months and not even 1,000 miles on her yet) Harley-Davidson V-Rod with my HD ball cap and sunglasses ready for a beautiful south Texas motorcycle ride.

Before I left, though, a little voice in my head said, "Hmmm, maybe I'll go back in the house and get my helmet." So in I went and strapped on my Department of Transportation-approved full-face helmet.

I got about 2 miles from the house and pulled up to a red light (first in line). I placed my bike in neutral, planted my feet, smiled at the woman in the truck next to me (motorcycles are known chick magnets), and then in the blink of an eye I woke up 25 to 30 feet in front of where I was parked, face down on the asphalt.

I jumped to my feet and took care of the most important thing -- Veronica (my bike).
I picked her up (all 650 pounds) to assess her damages and then tried to find my cell phone to call 911.

A person (practicing restraint here) hit me from behind doing 45 mph trying to avoid having to stop at the red light. I flew through the air end-over-end, landed on my helmet and right side, and then slid 5 to 10 more feet.

Fortunately for me, a good Samaritan (the woman in the truck next to me whom I had smiled at) saw me get hit and pulled up to prevent cross traffic from running over my limp body and causing further injury.

I received treatment from the Leon Valley cops and emergency medical services in San Antonio who were all fantastic, and then escorted Veronica to her ER.

Once she was set, my wife forcibly took me to Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, so they could fix all my damaged body parts.

The preliminary diagnoses are not so good -- my Veronica will survive but so far parts alone are climbing past $4,000 and that's without labor costs yet. It will be another six weeks or more before she's home from the "Harley Hospital." I miss her already. I, on the other hand, am doing OK with a few bruises, road rash, and a whole lotta body soreness. In a nutshell, I'm fine and will heal as good as new. Thanks to Valium, Percocet, Ibuprofen, nice long hot baths, and everyone's well wishes, I will be ready to ride again soon.

After 37 years of riding mini-bikes, dirt-bikes, crotch-rockets, baggers, and now a real motorcycle (Veronica), I hardly ever wore a helmet (except on base) ... until now. I will not drive without one again (may look dumb in my car but I'll have to evaluate that one). If you ride, do it for your loved ones. If your husband or wife rides, make them wear one for you.