Richy D's World
Editorials, rants, ravings and random thoughts from an ordinary man
Simpler Times...
Yes, it's true that I am a simple kind of guy. Maybe it is because I come from a simpler time. I grew up in the 50's and 60's. Life
seemed a lot easier. I could take my forty dollar 1963 Honda 50 trail bike with the up-swept pipe and rear sprocket almost as big as
the wheel itself from my front yard to the apple orchard. The orchard is where my dad and I had a track. If I went the other way, I
could ride the trail that the old man meticulously cut with a machete and axe. This led to the power lines, but best of all, it lead to
adventure!
I could ride for hours and see only 2 - 3 houses. If the inhabitants happened to be in view, they would usually wave and go about
their business. I pretended to be Bud Peck on his Triumph blazing his way to another enduro championship. Sometimes I was one
of those motocross guys from Europe that I would see on "Wide World of Sports". Other times, I was just riding, enjoying the sport
and being thankful that my dad was a rider too.
Riding kept dad and I close. Oh, of course there were times when I thought that he was mean because he would grill me about the
workings of the motor or how tight to keep the chain. It didn't take long though, for me to realize that he was preparing me to be my
own man. He couldn't always be around to work on the bike or tow me out of the woods.
Pop was around 40 when he got into riding. He bought an old Triumph to go cruising with his brothers. He soon started drag racing
out behind Bishop's, the local Triumph dealer. He quickly jumped into dirt riding with an old DT-175 Yamaha. Soon after, dad got
out of the construction business and became a mechanic at Bishop's. This gave him access to more technically advanced bikes like
the Ossa Pioneer. He morphed into an active enduro rider who occasionally rode "scrambles" (that's old guy talk for motocross).
And just when mom thought that he was done finding new hobbies, he discovered road racing,ice racing, and flat track. He was still
winning the 250cc pro class at the age of 60. Yeah, the old man was pretty cool. Still is. Oh, did I mention that he is a WWII vet and
accomplished musician? At 5'4" he will always stand pretty tall.
Anyway, what I am getting at is that my dad taught me that life shouldn't be a spectator sport. Don't be afraid to get some excitement
in your life or the life of your loved ones. In his best Dracula's voice, he would always say, "Do not be afraid!". I think the riding
helped dad keep his sanity in a time when his generation was going through some crazy changes.
I now have a modest house, drive a pick-up truck, and my bikes are a couple of years old. As with most people, I've had my ups
and downs. Working in factories as an engineer for 30 something years and seeing it all go to off-shore companies is depressing.
I've watched politics go from bad to worse. I'm glad the KX450 doesn't need race fuel...I wouldn't be able to afford it! All of the old
practice tracks are being shut down. My old "playground" in the orchard is now surrounded by houses.
But, you know what?The old man prepared me well. I still ride and race. I too, am a musician. I have managed to stay sane
through a crazy time in our generation. Hopefully, I have managed to instill the same philosophies in my children. I have a son that
is also a racer and a musician. As a mater of fact, he helped me get my business started and I had the honor of being his best man
at his wedding this year.
Moral of the story: Get involved with your children and show them that life is not a spectator sport. Richy D
"Do not be afraid!" - Victor Damboise
Yes, it's true that I am a simple kind of guy. Maybe it is because I come from a simpler time. I grew up in the 50's and 60's. Life
seemed a lot easier. I could take my forty dollar 1963 Honda 50 trail bike with the up-swept pipe and rear sprocket almost as big as
the wheel itself from my front yard to the apple orchard. The orchard is where my dad and I had a track. If I went the other way, I
could ride the trail that the old man meticulously cut with a machete and axe. This led to the power lines, but best of all, it lead to
adventure!
I could ride for hours and see only 2 - 3 houses. If the inhabitants happened to be in view, they would usually wave and go about
their business. I pretended to be Bud Peck on his Triumph blazing his way to another enduro championship. Sometimes I was one
of those motocross guys from Europe that I would see on "Wide World of Sports". Other times, I was just riding, enjoying the sport
and being thankful that my dad was a rider too.
Riding kept dad and I close. Oh, of course there were times when I thought that he was mean because he would grill me about the
workings of the motor or how tight to keep the chain. It didn't take long though, for me to realize that he was preparing me to be my
own man. He couldn't always be around to work on the bike or tow me out of the woods.
Pop was around 40 when he got into riding. He bought an old Triumph to go cruising with his brothers. He soon started drag racing
out behind Bishop's, the local Triumph dealer. He quickly jumped into dirt riding with an old DT-175 Yamaha. Soon after, dad got
out of the construction business and became a mechanic at Bishop's. This gave him access to more technically advanced bikes like
the Ossa Pioneer. He morphed into an active enduro rider who occasionally rode "scrambles" (that's old guy talk for motocross).
And just when mom thought that he was done finding new hobbies, he discovered road racing,ice racing, and flat track. He was still
winning the 250cc pro class at the age of 60. Yeah, the old man was pretty cool. Still is. Oh, did I mention that he is a WWII vet and
accomplished musician? At 5'4" he will always stand pretty tall.
Anyway, what I am getting at is that my dad taught me that life shouldn't be a spectator sport. Don't be afraid to get some excitement
in your life or the life of your loved ones. In his best Dracula's voice, he would always say, "Do not be afraid!". I think the riding
helped dad keep his sanity in a time when his generation was going through some crazy changes.
I now have a modest house, drive a pick-up truck, and my bikes are a couple of years old. As with most people, I've had my ups
and downs. Working in factories as an engineer for 30 something years and seeing it all go to off-shore companies is depressing.
I've watched politics go from bad to worse. I'm glad the KX450 doesn't need race fuel...I wouldn't be able to afford it! All of the old
practice tracks are being shut down. My old "playground" in the orchard is now surrounded by houses.
But, you know what?The old man prepared me well. I still ride and race. I too, am a musician. I have managed to stay sane
through a crazy time in our generation. Hopefully, I have managed to instill the same philosophies in my children. I have a son that
is also a racer and a musician. As a mater of fact, he helped me get my business started and I had the honor of being his best man
at his wedding this year.
Moral of the story: Get involved with your children and show them that life is not a spectator sport. Richy D
"Do not be afraid!" - Victor Damboise
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |