DaveInDaytona
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posted December 02, 2005 07:27 PM
Remember FHP officer killed while chasing a bike ?
The sentence is in:
Man sentenced to 30 years in FHP trooper's death
Jay Stapleton
Staff Writer
Dec. 2, 2005
DAYTONA BEACH - There were no winners in the courtroom Friday when Donald Williams was sentenced to 30 years in prison for causing the death of a state trooper during a chase in 2004, a judge said.
More than 25 uniformed Florida Highway Patrol troopers filled half of Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson's courtroom to support the family of Trooper Darryl Haywood, killed Oct. 2, 2004, when his cruiser, traveling at more than 100 mph, crashed into a car and then a tree on Interstate-4 while trying to stop Williams on a speeding motorcycle.
"Two people made a mistake that day," Tampa defense lawyer Leon Jones said of the speed the men were traveling. "Now, both families are hurting."
Haywood was killed when the tire on his Camaro cruiser blew out at 130 mph while chasing the motorcycle that was reported speeding and racing. His son was sworn as a trooper after his death.
During the sentencing, testimony heard from friends and loved ones of both men showed similarities they shared, including a commitment to work and family.
"No matter what sentence I impose," Hutcheson said before making his decision, "there will be no winner or loser." Williams, 39, a father of two from Seffner who had been ticketed six times in eight years, had no criminal record before. He was convicted in a jury trial Oct. 18 of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer causing death.
"You have taken away my life's partner, my children's father," widow Linda Haywood said. "Had you stopped as you were required to under the law, you would have realized that Trooper Haywood's interest in you was solely motivated by his obligation to enforce traffic laws and protect motorists of the state of Florida, including yourself .¤.¤. our hearts are broken and nothing will ever heal them."
Williams spoke in court for the first time Friday. He said he'd wanted to write a letter of apology to the Haywood family but was advised against it. Speaking slowly, Williams said he was deeply sorry.
"Something happened that day that tore two families apart," he said. "It was a bad thing that happened to two good people."
Haywood of Palm Coast was 49 and also a father of two. He was a New York City police detective who had been promoted to provide security for diplomats and presidents.
Williams was stopped in St. Johns County later that same day, when his motorcycle tire went flat. He confessed that he had accelerated to 100 mph when he saw the trooper on the side of the interstate. Throughout the trial, Williams denied that he ever knew the trooper was after him, in spite of witnesses who said they saw him look back as he sped by.
"I hope one day we will be able to put this behind us," Williams said, "and communicate like people."
As in the trial, Tampa defense lawyer Leon Jones said Haywood's death was caused not by Williams' actions, but by a choice the trooper made to aggressivly chase the motorcycle at high speed.
Haywood's daughter, Erica Haywood, 23, took offense to Jones' position that her father died because of his "choice" to continue pursuing Williams. "That was his job." she said. "It was not his choice."
Haywood was described as a proud yet humble trooper and dedicated family man. "Darryl had a passion for helping people," FHP Maj. Cyrus Brown said. "He intended to make the world a better place."
Likewise, Williams was portrayed by tearful family members as a veteran of the Gulf War, a generous friend and supportive father who remains a best friend of his ex-wife. In an emotional plea for leniency, Williams' teenage daughter, Shantavia Williams, said her father was on his way to see her near Jacksonville when Haywood died. "I feel like it's my fault," she said.
"I know if he could, he would take all this back," said Williams' niece, Amanda Thompson, 16.
Haywood's family members said later they felt the sentence was fair.
"As a Christian, I've already forgiven him," Linda Haywood said.
The deep sense of loss for both families was illuminated after Williams was led away to serve his time. After the television cameras had moved on, Linda Haywood walked over and offered Williams' 16-year-old daughter a hug. For a long moment, they held each other tight.
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gunner
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posted December 02, 2005 07:49 PM
 Edited By: gunner on 2 Dec 2005 19:50
The trooper should have abandoned the chase way before he got himself killed. His death is solely on him and not the motorcyclist.The rider broke some traffic laws and in NO way intended on a death to occure. The trooper is a trained police officer and not a chasing DOG! His take um dead or alive aditude got him killed.  The outcome is sad but a 30 year sentence is completely STUPID!!!!!!!
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zx12richard
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posted December 02, 2005 08:15 PM
Edited By: zx12richard on 2 Dec 2005 20:26
Thanxxx for saying what I was thinking, I was gonna say it myself just hadn't brought myself around to.......
Bottom line is these bike are so stupid fast now days that a car really don't have much of a chance........ So why be ignorant about it and pursue till you hurt someone over a speeding ticket.....
Now is where the topic changes.........
Ahhh but the guy on the bike could have been a murderer or some BS like that............
Someone says it everytime a topic like this comes up.....
But that is all if..........
When they say if he wouldn't have ran he'd be alive, well hell if the car was never invented he would be too....
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worm~hole
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posted December 02, 2005 11:32 PM
Edited By: worm~hole on 2 Dec 2005 23:41
...hmmmm...interesting opinions on this by gunner and zx12richard...of course my opinion is that non-cops will never understand why cops do what we do, good and bad...our families and friends try to understand and often times even they don't truly understand why or how...they even get mad at us sometimes for going to and doing our jobs!...so forget that the general public could or would even comprehend the intricasies copwork...some are in awe, some are respectful, and some just think that we're a bunch of power-hungry, gun-totin', speed racin' goons...but that's ok....everybody's entitled...some people just want to blame others for the hell that they've created for themselves...I have my unsavory opinions of all knuckleheads I run into, too, but I'll keep it to myself....its the self-respecting thing to do.... 
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“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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zx12richard
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posted December 03, 2005 04:31 AM
Edited By: zx12richard on 3 Dec 2005 04:34
2 bad decisions were made that day, but one was Officer Haywoods... Guys you can't catch everyone and sometimes maybe it should be called off before you kill yourself or SOMEONE ELSE....
As far as I am concerned the tire company wold be more resposible for his death due to failure than the guy running..... BUT THATS AGAIN SHIFTING THE BLAME...
I am still pissed about 2 years ago I was working on I-70 interstate in downtown KC paving, and we have an officer sit out on our jobsite. And there was a police chase and it ended up coming thru or jobsite and about hit my friend in a loader missed by 6 inchs.... I talked to the officer after it and he said he listend to it 20 minutes on the radio before it came thru... My first question was why didn't you warn us??? We have guys walking unprotected on the ground....
If someone would have got killed there in my opinion the officer would have been more responsible than the runner, he had time to make the difference and didn't...
Just for the record, I don't hate the police, I have met some damn good ones and a few friend are officers...
But some officers take their job as their WHOLE WORLD and can be power hungry dicks and others that have a little better attitude about it...
Sorry about my interesting opinions but this world is all about shifting the blame anymore and its getting rediculous....
Officer Haywood could have simply said, hell my car can't catch that... And would be sitting home with his family today..... Like I said its a job........ Don't get yourself killed for it...
Godspeed Officer Haywood...
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worm~hole
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posted December 03, 2005 06:40 AM
...and his tire could've failed at 65 mph or 70 mph...if the 'blame game' is the reason, then my take is: if you don't speed excessively, we don't have to speed excessively to catch up to you to enforce laws and to make a lawful detention or arrest...and just as there are many bike riders who will label a cop for being an idiot for doing his/her job, there are far more non-riders out there who will wonder why the cop isn't doing something about that idiot speeding on that 'ninja bike'...we get it from both sides...we're damned if we do and damned if we don't...ask your cop friends...
...copwork is not for everybody or anybody...most of us really like our jobs, warts and all...we won't get rich doing it, its not the money that motivates cops to do copwork...its something else that 'others' will never comprehend...you have to experience it to relate to it, otherwise you're just letting your imagination run wild of how things woulda, coulda, shoulda...ask your cop friends...
...I don't have to go to work in a few days, but I will because I have to and I want to...I like my job and I like what I do...and I might get killed because of my decision to go to work,,,who's to blame then?...me or the bad guy who killed me?...
...there are bad apples in all lines of work...all lines of work....
...my opinion is that Officer Haywood is blameless...he was doing the job that he chose to do...ask your cop friends...
____________
“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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fattkaw
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posted December 03, 2005 08:34 AM
I'm with gunner on this one. The cop made his own choice to keep up the pursuit.
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Ninjaman12R
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posted December 03, 2005 08:38 AM
unfuckingbelievable................... 
I'm not a cop, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night,............ so listen up fuckers.
My opinion is this, the officer made the decision to continue with the persuit. He fucked up IMHO, because cops call off high speed chases ALL the time. They do it to keep from endangering themselves, the perp, and all the other innocent motorist out there. He above all others knew the risk he was taking when he pressed the accelerator to the mat. I am sorry that the guy died, and I feel for his family, but giving the other guy 30 years is absurd.
Go bust the sorry MFs selling meth to our kids, or fuckers peddling kiddie porn. Give them 30 years, and give the guy that was on the bike what he deserved. A warrant for his arrest due to evading, and all the traffic laws he broke. Don't make him the sacrificial lamb just because a cop died.
I'm not anti-cop, and that might surprise most of you. But my opinion is like this, there are assholes in every group. I've had experiences with both good and bad cops. It's the gung-ho motherfuckers that bust your chops just for their own jollies that piss me off.
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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trenace
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posted December 03, 2005 08:44 AM
Edited By: trenace on 3 Dec 2005 10:04
I wonder if the same judge gives 30 years to "underprivileged" gangbangers guilty only of say accidentally shooting an innocent bystander in a gang dispute...
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trenace
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posted December 03, 2005 08:48 AM
Edited By: trenace on 3 Dec 2005 09:19
Hmm, Googling the judge's name, this judge was offering no jail time for this sex offender:
Former Volusia teacher may avoid prison in student-sex case
Friday, June 6, 2003
Associated Press
DAYTONA BEACH A former teacher at New Smyrna Beach High has pleaded no contest to unlawful sexual activity with an underage student.
Leroy Anthony Burroughs, 26, of Port Orange, also pleaded no contest to felony drug possession Wednesday. With the pleas, Burroughs waived his right to a jury trial.
Although he could face up to 15 years in prison, Burroughs might be able to avoid confinement through a sentencing agreement discussed at Wednesday's hearing.
Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark outlined a suggested sentence that would give Burroughs two years of closely supervised community control and eight years of probation as a sexual offender. Two lesser charges would be dropped as part of the plea deal.
Burroughs would be placed on the state's sexual offender list, would not be able to teach again in Florida and would have to enroll in a substance abuse evaluation program. Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson warned Burroughs that the sentencing deal would be voided if he doesn't show up for sentencing or gets arrested before then.
A sentencing date has not been set.
According to police, Burroughs, a former exceptional-student education teacher and junior boys basketball coach, took two 16-year-old students to a motel and committed a sex act with one of them in March 2001.
The girls waited a year before accusing Burroughs, who was arrested in May 2002.
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trenace
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posted December 03, 2005 08:56 AM
Edited By: trenace on 3 Dec 2005 09:00
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Y2KZX12R
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posted December 03, 2005 09:01 AM
I know several Connecticut state troopers and regularly ride with a few of them. They will be the first to tell you that they would never have gotten into that situation and its the cops fault.
They ride sport bikes and ride just as crazy (trust me) as anyone else. But they dont get in those situations for two reasons.
One, they all have bikes so they know that its very unlikely that they can catch a guy on a bike that doesnt want to get caught and is a good rider. And if the guy isnt a good rider then he will most likely crash and possably die. Thats the biker in them thinking.
Two, there is a no persuit policy with bikes in the state of connecticut. They cant anyway.
Even when chasing a car they have to call in the speed as the chase is going on and the dispatcher will call off the chase at thier descression. Its not the officer in the chases decission.
I'm sure every state is different.
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Y2KZX12R
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Ninjaman12R
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posted December 03, 2005 09:22 AM
I'm glad you chimed in with that Jim. To me it all boils down to he knew the risk he was taking. Let's just state the obivous, the guy had a hard-on to catch the biker. Why else would HE push his cruiser to such high speeds??? If the biker had just commited a murder or something maybe I could see the officer's reasoning. But he hadn't, so the officer was chasing him down because he was a threat to himself and other motorist eh???? Well then WTF do you call what the trooper was doing? Running 130mph wasn't any safer for him than it would be anyone else. IMHO he was an even bigger threat to other people's safety. Meaning that an out of control car at that speed is gonna ultimately be capable of doing more damage.
It's a no-brainer, and everyone I've asked about this has agreed.
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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trenace
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posted December 03, 2005 09:26 AM
Edited By: trenace on 3 Dec 2005 09:29
If the cop had been chasing this guy because he was a child-sex offender, apparently this same judge would have just sentenced the pedophile to probation anyway.
I'm genuinely sorry for the loss of the cop's life. Even though he made a mistake in pushing his vehicle faster than it could safely go, and he voluntarily made that decision -- and quite possibly put others at risk of their lives in doing so -- he was trying to do his job. But the 30 year sentence is way out of line, and considering how soft this judge is on child sex offenders, or at least the only case that I found, there's something wrong here.
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zx12richard
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posted December 03, 2005 09:31 AM
Wormhole let me ask you one question,,,,, You ride.... So here it is...
Whats the odds of you catching a damn good rider on a sportbike if he doesn't want to stop... Thats in a cruiser without a chopper??????
Pretty freeking slim in my opinion most sportbikes can check out before you can even turn around...
So why pursue????? And endanger lifes over a speeding ticket????
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gunner
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posted December 03, 2005 09:37 AM
Edited By: gunner on 3 Dec 2005 09:38
That was my point exactly!!!!!! A Dog will chase a car or motorcycle until they sooner or later get killed,but hey they're dogs with NO training about such things. This was a state trooper has without doubt worked countless accidents in his carreer and knew what happens in these situations. The officer was STUPID and got himself killed. It's SAD indeed for the family and ever worse for the other family. This decision should be overturned and the man set free. WTF! kind of judge would be so stupid.
What's next eh? Some cop gets killed out on the firing range while target praticing and YOU get arrested because he wouldn't have got himself killed had he not been praticing? Let's say that for some reason you're out back of your home target shooting and some neighbor call in and they come out and arrest you! You get charged with murder because office BARNEY shot himself yesterday over at the range praticing quick draws. What to fuck would one thing have to do with the other? Simple answer from the above judge would be because you both had a gun. SEE HOW FUCKIN STUPID THIS 30 YEAR SENTENCE IS!!!
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zx12richard
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posted December 03, 2005 10:12 AM
Edited By: zx12richard on 3 Dec 2005 10:13
Another example in my line of work asphalt, The company wants me to roll next to the edge of and rather large embankment... I do and it collaspes and I die....
Is it their fault the embankment collapses out from under me???? No my dumbass should have said no cause I KNOW BETTER......
We need to be held repsonsible for our own decisions and quit blaming everyone else.....
Officers get it in your head, its a job, and you can't get everyone...
Truth be told the thrill of the chase is a legal adrenaline rush for you all and you like it, We all like the rush.....
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Hells Dark Lord
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posted December 03, 2005 10:20 AM
I'm leaving this one alone......I dont agree with the rider, or the cop.....but I will say that the rider getting that much time is insane....and charging him with the death of the cop is equally insane...Not sure about anyone else, but my Camero didnt have tires rated to go that fast.....that one may have, but how much training did he have at speeds like that???
How many people did the cop endanger by the pursuit?
What could he possibly have hoped to accomplish?
1. the only way a cruiser is ever going to catch a sport bike is if the bike runs out of gas....you dont need to go 130 to catch him then
2. if the biker crashes....you dont need to go 130 then
3. If he pulls over.....you dont need to go 130 then....
I am in no way Anti cop.....I believe that in a way we do the same job, only I am stuck doing it on a global scale....But I refuse to endanger myself or my men, in pursuit of anyone.....Eventually they will get theres......and I will be alive to see it....JMO
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wedrivezs
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posted December 03, 2005 03:30 PM
stupid cop is lucky he didn't kill anyone else with the 4000lb weapon he was in.
I was almost ran over 2 days ago when cops were flying 45 MPH down the street with no siren on. I pulled up to do a LH turn with a van beside me - I stopped and started to go......... it would have been ugly. I would have sued for sure.
Anyways, maybe if it was 2 AM and it was an interstate............then 130 MPH would maybe fly. There is always enough troopers to out run anyone with their radios.
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NinjaNick
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posted December 03, 2005 05:11 PM
He should've gotten at MOST 5year suspension of license! Pure fucking stupid. The guy was speeding. The cop wrecking was his OWN fault. Don't chase. You put your "OWN" self at risk by chasing. Nobody is responsible for you. Dumbass cop. He had any brains he wouldn't have pursued. He signed his OWN death certificate. I feel for his family, but his death is his OWN fault.
I hate our judicial system. And btw fuck this world how we put a man with a badge as more importance of a man w/out a badge! A person w/out a badge doesn't get near as much respect. We are ALL equal, BADGE or no BADGE. That guy wouldn't have gotten 30 years if it wasn't a cop involved. Plus he shouldn't have gotten NOTHING for death. Just wreckless operation and it's penalties.
FUCK THAT JUDGE! GAWD 
Here's a pic for that story:
Here's a pic for that JUDGE:
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NinjaNick
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posted December 03, 2005 05:14 PM
quote:
The trooper should have abandoned the chase way before he got himself killed. His death is solely on him and not the motorcyclist.The rider broke some traffic laws and in NO way intended on a death to occure. The trooper is a trained police officer and not a chasing DOG! His take um dead or alive aditude got him killed. The outcome is sad but a 30 year sentence is completely STUPID!!!!!!!
Agreed.
Agreed with what MANY of you guys are saying!
It's pure fucking ignorant!!!
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NinjaNick
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posted December 03, 2005 05:21 PM
quote:
"No matter what sentence I impose," Hutcheson said before making his decision, "there will be no winner or loser." Williams, 39, a father of two from Seffner who had been ticketed six times in eight years, had no criminal record before. He was convicted in a jury trial Oct. 18 of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer causing death.
Likewise, Williams was portrayed by tearful family members as a veteran of the Gulf War, a generous friend and supportive father who remains a best friend of his ex-wife. In an emotional plea for leniency, Williams' teenage daughter, Shantavia Williams, said her father was on his way to see her near Jacksonville when Haywood died. "I feel like it's my fault," she said.
Yeah, he was SUCH a bad man! Now he'd probably rot and suffer in prison till he's 70 years old or which by then DEAD!
Go to hell you motherfuckers in Florida that had anything to do with that.
I don't care what they said about it was the cops job. Nobody was involved in his death except for his brain and his FOOT!!!! If that guy KICKED his car and made him crash then YES!
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five 0
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posted December 03, 2005 06:37 PM
So what do all of you smart guys think the cops should do??? What about cars that will run 140mph plus??? Should we have a list of who to pursue and who to let go?? What if the guy on the bike ran into someone or ran them off the road and killed someone, should he be charged with anything then??? I am not being a smart ass here, I just want to know what you guys think. This officer was doing his job, to say he had this coming or that it is all his fault is crazy. I have said this before, but put yourself in the officers shoes. Say you meet a vehicle running the opposite way that you are. You are driving 60mph say south and he is driving 90mph north. How do you think you are going to catch him without running 120mph plus??? We do it everyday probably 10 to 15 times a day. 130mph is not out of the norm. I can assure you that the tires on that patrol car where speed rated. IF not, then someone should answer to that for sure. I dont know anything about this Florida case, but the people running should pay the price when they get caught. What the price is,it should be up to the courts. I read on this site all the time about you guys not stopping and your so fast why stop, etc. Thats BS. Maybe we can start posting all the motorcycle guys that die in crashes and point some fingers at them!!!
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five 0
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posted December 03, 2005 06:46 PM
Edited By: five 0 on 3 Dec 2005 18:48
Sounds like a few of you are on the same road!!!
http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?FID=1&TID=20374&set_time=
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gunner
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posted December 03, 2005 07:09 PM
The Highway to Hell eh?????????
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