swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted August 01, 2003 06:18 AM
Didn't know if I could talk about it...
After the accident that claimed Zhooligan's life, the rest of the guys that went out ATV riding with him drove the truck and trailer back to a place where I could go and pick it up. I drove over there in my Element, and picked up the trailer. It really sucks doing this. This is the second time for me. Many years ago, I lost a good close friend. We were both in the Navy at the time, and altho we had ended up getting posted to different ships, we still kept in contact because we both had relatives in NC, and would drive up from SC together. I won't go into how he was killed, but in any case, his parents asked me to drive his car up from SC to NC. He had just recently bought the car, it was a very nice Trans Am. I can recall driving it, touching the controls, thinking about how much he must have loved that car. Very sad.
So here I was, driving Zhooligan's truck back over to my place. The same damned thing happened. I find a good friend that shares some of the same interests, and then I lose him. And the last thing I do for him is to take that last drive to return something he really loved home. Home in this case, is back to my place, where the trailer was normally parked. A friend from Brother's Honda, Mike Barnes, came over and helped me unload the trailer. We pulled the two Polaris ATVs out that the other riders were using, and then got Zhooligan's ATV out. I waited a couple days, then stood it up on it's tail and started looking it over. One of the sand tires was flat, and the rim was bent. Both tie rods were bent pretty severely, splaying the front tires out. A bracket at the back of the ATV used to hold the rear fender in place was bent. That's it. So there was about $40 worth of damage. I didn't know what to think about that. Here was a man that really did live life to it's fullest. Hell, he was bigger than life. And this damned quad killed him. I wanted to take this machine and feed it into a car shredder, gather the pieces that came out and melt them down. Hammer the ingot into a plaque and then inscribe something that I will always remember him for:
FUCKING BULLSHIT!!
  
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Otis
Needs a job
Captain Kickstand
Posts: 3028
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posted August 01, 2003 06:21 AM
I'm with you brother......
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted August 01, 2003 06:32 AM
swft,
Dude I totally feel for you. I cannot imagine having to go through what you just described. All I can say is "hang in there brother". I wish I had some magical enlightening phrase that would make you feel better. Chin up swft, just keep on keepin' on.
If you and I lived closer I'd definitely come up with something to atleast get your mind off this for a few hours. Unfortunately this isn't the case.  I do someday hope to meet you. I wish you could make the gap event in September. It may be just the medicine you need. Those trips have pulled me from a few slumps in life for sure. Take it easy bro.......
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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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Megabyte
Pro
Posts: 1047
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posted August 01, 2003 06:36 AM
 Edited By: Megabyte on 1 Aug 2003 13:17
SWFT,
I know this is harder for you to deal with than I can understand. Death is the final enemy, and all of us have an appointment. When I heard about Zhoo, I was in a state of disbelief, then denial, then anger and helplessness, now numbness; it takes time. It's always hardest on the ones left behind. Use it to make yourself better rather than bitter  to make myself better,I want to celebrate life the way he celebrated it, and fill it up to over flowing they way he filled it. I mourn for his loss, his family and friends, but I find some peace in knowing that he lived life on his terms, and lived it with all he had. If you believe, death isn't the ultimate enemy, and it isn't the end, it's more like the beginning....
Hang in there bud
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We First make our habits and then our habits make us.
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted August 01, 2003 08:01 AM
Well put mega...........
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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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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted August 01, 2003 09:22 AM
swft, man I feel for hang in there.
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted August 01, 2003 10:54 AM
i may be able to imagine how hard it must have been to drive the truck home, but i really dont want to. that has to be an aweful feeling.
but the atv is defintiely what i find disturbing. when u mentioned that it was the offending ATV (after i had said what a nice ride it was and lifted the rear end to see how light it was) i got seriously creeped out. would never have touched it or even taken a good look at it had i known. it is abazing tho that it could come thru with such minimal damage when it's rider was "written off". doesnt seem right. i can understand the tlak about destroying the thing into little tiny pieces too. that video clip that made the rounds a while ago of Jesse James takin a big ass suburban mounted machine gun to a car came to mind. completely obliterate the thing. i guess we always want to be able to blame and punish someone or something, and it makes it harder when we know there IS noong/nothing at fault. it just happened.
u'r a good man to deal with this stuff so his wife and daughters don't have to.
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necro
Needs a job
My Grandma Is A Virgin
Posts: 2148
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posted August 01, 2003 11:14 AM
swft,
I had never thought of it. I would have been like a Zombie driving back.
Everyone I think took it for granted that you drove the truck back and didn't really think of what you have done.
I could only imagine. No I can't even imagine.
Be strong.
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3829
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted August 01, 2003 12:05 PM
Swft, It is un real how Innocent the machine that Killed someone can look! I know that you are torn between Beating "IT" To death and then you think, maybe I should fix and sell it and give the money to his wife or do something great with it! Only time will tell! After work today, I got to drive to Baltimore and see about getting a Pick Up truck for my Step Son Randall who rolled his car in a circle and totaled it! The real damage was done by his hard head beating around inside the car!
Then I must drive to Johns Hopkins Hospital to see if a friend of mine is "Still" alive! His Mom is here from Ohio and she is more like My Mother to me and anyone left on this earth! he has heart problems and they had to replace some valves and somehow, something started to leak, so they had to go back in and fix that and I get the feeling and he is not going to make it! A Lot different than Zhoo, but any loss is hard and one out of no where is as close to impossible as you can deal with! Specially and "ATV"!! Not even his bike!
We all must get to a point where we are OK< But with this guy!! It will never be the 100% it was, he will always have a % of loss with us! Personally, I think it is better to talk it out with people that care and for us to just try to look the other way and say, well that was that! In a month or soo, we will all be better, no reason to hurry it! and Swft, you do have it worse than us and think just how bad we feel? Kawasaki will come out with the ZX10, There GP Bike could win a race! The ZX6r will start living up to its potential! and last but not least, There will be an Old Black man in the 200 MPH CLub this year! 
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted August 01, 2003 12:14 PM
*smiles* As always, Vincent, you have a way with words! Thanks!
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rubber pants
Zone Head
Posts: 798
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posted August 01, 2003 12:39 PM
Geeeze that's gotta be tough SWFT!!
I kinda know how ya feel.....been there about 4 years a go. A friend was going down the 15 near Temecula Ca. on a Fri night it was raining a little the traffic was the usual nightmare. He was speeding I guess they say but what ever.......he hit a car from behind in the dark then, got run over after he fell off and about 20 cars and trucks ran him over! They say it was the most grusome body theve ever seen at the hospital.
So everone.....be careful on freeways following too close etc. I know I always think of him now in these situations.
RIP Zhoo
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"Ya Gotta Have Big Ones!"
speeddemons.com
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted August 01, 2003 03:20 PM
SWFT..Its true that most of us can not understand how you feel, and truth be told, I hope I never do. I do know though, that myself and a few others on here consider you a friend. And as your friend, I, and the others are here for you. If you ever need to talk, to chat, to vent, or just ponder something, we are here for ya. Use your friends, taht is what we are here for. For what is a friend, if not a person to share both your good times, and your bad? later bud...Jim
And ifn ya ever need to talk please feel free to call 912 368 6244.
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted August 01, 2003 03:59 PM
Thanks HDL, I won't forget it! 
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jonwright
Needs a job
Posts: 2416
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posted August 01, 2003 04:27 PM
SWFT, I admire your strength in being able to do that.
Because you delt with some unpleasantness doesn't mean that you didn't care - on the contrary.
Would anyone else have been a better choice to drive his truck home and watch over his four wheeler?
Zhool would certainly have approved, don't you think?
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GOZR
Zone Head
GOZR
Posts: 716
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posted August 01, 2003 04:34 PM
Swft.
Last time i ask you two to rest at my place back from Laguna..
My place and a futon are always here if you need to spend time to relax in the Bay Area.
I anderstand your feelings...
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-G
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted August 01, 2003 06:50 PM
Thanks everyone for the kind words and support! GOZR - Thanks for the offer. I have a lot of friends left over from my days in the Bay. Everywhere from San Mateo to San Jose, and east out to Manteca. But I still don't miss the place, tho I do miss some of the people.
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GOZR
Zone Head
GOZR
Posts: 716
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posted August 01, 2003 08:00 PM
Swft
can you post or link to a site where they talk about your town or area?
Curious to see it realy..
And what do you like over there vs here in the Bay Area.
I'm just thinking in advance for the next 2 years or so.. of a move.
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-G
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necro
Needs a job
My Grandma Is A Virgin
Posts: 2148
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posted August 01, 2003 08:59 PM
Hope your friend makes through okay Vincent.
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted August 02, 2003 08:28 PM
Thanks Necro! I am a Sissy, I just could not go there! I know that he was alive Saturday and there must be a path to heaven with prayers just for him, because that is all the hope he has left! I will call tomorrow and see if he has gained or lost any! If it was not for this, life would not be as Precious
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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len
Parking Attendant
Posts: 9
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posted August 04, 2003 11:52 AM
Hey swft, I can imagine how you feel. I didn't know him but being a rider myself who has lost a friend also, it realy hurts to hear about "ANY" rider paasing away whether you know them or not. When I hear about a rider expireing doing a hobby we both love, I get really sad & feel the pain for his/her family & friends. I feel like I lost a distant brother or sister.
But I also know that in this hobby we chose, there are many risks we take everytime we gear up. The most we can do is ride safe & pray for ourselves & our fellow riders to make it home to our families. Add a prayer for all of our fellows riders.
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"SAFE RIDING"
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