True Story Tuesday - The Bike Wreck

Week after week when I think I have ran out
of funny or interesting things to write about for
True Story Tuesday but then out of the blue
something else hits me. This story today takes
place a long time ago, I was 17 years old at the time.

My brother was into BMX racing. He loved to ride
and had been jumping ramps and popping wheelies
forever it seemed, but then he got into racing.
First it was just around where we lived but as
he grew so did that interest.

We traveled to places like Orlando Fla., Evansville Ind.,
and even St. Louis for races. I met a lot of intesting
people at these races. Some of these guys really
had muscles from riding these bikes. I have to
admit I loved the attention I got from them.

There were several times when some of these racers

would come to our house to stay while touring BMX races

around the Nashville area. Two of the first two to come

were Greg Esser and his brother Brian from Fla. Greg and I

were closer to the same age and Brian and Mark (my

brother) were closer. So Greg and I spent time

together.

Greg and I -taken in St. Louis

I loved to ride a lot back in those days also. Course
I did not race. But I had my own ten speed and when I
needed to think, get away or whatever, I rode. This was
my ten speed. I was surprised that I was able to come up
with a pic of it in my albums. This was an Evil Knievel
special. Keep that name of the bike in the back of your mind....

One evening Greg and I decided that we wanted to go for a

ride. Back then the neighbor did not have street lights

and there were no lights on my ten speed or his BMX bike.

It was after dark, we were riding along, talking and

laughing when all of a sudden a kid came out of his drive

on his bike. He did not see me, I did not see him.

It was to late, I hit him. No, he was not hurt but I did suffer

from embarrassment at that moment and bruises and

was really sore the next day. You see, I did not just

hit this kid on a small bike (he was about 10), I

slamed into him and flipped over my handle bars

on to the ground. Could not even do that one with

grace!

Greg made sure I was okay but then I am afraid

that we both laughed our butts off over all the way

home since we had to push my bike. I bent the front

wheel frame up pretty good. Can you say Evil Knievel??


not my bike, but this is how it looked.

Good thing it was dark cause I know I must have been

so red faced after that.

That has been over 30 years ago, the embarrassment is

gone but it still makes for a good laugh. The last time

I saw Greg was probably about 15 years ago. My brother

had given up BMX and was racing cars at our local speedway.

Greg was in town and him and I went to the races together.

Next True Story Tuesday will be another adventure

from my brothers BMX racing days and the guys I

met.

Thanks for stopping in,

Pam