Kath, unfortunately there's a lot of that going on. I didn't mention it earlier but my close friend Swavek (some of you know him by Viktor and long time Reduc people will remember Marco calling him Coleslawmir) crashed during a track day on the East course during "another" event Oct 7th. He was MediVaced to the Lehigh Valley Trauma center where they needed to cut a hole in his skull to relieve the pressure. He was in a coma for a solid three weeks and began to come out of it early this month. He came down with pneumonia during this time and his doctors thought he wouldn't make it but he pulled through. His fiancee has kept me informed about his condition as during this period the visitors he was allowed is kept to a minimum. He's able to move around and understands what people say to him now and can mouth replies but doesn't have his voice yet. Unfortunately he didn't and doesn't medical insurance but that's a different discussion. He's going to need some time in a rehab center and can't afford to do it here so will be going back to Poland very soon. Before he could move and sort talk his doctors were saying at least one year in rehab now they think shorter. How long? No one knows for sure. I don't know the details on his crash and to a degree don't care. What happened, happened, and can't be undone. I do know that his crash this June 2006 was because someone else crashed and their bike took his out. He and his bike were ok after that one so why this time? His mistake? Someone elses? I don't care because we all know the risks we take and that if this happened on the public roads he likely wouldn't be with us today. I'm going to visit him tonight and as I'm sure all of you would wish him well I'll relay that to him. I imagine he doesn't even know Nicky Hayden is MotoGP Champ. <g> BTW I lowsided in the East Course T4 (entering back straight) during one of the Code Schools and the resulting damage was close to none. The left foot peg (Graves rearsets) ended up 1 inch shorter, the left case cover was ground down but not through, some minor scratches on the tail piece, clutch lever and left bar end while the bike went about 85 yards on its side and I went about 50 yards. I was able to ride the rest of the day. It happened during the lunch break.
Living in eastern PA myself, I heard this news, but didn't know he was "one of ours". I didn't know him at all, but my prayers certainly go out to his family and all those whose lives he touched.
R.I.P. our motorcycle brother!!!!!!!!! I "knew" Lance like most others here from the Reduc days and now the STT days. I was garaged one bay over and on the other side from him at Beaverun in October.......I can see him standing there in his blue leathers buckling his helmet with a smile on his face getting ready to go out for another session. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Let's all learn a small lesson from all of these types of incidents and BE CAREFUL when riding, even on the track.