I see your guts!
This one took place in 10th grade. My friend Ken R. was the only dude in high school that had a car.. actually an old F-100 that he and his Dad restored, but this is a moto tale.
He also had an older Trumph 650 that was flat tracked out. Bitchen bike. Ken and I used to ride dirt bikes together in Jr. High, but when he hit highschool that passed with the truck and Triumph.
One day.. we were going to ride up to Felt Lake and hang a bit, but he got delayed and we took off first. I told him I was going to ride to Foothill Park and back and would catch him as he came up the hill.
My buddy Dave H. (the dude staring at the camera below - I am peaking my blond head out and Ken is to my left) climbed on my RD to head up the hill. At the park we turned around and came back down. We hooked a right on Arastedero which parallels 280 before going under it. Just as we went under he was hauling the mail coming the other way!.. Damn. I hit the stop sigh and turned around.
When we went back under that is when I saw my first street crash. Ken's bike was on the otherside of the road up the hill a bit and he was laying on the road. I went into shock basically. Stopped and my bike and it fell over from me not paying attention (putting down the kickstand
). Dave jumped off and ran to get the bike up and out of on coming traffic. Shaking I got my bike righted and the kickstand down. I can still remember that moment well. I went to Ken who was now up on his feet but hunched over in pain.
Dave joined us.. "You alright Kenny?"
He muttered his side hurt and slid his jacket up and there was a hole.
Holy shit I could see his guts.
It was almost and inch and just above his oblique.
"Dude I can see inside you!!"
It was not bleeding at all and just had a big circluar road rash around it.
Knowing he had a hole he was a bit distraught and also kind of less than fully cognizant. He helmet had a huge rash across the front. Thankfully he was wearing a Bell Star.. saved his face. He said "Koby get me to a hospital".
I barely got my bike off the stand without falling over. Even though we were close to Stanford I knew that Veterans Hospital was closer and I was not thinking right so that is where we went.
He held on with one arm and had his other over the hole. Within 2 blocks I felt him let go of me and I thought he was going to fall off so I stabbed the front brake and yelled "Kenny hold on!" putting my free arm around him.
We were both mentally a mess. When we got to the Hospital I parked right in front and we went in. I literally could not talk. A Dr came up to us and said "Mr. Smith?" (or whatever) and Ken had to talk. "No sir. I just crashed my motorcycle" while wincing in pain. He lifted his jacket and the Dr said "Whoaah!" and shuffled him away. Leaving me standing there is disbelief.
I did not know what to do. No cell phones in those days of course, but after a few minutes I figured I should call someone and ask a nurse if I could use the phone. I called Chumly and told him what happened and asked that he call his Dad and let him know what happened and where Ken and the bike were. He showed up within 15 minutes and came in like a storm, not looking happy. I told him Ken was inside and that his bike was still up under 280, but Dave was there. He told me to wait here and went to find out about Kenny. After a bit he came back and said he was going to be OK. Take me to the bike and we can grab that and I will come back for Ken.
Hearing that he was going to be OK was good and my shaking minimized enough to lead him to the bike. By the time we got there I was back under control and was able to park the bike without falling over this time.
Dave had the bike upright sitting in the shade. We loaded it and I took Dave to his house where we properly chilled for a while.
Kenny was fine but the sewed up hole left him really sore with any movement. He was quite limpy around school for a month.
That really was the first time I felt that drama fear taking me out of my element. I was honestly very shaken.
Ken has moved to Arizona, but still is a a Cubberley boy at heart.
He is a member here that lurks on occasion. We will see if he finds this.