Well lets start this crazy story out.  I'll start with the motocross race season, where I was
on top of the world.  The bigger the cliff, the bigger the fall.  The picture above is of me
winning the second moto of the first race of the season. Pictures courtesy of Jesse Ziegler
now editor of Dirt Rider magazine  After a nasty "get off" in the first moto  I was left
with a sore shoulder on my left side that would haunt me to this day.   This shoulder
caused me a lot of pain throughout the season, and continued to be a physical weak spot.
Win or crash trying, has cost me some pain in my years as it was.  The next week is my
local tracks in the circuit, and I feel that I should do well there.   I came down with the flu,
and this is the week my dad is in town to see me race – just like the old days. Sicker than
heck I got on the "wife’s" bike.   The little 200 KTM somehow managed two third place
finishes. I kept laying down in the back of my 59 panel truck between races, trying to
keep fluids in.   

The next day was Hungry Horse - my favorite dump site that had been turned into a
motocross course. On this track you could come around one lap and find a cable or other
buried debris.  I brought the “tractor” (the KTM 520) to the race.   I was feeling better
that day.  I made a wild pass in the first race to put me on the ground.  This ended up
hurting my shoulder some more.  I got in fifth position after getting back up and running.  
Next moto I had a hole shot, with a run and hide - and decided to just ride smart and
conserve energy.  Riding around the track I hear people yelling my name.  As I go past my
dad I see his nervous smile – hehe.  I finished the race, passing my dad the bike, and I fall
over from exhaustion. He happily pushes it back.  Who wouldn't’t want to see their son
doing so well?  

Third in points now, I’m still struggling with doing stupid stuff to get in the lead.  I
changed my strategy to just stay in the top three and be happy.  I'm 42 and hurting
enough the next day already. Great Falls race is coming up.  With my win there last year,
I am feeling confident.   I tried a new starting technique by just barely idling out of the
concrete starting pads, and not spinning the wheel a bunch.  There were awesome hole
shots, and I rode one-handed wheelies going into the first corner.  I had four first place
finishes on the blowing dust bowel of a track - just reaching out and touching the soft
powder, carrying speed.  Worst of all was when my main adversary, Lee, got hurt on the
track and ended up in I.C.U.   He hurt his kidneys, putting him out for the rest of the
year.  This really drove home the point that we’re all older and more fragile.  I was going
to miss his last minute pressure to pass me on the last lap since he was so relentless,  
keeping me on my toes.  Lee’s son had a glorious year smoking’ the 80 class, which had to
make him proud. Other riders stepped up and gave me many battles though, not allowing
me much time to show off as I like to do.  The rest of the year was spent trying to keep
from stalling out the bike, because I kept getting air in the hydraulic clutch line and losing
the clutch.  I kept stalling my bike too many times, just watching the next race start while
I'm kicking away - praying for my electric starter (on back order)until the sweet last laps
of the final race.  I'd had come to love this family of racers.

.For some reason Butte race track stands out. Evil Keneival was there that day and I
remember looking at Justin Deleware,(who wore a neck role),thinking hey thats not a bad
idea. But thought sheez I'll bet they're 60 bucks or so. Boy was I wrong. It sure was cool
walking across the starting line at the track and having all the kids say hi to me  I had
really missed a chance to be with my son after a bitter divorce.  I always wanted to be a
mini dad too, so this made me proud.  Everyone had come to know Turbo and Mrs. Turbo
(my fiancé, Lisa).  Life was good.  I still loved the impression I made on the lil ones with
my riding.  I truly was on top of the world.  I felt that I had it all – a lovely lady by my side
and a State championship in the bag.   I had the company truck sitting at home waiting for
me to finish all of the local plumbing jobs.  I felt proud that I had made an impression on
the youth, because I had wanted to have my son racing so badly.  He was hiding in fear in
another State, or in disgust from who knows what divorce tale he was told.   Then it’s the
end of the season, a buddy comes over, Lisa has dinner going, and we're drinking some
beers. I suggest we go for a ride down on the practice track. Lisa is whining like a old
Chrysler starter, that she had supper going, but I say one more jump and we'll go.   I’ll get
down there and throw a whip and a wave.  Next thing I know I am waking up immersed in
pain, with Lisa bent over me crying,saying "you broke your neck".















O tell me what,s going on.  A spinal cord injury is cutting the wiring harness on the world’
s best super computer - you.  Everything you have come to know is different below your
injury.  Being paralyzed is beyond your wildest nightmares.  My heart reaches out to the
many that never regain movement – or those who never try to move again until
questioned about it or something works out of reflex.  Somehow or other I was given a
chance, and regained a heck of a lot of movement.  Throughout this ordeal, many did not
believe, and it amazes even me to this day on my recovery.  The best part is not having
the strength or ability to kill yourself, because it seems so hopeless  while you are laying
there in the early part after injury.  You feel so overwhelmed with people taking care of
you just so you can exist. It was humbling to a person full of life – that’s for sure!  .But
there’s hope and growth to be found in it I guess, or I wouldn't still be here.  My whole life
became turmoil. This is nothing compared to the story of some of the people I've met.  It
can always be worse.  Before, whenever I felt something missing in my life I would go out
and cheat life.  Now I have my hands full. All of my successes go out to all that never will.
Thumbnail image of
newspaper clipping.
They say a 41yr old
man broke his back
Thumbnail of year
end standings
Things change

Things change