I am posting this because well frankly I need to vent and I thought many of you could identify with a lot of what I am feeling right now.  Some of you may know that I race Vintage MX.  I am riding a dirt bike that was made in 1973.  I have always loved to race and ride off road bikes.  The thrills, the friends, the stories, the campfire shenanigans it gets in your blood and becomes a way of life.  It is a lot like boats for many of you.  You are constantly working on making olds designs work because new stuff just doesn't have the appeal to you.  Many of you are always volunteering time and labor to help others just for the feeling you get from being around good people and the thrill of mechanical things when they are working "just tits".   Campfire fun and bench racing I am sure you all can identify with no question.
Well I spend much of my time with an online group of VMX guys.  Most of them live and breath bikes like you guys do boats.  One of the founders of this group died yesterday of a heart attack.  But this is why I am telling you this....

Almost 3 years ago he had his first heart attack at age 49.  Since that time he was told to stay away from strenuous activity.  He continued to wrench and hang out at the races.  He played lead guitar on Sat. nites of the big events where many of us would travel hundreds of miles to get to, crowds of 400 or more was not unusual.  He brewed his own beer and always shared.  He always wore a smile and was a friend to all. 
Well this past weekend was his first race since the heart attack years earlier.  He just couldn't stay away from something he loved so much.  All he planned to do was just ride practice, just to get back out on the track again, to feel like he was his old self again.  He finally just said FUCK IT -- I WANNA LIVE !   He rode 3 or 4 laps and then came in and turned the bike over to his son.  His son rode the rest of practice and then came back to the pits.  Ritchie had passed away, sitting in the cab of the truck listening to the track announcer on the truck radio.   He died doing what he loved best, sharing the feeling like so many times before, with his now adult son.  HE DIED LIKE A MAN  at the end of a life well lived. 
If you are drinking tonight, please raise a glass for Ritchie V.   Please tell your family that you love them each and every day.   And please find time to do whatever gives you pleasure in life when you can.    Peace   

Sorry for your loss...
Hope he is in a much better place now.
Take Care

Re:  better place

S'pose they let you homebrew in Heaven?      Of course they do!    And no dust on the MX tracks too I bet!!!

AND NO WAVE BOATS EITHER I'M THINKIN'!    Sorry forgot where I was for a moment.  Scuze me while I get antoher beer and turn my tri-tip

To a life well lived
                               some of Gernany's best.

I hate hearing about the loss of any racer, but I hope I'm lucky enough to go doing something I love.

Thanks for your kind words and prayers.   Racers will always be racers, in this life and the next.   Play safe fellas !

I'll drink to that friend!  That's not something to be sad about....thats how you wanna go, lets be happy for him!  Your friend Ritchie  lived his life how he wanted and thats not something to regret.

No words are necessary Ralph, I wrote that post as much for myself as anyone else.  I had no one to talk to last night that I thought would really understand about the comraderie of racing like many of you all.  To end your life doing what you love best I guess is all we could hope for.  I am sure it makes things a bit easier for the family.  I know it does for his friends.

GT:  I love that quote. "Don't live not to die"  That's good advice right there.   Thank you.   I don't know your uncle but I don't get out of SoCal much.  Gotta love the old Triumphs tho.  Now that's a dinosaur, good to hear about people keeping 'em alive.

thats awesome that he died doing what he loved. My prayers go out to you, your friends and his family.

Andy

I just ran across that post and I can totally understand how the man lived and passed. i was told by my Doctor years ago that I shouldnt ride Motocross any more, that i am going to end up in a wheel chair if i take one more good fall.
My last fall i seperated my shoulder, and as i was loaded into the ambulance, my wife asked me "if i was going to sell my bike now". My best response was "Only if i can get a 2009 next"!

We are what we are, and the passion that we hold for the sports we play are the very fiber of our being. I dont believe we take chances, we are just living the life we know. If the good Lord see's fit to put me in a chair for the rest of my days, it is going to happen weither i am on a 450 riding like i stole it, or falling off a toilet. Either way, it is Gods plan for me and who am I to question it.
I say KUDO's to the man, and praise God for letting him pursue his passion just one more time before he left this earth. We could only pray to be that lucky!

Meanwhile, i will be at Milestone on Sunday... Just doing what i do!