Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - November 2008 - (Page 18)

SPECIAL FEATURE STORIES OUR WINNER’S STORIES! RICK WEILER cornfield complete with stubble and took his police cruiser out 20 yards and started doing donuts churning up the field to a slimy, soupy and very slippery consistency. He barely made it back to the tarmac. He announced that as riders we had to be prepared to leave the asphalt for many different reasons. He then instructed us to form up in a line. Upon his signal we were to ride out onto his course to the end turn around and ride back with your feet on the boards Dog paddlers would repeat the exercise until it was done without putting your foot down. This may not sound too bad until the first guy slid out. The next rider was waved out and had to ride around him as he tried to right his bike. Soon there were at least four riders slipping and sliding trying to get going. I made it out and back as required as did a couple other guys. We were then told to go and help our fellow riders get back. No one was to complete the exercise without getting caked in mud one way or the other. The second week saw us lose our first rider. We were doing a follow the leader ride around the college on the paved sidewalks. It was a brisk pace in second gear. One fellow midway in the line rode off the pavement and onto the wet grass. When he corrected he did so very abruptly and dumped the bike breaking his wrist in the process. We lost one of the army students that same week. We went out on a convoy ride on the 401 highways which is a multilane 70 mph road. I was enjoying the day but the guy beside me had a look of terror on his face and upon returning told the instructor this wasn’t for him. He left by days end. Each day just got better and better. We took a day ride down to the Ipperwash army base and spent the day off roading the Harleys on their tank range. I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to beat a perfectly good motorcycle to pieces. As an added bonus we fired up the two Can–Ams and took turns running circles around the Harleys in the sand dunes. We stayed the night at the army base and were treated like royalty by our Army hosts. By the end of the second week we started practicing the maneuvers used by our precision drill team the Golden Helmets. We were going to put on an abbreviated show for our graduation the following week. The third week took us back out on the 401 on a daily basis. We rode to General Headquarters in Toronto where we were measured and fitted for our riding gear. Boots, leggings, breeches, rain suits, a whistle, and the coveted gold helmet. Later in the week we were warned of the last major exercise. Failure to complete this would wash you out of the course. Our instructor explained that we always had to be prepared to take evasive action including running off the road to avoid a collision. The exercise involved heading down the runway at 25-30 mph and leaving the runway to the right upon his signal. There was a 6-foot drainage ditch with about a foot of water in it. The first rider went in too steep and went over the windshield of the bike. He wasn’t hurt and later got it right. When my turn came I got up to speed and waited for the siren blast to dive off the asphalt. I went in a little hot and went airborne clearing the ditch blinded by the water coming over the windshield. I rode back out with a sharp pain in my shoulders, which necessitated a trip to the infirmary and a neck brace. Come Friday the brace was gone and I graduated from the best course I had ever been on. I spent the next 28 years doing what every motorcyclist dreams of. Paid to ride bike every single day. 18 November 2008 | WALNECK’S CLASSIC CYCLE TRADER® I WALNECKS.COM http://www.WALNECKS.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - November 2008

Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - November 2008 Contents American The Buzz w/Buzz Walneck Our Winners Stories! By Rick Weiler 1962 Henkel Tourist Motorcycle Tips w/Mike Brown Our Winners Stories! By Tom Sutherland Event Listings & Advertisements Bench Racing w/Mark Zimmerman British Biker of the Month: Hagon Shocks European Japanese Davenport Show Recap Motorbikes & Scooters 1956 Maico Mobil 197cc 1952 45cc VeloSolex Memorbilia Antique Cycle Clubs Parts, Accessories, Want Ads How to Place a Word Ad How To Place a Photo Ad Area Code Directory How To Subscribe Let Us Help With Your Event

Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - November 2008

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