Mellow
04-01-2008, 12:02 PM
http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=33001&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1215640419Patrick has been a very positive influence on the site
and recently organized a group buy on V4 badges.
I like his avatar changes too.
Please congratulate Patrick for being
March 2008
Member Of The Month.
From Patrick himself:
I was born the son of a poor Jewish coal miner....
Well no, not really! Actually, dad is an Irish mechanic, among other things.
You could "blame" him for my love of motorcycling and all things mechanical if
you want, he did show me the way! He was pretty well known in these areas
for his motorcycling and automotive "prowess", having raced most anything
with wheels (motorcycles and stock cars), flew airplanes, built dune buggies
in the garage; it was an interesting childhood! We were always involved with
what was going on, not just spectators.
One Christmas my father took my younger brother and I out to the garage to
show us our last present; a Yamaha 60cc "Mini Enduro"! My brother and I
would buzz around, taking turns or riding double. I'm guessing we put about
100,000 miles on it! Probably not THAT many, but a lot.
Then I got another Yamaha, a CT1 175 that was a true basket case. Learned
a lot (with Dad’s help) putting it together, riding some hare scrambles,
enduros and motocross. Blew out my knee and pretty much quit riding dirt
bikes.
Towards the end of High School, I hooked up with a family friend that was an
AMA Pro Road Racer. My buddy Mike raced TZ-250s and the likes. Traveled
with him and a few other guys all over the eastern half of the US, from Road
America to Daytona; helping with the bikes.
In 84, I bought my lil VF500F Interceptor, took a Racing school and road
raced a few times; just too darned expensive for me but I still helped my
buddy. Rode around with other guys doing the young-n-dumb stuff that
comes with youth. Somehow managed to survive!
My first daughter was born in 85 (out of wedlock) and I started thinking that
maybe I needed to "settle" a little. A 2nd daughter followed in 87.
But I love being involved with racing. Mike quit road racing and we decided to
try car Rally racing. Did TSD rallys (like a motorcycle enduro) for a year, then
stepped up to Pro Rally. I was one of the nuts that navigate (look out for that
tree!) We also did some SCCA Road Racing and Autocross when we could.
Had a lot of fun with that.
I still rode a good bit, but in 91, the day after I was laid off from my job; I
crashed my Interceptor, leaving myself with a nasty broken left arm. Nobody's
fault but mine.
Spent the next 6 months recovering from that. Went back to school, since I
couldn't work. I got a job with a Computer/Electronics Repair company (I had
had some electronics engineering courses earlier) and got into PC service and
repairs. Worked my way up to from “grunt” to Service Manager.
Married the most wonder woman I’ve ever met and started my own PC service
company called “Systems Integration & Repairs” (S.I.Repair or sirepair.com;
at the time, hence the handle!) My 3rd daughter (my Munchkin Pillion) was
born in 99. Let the motorcycling thing drift away while working/home/family
took most of my time. The business is gone but I’m still in I.T. with a local
manufacturer.
I have been “restifing” the little Interceptor (4th or 5th time, not sure!) and
got the ride bug BAD (no; GOOD!) about a year ago and decided I HAD to
have another bike! Being addicted to the Honda 90º V-4s and wanting
something to 2-up on, the STs seemed like a logical choice! Joined this forum,
along with ST1100.org and finally found a nicely used 93 CGR ST1100. Picked
it up in the fall and have been riding most every chance I can get.
Whew, this is starting to look like one of ACL’s posts…. without the statistics!
I have really enjoyed getting to know this wonderful group that is
ST-Owners.com. Almost instantly I felt that I had found “family”. It is a true
pleasure to be involved with a community of like-minded people. The
fellowship that this group garners never ceases to amaze me! I look forward
to meeting as many of you as I can and helping however/where ever possible.
I’m STill not sure what I’ve done to deserve this honor…. Maybe I should just
pull a “Sally Field”….”You LIKE me, right now you LIKE ME!” and be thankful for
the honor!
http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=29393&d=1207068787
and recently organized a group buy on V4 badges.
I like his avatar changes too.
Please congratulate Patrick for being
March 2008
Member Of The Month.
From Patrick himself:
I was born the son of a poor Jewish coal miner....
Well no, not really! Actually, dad is an Irish mechanic, among other things.
You could "blame" him for my love of motorcycling and all things mechanical if
you want, he did show me the way! He was pretty well known in these areas
for his motorcycling and automotive "prowess", having raced most anything
with wheels (motorcycles and stock cars), flew airplanes, built dune buggies
in the garage; it was an interesting childhood! We were always involved with
what was going on, not just spectators.
One Christmas my father took my younger brother and I out to the garage to
show us our last present; a Yamaha 60cc "Mini Enduro"! My brother and I
would buzz around, taking turns or riding double. I'm guessing we put about
100,000 miles on it! Probably not THAT many, but a lot.
Then I got another Yamaha, a CT1 175 that was a true basket case. Learned
a lot (with Dad’s help) putting it together, riding some hare scrambles,
enduros and motocross. Blew out my knee and pretty much quit riding dirt
bikes.
Towards the end of High School, I hooked up with a family friend that was an
AMA Pro Road Racer. My buddy Mike raced TZ-250s and the likes. Traveled
with him and a few other guys all over the eastern half of the US, from Road
America to Daytona; helping with the bikes.
In 84, I bought my lil VF500F Interceptor, took a Racing school and road
raced a few times; just too darned expensive for me but I still helped my
buddy. Rode around with other guys doing the young-n-dumb stuff that
comes with youth. Somehow managed to survive!
My first daughter was born in 85 (out of wedlock) and I started thinking that
maybe I needed to "settle" a little. A 2nd daughter followed in 87.
But I love being involved with racing. Mike quit road racing and we decided to
try car Rally racing. Did TSD rallys (like a motorcycle enduro) for a year, then
stepped up to Pro Rally. I was one of the nuts that navigate (look out for that
tree!) We also did some SCCA Road Racing and Autocross when we could.
Had a lot of fun with that.
I still rode a good bit, but in 91, the day after I was laid off from my job; I
crashed my Interceptor, leaving myself with a nasty broken left arm. Nobody's
fault but mine.
Spent the next 6 months recovering from that. Went back to school, since I
couldn't work. I got a job with a Computer/Electronics Repair company (I had
had some electronics engineering courses earlier) and got into PC service and
repairs. Worked my way up to from “grunt” to Service Manager.
Married the most wonder woman I’ve ever met and started my own PC service
company called “Systems Integration & Repairs” (S.I.Repair or sirepair.com;
at the time, hence the handle!) My 3rd daughter (my Munchkin Pillion) was
born in 99. Let the motorcycling thing drift away while working/home/family
took most of my time. The business is gone but I’m still in I.T. with a local
manufacturer.
I have been “restifing” the little Interceptor (4th or 5th time, not sure!) and
got the ride bug BAD (no; GOOD!) about a year ago and decided I HAD to
have another bike! Being addicted to the Honda 90º V-4s and wanting
something to 2-up on, the STs seemed like a logical choice! Joined this forum,
along with ST1100.org and finally found a nicely used 93 CGR ST1100. Picked
it up in the fall and have been riding most every chance I can get.
Whew, this is starting to look like one of ACL’s posts…. without the statistics!
I have really enjoyed getting to know this wonderful group that is
ST-Owners.com. Almost instantly I felt that I had found “family”. It is a true
pleasure to be involved with a community of like-minded people. The
fellowship that this group garners never ceases to amaze me! I look forward
to meeting as many of you as I can and helping however/where ever possible.
I’m STill not sure what I’ve done to deserve this honor…. Maybe I should just
pull a “Sally Field”….”You LIKE me, right now you LIKE ME!” and be thankful for
the honor!
http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=29393&d=1207068787