For those of you that do stupid things like me, which includes riding on each side or the center of RR tracks, you may find this story interesting. We have a large creek that runs through the center of the city that has trails on each side that the Memphis Motorcycle Club has ridden since 1928. When the creek is too high, in order to get to the trails on the other side, we jump on some RR tracks and cross over on the RR Tresle. Sunday before last the river was a little too high to cross so I did what I've done many times before which was cross over on the RR tressle. The center, in between the rails is bumpier than the sides due to the rocks being lower than the ties, so I like staying on the left side ties, which is about 2' wide. Even though the sides are less bumpy they are still rough, so I get it up into high gear around 30 to 40 mph to smooth things out. I can't remember whether I looked behind me to see if everyone was coming, which I doubt because it takes full concentration, but all of a sudden I found myself against the rail and falling into it. I remember thinking this is not good considering the speed I was going but I could do nothing to prevent it. The next thing I remember was asking what day it was after I woke up.
When I realized that there was no way to save it I did what I usually do and just turned into a rag doll. What hit first was my whole right side at once, helmet, shoulder, arm, which was good to distribute the impact because it kept me from breaking my hand and arm. However, at the speed I was going, the heights of the ties, the rocks, spikes, and the other rail on the other side, it cracked my torso up like an egg, including several broken bones in my neck, back, ribs, collar bone, and shoulder. Not to mention my arm looks like I survived a Shark attack.
While putting my bike up, Tim B. did find that I had a flat front tire, perhaps contributing to the crash. I never factord into the tresle crossing a mechanical condition occuring, however I will from now on, assuming I get another chance. Better yet, I think I'll take my chances crossing the creek or Hwys. 51 and 61 on each end. I've run it through my mind many times. Maybe had I turned into the rail as hard as I could. Maybe had I gotten on the brakes as hard as I could, or maybe had I jumped up and tried to clear the 2nd rail things would have turned out better. But, as we say on the roads, any MC crash that you live through is a good one. You probably won't do it, because every MC racer thinks it can't happen to him. But when you inject an unexpected mechanical condition while threading the eye of a needle the jaws of a RR landing strip can be a very hostle invironment.
