Fellow NC Ducatista:
I spoke with Dave a while ago after he found about about my major off the weekend of 7/2/11. Holy shit it was pretty bad. Me and 9 friends went to the mountains that glorious day to do some serious fast paced riding. The group I currently ride with are all very talented with a couple of NESBA A-level riders. Great bunch of guys I am always comfortable with their pace, etc.
Anyway we rode all day and were about to call it quits after one trip up Squirrel Spur to get a sammich. This is a really fun road in Southern VA just below BRP and Meadows of Dan, Hwy 58 I think. Now I've been up and down Squirrel Spur a dozen times and have alot of respect for it. It has taken out many riders better than myself. For some reason I confused the layout of the road going up this time and got into a nasty decreasing radius left hander way too hot. This section of the turn has a gnarly metal guard rail about 3 feet off the road itself. My buddy Brent went first on his GSXR 750. I went next followed by friends on a 1098 and a pair of ZX10's, a GSXR 600, another GSXR 750 and a few other bikes. I rode with all my usual gear except for some Icon jeans, not very protective in this situation. I was hot into the left hander and saw I was running out of road so in an effort to cut the corner tight as possible I put my left knee down and then my footpeg into the asphalt. OUch. That kinda hurt. It all hapened so fast and I don't know if I low sided or ran out of road or just lost traction but down I went. I apparently hit the guardrail with my low back or ass. My bike hit the guardrail and bounced off. Somehow in the process of crashing my bike gored me right next to my butt-crack. I'm talking a few millimeters away. I lay there in a heap knowing I had at least a few busted ribs. Fortunately I never lost consciousness as I did not hit my head. When I stood up my friends noticed the blood pulsing out my backside! I dropped my drawers roadside so they could take a look-see. It was quickly assessed that I needed medical attention. Fortunately a passing off duty EMT drove by since no one could get a decent cell signal up there. She and her husband and 3-year old daughter gave me a ride to Mt. Airy Hospital. My buddies made quick work getting my bike off the road and hidden in the bushes. make the beast with two backsing cops will give you a ticket for crashing regardless of circumstances.
Long story short I was transferred quickly to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. 8 days and 3 surgeries later they discharged me. I broke 3 ribs, L2 vertebrae, sacrum and coccyx. Good Times though.
It all sounds pretty bad but could have been sooo much worse. The pain hasn't been too bad either in reality. My bike is at a buddy's house up in King, NC. I am going to upgrade all the broken bits (front forks).
Se a few pics below. Poor Speedy :'( Cheers and ride safely.
Personally I can't wait to get back out there.
Kneepucks are for pussies!
My buddy Will's awesome drawing of the major injury
