Landracing Forum
East Coast Timing Association => ECTA General Chat => Topic started by: shiphteey on June 04, 2012, 09:06:09 AM
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I still don't think I'm in the right state of mind right now, I drove all the way back home with dead friend's stuff in my truck still and haven't even sorted it out or contacted his family. ECTA thankfully did what I was unable to do which was make that dreaded phone call to his loved ones....I just did my best to focus on packing and getting home in one piece.
Gerald Deneau was father, a grandfather, a husband, an old school 10 second wheeliebar drag racer, Kawasaki ZX-12R rider, and an acquaintance who became a friend of mine as time progressed. I don't have his birthdate handy (I'm sure his wallet is somewhere in my truck I just can't get myself up to go through is stuff right now) but he was born in 1939 so I had a TREMENDOUS amount of respect for him not only riding a bike that was Kawasaki's fastest in the year 2000 but for him to express interest in land speed racing. Over the months (maybe its been years? time is a blur right now) we had discussed the possibility of him coming out and trying land speed racing. He was still a racer at heart because the boys in blue would still occaisionally pull him over....only to give him a warning when they saw his bright white head of hair. How are you gonna give Grandpa a ticket anyways? :-)
In any case slowly over time he got his bike ready for his first land speed race. We had initially planned on coming out at the innaugural event but scheduling conflicts meant June was our best option. I picked him up the night before the race, we had already loaded up his ZX-12R on my trailer and I was bringing a friend's new for 2012 ZX-14R. We had the little 4 cylinder toyota packed to the hilt ready for an 8 hour drive through the night, complete with a pair of dogs too....which meant some stops along the way for some shuteye/stretching. He asked several times if I wanted him to share the driving privledges....but I wanted him to perform as best as he could so I let him snooze through the drive. Throughout the years I have become versed at driving through the night getting to the track.
We got to the track and he was quite excited and like me my first time a little unsure of the process so I helped him through the registration and tech inspection process. Those who met Gerald remember sometimes having to tell him something 2 or 3 times louder and louder because at 73 his hearing wasn't what it used to be. Of course my hearing is still fine because I could still hear him snore in the hotel room....but its all good, we're here to race :cheers:. I kept telling people in the pits i'd be a :mrgreen: if i was his age and still racing, especially a friggin ZX12!
Saturday rolls around and after breakfast and some zzzs we get to the track. I knocked off my shakedown run and went to work trying to get everything I could outta the new 14R. Meanwhile things weren't going as smoothly for Gerald. I had figured he would easily be done with his 125 and 150 runs quickly but sometimes he would undershoot the speeds, sometimes he had issues with shifting as his transmission proved to be tempermental. While I was hotlapping in the 190s trying different tucks against a not so impressed headwind I would go over things with Gerald and see how he was doing. After every run I'd go over what happened and try to make things easier and smoother. Hell any 12R racer at the track has gotten some sort of help from me if they were struggling or ever asked my 2 cents. I reminded him this is a 1 mile race, forget about the pressure in the beginning....if the transmission is being problematic in 2nd gear be easy on the bike, take your time, build up your speed gradually. He got close to his B licence clocking a 168 on saturday. He was happy that he broke his cherry but felt like he really didn't do as well as he could have. I had to remind him about my first time at the track boasting to Al the stater about going 200 only to clock 189 and go down the wrong part of the track....its hard in the beginning....there is so much going on.....and when you have mechanical issues and are still trying to get the feel of things it can get frustrating....but rather than making a big deal of the matter we just got some much needed dinner a the Chinese buffet and clocked in early for some zzzs. He was already snoring while I was dozing off to CSI or whatever was on TV.
Sunday morning we check out like most did after a nice breakfast. Refueled on the way to the track and discussed a new game plan. If you are having problems shifting a sequential transmission motorcycle without the clutch, try "granny shifting" it with the clutch. That way you can still get down the track. Better to go a couple mph slower because you used the clutch then being stuck in a gear the whole way down the track, right? He wasn't sure what speed or rpm or gear he should run up to because he didn't want to get in trouble for going too fast....I said Gerald....we still have a headwind.....if you go 180 balls out on a 175 run no one will kick you off the track. Its hard to run an EXACT speed sometimes doing licensing runs. You don't want to be staring at the speedometer or the tachometer too long and forget about the finish line. I recalled a time at the TX mile where I was really trying for 200 and kept zoning on the tach trying for 100 more RPM....I zoned too long and wondered how come I didn't see the mile marker in my right side peripheral yet.....I looked up and still didn't see ..... OH SHIT I MUST HAVE PASSED IT!!! Stopping at TX is no joke with only 1/2 a mile. If you've gobbled up some of that zoning out things can go bad quickly. I told him I had to get the bike hauled down in a major way and I went off in the grass maybe 20 or 30 feet sheepishly waiving my arm that I was ok and that I was an idiot to the first TX official I saw as I completed my not so U turn. I just wanted him to enjoy the run and not stress about the speed, the gear, the RPM, etc and focus on a smooth and safe run. I reminded him he wasn't gonna do 200, he wasn't gonna get a record, he just needed to make a clean pass, thats it. We even talked doing a rider change for him in the morning to jockey the bike and see what was going on. But given the relatively better conditions we nixed that and decided to let him go through granny shifting with the clutch and just ride the bike. I also didn't want to steal his thunder...while I've jockeyed quite a few motorcycles I do realize sometimes there is a pride/ego thing for some and didn't want to step on his toes saying "Hey give me the bike I'll ride it and show you how its done" unless he asked. Its sometimes a sensative situation that takes some finesse discussing.
So we're in the staging lanes....8:30 I'm on the starting line and for the first time at the event I didn't get off the to talk to him, goof around, go through plan of action, see how he was doing, etc. I had a score to settle with this damned headwind and I was focusing on my run HARD because with the cool air I wanted to put together the best run possible. I get flagged to go and I do....I notice I picked up 100 rpms at the traps over my best the previous day....I knew the speed before I got the ticket....195 and change. Since he was staged directly behind me (3 rows wide) I figured 3 vehicles later I'd see him. I'm checking the bike, talking to another guy in the pits, etc. Get to chatting and after several minutes....I'm going "Hey where's Gerry?".....someone said something about a bike going down.
I SAID "SHIT!" I had a very bad feeling right then and there. I hopped on the 14 and went down the return road at....over 10 mph for sure. My heart is pounding and I'm just saying to myself "hope he's ok, hope its not him, his family will kill me, I should have never had him some with me" all the things your brain just thinks ... you have no control of what direction your brain is going. I get to the end of the track before the track. I don't see a green zx12 or an older guy dusting himself off....I see Keith and he waves me up....Fiat Fiat Fiat Fiat Fiat Fiat Fiat....I say WAS IT A GUY ON A GREEN ZX12....AND OLDER GUY??!?!! He asked if the guy came with me I said yes of course I was his ride to and from the track we split a hotel too. I don't remember everything after that, once he said coroner I just...I was in total shock. I remember looking down at the 14 and teardrops peppering the gas cap as I held my head.
Honestly the rest is a haze.....what happened? How did 175 mph go so wrong? Was it a medical issue? Mechanical issue? Was he confused about where the finish line was? Was he just trying too hard to go too fast this time around? I wish I knew...and yet I know no matter what it doesn't change anything, he's gone. And I feel like total shit for ever having brought him out. I know I'm not to blame, he was a grown man and wanted to race and do it the right way, the safer way, the legal way. Its the only real way to explore the limits of bikes this fast without ending up in jail....or worse. But I can't help but still feel like I had a say in it. I took him under my wing and tried to help him achieve a goal, a dream. And at 73 it is my understanding that his wife was finally ok with the notion. I feel like I can't look anyone in his family in the eye at the funeral without them looking at me going "You are the guy who got gerald into this sorta going stupid fast thing...he was a 73 year old guy what the Fiat were you thinking?!" And yet all I did was think about his safety....I made him get a new helmet, back protector, taped up the bodywork below thats known to get crooked on zx12s at speed, checked his tire pressure for him at the track, his oil level, made sure the brakes felt ok in the pits. I had even taken the bike to over 180 mph in the past to make sure it was "safe and stable". I felt like I tried to catch whatever possible problem there could be and help him through it....and reminded him that at 73 he was definately 1 in a million racing a bike like this.
It was a long drive home home....blurry eyed here and there, I just needed to stay on the road, I didn't want to pull off the road too long and THINK. Coffee for lunch and 2 beers for dinner. Its Monday morning and I don't feel any better. I know he went out doing what he loved, literally. And I know it will take a long time for me to get through this. Thanks to everyone in the pits, ECTA officials and others for the kind words after the fact.
Godspeed Gerald "Grandpa" Deneau
Ali
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Sorry to hear that. Condolences and prayers out to his family and friends. :-(
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Sad to read this.
We hope his family and you have the strength to get through this sadness.
Sounds like Gerald had a good friend!
IMO, this is a better end than rotting in a "long term care" facility.
Godspeed Gerald.
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My deepest sympathies and condolences to you and all his family and friends.
Larry
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Ali:
Our best wishes to you - and to Gerald's family and friends. They'll somehow manage to work out their grief and hurt - but what about you? I'm afraid you'll carry the memories, both bad and good, for too long. You're right in saying that yes, he was grown up and land speed racing is what he wanted to try, so it's not your fault. And yet -- you enabled him to try it. But I think you can try to move beyond this sad event by remembering that you were the messenger that helped him try his newest dream - not the person that decided to do it.
May Gerald rest in peace, and may you once again find peace and happiness in your own mind.
Nancy and Jon
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Ali, sincere condolences to you and Gerald's family and Godspeed to Gerald.
I don't know you but you seem like a good man and a good friend.
Peace
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Ali,
Words cannot describe how we all feel right now. My thoughts and prayers are with Gerald, his family and you.
Joe
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My thoughts are with you and his family. I understand your loss and your feelings.
So much is running through my mind but I am unable to put it down in words.
Gods speed.
John
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Although Amy and me have do not know you or Gerald we feel a sense of loss of you and Geralds family, Prayers.
Frank.
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It is never easy to lose a friend. Even when we don't know them we care and try to understand why. I only hope he was doing something he wanted to do and left this earth trying to fulfill a dream. Prayers and thoughts go out to the family and his LSR friends.
God Speed Gerald :-(
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As land speed racers we consider ourselves part of a rather unique fraternity. I like to think that we are a
very close knit brotherhood and take pride in looking after each other. Any one of us would be happy to have a friend like you.
We all feel your pain and concern with the loss of Gerald. As others have stated, it's not all bad to go out
doing something you love. I'm sure Gerald will carry with him great thoughts of the time the two of you shared, especially the ride to Wilmington.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and Gerald's family. God speed.
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God speed Gerald;
Shipfteey; thank you from everyone for writing your recollection of this racing tragedy. As a lifelong racer who is 69 and a landspeed rookie, i especially appreciate all you did for and with your friend, just as he did. Dreams are for pursuing and without them we all just waste away. Cherish the time as he did.
I have lost two close freinds to drag racing and one to hydroplane racing; just do what you can for his family and stay in touch even as hard as it can be.
Again; thank you for sharing your thoughts and for a glimpse of a real racer; something we can all strive to be. You are one yourself.
Mine and Rita's thoughts and prayers,
Bob larimore
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My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
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My condolences to the family.
Wilmington News Bureau:
Motorcyclist dies during air park racing
A motorcycle rider died during East Coast Timing Association (ECTA) racing Sunday morning at the Wilmington Air Park.
Seventy-three-year-old Jerry Deneau from Manassas, Va. was pronounced dead at the site by a Clinton County Coroner’s Office staffer after Deneau’s motorcycle went off the runway and continued on.
“He had over a mile to stop the vehicle and nothing happened. People are kind of suspecting a medical emergency. We are hoping an autopsy can shed light on that,” said ECTA President Joe Timney on Monday.
Deneau was an avid street rider who liked high-performance vehicles, Timney said. This was Deneau’s first ECTA event.
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Ali-
So sad to read your account .... as a late 50s "tough as they come" biker and hotrodder, it brought tears to my eyes to read your post....
I can't come up with anything more than words that sound like little more than empty platitudes but....
The power of prayer and being brave at the same time may help....
Land speed Racing is NOT a huge fraternity.... to many of us it is like losing a brother or a father - even if we never met Gerald....
Godbless - and Godspeed Gerald.... I hope to meet you on the other side
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Ali, everyone in this community is truly sorry for your loss! Thanks for sharing your story and thoughts at a really tough time!
Sounds to me like Gerald could not have asked for a better friendship or eulogy than yours! :cheers:
Best regards, Woody
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Godspeed Gerald and my prayers go out to your family.
Ali, I am extremely glad to see you made it home. I didn't feel you were in good enough condition to drive home after we spoke but I took your word that you didn't want any assistance. I was also 'enabling' a rookie in getting his initial license runs in at this event using my bike so that his debut with his equipment would be less stressful in July. I had gone through this scenario in my mind a hundred times and felt it was the right thing to do and just prayed that his family would understand if something happened. It has shaken me up quite a bit seeing this scenario play out with you and Gerald but I still strongly believe that going solo into this sport without assistance is much more stressful and risky. I know it will take time but I hope you are to get past the second guessing and can remember the good parts of helping someone see their dreams come true.
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I would like to extend a note of thanks to the volunteers, spectators, and our hosts at Wilmington if they happen to read this forum. I am sure this was not what any of them expected to experience and I am extremely grateful for their patience and understanding and I hope they feel that we handled this situation properly. I also personally want to thank the staff, volunteers and emergency response crews for handling the situation so well on both a professional and human level. I look forward to seeing you in July.
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Ali, everyone in this community is truly sorry for your loss! Thanks for sharing your story and thoughts at a really tough time!
Sounds to me like Gerald could not have asked for a better friendship or eulogy than yours! :cheers:
Best regards, Woody
Thank you for putting your friend's story out there. You did a great job.
Geo Turner
For the Geezers
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May God console the family and you as a friend and all of the ECTA family for this will have an effect on everyone whether we realize it or not.
Garrell and Linda Patterson
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Our prayers are with Gerald's family and you. I hope you and his family truly believe if he were here today he would say thank you. Every time anyone gets on a bike or in a car, whether on a track or on the street he or she takes chances. It appears you helped Gerald fulfill his dream. You were a great friend to him.
My condolences.
Jeff Jacobs
FSH Racing
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Ali, everyone in this community is truly sorry for your loss! Thanks for sharing your story and thoughts at a really tough time!
Sounds to me like Gerald could not have asked for a better friendship or eulogy than yours! :cheers:
Best regards, Woody
Ali, my condolences go out to you, Geralds Family and Other Friends.
Doug
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As racers and human beings most of us will only dream of have someone write about our passing with as much care and understanding as you Ali--- have "put to paper". What a wonderful friend and kindred soul you are.
What a wonderful recolection of this trip you have posted. I can't imagine anyone who truly loved and KNEW "Grandpa Gerald" that will not cherish this recounting of his final hours. They will recall their own stories of his love for bikes and understand that he died as he had lived. Most of us will not be so blessed by our maker!
Heres to Gerald and the way he lived and to family and friends that will miss him so!!
hip hip hooray :cheers:
hip hip hooray :cheers:
hip hip hooray :cheers:
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I, too, appreciate the candor and emotion in your report. I've not had an experience like that, but from your report it's apparent how it has affected you (and us, in turn). Let's hope as time goes by we can all learn more of the cause of this tragedy so we might lessen occurrences like this.
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Ali, can't imagine being in your shoes. By telling it like you did you've done Gerald proud and I bet he'd still thank you for what you'd helped him with.
Everybody here pauses when this happens. I hope you can find peace of mind.
God speed Gerald.
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Ali:
I am sorry for you, Gerald's family and friends. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
All I can say is time is the best medicine. Things fall into perspective and the loss never goes away but the good times, happy times and achievements are what we typically remember as time passes. And that is the Lord's gift to all of us left behind...the pain dims and the great things about our friends are remembered. I did not know your friend but I think he was a great man... did'nt let a few extra birthdays stop him from living.
As far as racing, I think Keith Turk summed it up in my rookie meeting, he said that "we" the ones out land speed racing are the one percenters. The ones that stopped reading or dreaming and actually got out there and did it. Gerald was a one percenter, even at 70 plus he followed his dream and drive to test himself. It's the common thread amongst all of us racers, regardless of the venue. No one forces us to do race...we all race because we would be no where else given a choice.
God's Speed Gerald. Ali, take it easy on yourself, these things are always out of our control.
Bill
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Condolences offered to all.
My guess?
Gerald would want a moment of quiet, then a party to celebrate his life.. let the celebration begin....
R I P
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With a heavy and sadden heart I send my condolences to you and the family. I can only imagine how hard it was to write
this post, I thank you for doing it.
Hooley
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You gave tribute to your friend better than most could. Condolences and thought to you and Geralds family.
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God Speed Gerald. Ali we spoke very briefly, if you need anything get in touch.
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Ali,
We wish to extend our sincerest condolences & sympathy. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a fellow racer. Although we didn't know Gerald we did speak with him in the parking lot of the hotel Saturday eve & Sunday morning. He told us of the second gear issue & seamed to be a touch disappointed but determined to over come the trouble. Sunday morning as we were in the parking lot we spoke & he was excited about going fast. His words were "I AM going to go fast today" word I will NEVER forget. He was doing what he loved. Again our sincerest condolences & sympathy to you & Geralds family.
Pat S (Panhead Pat)
Sharon C (Ohio Flats)
Owners/riders of the
Pat's Cycle Works
9701 A/PG 1350 - The Hooha Special
9241 MPS/PF 2000
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If you haven't seen it on the Ohio Mile Facebook page, Keith posted a great article that Freiburger wrote after John Beckett died....
David's perspective is both insightful and appropriate for the circumstance:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotrod.com%2Ffeaturedvehicles%2Fhrdp_0512_starting_line_risk%2F&h=nAQG5BZZ4AQGgyU_alIy_dXLbzh8LG03Cid0wTP0cufShCQ
RIP Gerald...
Kix
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Freiburger's article explains racing very well-- thanks, Dave.
And let me add a quote from Steve McQueen in "Le Mans"-- "Racing is living, everything else is just waiting."
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
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Thanks everyone for the words. Means a lot. Feel a little better today. It will just take time...
A.
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Ali,
Time will help. Time will heal. Let your friends help you through this, they are there for you. My thoughts and prayers go out to Gerald and his family. You have done well in your words and his family will be grateful. God speed.
Terry
RIP Gerald
(picture is Gerald's profile picture on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Gerald-Deneau/100003281667263#!/photo.php?fbid=117117485074306&set=a.117117481740973.17751.100003281667263&type=3&theater)
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Ali, when I had the pleasure of meeting your dad while in pre-stage a few years ago, he said that he wished you would race a bike more like mine (slow) and he didn't know why you needed to go so fast; but he did understand your drive and respected your choices. That is part of your understanding Gerald's desires and you were able to do your best to help him be as safe as you could. There is a bike shop in town that has a long list of the ways one might die while riding, but the last thing on the list is "or you can sit at home eating potato chips and watching tv and die." We all wish we had as good and caring friends around as you were for Gerald.
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TerryW-Thank you for the pic.
Ali-Although I did not know Gerald personally, I do recall seeing him on Saturday and I do recall the green bike that was having problems shifting. I can only imagine what it took to write the recount. My condolences to you and the family for the loss.
Sincerely, Aaron
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As a "car guy" (now a "truck guy") I can only imagine the stresses involved in taking a fast bike down the track. But as an Old Guy, thanks for helping another old guy take a stab at it. I'd rather burn out than rust (sort of a Neil Young quote).
Best Positive Energy
Dan
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Ali,
My heart goes out to you and Gerald's family. I think I can imagine how bad you feel. I worked the start line on Saturday and spoke with him several times about his passes down the course and what he hoped his next pass to be. He was always optimistic, as I think we all are. We're also all ambitious in the goals we set for ourselves. I've seen you unselfishly help many racers over the past years. I hope that doesn't change. Thanks for being who you are.
David Anderson
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Thanks again for the uplifting words everyone. Feel a little better this week.
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Rest in peace Gerald.
We all think about this at one time or another...God Speed.
Charlie