Speedfilm
New Member
I road one into and out of a Tornado!
Back in the 80s when I road raced, I had a Honda Hurricane 600 I used for production racing. My truck was in the shop so I decided to ride the bike to get some lunch. It was sunny although clouds were moving in from the west but it looked like I had plenty of time to leave and get back before it rained. I was almost there when I noticed the guys in front of me at a light were looking back at me and I thought they were looking back because the pipe on my bike was so loud but when I turned around I noticed the clouds were almost upon me and looked an evil dark green.
By the time I got to the sub shop, it was on me, lighting struck the building just as I pulled away as it started raining great big drops. By the time I was on the main road, it was pouring and suddenly the car in front of me stopped. As I went around the car, I noticed why they stopped, three power lines were down across the road but it was too late for me to stop so I gunned it and lucky for me, crossed the lines as they all were down on the ground and not whipping in the wind.
At that point, I was thanking me lucky stars and figured that was my close call of the day. No sooner did that thought clear my head that I noticed in front of me about 500 yards was a churning gray wall of wind and debris that looked like an ocean wave breaking turned at 90 degrees. Looking to my left, I noticed a brick liquor store and was going to pull in behind it thinking it would be the safest place to be but looking back ahead, the wall of wind was almost on top of me.
Instinct took over and I clamped my knees on the tank and put my head down as far as I could and looked straight down my leg at the pavement to gage my position on the road. The wind shook me as bad as a 100 mph tank slapper as I was blown across the road. I saw the first yellow center line cross under me and then the second(2 lanes with turn lane in center) then a curb which I knew would crash me. I twisted the gas WFO and leaned into it as I shook like a rag in a dogs mouth and began moving against the wind, I crossed back over the first yellow line then as I crossed the second yellow line, I was through into blue sky but had to nail the brakes because a giant tree had been blown across the road.
Once I got home, it had sustained roof damage from fallen trees. I guess I was still in shock and didn't realize how lucky I had been until the next day when I went back to retrace my steps and noticed the brick liquor store I was going to shelter behind was obliterated and the occupants had survived by hiding in the walk in cooler.
Back in the 80s when I road raced, I had a Honda Hurricane 600 I used for production racing. My truck was in the shop so I decided to ride the bike to get some lunch. It was sunny although clouds were moving in from the west but it looked like I had plenty of time to leave and get back before it rained. I was almost there when I noticed the guys in front of me at a light were looking back at me and I thought they were looking back because the pipe on my bike was so loud but when I turned around I noticed the clouds were almost upon me and looked an evil dark green.
By the time I got to the sub shop, it was on me, lighting struck the building just as I pulled away as it started raining great big drops. By the time I was on the main road, it was pouring and suddenly the car in front of me stopped. As I went around the car, I noticed why they stopped, three power lines were down across the road but it was too late for me to stop so I gunned it and lucky for me, crossed the lines as they all were down on the ground and not whipping in the wind.
At that point, I was thanking me lucky stars and figured that was my close call of the day. No sooner did that thought clear my head that I noticed in front of me about 500 yards was a churning gray wall of wind and debris that looked like an ocean wave breaking turned at 90 degrees. Looking to my left, I noticed a brick liquor store and was going to pull in behind it thinking it would be the safest place to be but looking back ahead, the wall of wind was almost on top of me.
Instinct took over and I clamped my knees on the tank and put my head down as far as I could and looked straight down my leg at the pavement to gage my position on the road. The wind shook me as bad as a 100 mph tank slapper as I was blown across the road. I saw the first yellow center line cross under me and then the second(2 lanes with turn lane in center) then a curb which I knew would crash me. I twisted the gas WFO and leaned into it as I shook like a rag in a dogs mouth and began moving against the wind, I crossed back over the first yellow line then as I crossed the second yellow line, I was through into blue sky but had to nail the brakes because a giant tree had been blown across the road.
Once I got home, it had sustained roof damage from fallen trees. I guess I was still in shock and didn't realize how lucky I had been until the next day when I went back to retrace my steps and noticed the brick liquor store I was going to shelter behind was obliterated and the occupants had survived by hiding in the walk in cooler.