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Many years ago I rode to the North Side of Chicago from Kankakee IL. About a 90 mile trip. Bought a set of headers for my 71 Mach1 Mustang. Got rained on on the way up and wasn't quite drenched. So I got the headers strapped to the bike, and headed south on I-57 back to Kankakee. About halfway back, someone upstairs opened the flood gates, and I don't think I ever saw it rain that hard. Even the seat of my *** wasn't dry by the time I got off the interstate coming into Kankakee. It slacked up to a light rain about the same time. I had gone about a mile from the interstate, and came to an intersection coming out of a shopping center. The woman looked me dead in the eyes and pulled out right straight in front of me! And Then STOPPED!!! All the while looking me in the eyes! Now I'm doing about 45mph on wet slick pavement, I hit the brakes as hard as I dared, sliding the rear tire, I slid right square into her drivers door, caving it in about 6 inches! I pulled the bike back form her car all the while trying to get it back into 1st gear as I had been in 4th when she pulled out, and I'm cussing a blue streak. I finally got it in first, and had backed far enough from her car to clear the front of it, and was fixing to go around it. When she rolls down her window and says you hit my car! I said Lady you saw me coming, we made eye contact, and you still pulled out in front of me!!! *(^(^$^*&*&(*(&_ If you want to set here in the rain, and wait for the cops! Go right ahead, I'm going home and get a shower! With which I let out the clutch, and took off. I lived about 5 miles across town, and after I got home and showered, I realized I had left the scene of an accident, which is illegal as heck, and I was expecting the cops to show up at anytime. Somehow they never did. LOL! One of those dumb thing you do when your Young and Dumb!
Jack
As I said you can do everything right, and still end up screwed!!! Thankfully the Cop saw the whole thing and was a good guy!
Here we are in one of our last trips. Rode thousands of miles without a scratch. Then shortly after this trip, figured I was getting too old for the bike. So, decided to sell the bike and get into something safer. Bought a fishing boat. Getting out of the boat once I slipped and blew out my knee. Missed wind in my face and the rumble in my ears…so got my first Jaag a ‘15 XKR ‘vert. But, now due to a medical condition had my driver license revoked in Mid December, until after mid April.
Grand Tetons in Backgound. 2017 Harley Ultra Limited, Torque Cam, Screaming Eagle Exhaust… Triumph 190 Bay, at Shelter Island, San Diego Bay. ‘15 XKR
Last edited by XKDreams; Feb 24, 2026 at 02:16 PM.