[Ducati] run in with the law

[Scott Cloninger]

Park rangers, huh?

I don't tell this story often because the lack of self control and the
stupidity inherent in the acts herein described is quite embarrassing.
But since we're sharing near misses with "The Man"....here goes:

Back in 2002 a group from Chattanooga and the surrounding area that I
ride with was heading south on the Blue Ridge Parkway having just left
the Pisgah Inn.  We were eclipsing the speed limit pretty heavily as I
followed the "Card Shark" on a spankin' new Kawasucky toward 215 and I
know that at a few spots my somewhat optimistic speedo registered 145
(which is probably closer to 130, but who's counting?).  We blasted
along, applying the pass whenever we met traffic (which wasn't very
often, it was during the early year, off-season, annual "Spring Ride"),
scrubbing pucks and sliding the rear around a bit...very unlike me on
the street, but sometimes you simply get caught up in the moment. I
followed the green beast until we came to NC 215.  At that point we
pulled to the shoulder to allow the group, which had become a bit
strewn-out, to tighten up.

After about half the group had gotten together we noticed an odd sound
approaching from the north.  We looked at each other confusedly, then
one of my companions pointed in the direction we had come from and
muttered a few choice expletives at a very high volume.  It was then
that the UH1H (Huey) flew over sideways with an obvious spotter in the
door pointing down at us and jabbering into his headset.  I don't know
what he said, but at that point we applied our "cat herding" principles
and everybody went a different way.  As we had seen no blue lights and
no officers motioning us to the shoulder we felt no compulsion to wait
for trouble to arrive.  (I NEVER actively avoid pursuit by law
enforcement officers...no jokes in that line...if I see blue lights I'm
pulling over....PERIOD)

I headed south on 215 and met up with a few of our group in Cashiers
later and we rode the rest of the day without major incident....unless
you count the Sid-Man's illegal pass in front of three Macon County
Deputies on NC 28 north of Franklin...but that's another story.  We
still tell this story and get a good laugh, but I'm kinda glad I've
calmed down a bit since this incident.  Wadda ya reckon the ticket is
for 145 in a 45, anyway?  Reckon the Judge would have let us attend
traffic school?  8)

Jimmy C from Franklin...were you along for this ride?  I seem to
remember you riding a white-framed SS that day.  How about you Dougati B
in Chattown?  I'm pretty sure you attended the debauchery.  I don't know
if Bimota Patrick is still on the list or not, but I remember him riding
his grey-market BB-1 for that episode.  Anybody else want to fess up to
anything ABSOLUTELY STUPID out here in public?  

"Stupid is as stupid does."

Cloner
ABQ, NM

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