Posted on 04/12/2006 11:47:58 AM PDT by Mikey_1962
A world-renowned motorcycle safety expert from Squirrel Hill was killed over the weekend in a motorcycle accident in Texas.
Larry Grodsky, 55, owner of Stayin' Safe Motorcycle Training, died after a deer ran in front of his motorcycle Saturday night in Fort Stockton, Texas.
Grodsky, a Gateway High School graduate, had a decades-long love affair with motorcycles and trained celebrities including Ted Koppel and Mike Tyson on safe-driving techniques.
He was the nephew of Myron Cope, the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers announcer who retired last year.
His mother, Violet Grodsky, also 85, said her son began riding motorcycles while attending Ohio University, where he graduated with an English degree in 1968.
He spent a few years teaching in Ohio schools and doing freelance writing for several magazines before returning to Pittsburgh and opening his training center, Violet Grodsky said.
Grodsky, who was single, traveled the country attending training and safety seminars and was returning from a conference in California when the accident happened. An officer with the Texas Department of Public Safety said he did not know whether Grodsky was wearing a helmet or what kind of motorcycle he was driving.
Grodsky had many friends and valued the work he did for charity, his father said.
He participated in charity motorcycle events and did other volunteer work, Harold Grodsky said.
"That was typical of Larry to always be helping other people and thinking about those who had less or were suffering," he said.
Luke Hingson, president of the Brother's Brother Foundation in the North Side, said Grodsky helped the organization raise money for the victims of the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia and for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
After 20 years and over 200,000 miles of riding in Los Angeles traffic, I hung up my GSXR1100 after being smacked around at 70 mph on the Ventura Fwy.
I had always told people who worried about me that "they couldn't hit me if they tried!"
Then one day some idiot lady wasn't trying....
I moved to the country and no longer need a motorcycle to commute sanely, but at the same time, dang, I miss it some days! I miss Sundays cruising to The Rock Store, or carving up Palos Verdes, or cruising the Angeles Crest Highway. But after the aaaacksident it was never as fun as it was for those 20 years. It really ruined it for me. I figure I got off lucky.
My advice for new riders...? Wear GOOD (read: thick winter style) leather gloves, a good helmet, and a good leather jacket. If you only wear bluejeans, expect to have scabbed up knees, and pray that the seat of your pants hold 'cause you don't want road rash there.
And consider this my best advice..... ALWAYS wear the same gloves, even on a hot day if you choose to not wear the jacket, wear the same gloves. This is for two reasons.... #1, your hands are critical to controlling your pitch/roll/yaw while you're skidding along at 70 mph, so think of the gloves as a kind of "oven mitt" for accident survival. And #2, your clutch, front brake and throttle control MUST BE perfect and perfectly consistent. Different gloves will throw off your ability to make those three controls work autonomically.
LOL Thanks. My tagline needed changing.
You did nothing wrong. Some people are just jerks. (NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU!)
This happening to a Pittsburgh guy, and the Pirates now being eliminated from playoff contention, isn't someone going to suggest maybe Big Ben should wear a helmet?
SD
Successful motorcycling is all about balancing demographics. If one were to plot a sample of people involved in motorcycle accidents over the course of a year that also includes the following positive factors you would find that motorcycling has a risk not much different than many active outdoor sports:
- licensed
- insured
- registered
- MSF-trained
- helmeted
- leathers, gloves, boots
- high-visibility garments and accessories
- college-educated
- sober
- conservative adult 25+ years of age
Fatalities and permanent injuries are vastly over-represented by people who don't meet many of those factors that serve to reduce risk.
~ Blue Jays ~
Truth hurts, I have lost two good friend who bought the American Chopper fantasy. One bought the biggest Harley he could get and lost control of it into a tree. The other hit by a car. I once rode but no more it just is to dangerious.
Winnebagos with bad stability. :)
See post 65. Both wore leathers, both wore helmets, both trained, both in the ground.
Too bad the rider wasn't an uninsured illegal alien.
'cuz then your precious EMTs wouldn't have a damn thing to say.
I'll be sure to take a cheap poke at *you* on your next prayer thread, asshat.
Sad.
When your number is up, your number is up.
"Not much you can do when a dear jumps out in front of you."
The only way to avoid deer is not to ride at dawn or dusk. Also, it helps to never ride in upstate NY, northern PA or west Illinois.
Here in the Northeast (NH, VT and ME) we have to duck the moose all night. Their eyes do NOT glow when illuminated by headlights.
I've lost more than you have, now go live in fear and make sure you pass your fear on to you family and anyone else who will be impressed. I ain't.
And they'll bite your sister.
Incorrect: Sometimes your the windshield, sometimes your the bug
Correct:Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug
~ Blue Jays ~
Oh, good Lord, is he one of them, too? Hypicyte, hypecripe, hipocyrip? Hey, spell check ... hypocrite!
"His mother, Violet Grodsky, also 85, said her son began riding motorcycles while attending Ohio University, where he graduated with an English degree in 1968. "
Article states he was 55 years of age; therefore born 1950-51. And he graduated from college at age 17-18?
A reporter didn't do a thorough job. Neither did an editor.
Too bad about his passing. I have friends among the motorcycle crowd, and they are good people.
No, you're just trying to rationalize your cheap shot.
Did ya' hear that God is my copilot? He rides comfortably on the back of my Corbin saddle. Keeps me safe.
~ Blue Jays ~
You got it, Bro. His will be done, two wheels or four, deer, moose or even a dear ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.