Tom Boyd injured?

[brian kirby]

I want to give a little context to the picture I posted too, as I think I is a good example of the kind of guy Tom was.

We rubbed a little paint at the '08 Barber CC race, it was my fault. There was a bottleneck at a 90 deg turn that sent you up a short but very steep hill. I rode up behind Tom and stopped. A few seconds later it looked like he was going to move so I let out the clutch, but he stopped suddenly and I hit is rear wheel with my front. Neither of us fell, but it did cause Tom's bike to stall. He kind of agitatedly waved me by and I went on. After the race I stopped him to apologize. Tom had every right to be angry, but he was not. When we talked (actually he talked, I listened) it was more like an old Bull giving a young buck some sage advice. Tom was like those old E.F. Hutton commercials, "when Tom talked, people listened". Two weeks later at the ISDT Reunion Ride in Tulsa, I sought him out and we both had a big laugh about it.

Which brings me to an important point. As a younger guy in the Vintage scene I really appreciate being able to hang out and talk with the guys who did it back when these bikes were new. Guys like Tom, All of the Penton clan, Doug, Dane, Dwight, Speedy, those guys are national treasures and we should never pass up an opportunity to pry some memories out of them if you have the chance.

Brian

'72 Berkshire