July marked a day that let's just say was not good. A day that shows a few things, one we are fragile and two we make mistakes and three what we do for fun is serious business. Sunday at Shenandoah saw our friend and team member Omar take a spill. Omar was entering the turn on the Shenandoah circuit where pit in is. This course is small and tight and the line to exit the track happens to be on line her. In this section the riders on the track are at speed and rider pitting in are run the same line. In the past we've seen close calls here but today the results were not in Omar's favor.

Omar was approaching a rider pitting in and the rider was following the proper procedures to do so. Omar's speed and the rider's pitting in speed had them meet at the apex of the turn. As Omar went around the slower rider and the combination of his speed, the narrow track and his path that needed to be altered to make the pass, all combined to exceed the amount of pavement needed to execute this. Off the pavement is grass and dirt that doesn't quite offer the same traction as pavement and always results in a lack of traction. The subsequent fall which for Omar did occur. To Omar's disadvantage that was a cement wall about 20 feet off the track. Omar, the moving object, and the wall, a non movable object met. Omar slid feet first into the wall and let just say his bones were softer then the wall.

The results of this meeting are not on Omar's favor. After an ambulance ride and few hours in the local hospital the news is both ankles are busted up. The right one is shattered and left one is not quite as bad. Omar's Dad is a surgeon in NJ so plans are made to get him up there. Omar has a sister who just happened to be in the area. So Monday she takes him north to the hospital where his dad works. Michelle, who was at the track and hospital with Omar and is now following behind them. Once the caravan arrives Omar is whisked off for repairs. Plates and screws are installed; tendons are repaired as the bone fragments cut them in his right ankle. Left ankle gets the bones set and a cast is applied. With the surgery successful now the recovery process begins and in this case is the start of the very long road. A few more surgeries to remove the hardware installed. In time he'll be back on the horse that bucked him and a few steps behind but catching fast.

As racers/track day riders we hate this side of the sport but we respect this aspect of it. Without respect for this side of the sport we don't fully appreciate the skill we all have achieved to wrestle these machines around like we do. This is a sport that if the fear of falling is in your head when your helmet is strapped on, you are in the wrong sport. We are a strange group in that burry stuff like this deep in the back of our heads. We need to in order to survive on the track. Off the track it's the reality of the sport and a deeper appreciation for those of us who do it right. Granted this is just a hobby for us, not a job, but in the same sense it's a passion we all have and a respect for the danger that combines and drives us to do it right. It's a concept that is hard for outsiders to understand but people on the inside understand it with a simple nod or a smile.

Omar is a good friend and a very special guy to us so we wish him well and speedy recovery. This story is far from over for Omar as his many friends will keep him on track, informed and be there for him through out this process and well afterwards. The track is always there and we will be too so when the time comes for Omar to toss his leg over the bike again, we'll be there for him.

Here is one story that we may not tell sitting on our porch in our rocking chairs in our later years, but it will be one we won't ever forget.

George Benes

Team Xcedrin Storyteller.

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