Cousin George…

Here’s a nice story from our good buddy Ralph, a CSC rider and blog reader.  Ralph sent this to us in response to our request for your stories…

Joe,

The attached picture is the motorcycle and the guy (my cousin, George Stultz) that ignited my love for all things mechanical and motorcycles in particular.

When I was about 8 or 9 years old my incessant questions of  “Can I have a ride…can I have a ride?” became too much.  In an effort to shut me up, he kicked the Harley to life, grabbed me up and sat me on the seat in front of him, and took off. I remember it as if it were yesterday.

If I were a decent writer I would try to convey my feelings and overwhelming sense of  awe that I experienced while hanging on for dear life on that 20-minute ride. Don’t think I could do that story justice, and I’m betting most who read this will understand perfectly. Why butcher it up with words?

I would like to tell you a little about George, though, if you don’t mind.  He was a two-tour Veteran of Vietnam, a hard worker all his life, and an absolute artist with a welder.  George passed away last year, age 62, after a debilitating illness that had confined him to a wheel chair for the last three years of his life.  Never a complaint, although you could sense his frustration when his hands began to shake so much he could no longer keep his mind occupied with whatever was in reach that he could assemble and disasemble.  Pistols, computers, TV remote, the joystick control panel on his electric wheelchair…(“got to wondering how the hell that thing worked”)…

RIP cousin George.  You taught me a lot, and you changed my life. 

Ralph

Ralph, I’d say you’re a lot more than a decent writer and I know our blog readers would agree.  Thanks very much for sending this great story to us.   Your cousin George sounds like he was a hell of a man.

Don’t forget, folks, if you’ve got a story to tell about your early days in motorcycling, let us hear about it!  Send it to me at jberk@californiascooterco.com.   Thanks much and ride safe!