Wipe Out

Wipe Out

Shortly before I arrived for duty in Washington, DC, My friend Jack and a couple of others had an interesting experience, in the Maintenance Building.

Jack rode his Harley to work every day.  Another electronics technician, Eric, wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle.  He asked Jack to give him lessons for riding a bike.  Jack agreed to help, which led to as Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest of the story.”

A light rain had blown up, and Jack had moved his Harley into the maintenance shop.  Eric and Joe walked over to admire the bike.  Eric looked the motorcycle over, “Man, I would love to have one of these!”

Jack looked at him and shrugged, “So, buy one.  I know a guy who can get you a deal.”

Eric grinned wryly, “I don’t know how to ride.  Could you teach me?”

“Why not?  It’s a slow night.”

Since it was raining, they pushed the bike through the shop and into the breezeway that connected the Maintenance Shop building to the Operation Spaces in the main complex.  Jack directed Eric to straddle the motorcycle.

Jack directed him to start the bike.  Erick sat on the bike grinning as Jack let him rev the engine.  Then Jack explained how to shift gears.

Eric was having a blast, revving the engine and shifting gears.  Suddenly, Eric’s hand slipped off the clutch.  The bike lunged forward, Erik’s hands frozen on the handles, hanging on for dear life, and screaming at the top of his lungs.

The bike roared, and streaked straight through the breezeway and crashed through the Operation’s Center’s door.  He smashed through the door and into the bays of equipment on the other side.  As Jack and Joe rushed to the bike and Eric, the Officer of the day rounded the bank of bays “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!”

Jack rushed to explain and apologize profusely.  The lieutenant luckily had a sense of humor.  He looked at the wrecked Harley and Eric, trying to look stern, while not laughing out loud.

If you can fix the door and equipment before the change in shift, I won’t report it.”

They worked their butts off and managed to fix everything and cover up the signs of the wreck.  Though the damage was repaired, the story was too good to die!