If you ride the Angeles Crest Hwy...

[arbik]

You should make an effort to come to this...

http://montrosesar.org/XTREMEHTS_OL.pdf

This is a fund raiser for the LA County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue team who rescues downed bikers, and responds to all motorcycle down calls on the 2 HWY.
I'm planning to attend the event myself.


Note to moderator: if this is considered spam, please remove it.

[SergioK]

I think I saw 4 CHP cruisers and at least 1 motorofficer up there yesterday, along with a slew of guys being pulled over. Oh, and some rescue vehicles as well...

[varmint]

i donated when they ticketed me for 60 in a 55

[arbik]

Varmint,

This, is NOT the same people.
but I'm not going to start an argument over who is who on the hill.
Those who know, know.

-arbi

[Rapid Dog]

...and we appreciate dat Arbi...cool post.

However, there sure seems to be alot of officers up in the mountains, expecially for a Monday...according to Serg.

Two weeks ago Sunday I rode up to N-ranch and felt they could actually use a few more officers.
Lot's of squid squadrons and master squids passing other squidniks on blind corners...into my lane...repeatedly.
Shame too, the Crest has all that nice new pavement.

But I digress....Good show Arbi, Good show.

[mkletecka]

Ah, very nice event, but I am going to take the gas money to get there and apply it to the cost of getting a K.40 lazer jammer/radar system for my S.

[SergioK]

You know, if you spend enough time on the crest you'll know that sometimes it's not about 'us against them' or 'they are out to get us'. Imagine if these rescue guys had that attitude (which of course they do not). I've come around enough corners to see guys over the double solid (cars & bikes) and the next thought after 'what if' is how long it would take for these EMTs to get to me. You may not be thinking that far ahead...

BTW, my initial comment of the LEO's I saw up there was a direct reference to how guys run out of talent on the crest and then these rescue guys get to work. Not pretty, I know I couldn't stomach that work.

[bradzdotcom]

maybe this will clarify this for some of you:

go here. it's the stats for "what they've done" since july 2000.

http://montrosesar.org/missions.htm

put the mouse on the page, hit Ctl+F to open the "find" box.
type in: motorcycle
hit enter. you'll find one.

THEN...start hitting the "Next" button. you'll see that the montrose folks have been a big help for motorcycle people. (though i'm questioning that their stats show no bike went "over" since summer of '05).

they don't give out tickets. they come in and drag your bent and bruised butt out of ravines, canyons and trees.

they're the "rescue" guys, not the "HA! I gotcha" guys.

ultimately, it'd be cool if they got rid of the cops and got more rescue guys. if the budget were swapped, we'd probably have corner flagmen on angeles crest, every weekend morning from dawn to noon. plus ambulances at strategic locations and a warm helicopter parked nearby.

i can't go to the event, but i CAN donate.
there's always the chance that someday, it just might be my asss they've got in that basket being hauled to safety by a winch.

[Rapid Dog]

...yes, find out how to donate Arbi, good thought...

I like the idea of corner workers and ambulances Brad...like Mad Sunday! Cool.

yow, "motorcycle over"....there's a lot o them ones...

[signit98]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

there's always the chance that someday, it just might be my asss they've got in that basket being hauled to safety by a winch.

...let's hope not!

In the end, you've got to admire these folks for being there when it counts... actually, if you think about it... not even the cops are the bad folks... I'd like to think that things would be dramatically different if they weren't there to "step on it" every now and then...

Yeah, you might think to yourself "why me and not the squid that wheelies up and down the road at 100+mph..." it's most likely the fact that YOU did something you were not supposed to do... and so he stopped YOU!

In the end, I know that every time I was stopped, I WAS guilty as charged... and so, I am merely happy for ALL the times I got away with speeding and count my blessings!

Cops don't differentiate... they will only know when I take off my helmet that I am an old fart... and still, an old fart who was going to fast... sometimes they'll just let you off with a warning... sometimes they won't... they have bad days too... more than I have, I'd venture to guess...

[bradzdotcom]

true, but i've also been on the opposite end of a cop's bad day, when they REALLY decide to pick you apart because not only were you doing something too fast, but DANG, you're just some dumb old guy in the midst of the mid-life thing, and as far as he's concerned you don't have a clue as to how fast you were really going, and you probably would have killed yourself in the next mile, so he's saving your life dumb-asss...sign here.

it happens.

it's true though, that most times i get a mere hand slap, partially due to ATGATT, age and attitude.

(and within 50 miles, partially due to the neighboring riding buddy/marine colonel, who knows every cop. "A retired King is still...a King." i've been told).

[Rapid Dog]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

... old guy in the midst of the mid-life thing...it happens.

I dunno, maybe it's that attitude, maybe it's the ponytail...

[SergioK]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

true, but i've also been on the opposite end of a cop's bad day, when they REALLY decide to pick you apart because not only were you doing something too fast, but DANG, you're just some dumb old guy in the midst of the mid-life thing, and as far as he's concerned you don't have a clue as to how fast you were really going, and you probably would have killed yourself in the next mile, so he's saving your life dumb-asss...sign here.

it happens.

Then again, I'd probably have the same 'tude after seeing mangled bodies & corpses day in, day out. And yes, attitude is a big factor and yes, ATGATT matters to them as well.

[signit98]

LOL... Brad???

[bingo]

Plus Search and Rescue personnel are usually volunteers that don't get paid. Thats how it works in my neck of the woods. They don't get the money from the fine of a ticket. Maybe some equipment down the road in a roundabout way but I would say thats it. Good cause for sure.

[arbik]

All members of the Montrose Search and Rescue team are volunteers. They are partially funded by the Los Angeles county, and the rest of the money for the equipment comes from donations, as they are a non-profit organization.
As Brad mentioned, they dont give out tickets, but they do come to the aid of every biker that goes down. They treat every biker with dignity, and sometimes, they even whisk them on the chopper and away, before there is time for someone to write a violation paperwork (if you know what I mean).

Also, Brad, there IS a hot helicopter on the hill, most days.
Air Rescue 5, which is the chopper the rescue team uses, sits at its base (barley flats) in the mountains almost every day, unless they're effecting a rescue, or are out for repairs.

Whoever decides to donate, can donate one of many ways. You can make a check out to "Montrose Search and Rescue Team".
1. you can go to the event ( and meet some of these guys there).
2. You can write a check to them, and give it to me, and I'll make sure it gets to them (I will give it to them at the event).
3. you can mail them a donation check at:
Montrose Search and Rescue Team
Box 404
Montrose, CA 91021

Cheers!!

-arbi

[Rapid Dog]

and make the check out to?...Montrose Search and Rescue Team?

[arbik]

Yes sir.

[SergioK]

Not sure if anyone caught this, but KTLA just aired a report on the these guys. Arbi, you never told us they collected that huge salary... one dollar per year? WTF?!?!

[kiwi az]

Originally Posted by signit98

LOL... Brad???