A Streak of Good Luck in a Bad Situation

For our friend Grace, the end result is much better than what we could envision. 

Grace McKean got up early the morning of Saturday,  November 11th to ride down the mountain to Fallbrook to attend an antique motorcycle ride. It was so cold she told herself to not be dumb and go back to bed for a while until it got a bit warmer. When she finally left, she knew she would be late so when she reached the freeway, she wicked it up a bit to about 85 mph (For those who didn't know: Grace is just over 83 years young). As she moved to her right to get off the freeway, the bike was not acting right and had trouble turning. When she got to the end of the off-ramp, she needed to make a right turn and then another and up a hill. She realized it was not the bike, it was her.  The left side of her body was not playing at all. She could not pull in the clutch and was just trying to slow down enough to jump if she could find a good landing spot.  Meanwhile, behind her (Good Luck) was a small car whose driver knew the rider was in trouble, so she protected the backside and watched for the ending. The driver was a nurse  and decided she may have to go to work.  Gracie negotiated the next turn, a sweeping right hander on the wide two lane road and found herself in oncoming traffic! She headed for the shoulder and over into the brush. As she got halfway through the blind corner, she was headed straight into an oncoming car! Thankfully, luck was on her side and that car was slow enough to veer a bit right and stop as Gracie slid up next to the driver door and came to a stop, leaning against the car. “I had a stroke!” she yelled. Her voice still worked. The nurse still following behind, came right up and both drivers assisted her off her trusty stead (a Bob Stark Kawasaki Vulcan in Indian trim) .

A Streak of Good Luck in a Bad Situation: Gracie was not in a traffic accident; she did not come off of her bike; and no "Saturday Night Live," lean against the wall and get off. She was in the ER within 30 minutes of the stroke where clot-busting drugs were applied. She is doing very well with no facial paralysis or slurred speech. Her left arm and leg are asleep but her feeling may/should return.   She vows to be riding again soon but will miss her favorite show, the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach where she loves to hold court. 

Stay tuned and we will keep you informed of her progress. Any and all comments will be forwarded to her.

-TIM GRABER, SOCAL AMCA PRESIDENT

Here's a 2011 video of Grace shot and posted on YouTube by 2Scaryfast