DocWong
Well-known member
Hi,
First of all I’m ok. Sore, injured but not hospitalized. Unfortunately this did end up in tragedy. We lost a rider today and I was unfortunately involved. I thank my lucky stars that I’m still here and not dead….
It was Sunday June 11, 2023 just a couple of days ago. The day started out wonderfully with another Sunday of my Doc Wong Riding Clinic, now in our 30th year with over 55,000 riders now having attended my various clinics. I was leading Group 1 as usual and had a wonderful day of riding our beautiful Bay Area twists. Taking off from my chiropractic office in Belmont, after an hour talk on skills and safety, we took off in groups of 10 riders with volunteer ride leaders. Up Skyline, down Tunnitas Creek, Stage, Swanton and then to lunch at Davenport. Wonderful spot.

We take off thru the hills and I take group one thru Bonnydune, Smith Grade, Jamison Creek, then to China Grade which was closed due to a huge tree fall, but that didn’t stop us, we cleared enough space for all of us to get thru except a guy that was with us with a huge beautiful fully dressed Indian cruiser. Then we went back down Hwy 9 and took Bear Creek to our end of ride at Skyline and Hwy 9.

Funny though, I had a couple of funny “feelings” of foreboding during the ride. Everything was clicking along well during the ride, I felt good, confident and riding way within my skill level. But still here and there, a feeling like I can crash….weird. I just shrugged it off.At the end of the clinic, we did our debrief and it was all very cool with lots of smiling faces and we said our good byes.

Then Phil Howell and I took off toward Alice’s heading home. Phil was leading 50’ to 100’ in front of me, as I just wanted to follow, being the leader all day, and we were being very chill, going a normal relaxed speed down Skyline.
As we got to the Thomas Fogerty straight away…..
Tragedy struck!!!

We were in our lane with no one in front of us, going at a chill speed and then all of the sudden….WAM-BANG-SMASH. I felt a severe violent impact hitting the back left side of my body. The violent impact twisted by body clockwise and I was twisted off my 2008 BMW R1200 GS. I tumbled, slid, tumbled, slid at speed, accelerated by the forward impact on my body. I could feel the various parts of my body and helmet impacting the ground over and over. Holy shit….
When I stopped tumbling and sliding, I immediately got up. Immediately cautious that adrenaline can mask major injury, I carefully did a self body assessment and after a while, it seemed that I was ok. I had slid and tumbled 100 yds or so. Not sure but seemed like a long ways.

I was surprised that I was still alive. And as the minutes passed I was surprised that I had not had immediate severe injuries.
As I came more to my senses, I saw my BMW on top of Phil’s KTM. I was quite relieved to see him standing and walking around. We both made it our alive.
Then to my horror I saw the bike and rider that hit me, that blew my bike into Phil’s KTM which landed on top of him. That rider was on the ground and not moving, There were people around already doing CPR on him. As that rider crashed, it went end over end and the bike crushed him. It was sickening and both Phil and I knew, though the rescuers were diligent in doing CPR, he wasn’t going to make it.
The bike was a new Ducati Streetfighter with modified exhaust. It’s a 210+ horsepower bike, very fast….too fast. Phil saw the rider impact me thru his rear view mirror and estimated that he hit me at over 70 mph over my speeds. Most likely going 120 mph. He was obviously going to pass us. Me in my almost vintage overweight-underpowered GS1200 and him on his little KTM. We can only guess that he somehow lost control in his pass and drifted into me.

He made a major mistake and tragically paid the price. He was an older guy, 50’s it looked like and I can only guess that he’s got family and all I can say is god speed my fellow rider. And my condolences to his loved ones.
So this is a situation where I was chill and relaxed after a wonderful day of riding. I can only say if I had only seen him coming, maybe I would have moved 12” to the inside of my lane that maybe he could have saved himself.
Hindsight is easy, but my lesson is that even when riding in a relaxed manner that I’ll be always vigilant of what is happening in my surroundings always.
Also, my purpose of continuing the Doc Wong Motorcycle Riding Clinics is stronger than ever to help riders ride more skillfully, more safely and make better decisions in life to continue their love of life and motorcycling for many many long decades of enjoyment. And not to have our loved ones grieving for us.
I’ve always considered motorcycling a relatively safe activity if you improve your skills, ride within your skill levels and make good decisions. I still do, but I definitely know that there are sometimes when just shit happens. This won’t stop me from riding, I’ll just ride better and odds are I won’t ever use up my 9 lives. I’ve used 4 so far and don’t plan on using any more.
Ride safe, ride well, live well. Love your family, friends and associates.
Doc Wong
First of all I’m ok. Sore, injured but not hospitalized. Unfortunately this did end up in tragedy. We lost a rider today and I was unfortunately involved. I thank my lucky stars that I’m still here and not dead….
It was Sunday June 11, 2023 just a couple of days ago. The day started out wonderfully with another Sunday of my Doc Wong Riding Clinic, now in our 30th year with over 55,000 riders now having attended my various clinics. I was leading Group 1 as usual and had a wonderful day of riding our beautiful Bay Area twists. Taking off from my chiropractic office in Belmont, after an hour talk on skills and safety, we took off in groups of 10 riders with volunteer ride leaders. Up Skyline, down Tunnitas Creek, Stage, Swanton and then to lunch at Davenport. Wonderful spot.

We take off thru the hills and I take group one thru Bonnydune, Smith Grade, Jamison Creek, then to China Grade which was closed due to a huge tree fall, but that didn’t stop us, we cleared enough space for all of us to get thru except a guy that was with us with a huge beautiful fully dressed Indian cruiser. Then we went back down Hwy 9 and took Bear Creek to our end of ride at Skyline and Hwy 9.

Funny though, I had a couple of funny “feelings” of foreboding during the ride. Everything was clicking along well during the ride, I felt good, confident and riding way within my skill level. But still here and there, a feeling like I can crash….weird. I just shrugged it off.At the end of the clinic, we did our debrief and it was all very cool with lots of smiling faces and we said our good byes.

Then Phil Howell and I took off toward Alice’s heading home. Phil was leading 50’ to 100’ in front of me, as I just wanted to follow, being the leader all day, and we were being very chill, going a normal relaxed speed down Skyline.
As we got to the Thomas Fogerty straight away…..
Tragedy struck!!!

We were in our lane with no one in front of us, going at a chill speed and then all of the sudden….WAM-BANG-SMASH. I felt a severe violent impact hitting the back left side of my body. The violent impact twisted by body clockwise and I was twisted off my 2008 BMW R1200 GS. I tumbled, slid, tumbled, slid at speed, accelerated by the forward impact on my body. I could feel the various parts of my body and helmet impacting the ground over and over. Holy shit….
When I stopped tumbling and sliding, I immediately got up. Immediately cautious that adrenaline can mask major injury, I carefully did a self body assessment and after a while, it seemed that I was ok. I had slid and tumbled 100 yds or so. Not sure but seemed like a long ways.

I was surprised that I was still alive. And as the minutes passed I was surprised that I had not had immediate severe injuries.
As I came more to my senses, I saw my BMW on top of Phil’s KTM. I was quite relieved to see him standing and walking around. We both made it our alive.
Then to my horror I saw the bike and rider that hit me, that blew my bike into Phil’s KTM which landed on top of him. That rider was on the ground and not moving, There were people around already doing CPR on him. As that rider crashed, it went end over end and the bike crushed him. It was sickening and both Phil and I knew, though the rescuers were diligent in doing CPR, he wasn’t going to make it.
The bike was a new Ducati Streetfighter with modified exhaust. It’s a 210+ horsepower bike, very fast….too fast. Phil saw the rider impact me thru his rear view mirror and estimated that he hit me at over 70 mph over my speeds. Most likely going 120 mph. He was obviously going to pass us. Me in my almost vintage overweight-underpowered GS1200 and him on his little KTM. We can only guess that he somehow lost control in his pass and drifted into me.

He made a major mistake and tragically paid the price. He was an older guy, 50’s it looked like and I can only guess that he’s got family and all I can say is god speed my fellow rider. And my condolences to his loved ones.
So this is a situation where I was chill and relaxed after a wonderful day of riding. I can only say if I had only seen him coming, maybe I would have moved 12” to the inside of my lane that maybe he could have saved himself.
Hindsight is easy, but my lesson is that even when riding in a relaxed manner that I’ll be always vigilant of what is happening in my surroundings always.
Also, my purpose of continuing the Doc Wong Motorcycle Riding Clinics is stronger than ever to help riders ride more skillfully, more safely and make better decisions in life to continue their love of life and motorcycling for many many long decades of enjoyment. And not to have our loved ones grieving for us.
I’ve always considered motorcycling a relatively safe activity if you improve your skills, ride within your skill levels and make good decisions. I still do, but I definitely know that there are sometimes when just shit happens. This won’t stop me from riding, I’ll just ride better and odds are I won’t ever use up my 9 lives. I’ve used 4 so far and don’t plan on using any more.
Ride safe, ride well, live well. Love your family, friends and associates.
Doc Wong
to the rider 
