Dying of cancer, but I have a dream (18 tracks, 13 countries) - RIP, Jonathan Ko

mjrydsfast

mjrydsfast

Well-known member
Good luck JonKo

Hi Jonko. I've been reading through this entire thread. Glad you're making it happen. I survived my cancer (thus far, minus my right kidney 2012) and would kill to ride again. I too would suggest a trip to South America. The Nelson Piquet Circuit just outside Rio is a great track and I don't think you will ever find a more fun place to celebrate life. Of the others, being a steadfast WSBK and GP fan, I'd opt for the Czech Republic (Brno), Italy (Imola for me if I could only pick one), Turkey, Suzuka, Texas (COTA), Donnington and just to stir the pot, Grattan Michigan and the Isle of Mann TT circuit. With the latter, you may never have to worry about the cancer again! Hahaha.:wow:laughing
 
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Biga

Biga

Near Miss Racing #96
jonko said:
So it happened. I was able to make it out to CotA this weekend for my trackday. I posted my story up on a Texas motorcycle forum and found someone willing to lend me their bike. I continue to be blown away by the generosity shown by perfect strangers. Frankly, that willingness to help is something I find lacking in my own life, and something I must strive to improve. Everything worked out very smoothly the entire weekend. The bike was great, the track was wonderful, and even the weather cooperated.

CotA is amazing. My first thought as I was driving in was "this is a proper @#$%ing track". The facility is top-notch, a real world class track. The pictures don't do it justice.

View of the paddocks. It was a large turnout with perhaps a bit higher end bikes due to the high price of this trackday. I saw a ton of ducatis and good number of bmws.
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Pano of the front straight. CotA is a long (3.4 mile) technical track with a flowing esses section, long straights followed by tight hairpins. The turns were great for my little bike. I particularly liked turns 8-9. These are uphill corners with 8 being a late apex turn then a quick flop over to make 9.
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An artistic shot capturing the calm and anticipation for big day.
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This was the bike I borrowed for the day, a CBR 250 bored out to 300. The single doesn't rev as high as an inline fours, so it was a bit hard to keep it in the powerband. GP shift took some getting used to as well. Fun little bike, but it was no match for the big boys especially with the long back straight. Still it was in many ways very easy to ride and could outturn most bikes on the track.
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Here I am exhausted but happy with Quan and his kid (a good kid, and fast!)
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This entire trip to Austin has been filled with joy and wonder. Reconnecting with my friend, seeing the track for the first time, riding hard and well, and ending the day exhausted but satisfied. This is how I want to live with the time I have left. It is something I struggle with, but I am proud to say at least for right now, I am winning.

A blog of my journey can be found at here.
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Hello Jonko, I'm really good friends with Quann and his son Caleb, we race against each other on LW endurance. I'm glad to see this post and also seeing all the peeps who helped you up to now. Happy new year and the best of luck.
 
Spec-ECU

Spec-ECU

required protocol
:rose

It was an honor to have met him, and spent some moments musing about living in the face of death.
 
Spec-ECU

Spec-ECU

required protocol
I'd like to share the last email I received from Jon. After making arrangements for him to have a bike to ride during his Laguna trip, he apparently made a donation in my honor to a non-profit organization close to my heart unbeknownst to me. This is the note he attached with the donation notification to me, and the subsequent exchange between us:

Jonathan Ko

Hi Dennis,

I've been reflecting on this past year, and I thought about my trip and meeting you. I just wanted to show a token of appreciation for your generosity. I know this is a cause which is important to you. My health has been good so far, and I am trying to make the best of this summer. Just going out and having fun is easy, living purposefully and authentically is hard. I hope things are going well with you. I hope you've been getting out there and riding.

Take care,

Jonathan
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Hi Jon,

I'm so sorry for this late expression of gratitude for your donation in my honor towards TAAF. Unfortunately, the email notifying me went to my Spam folder, which I only checked just now.

Thank you again, and thank you for letting me be a part of your bucket list adventure, something that I am an advocate of for people to pursue, whether or not their clock is prematurely ticking.

As far as living, I promise you that I'll never stop. Like I previously told you, I owe it to my brother to not live life just sitting around letting it happen. Having met you, now I owe it to you as well. Like I've said, you're actually living a life that I've been pretending I'm faced with - like there's no tomorrow.

Dennis
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Hey Dennis,

I'm glad you checked your spam folder! I should have just emailed you directly. I just came back from Indy motogp. It was a nice trip overall. I wish I could have rode on the track instead though. Things are still going well. Sometimes I even lose some of that urgency. But that's not how I want to live. I'm doing the best I can, but living right is hard.

You don't need to live for anyone but yourself. The important part is to be in touch with what really matters to you and to fight for it with all your heart.

Take care. I'm here if you ever need to talk,

Jon
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Mr Pepsi

Mr Pepsi

Mr Pepsi (Brent)
Holy crap I love this story. Few people are able to go to the end the way Jon did. May he rest in peace. I am surprisingly envious of his life.
 
gixxerjeff

gixxerjeff

Dogs best friend
Wow.
Just wow.
I quietly followed this thread from the beginning.
Dennis, you are way beyond a good dude....someone worth trying to emulate.
Barf can be a selfish and callous place at times, this wasn't one of them...in fact, this was the extreme other end of the scale.
Very nice job.
 
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