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

[jonko]

Thank you all of your kind words and your generous offers. They mean a great deal to me.

This is a daunting task. Just thinking about it fills me with Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. I fear I do not have the strength to carry this off. I would like to start off slow. This next season, I would like to ride on the tracks in the US and one overseas. Unfortunately, Laguna Seca is already off my list. Here is me rocking a rental 250 at Laguna in May

CotA in Austin have some rentals nearby. It would be a naked Aprilia, but that seems doable. Indy is pretty exclusive, but I believe there is a track school that is held there. As for the overseas track, I have no idea. I have watched MotoGP in Assen, and I have some family there. Motegi intrigues me, although I have no idea why. Circuits in Italy and Spain also appeal to me with their rich history. Not knowing the language does worry me though. Obviously I can't assume people will speak English.

If you have any other ideas, let me know. Thank you!

 

[NorCalAthlete]

I debated on posting this up vs just leaving it shared via PM, but I think it's a perfect fit here. It's something my sister found for me and brought back from a trip to Italy, and it hangs on my wall by my door.

La vita e come una corsa in motocicletta; nessuno sa quanta benzina il destino ha messo nel nostro serbatoio. C'e chi nasce con il pieno e chi, senza saperlo, viene al mondo gia in riserva ma...che tu abbia il pieno o poche gocce di benzina non importa, quello che conta e andare sempre al massimo fino all'ultima goccia di vita.

Directly translated, it says:
Life is like a motor race; nobody knows how much petrol Destiny has poured into our tank. There are people who have theirs full and people who, without knowing it, come to life already low on petrol but...no matter if yours is full or you have only a few drops, what counts is going at top speed till your last drop of life.
:thumbup

 

[planegray]

One track at a time, my friend... one at a time :thumbup

 

[Matzoballa]

This thread brought me to tears. You guys are a different breed of human. I feel honored to be a part of this community.

Best of luck fulfilling your dream!

 

[BenTForK]

Without a doubt go live your dream. Do a lap for me.....

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

Let me start you off with this:

I know Laguna Seca hosted its last MotoGP race this year, and who knows when/if MotoGP will return to this circuit. But if you want to still include Laguna Seca in your list, then just make it back down here, and your trackday is on me, and you can ride my track work horse - a 2007 Yamaha R1 - carte blanche.

I'll even ride with you the whole day, C Group or not, if you think that will make your time and experience out in the track that much better. Or I can just be your pit bitch, for that whole professional rider experience; your own pit area, me waiting to roll the bike for you on the stands at the end of your sessions, your own pimp chair, a work table to put the bike on during lunch so it looks like we're working on it, and I'll even have a clipboard with fake data to look like we're working on set up. You can make exaggerated motions with your arms as to what the bike's doing, to complete the look.

Dead serious. Print this if you need to, cash in whenever you're ready.

:thumbup

OMG. In for $100 from my race fund to help cover expenses for this. Let me know.
I'm sitting at my desk with my eyes filled up with tears. I love this place!!!!

 

[mean dad]

...... a work table to put the bike on during lunch so it looks like we're working on it, and I'll even have a clipboard with fake data to look like we're working on set up. You can make exaggerated motions with your arms as to what the bike's doing, to complete the look.

Dead serious. Print this if you need to, cash in whenever you're ready.

:thumbup

:rofl

:thumbup

 

[Rel]

Let's make it happen. :thumbup :ride ort

THIS.

 

[thedub]

I would like your help. Right now, I think I would just been interested in your advice. Does this make sense at all? Is it feasible? Stupid? Dangerous?

Yes. Yes. No. No.

Do it. Ride them all. Do as much as your body and savings account can take. Take pictures and write about it so we can enjoy the experience through you while simultaneously being inspired by the fact that you are using the time you have left to live your dreams.

Or I can just be your pit bitch, for that whole professional rider experience; your own pit area, me waiting to roll the bike for you on the stands at the end of your sessions, your own pimp chair, a work table to put the bike on during lunch so it looks like we're working on it, and I'll even have a clipboard with fake data to look like we're working on set up. You can make exaggerated motions with your arms as to what the bike's doing, to complete the look.

I lold. You'll need to get some other people wearing Yamaha, Ohlins and Pirelli mechanic shirts to crowd around with their own clipboards too.

 

[Sportbiker]

Live your dream. Not to outdo Sinncere, if there is any glitch in his plan, I will give you any of the Laguna trackday hosted by Keigwin in 2014.

Just look up keigwin.com when their calendar is out in a few weeks and let me know.

I have a GSXR-750 you could borrow except if won't pass sound if you are ripping through. If you back it down a notch, it will work no problem. I will bring all the stuff to you and we can both ride.

:thumbup

 

[Rel]

Live your dream. Not to outdo Sinncere, if there is any glitch in his plan, I will give you any of the Laguna trackday hosted by Keigwin in 2014.

Just look up keigwin.com when their calendar is out in a few weeks and let me know.

I have a GSXR-750 you could borrow except if won't pass sound if you are ripping through. If you back it down a notch, it will work no problem. I will bring all the stuff to you and we can both ride.

:thumbup

:applause

 

[weasel]

In!

:laughing I know it's no MotoGP track but the Isle Of Man's on my bucket list.

The U.S. tracks should be easy (Yes, Laguna counts) but is COTA going to let us do track days?

 

[Mr Pepsi]

I'm thinking this may be in need of a different type of croud funding. Bigger than our normal BARF fund raiser. Anyone ever do an Indiego or something similar? Anyone want to take owership and then direct our loyal BARFers to that site for donations?
I'm in for $100 regardless.
Good on you my man for not settling for... "I want to visit all 50 states."
Way to go big or go home.
I can't imaging what it would be like to ride all those tracks.
Keep your head high!

 

[Rel]

I'm thinking this may be in need of a different type of croud funding. Bigger than our normal BARF fund raiser. Anyone ever do an Indiego or something similar? Anyone want to take owership and then direct our loyal BARFers to that site for donations?
I'm in for $100 regardless.
Good on you my man for not settling for... "I want to visit all 50 states."
Way to go big or go home.
I can't imaging what it would be like to ride all those tracks.
Keep your head high!

Okay, I think we need to put together a committee to make this happen.

Chairman (or person so that we (I) don't offend anyone....)
Travel department
Budget department
Equipment department

Thoughts?

 

[carries an axe]

I wish I had something to offer other than encouragement and praise.

 

[budman]

Sinncere the offer is so sweet.

Jon.

I have some contacts that live in Spain and I will ask them and another in the Netherlands to come up with schedules and schools. If your willing to blog here I think we could get you some discounts by exposing them to barf. At least worth a poke and see.

Awesome stuff really. I am sure you will find lots of good juju from this amazing community.

 

[hyo650]

Yes. Yes. No. No.

Do it. Ride them all. Do as much as your body and savings account can take. Take pictures and write about it so we can enjoy the experience through you while simultaneously being inspired by the fact that you are using the time you have left to live your dreams.



I lold. You'll need to get some other people wearing Yamaha, Ohlins and Pirelli mechanic shirts to crowd around with their own clipboards too.

I have a Snap-On shirt that will fit right it.....but if preferred, I suppose I can pick up a Harbor Freight shirt as well for the "Mechanics" :thumbup

 

[Rel]

Sinncere the offer is so sweet.

Jon.

I have some contacts that live in Spain and I will ask them and another in the Netherlands to come up with schedules and schools. If your willing to blog here I think we could get you some discounts by exposing them to barf. At least worth a poke and see.

Awesome stuff really. I am sure you will find lots of good juju from this amazing community.

I'll be in Spain in June of next year (Barcelona and Madrid), so I could help there.

 

[MaxMoto]

So great to see the responses here.

Jon, if you need help with arrangements, BURSIG is at your service. Our founders in Germany are active racers with many contacts that might be helpful. PM sent.

This is what a motorcycle community is all about, way to go BARF! :thumbup

 

[NTron3000]

The company I work for publishes Fast Bikes mag over in the UK and those guys are pretty cool. I could reach out to them and see if they can offer any advice or help sort you out for Silverstone... hell they also take trips down into Europe all the time so I'm sure they might have some advice on any number of those tracks and accommodations. Hmmm maybe I'll be needing to take a "business trip" soon...