By: Randall Klassen
Comments: Here’s a Great Reason to Wear Neck Protection
Hey Everyone!
This passed weekend (May 23) I was lucky enough to go racing with Braden Jonnson #337 and try to qualify for Loretta Lynns in Little Falls, Minnesota. Little Falls is an unreal track with sandy sections, beautiful table tops and loamy terrain- if you get the chance, go race there, you won’t regret it! We hung out with the Burmey clan and the Mann’s…man, the racing community is a great place to be a part of.
It was a 2 day event with an open practice on Friday, Burmey’s and Mann’s were into a lot of the mini stuff, and were there for the whole show. We showed up on Saturday afternoon to race Sunday. Braden road awsome in his classes taking 2nd in the College B class and 12th in 250B, I ran 3rd in Vet B and was top 5 in 450’s…..here’s my story:
On lap 3 of the 450 class I was 4th gear pinned through a rough sand section. The section is great because you lean back and bounce your front wheel from top to top. Faster guys were doubling them. I’m not that fast….. On this particular lap, my front wheel dug in, and I started swapping side to side. At one point I thought I saved it, but when I saw my feet on the gas tank, I realized it was time to look for soft ground. I dug in head first and had the bike land on me. Not cool. This crash has happened to me tons of times – and probably to you as well. Didn’t even hurt. I shook my head real good and tried to get rid of the double vision, and soon (like 30 seconds later) realized I was done for the day. I watched Braden race his second moto’s and I drove us home. It was a great day, man did we laugh our heads off.
My head/neck hurt pretty bad by the time we hit the border, and Trevor Grieves had strongly suggested I get an X-ray, which I did.
Long story short, it was discovered I had a compression fracture of the C-1 vertebrae, and a skull fracture…. that’s real bad. I get to spend the next 12 weeks in a neck brace…. which I don’t mind in the least, because the doctors told me that this injury is as close to death as someone can get, without actually dying. They believe, as do I, that my helmet and neck protection device are what saved me from becoming a terrible statistic: “Another Old Guy Dies”
I am not saying that these devices will stop all injuries, and I am not telling you what to buy….. but, if we race in a high impact/ unpredictable sport like motocross, why wouldn’t you protect the critical parts of your body like your neck and head? It’s easy to do, the braces are the same price as a good helmet; and as important! I’m not talking about buying a plastic bubble!
I know you old guys won’t listen to me…. but; To all Dad’s out there, go buy your kids a proper neck brace and a good quality helmet. I have both and am still here today to tell you they work.
Randall Klassen #12