Please forgive me for not writing these last few weeks. The reason I’ve
not written lately is because of a huge shift in my life. I’m a working
man now, (still writing, of course, but no more profligate living like a
writer or musician-go to bed at midnight, get up at the crack of noon,)
and my days begin at 4:00 in the morning, and don’t end until after 7:00
in the evening. On top of that I’m working outdoors, and in this
situation here in Texas, the thermometer reaches over 140 everyday. When
I get home I can barely lift my arms let alone write.
What’s happening, is that I’m a motorcycle instructor for the Armed
Forces, and right now I’m working at Ft. Hood, Killeen, Texas. And I
gotta tell ya’, I really really love it.
I work for Cape Fox Inc., which has the contract to teach Motorcycle
safety to all of America’s military, and Ft. Hood is their biggest
facility; we teach 350 soldiers a month.
The classes we teach are: Basic Rider Course, Experienced Rider Course,
Military Refresher Course, (This is our own curriculum developed for
soldiers just returning from deployment) and Sportbike Course.
It’s a wonderful feeling to contribute to the safety of these kids, and
they’re all great kids. They’re intelligent, witty, dedicated, educated,
and their physical skills are razor sharp. It’s astounding to watch
these men return from the mountains of Afghanistan where they’re
hunters/hunted, and transfer their skills and awareness to the dangers
of riding on America’s streets. They’re WAY sharper than civilian
students. It’s the difference between teaching guard dog training to a
lean and wary wolf from the wilds, and a fat lapdog poodle.
For the first month or so, my ego got in the way of understanding what I
was doing for these soldiers. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this; that it
was a “come down” from being a motorcycle magazine jock. For twenty five
years, I’ve enjoyed the lofty position of Motor Journalist, and being
an insider into the industry. My cell phone contains the speed dial
numbers of such legends as Arlen Ness, Dave Perewitz, Donnie Smith, and
Willie G. Davidson. When I left a voice mail with any level of OEM
management, whether it be Honda, Kawasaki, Ducati, et al, they called
back immediately.
I’ve spent a couple of days with Jay Leno, ridden with Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Ann Margaret, and dozens of other celebrities. Rode to
Sturgis and Daytona Bike Week for 30 years in a row. I criss crossed
America 35 times by motorcycle, and rode through 31 foreign countries.
But that comes with the territory of being a motorcycle journalist,
everybody on the Cycle World staff has done the same, and it’s heady
stuff. Best of all, I was a writer, and enjoyed basking in the glow of
knowing that hundreds of thousands of people were devouring my deathless
prose. Even now I still get wonderful letters from people who have just
discovered an article I did five or ten years ago, and they tell me how
much they enjoyed it. That’s wonderful and I cherish those letters. I’m
deeply proud of my contribution to motorcycling as a journalist. And
yet, I knew I was a cog in the great marketing effort of motorcycling.
Yes, I met wonderful people and had a great time. But looking back, I
was viewing the motorcycle world from atop Mt. Olympus.
But not now. Everyday I get down in the trenches with these young men
and women who have just returned from serving our country. I have the
honor of spending all day with my heroes, people who have put it on the
line for our country. It’s and edgy thing teaching a class with the
‘crump’ of artillery in the distance, and Apache helicopters roaring
overhead. Geez, but I love it.
The students are eager to learn, they have some hazardous duty pay in
their pocket to go out and buy their first motorcycle and take off on it
for their four week furlough. And they’re looking to we instructors to
show them how to do it. In many cases, everything they know about
motorcycles will come from we instructors, and we take it dead nuts
serious. And because of my writing career, I feel like I have a lot to
offer.
So, there you have it. Please forgive me for not writing more and
sooner. I shall do better in the future.
All my best to you,
Beau
Beau
I like this article.
Just because you are not actively writing for anyone right now doesn’t mean you are out of the loop. You have an article in Cycle World Sportbike right now with Dave Perewitz. Also, I believe in Harley Davidson’s enthusiast magazine. I am quite sure you will have some more out soon.
Switching gears for a while is good. The work you are doing now is maybe the most important you have done in your career. If you have saved even one soldiers life by giving him or her good instruction it will have eclipsed anything you have done previously.
I remember when you taught me how to ride a bicycle years ago in Lake Tahoe. It was a hundred yard stretch of 10% grade and a good push off down the road to a sharp right. I succesfully made that right about the fourth time! I am sure your instructor skills improved greatly. I think I was six and you about thirteen.
while I am on memory lane I can’t help but remember the great inner tube ride. I had a big tractor tube that I was playing with, getting inside of it and doing summersaults rolling down a gentle grade in the back yard. We decided to up the ante. A good maybe hundred yards of grassy downhill that emptyed into….The Freeway. No problem for us. just wait until about three in the morning for safety’s sake. Started out well until some real speed got going on. Know how an unbalanced wheel feels? Well, multiply that by a few dozen as you are rolling inside the tube. Big air. I remember hitting the freeway retainer fence in the middle of the road. We never realized that I might bounce right over you, the catch man, getting maybe ten or twelve feet of air! Not a scratch on me.
I have been riding motorcycles for 45 years now, and took an MSF course last year. I thought I knew it all, just wanted to maybe get an insurance break. Boy, was I ssurprised. I learned a lot. It is an excellent course. I hope to soon do the advanced course, and maybe be an instructor myself somewhere along the line.
I was so pleased to read about your new endeavor. How exciting that you have an opportunity to give back to our troops after all they have done for us. And the fact that you are loving what you are doing is a special bonus. The heat and the long hours that you are putting in show that you are not only young in heart and spirit, but it will keep you in good physical shape for many, many years to come. It is a privilege to have been your friend for over 45 years. Keep up the good work.
Dear Beau
I’ve been following your career for years, and it was wonderful to see your blog. Our soldiers need your help, and I’m glad someone is doing something for them like this. Keep them strong!
Mike
Wow! What a great experience. I have known you ever since college and, while I may not be Jay Leno, I still value you as one of my greatest friends. I have always known that you have a heart of gold and this is just another example of that. I have lived vicariously through your articles and it has always given me a thrill when I have run across one. Not everyone in this world finds ways to contribute but this is a great example of how you have. To find ways to impact others lives and being able to do it with something you love is great. Despite difficulties that have presented themselves to you during your life you have always enriched your life and the lives of those who you have touched.
Keep up the ggod work and keep us informed.
Interesting stuff! I’d like to thank Beau for the work he is doing with the kids in the military. As a relative to a couple of our nations finest, I understand how tuff these kids think they are, and they ride bikes like they can’t be hurt. Not true, we’re losing more kids to motorcycle injuries than to combat. Keep up the good work, great stuff.
I rode bikes for a living, and getting on and driving is the easy part, staying alive is the hard part. Learn how to ride America! I see way too many amateur mistakes watching today’s riders, think about what you’re doing and you’ll make it home for dinner.
Beau,
What an honor to able to serve the people that silently serve us. I am always humbled in the presence of military and exmilitary. I was raised by a father that served 20 years in submarine service in the Navy. He served from February 1942 thru February 1962, and saw a lot of action in the Pacific Theatre. After he retired from the Navy, he was an instructor for the Air Force for another 20 years. I grew up with sailors and airmen in our home for holidays and weekends and enjoyed their company and conversation.
I have also enjoyed riding motorcyles over the past 13 years, and have logged close to 180,000 miles traveling across this great country. It is always a joy to share something you love with people, and an honor to actually teach your passion, and especially be involved with the young men and women that have “chosen” to serve and protect democracy and the American way of life.
Training is paramount in this hobby, activity, or way of life. I practice some riding skill at some point every time I go out. I have taken three MSF courses and try to take one every three years, just to brush up and break bad habits, I have been amazed at what I have learned, from technique to some phyiscal limitations to just understanding some aspect of riding better.
I glad you are enjoying this new opportunity, what a worthwhile effort. Living 75 miles south of Fort Hood, I know what you have been faced with this spring and summer, it has been unusually hot for an extended amount of time…hang in there. See you soon.
As a fellow motojournalist I’ve known Beau for nearly 20 years, and have enjoyed that association fully. He was the emcee of our Rider Rallies back in the ’90s, and could not only inform but was also very entertaining with his down-to-earth sense of humor. I’ve also enjoyed Beau’s occasional articles in Rider magazine, and our sister publication American Rider. All I can say is that our troops are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and entertaining MSF instructor as Beau, and I’m happy to hear that he’s finally doing some honest work as opposed to being a motojournalist! ;>)
All the best,
Bill Stermer
I think it is great that you have a chance to work with and teach our men and women. My Stepson is in the Marines. Wish he had the opportunity to learn from you. You have done amazing things in your life and this is just more. I am proud to call you friend.
Sir Beaureguard,
Congratulations on your re-enlistment so to speak. I can’t think of a better candidate for the position.
You have always commanded respect just by your presence, and I am living proof of your ability to
teach/lead by example — even when you weren’t aware you had a student. You will be more successful
than you will ever know. Just one more glorious chapter for the “Book of Beau”. I am proud of you for
the task you have taken on, and as always, proud to know you and call you friend. Thunderous applause
for you my friend, thunderous applause. And, if it’s not too far out of line, a Marine Corps salute —–
Semper Fi! God bless ya.
Greywolf
Wow, had no idea that you were involved with this, Beau! However, I was aware of the need for this type of training because of a series of related articles & letters published in Motorcycle Consumer News late last year — editor Dave Searle started a discussion about the glaring need for motorcycle operators’ training for military personnel in his column, and the topic got batted around in the “Letters” section over the next few issues.
The value of formal operators’ training can’t be overstated — I became a believer after witnessing how quickly and thoroughly my wife joined the ranks of proficient motorcyclists a few years ago after taking the beginners’ MSF course at the local community college. It is truly humbling to have a newbie pointing out your bad riding habits!
Thanks for taking on this task, Beau — there’s truly no group of people more deserving of this service than this country’s military personnel.
Beau ~
You never cease to amaze me – how can one person be so multi-talented and actually proceed through life pursuing and actually living out their dreams? You certainly have – I am so proud of you. Meanwhile, I have all of these dreams in my head and they just get boggled and erased as another one enters!
I have known you for many years and you have always been proud of the Military ~ now you are in a wonderful endeavor to help save the lives of our Military – WOW.
Here are a couple of quotes that I enjoy – hope you do too! Gawd – I wish I could add some music on the timeline!
Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.
Henry David Thoreau
It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.
Erma Bombeck
I can’t wait to hear more about this and the many other dreams that are taking place. I can’t wait to read your book as well.
F-Rooney
Here’s lookin’ at you kid!
Love
“BJ”
Beau,
So glad you recorded this, so we could have a small glimpse into what it must be like working with our troops. I am so grateful for their service … and my gratitude extends to you, as well, for keeping them safe while riding. During our brutally hot Texas summers, I hop from one air-conditioned building to the next … so I can’t imagine being outside during the heat of these days, much less on asphalt with bikes. You have my highest respect for making this commitment to our soldiers. If you get the chance to tell them, please convey our deep appreciation for their service.
Glenda Jones
Hello Beau;
We have not met, but I have the honor of backing one Mister Dave Frisk on bass, and by happy coincidence happen to also be a decades-long appreciator of your writings in the world of motorcycling….it was with some astonishment to realize that you and Dave have such a history and friendship. As a long time ground pilot, I can only say that your efforts on behalf of the military are very important and commendable.
This training program certainly offers these young riders a great gift; an intelligent skillset designed to help many of them build a bridge between the natural perils of inexperienced exuberance, and a long-term enjoyment of the sport-whether whether wolf or poodle! It is gratifying to see a program dedicated to these young military veterans, especially those who have had to face the excruciating difficulties of survival within a war zone.
I look forward to the pleasure of meeting you one of these days!
Best of fortune Beau.
Sincerely,
Jack Stoehr
Beau ~
We’ve known each other since your Big Twin days, and I’ve watched you get involved with all sorts of projects and ventures. With each new challenge you took on, you attacked it with enthusiasm, passion, creativity ~ and gusto! Always looking for a new way to express yourself, it doesn’t surprise me that you’re so taken with this new opportunity to teach our service men and women the fine points of riding…and surviving…on a motorcycle. I know you’re a patriot of this great country and it must give you great satisfaction to be able to give something back to these kids after they’ve given so much for all of us. Continue the good work and be sure to keep us up-to-date on how it’s all going.
Good guys DO wear black ~
Tango
Hey Beau!!!
What a great pleasure it is to read about what you are doing now! I know how much you love the military, our country and the troops that keep us safe. It seems right that you are now working hard to keep them safe. Our troops deserve the best and they certainly have it in you! Keep up the great work !
Vicki
Beau,
I attended your advanced rider course just today. I’m sure you could have talked the day away about your experiences, but you taught the MSF course material, and kept it interesting. In these days of more soldiers dying on our highways than on our battlefields, the powers that be have seen the value in safety training being as important as combat training. You were right on the money when you said that young soldiers are returning, with pockets full of cash, and a desire to live freely, but closer to the edge. (Sounds like our fathers and grandfathers after their wars.) I have had a friend killed on a motorcycle, just before our last deployment. He was our unit motorcycle safety guy. The training you are providing is terribly important, you did a superb job, and I thank you.
p.s.: from somewhere else in your blog- Billy the kid lived out his years in Hico, just a short ride up 281 from Lampasas. There’s a little museum dedicated to him there, a great leather shop, and one of Texas’ top 10 hamburger joints. A few miles west is the original Dr. Pepper bottling plant. A good day’s exploration in your back yard. And, as I’m sure you know, there are more interesting routes than the main highway.
Tim