...but fyi here is part of an article from the latest Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group newsletter.
An American Tragedy
On New Years day vintage motorcycle enthusiast James Johnson died while participating in a classic bike ride which he had organised. His 1924 Sunbeam walloped over a sharp bump on the road near Bolinas, California, the front tyre rapidly lost air and wrapped itself around the rim, jamming the wheel at 55mph. The sunbeam skidded and Johnson went down. His head hit the ground.
The 'fairly new' Davida pudding basin style helmet - part of the classic riding outfit that James frequently wore - was not certified as a motorcycle safety helmet and therefore provided no protection and he began to bleed from a fractured skull. Despite transfer to hospital by air ambulance and an operation, brain swelling from concussion occurred and he was eventually found to be brain dead.
And on a lighter note, from the same newsletter...
The BBC reports that the Nigerian government, in an attempt to reduce motorcycle accidents and injuries, particularly of riders and passengers on the countries' thousands of motorcycle taxis, has made safety helmets mandatory.
The motorcycle taxi drivers have complained that helmets are too costly (20 pounds sterling) and often stolen by passengers, while some of the passengers refuse to wear the helmets because drivers could put juju or witchcraft into the helmets to cast spells on them.
Some drivers have apparently fashioned helmets out of dried fruit or pumpkin shells in order to avoid having to buy an expensive, authorised, helmet. One wonders why all the rich people in Nigeria who send us emails promising to share their millions with us Canadians if we do them a small favour don't set up a safety helmet company and make more millions.
