An Anonymous Rescue

An Anonymous rescue

By Rick Salazar #212666

I BECAME AN MOA MEMBER A week before this summer’s BMW MOA rally in Salt Lake City to receive the member discount. This was something I had been planning to do since attending my first BMW MOA rally in Billings, Montana, in 2015. When I registered, I also submitted my information to be included in the Anonymous Book. I had no idea just how important this would be.

Just as I did two years ago, I had a great time at the rally and on Sunday was heading home to Denver aboard my '03 R 1150 RT. My route took me to Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Wasatch Mountains southeast of Salt Lake City and then through Guardsman's Pass before finally reaching Vernal, Utah.

After meeting a few friends for lunch, I gassed up and prepared to travel the 120 miles or so miles across

the Utah and Colorado high desert to Craig, Colorado. With my fuel tank full and as I prepared to get back on the road, a little voice in my head said, "check your rear tire pressure." When I looked at my rim, I was surprised to see that my differential seal had failed and gear oil was covering the rear tire and rim. About 335 miles from home and in 98-degree heat, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. I was just grateful it didn't happen while I was in the desert riding at highway speeds. I was stranded, all alone on a Sunday afternoon. My trepidation was quickly building.

Also at the gas station were a group of adventure riders coming from the rally and heading home to Michigan. One of them took a look at the bike, described a similar experience and asked me if I was a member in the MOA. "Yup, just last week," I said. He said that I probably didn't have an

Anonymous Book yet so he proceeded to pull out his and found the single contact listed in Vernal, Utah.

I felt it was a shot in the dark, but I called, and Randy answered (with his permission, I will use only his first name). A short time later, Randy came out and took a look at my bike and said, "I'll be back in 20 minutes."

Twenty minutes later, Randy shows up with a trailer, and with the help of the other MOA members at the gas station, we loaded the bike.

I figured we would just trailer the RT to a shop or his house, but no. Randy trailered my RT 135 miles and more than three hours to Grand Junction, Colorado, which was the nearest BMW dealership.

During the ride, we enjoyed great conversation, as we talked about his decades of riding BMWs with his wife of more than 30 years and his three Iron Butt rides as well as his 48 states in 10 days experience.

When we finally arrived in Grand Junction, I offered to pay Randy for gas and

food, but he would have "none of it." Together we unloaded the bike, and Randy said he was happy with just a "Smile and a Thank You." Randy said this was the only time in the three years he's been in the Anonymous Book that he has been called.

As Randy drove off, I knew that I would be paying this forward with an enormous sense of gratitude. I just couldn't believe it. That single tow had paid for my membership many times over, and by the end of the day I was safe and sound in a hotel room a mile from Grand Junction BMW.

When the shop opened on Tuesday, Becky took in my bike, and it was serviced that same day for a reasonable cost. On Wednesday, I was on the road again and on my way back home.

What I experienced both at the rally and through this experience made me realize that I didn’t just join a club, I joined a brotherhood with a responsibility to serve.

Thank you, all of the MOA members who stepped up to help me. As a new member, I will share this and hope others can experience the purpose we share with each other on the road.