A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a mate of mine from the 70’s who appears in this picture.
https://www.halfofmylife.com/2015/06/19/grubastini-where-are-you/
Well, through the power of the internet, my question has been quickly and unexpectedly answered. Browsing through one of the Facebook groups of which I am a member, I saw a picture of a lovely 1970’s Kawasaki Z750 that one of the group members had restored. I was about to read on when I looked at the poster’s name. Gregory Stevens. No, it couldn’t be, surely? I sent off a PM asking if he was THE Greg Stevens, Grubastini, and, a little later, received one back confirming that he was. He noted that only someone who had known him back then would have known him by that name.
Thus began a frantic series of PM’s and, later in the evening, a long telephone call filled with names, places and memories from the day. We plan to meet up soon and chew the fat. Greg is also interested in having a look at my Gold Wing with a view to helping me restore it. Here’s one he has already done for someone else.
Greg also confirmed that the rider with the crutches in the 10000 bikes picture series was him. I’ll let him tell the story. “Yes broke my leg .The bike I think was Jeff O’Brien ‘ s XS1100 outfit. It was the day my first born son arrived so I had to hitail to the old Canberra hospital & got a ride on a solo possibly Lepper Lex’s Norton Commando” Amazing.
Greg still rides, a 1971 Honda 750, and is a touring rider, like me. Regrettably, the Rickman is long gone. Here’s some pictures Greg sent me from back then and one from now.
Needless to say, I’m up early this morning typing this, still trying to get my head around the situation. For reference, we first met when we were forming Canberra Road Racing Club, in mid-1977 and we last saw each other around 1981. A LOT of water under the bridge since then.
Found him! I’m chuffed. 🙂
Oh, and in an unrelated story about which I am also chuffed, my American friends, Wade Boyd and Christine Blunck, raced at the Pikes Peak International hillclimb on the weekend and, despite huge mechanical dramas, they got it together for the run that counted and were crowned champions of the peak for the second time! So looking forward to seeing the trophy when I visit them next month.