quad17dad
05-14-2007, 01:48 PM
When I arrived at work this morning at Cernic's Suzuki, one of my fellow employees informed me that a good friend passed away this weekend.
I met Larry Ayers at Wolfman's MX track in PA. My son Anthony was 14 at the time (and racing in the 16 & over quad class) and Larry came over to introduce himself and give some words of encouragement. Ever since then, I looked for him when we pulled into the track so we could pit next to each other. He was always smiling and ready to lend a hand to anyone... especially a competitor. Larry stood out for a number of reasons. First he rode a bright yellow Suzuki and bright yellow gear, second, he was a quad racer in his mid forties. He didn't race any of the vet classes, he loved the challenge of racing with the "young" guys. He and I were the same age but he was there to race and I was there to watch my son. I always admired the fact that he was my age but in great physical condition and was always very competetive. You would always see Larry in the mix scrapping for a position and he didn't fade at the end of the race.
I will miss Larry. He was the first person to buy my son's fundraiser t-shirts. That was him... the first person to lend a hand. He and his daughter were at the track every weekend. His daughter Danielle also races youth quads. She is twelve years old and a real sweetheart. It's hard enough to lose a Father, especially when he's your best friend and race buddy. If all of this isn't bad enough, Larry's wife passed away a few years ago with cancer. Danielle is now left without parents at twelve years old.
Please pray for Larry and his daughter. I don't know what the future holds for Danielle, but she has a rough road ahead of her. I'll post after the funeral with new info. Thanks everyone!
I met Larry Ayers at Wolfman's MX track in PA. My son Anthony was 14 at the time (and racing in the 16 & over quad class) and Larry came over to introduce himself and give some words of encouragement. Ever since then, I looked for him when we pulled into the track so we could pit next to each other. He was always smiling and ready to lend a hand to anyone... especially a competitor. Larry stood out for a number of reasons. First he rode a bright yellow Suzuki and bright yellow gear, second, he was a quad racer in his mid forties. He didn't race any of the vet classes, he loved the challenge of racing with the "young" guys. He and I were the same age but he was there to race and I was there to watch my son. I always admired the fact that he was my age but in great physical condition and was always very competetive. You would always see Larry in the mix scrapping for a position and he didn't fade at the end of the race.
I will miss Larry. He was the first person to buy my son's fundraiser t-shirts. That was him... the first person to lend a hand. He and his daughter were at the track every weekend. His daughter Danielle also races youth quads. She is twelve years old and a real sweetheart. It's hard enough to lose a Father, especially when he's your best friend and race buddy. If all of this isn't bad enough, Larry's wife passed away a few years ago with cancer. Danielle is now left without parents at twelve years old.
Please pray for Larry and his daughter. I don't know what the future holds for Danielle, but she has a rough road ahead of her. I'll post after the funeral with new info. Thanks everyone!