Modern Vespa

Dirk Sundman, my Dad, had a good day that ended badly. He was killed this Sunday morning in a scooter accident on Hwy 9 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I'd like to thank the riders of the Vampires M/C Club who tried everything possible to help him through this.
My Dad and I were very close. We shared a passion for many things including scooting.
He absolutely loved scooting. He described it as close as he'd ever get to flying. He was a founder and President of the Vespa Club of Santa Cruz. He had been riding since 1958...almost every mile of it on a Vespa (he did have a Bajaj for a short time). Recently, he had been working with the Vespa Club of Los Gatos on details of Amerivespa 2009.
Without having this seem too much like a police blotter, I still think the MV Community would like some details of what happened.
As I understand it my Dad was participating (very ironically or appropriately - you decide) in the Vampires Motorcycle Club's Day of the Dead ride in honor of those riders who paid like my Dad did. The ride was headed south on Hwy 9 after having just turned off 35. The ride had split into two groups. The lead group and 3 riders who were going slower. My Dad was in the slower group. They were traveling about 35 MPH and my Dad's scoot slipped on some paint. On the other side of the painted stripe, it caught traction again and flipped. My Dad high-sided off the scoot. Unfortunately he hit hard head-first into the pavement and embankment. Although there were some signs of life right after the accident, it was a devastating head injury and he died on the way to the hospital. I understand he never regained consciousness. In all honesty, this is the way he would have wanted to go.
I did get to ride with him some...in fact, we rode to Amerivespa 2007 in Seattle together! My only regret is that I did not get to ride with him more often. I always thought we'd have more time.<==Mistake!
My Mom and Sister are holding up so far. My kids and my sister's kids are mostly just quiet.
To those who knew him, my Dad was a big, opinionated spirit and will leave a huge hole.
I am in shock and beyond my ability to describe how I feel at present. I love you Dad and miss you more than you could ever know. You will be a part of every scooter ride I take.
-Arjen

My Dad and I at Amerivespa 2007

Miss you Dad

Last edited by pdxscoot on Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:07 pm; edited 7 times in total

wishing you and your family peace during this profoundly difficult time

RIP fellow rider. Godspeed.

So sorry to hear this. Really sad. RIP.

Memory Eternal!

A&A

Your father sounds like a very giving, good hearted man, with a good family. So very sorry for your loss.

So sorry for your loss.

I read about this earlier. I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad. He sounds like a great man. I hope you have very fond memories of your lives together.

Thanks for sharing this tragedy. Prayers for you and your family.

Really sorry to hear this. Thanks for sharing and I wish the best for you and your family.

My condolences at this time.

There really are no words. You and your family are in my thoughts.

My deepest sympathy for your devastating loss. May his memory be as a blessing for you and your family.

Terribly sorry to hear this and wish to offer you and your family my deepest sympathies. Glad to hear that if he had to leave ... he went doing what he loved to do.

very sorry to hear about your loss.

my deepest condolences to your family.

My condolences. It is always truly sad news when something happens like this. May you find peace in your memories of the good times you spent with your father.

Arjen, my condolences on your terrible loss.

This is very sad. I'm sorry for your, and your family's, loss.

My deepest condolences are with you and your family.Stay strong.

Thoughts are with you and your family.

That news is tragic. I am very sorry for your loss. I hope you can take a bit of peace away with you knowing that he died doing something that gave him much joy.

So very sorry for the loss of your dad.

I had the chance to ride with him many times, as did the others in the South Bay. He loved to ride. We had some fun together. Dirkie will be missed.

May you and your family find some peace.

R

I'm so sorry to hear of this. Best wishes to you and your family.

I didn't know Dirk well, but I rode with him on a number of VCLG rides and talked to him numerous times. I have to admit I didn't know his name -- I was only an occasional rider on those rides, and never got a chance to get to know him.

Last night, I found myself reading the thread on BARF, visualizing the turn, visualizing the tire hitting the paint, and visualizing someone I know -- however tenuously -- go down and meet their end. It's a tragic reminder of the dangers we face when we ride, made all the more real by personal connection.

Arjen, please accept my condolences and my heartfelt sympathy.

Arjen, I am so, so sad about this. In the grand plan, all of our time is short. At least in your Dad's short time, in South Bay he got to ride some of the best twisty roads in the world with some of the best people he could hope to meet. Hang in there.

Deepest sympathies.

RIP.

i'm so sorry to hear of your loss. my heart goes out to you and your family.

deepest sympathies for your loss. my thoughts will be with you today.

Hi Arjen,

I am sorrowed by your loss and that of your family. You and your family will be in our prayers.

In the peace of the LORD,
preachp

Last edited by preachp on Mon Nov 03, 2008 7:16 am; edited 1 time in total

So sorry to hear of the loss to you and our community. He sounds like a great guy. My thought are with you and your family.

Prayers and encouragement to be stronge for you and your family. R

How horrible, I'm so sorry about your loss.

Stay strong.

God be with you.

Arjen,

I am sorry for your family's loss. Please accept my condolences and find comfort in your memories with your Dad.

Janine

I only knew him at rides since we lived so far apart and he didn't due forums. What I did know is that he was a very nice, kind hearted and honest man. He was there at my side when I went down in those same hills.

My condolences, RIP Dirkie!!

What the hells goin on? I just read there was a loss in the Royal Bastard family this weekend also. Ride safe people!

Your dad will be missed, Arjen. Everyone I know respected him in one way or another, knowing him as a kind and spirited gentleman.

May you rest peacefully, Dirkie; with the wind at your back and sun shining on your face, along those twisties into the heavens.

Dirk was the first person to say hello a couple of years ago at my very first VCLG ride.

What a loss to his family.

RIP Dirk.

My deepest sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your Dad!

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. May you find comfort in knowing that many are thinking about you and your family and that their prayers are with you.

Deepest sympathies.

Harv