Comments on: Falling star

By: Patrick O'Grady

Patrick O'Grady — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:23:12 +0000

Crazy bastards. We need more of ‘em, not fewer.

I remember racing the New Mexico crit championships on Kirtland AFB back in the late Eighties and seeing a pileup dead ahead in a left-hand corner. I was a horrible crit racer and froze; district rep Tim Schoeny, who had raced in Germany while in the Army, merely bunny-hopped up onto the sidewalk, dodging the carnage, then hopped back into the race and went about his business.

I don’t think he won that year, but he scored major manly points.

By: Jeff in PetroMetro

Jeff in PetroMetro — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:08:33 +0000

God. Chris Hipp. There’s a name from way back. I remember going on training rides with Chris in the mid/late 80’s in Dallas. My two clearest memories of Chris: 1. He would bunny-hop curbs, jumping clean out of a two-up paceline in the middle of a conversation, spin like hell missing fire hydrants and whatever else, and then hop right back in, handlebar to handlebar, and pick up the conversation as if he had never left. (Dude grew up BMX and had phenomenal handling skills.) 2. We were standing over our bikes at the start of the Texas State Road Championships in ‘87 or ‘88 in Boerne. Chris was next to me. I looked at him and gave him a heads-up nod. He looked at me, waved his hand for me to move over, bent over, threw up, and looked back up at me with a heads-up nod and a shit-eating grin. He was ready to go. Hilarious.

Bill Curtin and I were talking about Chris about a month ago. I’ll give Bill a call and let him know.

Vaya con Dios, Chris.

By: Sean McManus

Sean McManus — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:25:28 +0000

Perfect.

By: Patrick O'Grady

Patrick O'Grady — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:16:58 +0000

I miss the tales of Labor v. the 12K Dreamers as seen on TrueSport.com back in the day. Der Hipptler, Max Kash Agro, the Rev. Billy Stone — that was some entertaining stuff. I never did sort out who was doing the actual writing, but it sure was fun to read.

Hey, here’s some Billy Stone to go with the MKA archives. Good stuff, this. Your Humble Narrator and the Bike Snob ain’t the only funny fellers around, y’know.

By: Ernie Becker

Ernie Becker — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:54:59 +0000

Thank you for the keen insight. Max and I spent many a road trip talking about the Hipptler and rolling with laughter at his nonsensical and fun loving behavior. Truly one of a kind as attested by so many.

By: cyclepath

cyclepath — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:43:40 +0000

Sounded like a good human being. Peace be with you Chris…..

By: Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:17:41 +0000

This eulogy is perfectly written. To quote the great Hippster…”It was 1864 I beleive it was…and I was floatin’ up the Mississipeye river…” Those of you that knew him understand this and those that didn’t really missed out on meeting one of the most fun loving people on the planet. Here’s to you Mr. Hipp…may our paths cross again someday.

By: khal spencer

khal spencer — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:24:07 +0000

Excellent eulogy. World would be a better place if more of us could live up to that description of a man.