Elmer Symons., Crashed in Dakar, died.

[Hemibee]

Sad news out of Dakar, Elmer Symons lost his life in a crash.

http://216.165.194.66/ktmtalk/photogallery/galleries/members/diapo_176small.jpg

Emer at Meunster practicing for Last Man Standing.
http://216.165.194.66/ktmtalk/photogallery/galleries/members/red_river_012_0001.jpg

Elmer was one of the good guys. Recently he put on a riding clinic set up by one of my friends, a KTMTalk member from Arkansas which was attended by several rider from Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma riders. I'm not sure but I think there may have been one or two TWT members that also attended or were able to ride with Elmer at Meunster as he was practicing for the recent Last Man Standing.

From the riding clinic.
http://216.165.194.66/ktmtalk/photogallery/galleries/members/elmer_332_(Medium).jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/3793/elmersymonslmsus1.jpg

There are not a lot of details of the crash at this time but what were happened caused us to lose a Great Man.

Rest In Peace Elmer, our thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends.

Reuters Article (http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=motorSportsNews&storyID=2007-01-09T174745Z_01_L0929623_RTRIDST_0_RALLYING-DAKAR-GRAPHIC.XML&WTmodLoc=Motor+Sports-C1-Headline-1)

Cycle News Article (http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=10306)

CNN Article (http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/01/09/dakar.crash/)

[Hemibee]

Additional Info

Elmer Symons (http://www.kawasaki.co.za/images/elmer%20profile.htm)

Turkish Press (http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=158459)

[Faylaricia]

Very sad.


:-(

[scratch]

Yes, very sad. Yet there's something to be said for dying in pursuit of a goal or cause that you're trully passionate about. It's not everyone's destiny to go safely and quietly.

[Squidward]

:-( RIP, Elmer.

[wonder91178]

Wow, 29 is way too young :-(

RIP

[Hemibee]

News24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/More_Sport/0,9294,2-9-32_2052764,00.html)

[whoa]

How terrible, tragic news.

[Bear on a bicycle]

A sad day, indeed....

[TxSandman]

RIP Elmer.

[ArkansasXC]

One of our best has fallen. I had a chance to get to spend some time getting to know Elmer. I was even one of his private sponsors for Dakar this year. The third pic that Hemi posted, I took at Brock Creek, Ar. He was a truely incredible person. I know that is a common thing said when someone passes but, for Elmer, its completely true. He never met a stranger and would go out of his way for anyone and would do anything he could for them. His star was just starting to rise. He was in 18th place overall in Dakar. This was his first year to compete in the race and was doing so as a privateer. He spent almost his entire life training for that one race and it tragically took that life.

If you would like to pay your respects to Elmer and his family....see this (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14746) thread.

If you would like to learn a little about Elmers character and how/when I first met his....see this (http://ktmtalk.com/index.php?showtopic=193922) thread.


R.I.P. Elmer Symons...the world will miss you.