'Bens Rule' - MX tragedy's legacy - 1 of 2

Bruce Hosking and Jon Vedas of Moto20TV traveled to North Florida Motocross Park near Hilliard, Fl. on Fathers Day to learn more about Bens Rule from its creator, Ben Geiger Sr.

What follows is a story, with accompanying video, about the love of a father for his son, a family tragedy, and one mans unrelenting - personal mission - to make motocross practice facilities safer for our children.

In September of 2008, Ben Geigers 17-year-old son, Ben Jr., was riding his dirt bike at a practice track near his home in North Florida when the teen went over a hill and slid out. Before he could get out of the way, another rider, unaware of the crash, came over the hill and landed on his head, killing him instantly.

Ben Jr. was an experienced rider. The High School Senior had been riding for nearly a decade. And at the time of his death, he was wearing proper safety gear, full coverage MX helmet, neck brace etc.

Following the death of his son, Ben Sr. got together with a group of fathers to brainstorm ways to improve the safety at MX tracks. Because there are a lot of practice tracks that dont have caution flaggers, an idea was hatched to install caution lights that could be activated by anyone simply by flipping a switch when a rider was down.

There was also the idea of an observation tower to provide an unrestricted full-course view. Those suggestions quickly evolved into 'BENsRULE.'

Soon, talk turned to action with the installation of a prototype caution light system at a nearby track called North Florida Motocross Park in Hilliard, Fl. http://www.northfloridamotocross.com/

Installing hardware at the track, printing posters and distributing information to riders - thats how Bens Rule came to be.

Besides caution lights, other physical improvements to NFMXP include the erection of a 28-foot two level tower in the middle of the track and trimmed trees for better visibility. Future plans are also in the works to re-position some of the lights, add strobes and even an audible warning.

Bens Rule is a work in progress!

Ben Geigers goal is to get theAMA to make it a rule that all MX tracks offer riders some sort of protection during practice.

Personal Notes and Observations

Ben and his son both loved to ride. They were even planning to ride the Baja together this year.

It has been a personal nightmare for Ben knowing that his son was injured on a track with nobody to help him. Ben Jr. lay in the dirt for fourteen minutes and nobody touched him. His girlfriend, who was at the track that day, was the one that finally used her cell phone to call for help.

For the first 6 months after the loss of his son, Ben Giger could not sleep.

Over the course of the investigation that followed this tragedy, several conflicting stories emerged. In an effort of find out exactly happened, Ben Geiger Sr. hired a CSI investigator to re-enact the accident.

After school and during summers, Ben Jr. worked alongside his dad in learning the ropes of his familys tree company Big Bens Tree Service. His dad had hoped that one day, the company would be his.

The Family business has prospered, which has made it possible for Ben Sr. to invest more than $80,000 of his own money to finance the prototype improvements to his local MX track.

Ben feels, that as his system improves, the price of hardware and installation will decrease.

Tracks and Track owners need to be regulated

Ben had been saving for his sons college education and after his son's death, he decided to use that money to fund a college scholarship for other deserving students in his sons name. For more information about the Ben Geiger Scholorship award, please contact Donna Lueter, Foundation & Grants Coordinator for the St. John's County School District - 1-904-547-7560

For more information about Ben's Rule - bensrule@yahoo.com




You can also reach Ben Geiger by calling his office, Big Ben's Tree Service - 904-641-1131

Editor's Note:

Ben Geiger is working on a website that will have an electric petition that supporters will be able to fill out and submit online.

As soon as the site goes live, I will update this information and write another short story - so please stay tuned!

NOTE: For LOTS MORE moto news and information, please visit me at: http://www.examiner.com/x-1197-Boomer-Biker-Examiner

For Moto20TV opportunities, please visit: http://www.convergence-this.com/Moto20TV.html

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Ben's
• Rule
• MX
• Motocross
• safety
• Safety
• Petition

[MegaMotocrossfreak]

jk

[MegaMotocrossfreak]

faggot

[MegaMotocrossfreak]

no i dont

[MegaMotocrossfreak]

never mind i love u

[MegaMotocrossfreak]

i feel ur pain u dirty hoe..i hope ur son is n hell. fuck u u dirty jew

[domjubgwefer]

Ben, we missed you at the TCI show 2011. I'm so happy that you are making motocross safer for kids. You are a Hero, and because of what you have done so far, hopefully all those other fathers will be able to be with their sons. Thank you.

[TheOmarionGirl]

all this cussing under the comments is uncalled for. i knew Ben personally. we grew up together & it was very tragic that this happened. can yall at least respect the fact that they are making an effort? they put this safety system at North Florida Motocross. I'm not sure if they put them at Pax where Ben actually passed away at. i think this is a great start & hopefully they do get put up in motocross tracks everywhere. Ben was such a good person. we love you so much & you are missed.

[MrZach399]

@MegaMotocrossfreak wow, that was an asshole comment.

[Johnrodgers100]

@MegaMotocrossfreak

give your fucking head a shake pal

[MegaMotocrossfreak]

@Johnrodgers100 alright hello mother fucker how hi r u doing