WORDS/PHOTO: Jim West
It was December of 2002 when a tall, thin gentleman in his early 60’s
wearing a Triumph cap walked into my office. Being that my office is
at a golf course, it was somewhat unusual. Fred Halliday offered a
hand shake and said, “I hear you ride Triumph motorcycles, I have one
myself.” Hearing this, I expected the conversation to go toward how
he has a 60’s-something Bonneville that he rides on warm, sunny days
(I seem to be a target for this type of conversation about older
Triumphs). However, what he said next was pretty shocking, “I ride a
yellow Sprint RS. Want to go to the race track with me some day?”
After I overcame the shock, I replied - absolutely!
Fred is a retired US Marine (who survived, without injury, three
tours in Vietnam as an H-34 Medivac rescue helicopter pilot) and a
retired Federal Express pilot. He lives on the private golf course,
plays golf a couple times a week and eats, sleeps and breathes
motorcycles all other times. He has ridden cross country (on a ’03
Triumph Daytona no less!) a couple times and goes to the race track
at every opportunity. In short, Fred is one of my heroes!
Over the years, Fred has become a very close friend. We have
attended countless track days, enjoyed frequent afternoon mountain
rides and even gone on some great regional sport-touring expeditions.
Fred is an excellent example of how motorcycling can be positive
influence and lifelong passion.