RIP FJRocket

[griff]

Just saw a blurb on FB about Matt Throckmorton, aka FJRocket passing. I rode with him back in Indiana. And I know a lot of yoose guys remember him. He spent a lot of time recently flying and building airplanes. Even crashed one. What a bummer.

[wheatonFJR]

Met him at my first Hooterville in 2006. And rode with you, Griff, and Rocket to the first NAFO in Golden, CO in 2008. He was a dentist that flew planes, WW2 and otherwise to Oshkosh, WI at EAA conventions... And a 2006 FJR AE.

I didn't see him other than a couple Hootervilles. RIP Rocket! So unexpected.



Matt on the left, griff on the right...on our way to Hooterville in 2008. At a statue of Popeye, adjacent to the Mississippi River in Chester lL, where the Popeye artist grew up.

RIP Matt!

[wheatonFJR]

Fall Ramble 2005 (There were two that year)



Matt/FJRider (RIP) is third from left.

George/escapeFJRtist is second from left.

The organizer, Mike Carpenter, is second from right. Mike posted up two of these in SE Ohio in 2005, and one in WV in 2006.

[escapefjrtist]

Oh damn, terrible news. Other than the Rambles, last saw Matt in Reno and Golden. PM'd a couple other times and then he went on to other interests.

RIP Matt.

~G

[wheatonFJR]

In 2008, griff, Rocket, and another Indiana rider were riding out for the NAFO in Golden and had a few days to explore. We met up in Springfield, IL and headed west on US 36 that parallels I70. Once we got out to western Kansas the next day, the ride leader (not me) decided to wick it up in lonely western Kansas. Four FJR riders going north of a buck 30 in lonely Kansas like it was nothing, which it wasn't. The wheat still looked the same, we just had to fill up the tanks faster, like a lot faster. In lonely western Kansas where gas stations don't abound. No story here just a remembrance.

There is another story or two along US160 wb...later that same day as we entered Canon City where it was over 100 fkn degrees, the ride leader was stayin in line behind the trail of cars. Well, I was hot and impatient... and was not gonna sit there in the heat so I move on out and get a little more breeze blowing. Griff moves out with me and we stop at a gas station miles ahead, ready to flag them down.

Later that same day, I'm leapfrogging RVs on 160 and the others did as well, evidently the RVers didn't like it and called it in. I saw, who I would later find out was CSP Officer Fenwick, eastbound just as I was poking my head out to pass another 5 RVers and pulled back in. I figure no pass, no foul. Sometime later the nice man pulled in behind me and showed me his flashy colored lights. I pulled off to the wide spot in the road and the other riders did as well, as did Officer Fenwick. The four of us standing along side the road with the now happy RVers passing us in one long happy train. Fortunately we were in the shade, as we were there for a long time mumbling to Officer Fenwick as he chastised us. Matt said he was just waiting for one of us to "step on our dick", whatever that meant. Since he didn't personally witness us commit a foul (close one) he said he couldn't personally give us a ticket because the cell phone caller would not commit to sitting in court as a witness. Before he mentioned those words, some of the other riders might have been pissed at me. They probably still were. Either way, Officer Fenwick was a righteous dude and I was properly chastised. He did take our license plate numbers down in case a similar situation occurred again. After he left, I took my proper place at the back of the pack and followed the other riders behind the slow RVers. Put a damper on the fun, but only for a day or so.

There's more to the report, but I've gone on too long as it is. Just remembering Matt/DocThrock/FJRocket...

[LKLD]

Sorry to hear this. Never met Matt, but he rode a FJR, so he had to be a great guy. R.I.P.

[El Toro Joe]

First Ramble that I attended was 2008, so not sure if I ever met him. RIP Rocket.

[Bugnatr]

Sorry to hear this. Never met Matt, but he rode a FJR, so he had to be a great guy. R.I.P.

+1 Well said.