Comments on: 18 Year Old Ryan Mackey Wins A WLA Harley For Writing An Essay. A Must Read.

By: Eryk

Eryk — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:33:52 +0000

Great job, Bro! VERY inspiring. Ride hard.

By: Ross Tomas

Ross Tomas — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:55:29 +0000

its great to hear that there are many more kids into them old bikes.
we just need to see more of them.
if you dont know who i am im the youngest indian rider on th salt flats at the age of 15 and hold a land speed record @ 98mph.
we hope to see you riding with the Olsons out to sturgis for the rally
the Olsons are good people and i rode with them out to sturgis 3 days after i got my licence due to the DMV is only open half the week here in mitchell

best of luck to you
Ross Tomas

By: Dennis J.

Dennis J. — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:05:06 +0000

Ryan,
Congrats to you. I’d be proud to have you as my son. I’m sure your story hits home with a lot of people reading it, including myself. I wish you nothing but the best in this life.

By: Roadside Marty

Roadside Marty — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:51:18 +0000

As usual Sugar Bear you are generous to a fault with your time,wisdom and treasures!!! I would love to see any pics you might have..hope you and Fuji are well! Roadside

By: Sugar Bear

Sugar Bear — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:34:49 +0000

Ryan, with the support you have at this point, you can’t go wrong. Your essay brought a sniffle to this chop rider. Hopefully I’ll get to meet you sometime. Take your time and build it the way you want it to be. (I still have new(?) old(?) parts on the Gary Bang heat wrapped boards – I’ll send you pics Marty if you want — Hey Gary)

By: Curt!

Curt! — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:25:01 +0000

Congratulations Ryan! Great Essay. Unfortunately, you’ve started down a path fo spending every spare dime you earn on motorcycle parts. Once you build one from a basket, you just can’t seem to have enough parts.
Sure wish I had a NOS Linkert for my 45. Dale, wasn’t that from your stash?

By: Dale Walksler

Dale Walksler — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:51:20 +0000

Ryan-I hope you have read all of the above-wise words-Some time ago Matt told me about his idea and gladly said yes. great project, ive got about 60 45s- not bragging- just love them. If you should need any assistance- i will be happy to help. Dale Walksler

By: Vanessa Lynn

Vanessa Lynn — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:17:18 +0000

Love to see the young generation keeping the vintage tradition alive. Thank you Ryan, for being a well spoken, classic young man. Ride it with pride. You’ve earned it.

By: raycwheeler

raycwheeler — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:31:42 +0000

Ryan ,

Very wise words from such a young man .

Congratulations .

” the longer you ride , the longer you’ll live ” .

ray c wheeler

By: Susan Ayers

Susan Ayers — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:33:30 +0000

This is what motorcycling is about. Very well thought out and very well written, Ryan you have earned your wheels.

By: Wiz

Wiz — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:32:51 +0000

Through adversity comes triumph! I commend you for rising above the crap that was dealt to you and making something good. “ZEN and the Art of Motorcycle Mechanics.” [didn't really like where the book went, but the title is cool] Wrenching is therapy, giving life to inanamate pieces of aluminum and steel that through your efforts carry you down the road, ART in Motion! You and your machine, that is your path. To heck with what others are doing around you, that is their path. Kinda reminds me of a 14 year old kid back in the late 60′s with an alcoholic father, a nutsso mother, fighting everyone around him in a little town in the middle of South Dakota, and taking solace in building a 1948 panhead he found in a chicken coop for $250. My salvation was that motorcycle, and they still are. Thank you for your story, it brought a tear to this ol’ boys eye and heart, in a good way. Wiz

By: Roadside Marty

Roadside Marty — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:27:25 +0000

Congratulations Ryan!! A truly inspiring essay that definitely deserved your win! I’m really looking forward to seeing the bike when it’s done, with Carl and Matt helping you with advice I’m sure it’s gonna be a great one! I look forward to one day meeting you face to face as you seem to be a truly genuine person..great job again! Roadside P.S. I would like to thank Mr. Gary Bang for being one of the pioneers in the aftermarket industry who I don’t think has been given the recognition he deserves. For years I grew up watching my Dad rip open packages and open up parts with the Gary Bang logo and put them on a usually impatient chopper riders bike! My favorites were the yellow sunset type with bike riding towards the sun and the bar and sheild with his name..don’t know if the trademark watchdogs ever got after him about those? I hope whatever your doing these days your enjoying yourself and I just want to say THANKS for everything youv’e done for the motorcycle industry!

By: Grayhawk

Grayhawk — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:24:04 +0000

This is the part of the industry the I like and appreciate, Gary from the earlier days, Jeff, Mike, Nicker, Gustian, Chaplain Jim, and Jim all with the eyes from the past and present and sightful of the future all seeing the merit in your path and hope for your future road. Think it thru ask and look before you step, seek the knowledge of the past and stretch the ideas of the known to mold the new. Do it the right way and enjoy the ride. Congrats Ryan and look back and remember the day and support the next gen when its your turn in time and be a sponge when your at the Olsens, also thanks to the AMCA as it is a good thing.

By: Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles

Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:57:01 +0000

Gary Bang, You were and still are a huge inspiration to me in business and a very outstanding gentleman of our industry. I will never forget you and your pioneering efforts in the HD business.

By: Jeff Nicklus

Jeff Nicklus — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:38:50 +0000

Ryan,

YOU ROCK!

Your story is so inspiring. It is such a breath of fresh air to learn of a young man such as you who has turned adversity into motivation. So many others would have used their parents breakup as a crutch and/or an excuse why they “couldn’t” or why someone should feel sorry for them or pity them. Keep up the good work, keep a straight and clean history and a continued dedication to both this sport and your life …. it will pay off big time in the end.

I am sure your parents are immensely proud of you, as they should be.

Over & Out,

Jeff

By: Gary Bang

Gary Bang — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:36:26 +0000

Ryan: I can remember a long time ago a neighbor of mine named Robert Green got his first Motorcycle. I was in bed dreaming that it was me riding up and down the street and not Robert. I was about 11-years old and I am now 71 and still living the dream. Any thing that is worth a thing starts with a Dream never give up and never stop Dreaming. Gary Bang

By: Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles

Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:37:22 +0000

Congratulations Ryan. Motorcycles changed my life after leaving school and I have no regrets what so ever. It has kept many a kid on the straight and narrow including my own son. It is also nice to see some members within our Antique m/c club board think a little out of the box or not for their own interests to reach out to our youth however more still needs to be done. Kudos to Matt and Carl Olsen for taking a leadership roll and devoting their time and energy into such a worth while project. We need more folks like you on the the AMCA board. Ryan, welcome to the AMCA and if I can be of any assistance please feel free to sing out. You are in good hands with the Olsens (even though they are Harley guys).

By: jim

jim — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:01:19 +0000

Congratulations Ryan!

You can live your dream. I grew up with parents that wouldn’t let me be around motorcycles at all. When I turned 18 I bought one. A career later I now own my own shop.

Earn your own money and pay your own bills and it will all come together for you. It won’t happen over night, but you can make it happen.

Contact me if you’d like to talk.

Jim

By: gustian

gustian — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:09:27 +0000

euch “youngsters”

By: gustian

gustian — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:43:12 +0000

Hi Ryan,

keep on the good work. You’re an example for many other yougsters.
What you did, proves that some things in life do not always have to put you on the wrong road.

Congratulations

Gustian

By: nicker

nicker — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:40:14 +0000

Great story Ryan!
Thanks for sharing it with us.
You keep working toward your dream and you’ll be just fine.

Anyone parent would be proud to have such a fine son.

-nicker-

By: Chaplain Jim

Chaplain Jim — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:52:54 +0000

Way to go Ryan.Thank you for the essay as it was a pleasure to read.