RIP Scumbag 6.3.70 - 30.10.03 (Marc Bates - Scumbag)

[Melkor]

I've been informed that one of our forum members was killed in a motorcycle vs car traffic crash this evening, Thursday 30 October 2003.

It was Scumbag aka Marc. If you know him, you'll know who I'm talking about.

From what I've been told Scumbag must have been riding on the regular [email protected] Thursday night ride.

I understand a car pulled out infront of him, I don't know any other details other than it was fatal.

Scumbag wore all the right gear, and was a good rider. In fact he was such a good rider I was regularly advising him on how to get out of his latest speeding ticket. He'd only just come off a 3 month suspension of licence.

I promised him a ride of my K3. I haven't ridden on a Thurdsday night ride with [email protected] since the start of this uni semester as I've had a lecture on. I was going to ride next week, it being study week for exams, and I was sure Scumbag was going to take the K3 off me for a cain. I still have an SMS message from him on my phone.

As most of you know I'm an ex-cop and I spent the majority of my time in traffic operations, predominantly as a crash investigator. I've been to a number of fatal accidents and they really don't faze me much.

I wasn't on the ride, and I didn't see scumbag go down, but this one really hits hard.

I'm considering quitting riding...

I'll miss you Mark.

Rest in Peace.

[Blade Jr.]

SHIT,
The reality of it really its ya when its so close to home
My best wishes to his family and all who were close to him.

[BigBird]

Sorry to hear about this and all accidents, especially when they are fatal.

Deepest condolences to Mark's family and friends.

Rest in peace Mark.

[Dman]

Man...
My deepest sympathy's go out to all his family and friends.
Rest In Peace Mark.

[Hewie]

My sincere condolences to marks family and friends.

[Campo]

No way, this can't be happening!! Mark is a good mate of mine, we've ridden together so many times, he's got a wife and younge child as well.

He's come out on heaps of rides with me and a few others

He only messaged me a few days ago to see how things are here in Sydney..

Melkor, can you call me please or PM me your mobile.

0402 555 550.

[Aza]

My condolences to Mark's family and friends.

I know a rider went down in a fatal crash last night at burswood I wonder if this is the same crash.


R.I.P Mark

[Deej]

I have always feared the time would come that one of our Forum buds would go down. Its one of the family.

These are dangerous things we ride which we can never take lightly.

RIP Mark (Scumbag)

My most sincere condolences go out to Mark's family and friends.

[Dragon]

Sincere condolences to Mark's family and friends...

R.I.P.

[Nexus]

i'd ridden with Mark a few times too, starting with my very first WAR ride years ago. he *was* a scumbag until you knew him a little, then he was slightly less of a scumbag. whether you love him, hate him, or wanna kick him in the balls.. you couldn't ignore him.

he's riding the clouds now.

Nex

[Pete]

my sincere condolences to Marks family.

RIP give that race track in the sky one for us....

[Campo]

i'd ridden with Mark a few times too, starting with my very first WAR ride years ago. he *was* a scumbag until you knew him a little, then he was slightly less of a scumbag. whether you love him, hate him, or wanna kick him in the balls.. you couldn't ignore him.
 
he's riding the clouds now.

Nex

Yeah, he was always so good at takin the piss but in a way that ya just couldn't hate him. The amount of WAR rides I went on with him over the past couple of years was interesting till things got a little to much for me with some of those guys. Mark was always fun to ride with, so many times trying to get the front wheel of the Gix all the way up. We'd have a laugh but when you really got to know the guy, well he's just a decent bloke all round, helped me out with my 01 Gix750 so many times to.

Man he's going to be missed.

For those interested I found out through sources that he wasn't at fault. Hopefully we'll find out more soon.

Also this weekend I'll be riding with a black armband in remembrance of a bloody good bloke, feel free to do the same.

[mastrmage]

It's extremely saddening to hear. It makes everything all the more realistic when one of our brethren goes down.

We should get together and do a group ride for tha man.


RIP

[Chris]

Never met the man, but condolences to his friends and family.

It's never good to hear stuff like this, whether you knew him or not.

[Flakey]

Damn :cry:

You know when you ride these things that it's dangerous - and you don't have to be the one to make the mistake... but it still hurts to hear about someone going down...

It's a crazy world out there, take care everyone...

My condolenses to his family and friends...

R.I.P.