I knew Bruce who introduced me to Milt, who was responsible for all the
rear bumpers on Datsun pickups in the seventies. Milt sold for Fey Bumpers
until they were bought out by Datsun. And it was Milt who introduced me to
Fred, who when they met was the Southern California parts and service rep for
Datsun. Fred was tough but fair, emphasis on tough, and was a legend among
Datsun dealers. When bad drive shafts caused vibration, the dealers were quick
to jump on it, and many non-wobbling shafts were replaced under warranty, easy
money for the dealer, but big claims for the factory. But it was Fred who one
afternoon at a dealer, after checking numerous parts and finding no problems,
starting swinging them like a bat against a pole while yelling for all to hear,
“now this one’s bent for sure.” Warranty problem solved, and Fred a legend.
Tough but fair.
Now according to Milt, Fred had mellowed, as now he would tolerate Bruce,
who had been a parts manager for Datsun and a chief culprit of the drive
shafts. And these were my riding buddies when I came to California. Along with
Theresa on the back, we rode all over So Cal every weekend, getting a history
lesson from Fred of how things used to be in the fifties, he grew up in Orange
County. Currently he was the national service manager for Yugo, and claimed he
had solved their service issues, but Yugo ran out of money, ie customers. So he
was closing down the brand and in his spare time building a Mazda rotary engined
motorcycle. His own design including the frame. Which only left his old Gold
Wing for riding, complete with the adhesive mounted coffee cup on the tank, the
one Circle K had made famous on truck dashboards. He could be seen coffee cup
in on hand, weaving through traffic, steering with his left. With one afternoon
in Malibu memorable, when we all stopped and he didn’t, sliding sideways for 100
feet cup in hand, past the store with a crowd watching. We chased him down, and
he wondered what all the excitement was about. Never spilling a drop. He was
also known for putting his hand on your shoulder as he rode next to you at 70
mph, but would also watch out for you, running shot gun and watching out for
traffic while riding. It was Fred who introduced us to Tabasco sauce on french
fries, adding it one day without asking, “you’ll like this,” and I did. The
same Fred who when noticed my tail light was out, stayed on my tail so his tail
light would be between me and traffic, of course after an hour at a rest stop
taking the bike apart and finding only a bad bulb. Whose hot tub was no suits
allowed, and couldn’t understand why he had no women takers. It’s been years
since I’ve seen him, a part of my past and an intro to So Cal history by men who
had made it. And then there was Fred.......who Milt said had mellowed.
We all come to the Lord in different ways. For me it was my friend John
warning me about his room mate John who was a Christian, not knowing the holy
spirit was at work already. Over the years I have shared the gospel with many,
wondering sometimes if it was even heard, then being reminded I was only a
messenger, it was the holy spirit who saves. And so it was when any of us are
saved, only by the spirit pointing us to Jesus are we saved, something to
remember. Something no man can take credit for. Yet sometimes we feel
pressured to share, or worse, pressured not to share, fear of rejection,
ridicule, or being belittled. I am reminded of the night God had put Milt on my
heart, who was a regular at our house. Not a preacher, I share Jesus, as I
don’t like being preached at, and he was leaving, in fact at the end of our
driveway on his motorcycle, when I finally got the courage to share Jesus, and
have him ask him into his life. Seems I was normal that night, not wanting to
lose a friend over the gospel, but God showed me to love him more than the
relationship we had with Milt. I wonder how many times we back off regarding
our present relationship with a friend more highly than the one with Jesus.
Does not God promise to pour out his blessings to us and our future
generations? What part of blessings don’t we get? Are we walking in the valley
of the shadow of death, but still with enough light to barely see? Do we fear
losing a friend more than seeing that same soul saved? Guilty as
charged.....
Sadly not all who I share with are saved. Most of my riding buddies were
not saved, only Milt. Bruce was too theological, Fred a rebel. But we loved
them as they were, another characteristic missing from too many of us today.
Saved a friend, lost an enemy. No wonder no one wants to go to church when
invited. I can get more love and respect on the street. It is only when we
succumb to the calling of the holy spirit we are saved. Just love your
neighbor, Jesus said, no matter what he rides. I can only hope and pray that
Bruce and Fred saw Jesus in us via our love and companionship. Seeing the
gospel in action, instead of ending up like the drive shafts Fred altered.
Don’t give up hope, even if it takes you to the end of your driveway to obey
what the spirit is saying.
I learned a lesson from Fred, about forgiving. The drive shafts had to be
flawed to be warranteed, just like we are flawed and need Jesus. He could
change the physical characteristic of the shafts, it was only after a live
demonstration he changed the hearts of the managers. He was watching, and so is
God. He had an impact on them, it is only God who can open their hearts. Many
look in vain, but only Jesus is the key to unlocking his love and forgiveness.
We are all bent shafts, any doubt, I can call Fred. Who at 70 can put fear into
you with only a hand on your shoulder. Better the hand of God. Long before
cupholders were of importance, Fred was onto them. And long before we knew
Jesus he is onto us, the spirit telling us we need Jesus. Don’t wait for man to
do what Jesus has already done, or delay in what the spirit guides us to do.
Datsun and Yugo are names that must be explained, don’t let Jesus name be
neglected. And then there is Jesus.....I knew John, John knew John, who knew
Jesus. And I knew Milt who now knows Jesus. Don’t neglect the Freds in your
life.....for all things work together to those who love the Lord and are called
to him. That hand on your shoulder just may be an all, after all.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com