Did these other news stations suggest that Peters parents should be investigated for child abuse ?
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
They all raised the question at the end at least as to if he was to young or not. It always in a demeaning way. America has no clue about the sport.
On another note this was on his facebook. a link to give donations to the family link they are only asking for a ten dollar donation and they will give you a couple stickers. I will never forget the message his dad put up on fb, after the accident. I cried.
Yeah, was very moving especially the bit where he prays for his son and the other rider involved.
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 34+
Tar Heel State
A very good editorial about Peter Lenz on MotoGPMatters today. Check the video of him, you can see why this kid was so special.
http://motomatters.com/blog/2010/08/31/editor_s_blog_racing_s_dark_side_the_dea.html
R.I.P little man!
http://motomatters.com/blog/2010/08/31/editor_s_blog_racing_s_dark_side_the_dea.html
R.I.P little man!
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Here is a level headed article, the way news should be.
http://www.indystar.com/article/201.../SPORTS15/Kravitz-Young-bikers-driven-to-race
Peter (Lenz) passed away early this morning when he was apparently struck by another rider. He passed doing what he loved and had his go(-)fast face on as he pulled onto the track. The world lost one of its brightest lights today. God Bless Peter and the other rider involved. #45 is on another road we can only hope to reach. Miss you kiddo. -- Dad
-- A Facebook entry from Michael Lenz, the father of fatally injured 13-year-old motorcycle rider Peter Lenz, posted at 2:02 p.m. Sunday.
Advertisement
In the benumbed hours that followed, people were trying to make sense of the nonsensical.
They asked whether the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, which the experienced MotoGP riders called bumpy and slick, was too much for these pint-sized prodigies who were competing in an entry-level series that showcases young talent.
They asked whether kids who aren't old enough to drive legally should be screaming around a perilous course at 125 mph. They asked whether the race should have been canceled, though at race time, officials were not apprised of Peter's condition beyond word he'd suffered traumatic injuries.
The questions were understandable and necessary, but missed the essential point.
To understand how motor-sports competitors think, to get inside minds that most of us can't begin to fathom, consider the favorite quotation on the Facebook page of the young man, Garrett Gerloff, who won the U.S. Grand Prix Riders Union race in which Peter was killed: "Dream as if you'll live forever; live as if you'll die today."
Sure, Peter was 13, and Xavier Zayat, the rider who ran Peter over after he crashed on the warm-up lap, is just 12. (Xavier was not injured.) But they are old enough to understand that their passions are not without risks. Their parents understand, too.
There were hysterical comments accompanying Sunday's IndyStar.com story about Peter's death, readers screaming "child abuse," yelling that these pre-pubescent boys shouldn't be allowed to take such chances with their lives.
Here's what they don't get: Young people get hurt, or even worse, playing football, playing hockey, playing any sport. Some of the most devastating injuries come in cheerleading. In motor sports, virtually every driver at the IndyCar, NASCAR and F-1 levels began driving before they turned 10 years old.
According to the United States Grand Prix Riders Union, this is the first fatality at this level in the nine years of the sanctioning body's existence.
We want to protect them, never let them cross the street, but in the end, we can't expunge the risks, and we snatch away their dreams at our peril.
After the MotoGP race, I cornered the mother of second-place finisher Ben Spies -- "just call me 'Momma,' " she said -- and asked about watching her son live on the edge week after week.
"He's been doing this since he was 8 years old, and every time the inside of my mouth is bloody from biting my cheek," she said. "But I understand that this is his dream, and I'm sure (Michael Lenz) knew his son wanted this more than anything.
"This was his whole life."
Ben Spies was 14 years old when he lost a good friend in a motorcycle wreck.
"For about two days, I thought, 'What am I doing? Should I be doing this?' " Spies said. "And my mom told me, 'If you want to quit, don't worry about us being in debt. You go ahead and quit and we'll survive. It's your choice.' I kind of think she wanted me to stop.
"But not a day goes by now when I regret staying with it."
Momma Spies tried again four years later.
"Ben had a bad wreck in Daytona when he was 18," she said, "and when we got home, I went to him and he said, 'I can see it in your face. Don't go there. Be my friend and be supportive. I'm not going to stop racing.' "
Before the MotoGP race, former MotoGP champion and current team co-owner and instructor Kevin Schwantz stood inside racer Nicky Hayden's garage, feverishly attempting to reach Michael Lenz on his cell phone.
Just a day earlier, Schwantz spoke with the young riders in their little area behind the Hall of Fame. Peter, Vancouver, Wash., was in that group. And now he was gone.
"I just came from talking to (fellow rider) Justin Morman," he said, shaking his head. "He was bawling his eyes out."
As word filtered out, dropping a dark cloud on the races that followed, the race community grieved in a very 21st-century way: They went to Facebook, the place where Michael Lenz had announced his son's passing.
There were people who knew Peter personally, knew him as one of the up-and-coming young motorcycle racers, a kid with the chops to someday ride on the MotoGP circuit.
There were people who didn't know him, who heard the soul-crushing news that a young teen had died Sunday morning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I just fell over Peter on the Internet," Danish fan Allen Thomsen wrote me.
It's hard for most of us to come to terms with this because mothers and fathers are not supposed to bury their children. But it makes twisted sense to those who've dedicated their lives to the rush of adrenaline and competition.
During his post-race news conference, Spies was asked whether 13-year-olds should really be taking it to the limit on motorcycles, especially on a tough track like the Speedway.
It was a legitimate question, but moments later, after he had left the podium, Spies was seething.
"I found that question really, really aggravating," he told me later. "Just not a cool thing to ask."
We don't understand. We can't understand. But they will get on their bikes again, and they will test the limits again, and they will do it with the uncomfortable knowledge that there's a chance, just a chance, they might be next.
http://www.indystar.com/article/201.../SPORTS15/Kravitz-Young-bikers-driven-to-race
Peter (Lenz) passed away early this morning when he was apparently struck by another rider. He passed doing what he loved and had his go(-)fast face on as he pulled onto the track. The world lost one of its brightest lights today. God Bless Peter and the other rider involved. #45 is on another road we can only hope to reach. Miss you kiddo. -- Dad
-- A Facebook entry from Michael Lenz, the father of fatally injured 13-year-old motorcycle rider Peter Lenz, posted at 2:02 p.m. Sunday.
Advertisement
In the benumbed hours that followed, people were trying to make sense of the nonsensical.
They asked whether the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, which the experienced MotoGP riders called bumpy and slick, was too much for these pint-sized prodigies who were competing in an entry-level series that showcases young talent.
They asked whether kids who aren't old enough to drive legally should be screaming around a perilous course at 125 mph. They asked whether the race should have been canceled, though at race time, officials were not apprised of Peter's condition beyond word he'd suffered traumatic injuries.
The questions were understandable and necessary, but missed the essential point.
To understand how motor-sports competitors think, to get inside minds that most of us can't begin to fathom, consider the favorite quotation on the Facebook page of the young man, Garrett Gerloff, who won the U.S. Grand Prix Riders Union race in which Peter was killed: "Dream as if you'll live forever; live as if you'll die today."
Sure, Peter was 13, and Xavier Zayat, the rider who ran Peter over after he crashed on the warm-up lap, is just 12. (Xavier was not injured.) But they are old enough to understand that their passions are not without risks. Their parents understand, too.
There were hysterical comments accompanying Sunday's IndyStar.com story about Peter's death, readers screaming "child abuse," yelling that these pre-pubescent boys shouldn't be allowed to take such chances with their lives.
Here's what they don't get: Young people get hurt, or even worse, playing football, playing hockey, playing any sport. Some of the most devastating injuries come in cheerleading. In motor sports, virtually every driver at the IndyCar, NASCAR and F-1 levels began driving before they turned 10 years old.
According to the United States Grand Prix Riders Union, this is the first fatality at this level in the nine years of the sanctioning body's existence.
We want to protect them, never let them cross the street, but in the end, we can't expunge the risks, and we snatch away their dreams at our peril.
After the MotoGP race, I cornered the mother of second-place finisher Ben Spies -- "just call me 'Momma,' " she said -- and asked about watching her son live on the edge week after week.
"He's been doing this since he was 8 years old, and every time the inside of my mouth is bloody from biting my cheek," she said. "But I understand that this is his dream, and I'm sure (Michael Lenz) knew his son wanted this more than anything.
"This was his whole life."
Ben Spies was 14 years old when he lost a good friend in a motorcycle wreck.
"For about two days, I thought, 'What am I doing? Should I be doing this?' " Spies said. "And my mom told me, 'If you want to quit, don't worry about us being in debt. You go ahead and quit and we'll survive. It's your choice.' I kind of think she wanted me to stop.
"But not a day goes by now when I regret staying with it."
Momma Spies tried again four years later.
"Ben had a bad wreck in Daytona when he was 18," she said, "and when we got home, I went to him and he said, 'I can see it in your face. Don't go there. Be my friend and be supportive. I'm not going to stop racing.' "
Before the MotoGP race, former MotoGP champion and current team co-owner and instructor Kevin Schwantz stood inside racer Nicky Hayden's garage, feverishly attempting to reach Michael Lenz on his cell phone.
Just a day earlier, Schwantz spoke with the young riders in their little area behind the Hall of Fame. Peter, Vancouver, Wash., was in that group. And now he was gone.
"I just came from talking to (fellow rider) Justin Morman," he said, shaking his head. "He was bawling his eyes out."
As word filtered out, dropping a dark cloud on the races that followed, the race community grieved in a very 21st-century way: They went to Facebook, the place where Michael Lenz had announced his son's passing.
There were people who knew Peter personally, knew him as one of the up-and-coming young motorcycle racers, a kid with the chops to someday ride on the MotoGP circuit.
There were people who didn't know him, who heard the soul-crushing news that a young teen had died Sunday morning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I just fell over Peter on the Internet," Danish fan Allen Thomsen wrote me.
It's hard for most of us to come to terms with this because mothers and fathers are not supposed to bury their children. But it makes twisted sense to those who've dedicated their lives to the rush of adrenaline and competition.
During his post-race news conference, Spies was asked whether 13-year-olds should really be taking it to the limit on motorcycles, especially on a tough track like the Speedway.
It was a legitimate question, but moments later, after he had left the podium, Spies was seething.
"I found that question really, really aggravating," he told me later. "Just not a cool thing to ask."
We don't understand. We can't understand. But they will get on their bikes again, and they will test the limits again, and they will do it with the uncomfortable knowledge that there's a chance, just a chance, they might be next.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
First of all, I can’t start the weekend recap without first paying my respects to a boy name Peter Lenz. This is the boy who tragically lost his life at Indy MD250 support races. It seems much has been written in the press, some heart wrenching and some down right silly & ignorant, and others using this event as an opportunity to push an agenda. Cali Kid and I have taken great interest in these young races since back in 08 a young racer named Benny Solis Jr. thrilled us and eventually became US Rookies cup champion. (Sadly, a young boy also lost his life in the Rookies Cup). Since then we’ve had the privilege of attending several WERA (our US amateur national racing series) where several youngsters compete and have followed the young racing scene. We’ve had the privilege of befriending Solis and his dad. We’ve had the privilege of making friends with these extraordinary but quite refreshingly ordinary kids. For example, Tyler Linders, a sweet good kid we’ve befriended, was also a participant in the MD250 races this weekend. We flew back on the same plane with Lex Hartl, USGPRU racer and MD250 participant, who saw his friend Peter Lenz crash. He expressed sadness and realism but with a clarity and maturity of a well-grounded adult. We had a nice conversation that took many different tangents, as I was most interested in talking with him in the brief moment we had at the terminal. He invited us to see him race this Saturday at Fontana, which incidentally is a WERA event where Benny Solis will also race. I had plans to do other things, but I’ve decided to go support these boys this weekend as I’m sure there are many heavy hearts. There really isn’t any magic thing to say after such tragic events, except to just be there and support, and be with and around friends, even us spectators who in a way are part of that extended family. Its important that us fans find places to express our condolences and write our good wishes, and donations, as these are the future of our sport.
I have a friend who also lost a child. And I asked him once how do you ever recover from something like this. (I'm getting choked up even now remembering what he said). He said you don't ever recover, but you must find meaning. He said, I look at it this way, this boy was given to me for the few years that he was on earth, had this never happened nobody that ever knew him would be better for it. Thats the gift we got, and without it we'd all be lessor. So I celebrate that, he said to me. So I'll take his word for it, and celebrate young Peter Lenz life and reflect upon my good fortunes and ponder what is beautiful and wonderful about this thing we call life.
RIP Peter Lenz.
I have a friend who also lost a child. And I asked him once how do you ever recover from something like this. (I'm getting choked up even now remembering what he said). He said you don't ever recover, but you must find meaning. He said, I look at it this way, this boy was given to me for the few years that he was on earth, had this never happened nobody that ever knew him would be better for it. Thats the gift we got, and without it we'd all be lessor. So I celebrate that, he said to me. So I'll take his word for it, and celebrate young Peter Lenz life and reflect upon my good fortunes and ponder what is beautiful and wonderful about this thing we call life.
RIP Peter Lenz.
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
Great post brother and as mark said very well put. Story's like this really bring home the reality and the personal tragedy. Maybe this ..... on fox should think about this before throwing blind accusions and misguided thoughts.
Joined Mar 2006
1K Posts | 71+
US
I agree, and I ....... DESPIDE Fox News.
When thinking about ignorant outsiders, I am initiailly concerned about liberals. From personal experience, these types too often see a gas-powered vehicle being driven for the sake of being driven and instantly label it a waste, because they are smart and know what is worthwhile and what isn't.
As for the Fox anchor's comment, she took the easy little-kids-OH-NO route and had an opinion ready to deliver on air. Another ignorant outsider.
The general public has no imagination and little tolerance for anything outside of American Idol and Monday Night Football.
Edited to add: just because multiple outlets are reporting negatively doesn't diminish the fact that Fox not only tries to set itself apart from what it sees as mainstream media, but also promotes personal freedom and "small government" through its pundits.
Joined Jul 2006
11K Posts | 291+
Texas
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
I agree, and I ....... DESPIDE Fox News.
When thinking about ignorant outsiders, I am initiailly concerned about liberals. From personal experience, these types too often see a gas-powered vehicle being driven for the sake of being driven and instantly label it a waste, because they are smart and know what is worthwhile and what isn't.
As for the Fox anchor's comment, she took the easy little-kids-OH-NO route and had an opinion ready to deliver on air. Another ignorant outsider.
The general public has no imagination and little tolerance for anything outside of American Idol and Monday Night Football.
Edited to add: just because multiple outlets are reporting negatively doesn't diminish the fact that Fox not only tries to set itself apart from what it sees as mainstream media, but also promotes personal freedom and "small government" through its pundits.
She is not a Fox anchor, nor does she work for Fox. She was a guest with a background in prosecuting child abuse cases, who was brought in to debate weather or not children of this age should be allowed to make decisions of this magnitude that involve their safety.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Lets not make this stupid ..... on Fox the story.
I went to the WERA races this weekend at Fontana. I met some of the kids that were friends with Peter. Part of me says I couldn't let my kid risk injury and death, another part of me sees howwell grounded these boys are and can't help but think racing has molded them to be good boys in route to be good men. I was handed a Lenz45 sticker, they were handing them out to people. I looked at it and reflected and I gotta tell you, even though I didn't know the kid personally, I was moved deeply by having a physical memento of him in my hand. It also made me renew my appreciation for all racers, from the weekend warrior to the stars of the international stage. I am grateful to them all, yes all. I thank them for the hard work and commitment they have to the sport and appreciate their pursuit of their passion. Lenz and Tomizawa (and those who have fallen before and after) have put much in perspective for me this week.
I went to the WERA races this weekend at Fontana. I met some of the kids that were friends with Peter. Part of me says I couldn't let my kid risk injury and death, another part of me sees howwell grounded these boys are and can't help but think racing has molded them to be good boys in route to be good men. I was handed a Lenz45 sticker, they were handing them out to people. I looked at it and reflected and I gotta tell you, even though I didn't know the kid personally, I was moved deeply by having a physical memento of him in my hand. It also made me renew my appreciation for all racers, from the weekend warrior to the stars of the international stage. I am grateful to them all, yes all. I thank them for the hard work and commitment they have to the sport and appreciate their pursuit of their passion. Lenz and Tomizawa (and those who have fallen before and after) have put much in perspective for me this week.
Joined Mar 2007
2K Posts | 0+
Alpha Setti 5
Oh apparently the sport shouldn't be allowed at all. Investigating the family for neglect wtf. Unbelievable.
Rip Peter.
Rip Peter.
