In Memory of
Keith Dienstag

1955 - 2004

"When I first met Keith, he introduced himself to me at the State Line Lookout; he started talking about the fact that we had the same ride, and was curious as to how I liked my R1100S. Since then, I have ridden on a couple of Sunday rides with him, and we attended the 2003 STMC/Penguin Race Weekend in Loudon, NH, and The Spring 2004 STMC/American Supercamp weekend in Delaware."

"What sticks in my mind most about Keith when I think about him, was his gentleness and his courage. He was always pleasant to be around and he was just an all around nice guy."

"I will never forget how exhilarated Keith was after completing his rookie race after taking the Penguin Road Race School last August. I gave Keith so much credit for having the courage to begin his racing “career” a little later in life than most. And after his rookie race, I will never forget how proud of himself he was, and also how proud we all were of him."

"Keith, I will miss you." --Bruce Egenhauser

 
"Keith came to STMC via Charles Grey, to whom we owe thanks for the pleasure of having known Keith, sadly for not nearly long enough. I found Keith to be extremely personable, warm, funny, and generous--just a delightful fellow to be around."

"He had a tremendous passion for riding, and he was like a little kid in his excitement last year at attending the Penguin Racing School and participating in his first motorcycle races. I was looking forward with much anticipation to going racing with him this year."

"I spoke with two of the NHIS EMTs who were on the scene and revived Keith after his heart had stopped. They were profoundly affected, and one of them even went to the hospital to visit Keith. Even with all the injuries and death they see, this tragedy affected them." --Ron Barr

 
"This weekend, I taught the annual Reduc Track School. I do the newbies, helping them to get over their fears of a track, and getting them to understand the nuances of countersteering, smooth braking and accelerating, and keeping the eyes in the right place (the exit) rather then target fixing on a bail out spot. Emphasizing the entire time about safety for the 'mature' riders."

"This was particularly bitter sweet this year because last year, I had the good fortune of being able to turn Keith onto track stuff, since he was in my newbie group. He came with his shark-painted Boxer Cup bike, and was the most pleasant fellow I've ever met at the track."

"The first thing he did was offer me a ride on his bike that had been to Daytona, and was on the cover of CCM magazine. I didn't take him up on it that day, but he let me take it out for a session at Loudon, I believe. Or it might have been Beaver Run. What a great guy."

"Apparently, he liked what he experienced that day at Pocono, because a track 'monster' was born. It is ironic, of course, that he died at a track day. I'm not sure how I feel about that."

"I, too, will miss him." --Barry Ellman

 
"The last time I saw Keith was at John Scifo's wake. Not exactly how I'd like to remember him or John, or this horrific era in STMC's history..."

"A much better way I'll remember Keith is when a member posted a link to a bogus Pirelli calendar, (Marty T.?), and Keith was the first to expose the hoax, explaining how these 'titillating pictures' were rather artless... Boy, did he ever get 'flamed' for that! Good naturedly, of course!"

"I'd like to think he passed on while enjoying a new life-enhancing activity; ironic and perhaps an indicator of the times we're living in..."

"Ride Far Keith." --Doug Tuero

 

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