Rocketrod (Rod Smith)27/02/1960 - 21/08/2007

[ROD]

Well @ long last its great to be back on the board.
I have just read this thread from the start and and deeply touched by your thoughts,well wishes and sentiments.It has truely touched me deep down.

Also i would like to thank all the guys who have come into hospital and cheered me up tremendously and also for helping to try to get internet access happening,mate this cancer thing sux,i wouldnt wish it on my worse enemy.

So today i am out of hospital and back home(after about 7 weeks in hospital)and i cant tell you how good it is to be home again.As explained i am not out of the woods yet as the chemo didnt get rid of my stomach cancer,but at least i am back onto food and holding it down now(so tring to get some weight and strength back on).
I will be tring some alternative theorapy seeeing as the chemo never worked,BUT I WILL NEVER FUGGIN GIVE UP.............

My aim is to definatley get back on the busa when i have my strength back and once again cruise my favorite roads.I started today with actually driving the car,i know its not riding the bike,but its a start....

Anyway thanks again for all your support and hope to catch some guys for a coffee night soon and maybe a ride in the not too distant future.........Rocketrod.

BACK IN BLACK!!!
  Giraffe.gif (Size: 58.28 KB / Downloads: 444)


RIP Rod

Tribute video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBxz6YlMNzw

[Dubs]

RIP


Dubs

[The Wild Wind]

RIP Rod - You made a lasting impression on a hell of a lot of people! You'll be missed, mate!

[cAstAgeAr]

R.I.P Rod


May all the roads in heaven be twisty and all the bikes be busa's

[Astro]

This is such sad news. I (like many here) never met Rocket, but through my involvement here came to respect and like him. He was a very special character. In some ways, a man apart. Forthright, never held back an opinion, often controversial, sometimes downright outrageous. But that was the man. A special character. One that enriches your world and one that will be sorely missed. Never met him, won't easily forget him either.

Whenever we lose someone, I am inspired to write a small ditty in their honour. I have written one for Rod, but before you read it, I'll just say a few things about what was written.

Firstly, Rod was not your average character - and I tried to write something that truly encapsulated that character. Rocket wasn't your sentimental 'hearts and flowers' type. He came in fighting and he went out the same way. So, I wrote what I think Rod would have wanted. It could be considered irreverent, but somehow, I think Rod would have liked it.

Right about now, I reckon Rocket is saying something like.............

Don't cry for me he's saying
Coz my life was one wild ride
I had my run, I fought my fights
Lived with dignity and pride

I had my share of hardship
But the good times won hands down
I lived my life on my own terms
So don't cry for me, you clown

Yeah, it sucks the end came as it did
But I faced it, fair and square
I knew the odds, I fought the fight
But hey, life's not always fair

There's another Hayabusa club
You'll all meet me here one day
As it's a place with no speed limits
With no rules, no fines to pay

Where the road is always open
Weather's always fine and dry
I can crank the throttle open
I can literally... fly.

I rode rings around the lot of you
Oh, the stories I could tell
Don't think this is the end of it
Coz I beat you here as well!

So another much loved character
Has been called upon by God
Now that club has a 4th member
Al , Jewels, Dirtbags.... and now Rod.

R.I.P Rocket Rod.

Sincere regards.... Astro (Rob)

[Mutha]

That was Beautiful Astro,

I think Rocket would of loved every word of your poem, very nice



Cheers Tez

[garbo]

So very sorry to hear the sad news. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rods family.
Mark and Linda

[DjPete]

Rod,
I didn't know you for so long really, only a few years.
But I used to look forward to our coffees almost every Wed night.
You would always be the one who would just be there rain, hail or shine.
Always ready for a bit of a chat.
We had some good rides together too.
Wed nights just wont be the same mate.

When I visited you in hospital I couldn't believe that not once did I hear you moan or complain.
You kept a positive attitude right up until the end...shocking us all by rocking up to Roys one more time just a few weeks back.

Way too young to leave us mate.
I hope you bump in to a few friends wherever you are like Dirtbags.

You will be missed here but we will try and remember the great times we all had with you.

Til next time we meet...cheers.

[Mutha]

It's nice to see Rockets post up there.

I had known Rod only a few years as well, for almost 2 of those years, we were together.
I had never met any body who was more passionate about there bikes and riding.
We did many rides and covered plenty of roads together. I always felt safe riding with Rod, he made sure every one was Ok. My next door neighbor came on a trip with us, to Lakes Entrance, she rode as a pillion on the back of Rockets Viffer. She nicked named him Mother Duck Roddles!

It has been a struggle to see him go through so much over the past few months. I can only imagine how he must of felt. He never complained about being sick and he really appreciated his friends visits.
I am very happy that we got to spend some days together, while he was out of hospital.
I will never forget Rocket, I have my own little pocket of memories that I will carry with me forever.


Rocket told me his wishes are to have his ashes spread, up at the Reefton Spur.
He wants us to choose a nice sunny day, take a ride up to the spur.
Everybody is to grab a hand full of his ashes and sprinkle them on his favorite road that he loved to ride.
He said it would be nice if we could get together on a sunny day and ride as a group in his honor every year. The look on his face was, Umm maybe every couple of years.

God bless you
RIP ROD
Fondest memories
Tereza XXX


[attachment=1323]
[attachment=1322]

[Sumkhun]

F Me Dead

A Vic Ride.

Every second year.

To Remember Rod.

I think you may be onto sumting Mutha.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.


It's a deal.

[BUSGO]

R.I.P. Rocket Rod.

My first contact with rocket was via this board when he told me off for calling one of his mates a "COWBOY". Some of you may remember. I know that I always will.

From there, the respect and banter that followed over the past couple of years has made being a part of this club all the more enjoyable for me.

I would dearly love to be there for his blast off but time and work prevents the trip.

I know that his best buddies will be there to do the club justice and I hope that the sentiments of all the members can be felt along the road.

Rocket also loved his music as I do, so I will play some of his favourites on Tuesday for him.

[Holger the Dane]

I also only knew Rod for a few years. An honest man whom I feel proud to call friend. I will miss his smile and humor and his passion for bikes and riding. Strong and brave to the end with dignity and humility.

Although we are sad that you have left us, we will all cherish our time together and hold them dear to our hearts. And you can rest assured that your viffer will stay with me brother.

R.I.P. to the Reefton Rocketman.

[Volvi]

When I first met Rod it was at a Hondas Ride club convention to Jindabyne around 1996. The only reason he remembered me when we saw each other again with busas in hand, was coz I was the only patsy that caught a ticket on the run to Jindy. A small pack up front were really pushing it and one was on a winbago but he was a instructor from honda so knew his stuff. and me trying to catch up on my ST1100 at the time. The cop saw the pack and said 'nah wont bother' then saw me on me lonesome trying to catch up and thought yea he will do. Rod never let me forget it.

RIP Rod, at least now perhaps you may get to ride Busa Gen.II before all of us, as you need only to imagine it for it to exist. Godspeed or Busaspeed, whichever does it for you.

[NEMESIS]

-I never got to meet the legend/myth unfortunetly.
So sad


-Beautiful poem astro,thats ace man

-Done deal tez,make sure its on a nice day an im
as good as there

[Doc]

Rocket , Dirtbag , Pete, and Rev were one of the first I met from here when I started going down to Cleo's when I owned the Suzuki Across.
He will be sadly missed.

On behalf on The President and all the members of the Melbourne Chapter please except our sincere condolances and heart felt wishes.