A Good Friend Passes

GODSPEED! INTERNATIONAL OLD TIMER RICHARD SCHILLING PASSES*

Succumbs to injuries suffered at Marysville last weekend

Those who have raced with the International Old Timers Association all remember the speed and style of Richard Schilling (the older members of the MXA test crew raced with Richard many times). Richard died recently from injuries suffered at a practice crash at Marysville.

According to the Yuba City Appeal-Democrat: Rich Schilling, 69, ran a motocross supply shop for 30 years in Yuba City and rode every chance he got, said his wife, Bonnie Schilling. “That was just his passion,” said Schilling, 40. “It’s just an adrenaline-type thing that lets you forget what was going on during the week.”

Bonnie Schilling said Rich was participating in a seniors riding event at the track next to the E Street bridge in west Marysville on Saturday morning, May 22, when he crashed coming off a jump. He was taken by Medi Flight to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where he died Monday of complications from his injuries, which included a broken neck.

His wife said Schilling, who was conscious after the crash, knew the risks in his hobby and knew he’d been badly hurt. “I’d picked him up from the hospital before with broken bones,” she said. “This could have happened to anybody.”

A native of Southern California, Rich Schilling moved to the Yuba-Sutter area in his 20s and opened Schilling Onoffroad Products on Industrial Drive in Yuba City in 1981, Bonnie Schilling said.When he wasn’t running the store or raising his five children, two with Bonnie, Schilling could be found on a motocross track, whether locally or as far as Washington or Arizona, Bonnie said.

Schilling was cremated, and his friends in the motocross community will have a memorial ride in his honor. No date has been set, his wife said. A fund has been set up for Schilling's children Cody, aged 7 and Carl, 12. Donations can be made to R. Schillings Children fund at any Umpqua bank branch.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

* From MXA 2/1/2011

Personal Note - I have raced and practiced with Rich for many years. He was always there, willing to help anyone in need. Rich was passionate about riding and so proud of his family. The Marysville tracks will seem strange without Rich being there. R.I.P. my friend.

Comments

[Bill Evans]

MMX wil host a benefit ride for Rich's family this Saturday Feb. 5th featuring both tracks. Volunteers from the Sierra Oldtimers will be serving lunch at noon.