Eron Michel

English 12 Period 3

Ms. Acosta

09/28/21
The Ride

The sound of the 800cc engine idling filled my head with exciting ideas. My adrenaline

rushed through my veins as gasoline rushes through the engine. It was a bright green 800cc arctic

cat automatic ATV. It seemed a bit off to me, according to my personal ATV knowledge. I was

dying to test ride and or drive it. My uncle and dad that were with me gave me permission. The

next thing that happened is the only thing in my life I regret.

First, I learned how to use an ATV when I was young and still a kid. I was excited when I

got my first ever ATV was a 350cc Yamaha raptor that topped out at about 60-65 miles an hour. I

learned about quads and how they run and how they work. It helped me teach myself and dad

how to fix minor problems such as it won’t start, oils change, it’s weak. It was a racing quad that

required a lot of attention and maintenance. I had my first accident on this quad, it was a crazy

experience. I was on a long ride with my parents we were in a line and I was in the caboose and

my parents gave a right turn and I was going a bit too fast to notice. It was too late and I freaked

out right when I got to the turn, it was a steep drop. I squeezed my front brakes (something you

should never do) it caused my quad to flip and me to roll down the steep drop as I hit rocks

cactus and every time I saw the quad it came closer and closer. When I got to the bottom the

quad rolls by me still running barely missing me. I was badly hurt and would limp to get to my

quad, where it hurt to sit and ride it back to where we had set camp. I finally realized it was time

for me to be more cautious with what I ride.

 Second, I got a 300cc ATV that has about the same power as my past 350cc Yamaha

raptor. This ATV has been my favorite quad that I have ever ridden. It is used for trails and

exploring and is quite wide, big, and heavy. It is a red Kawasaki prairie 300cc and is very strong

it can climb any hill steep or rocky. It taught me various knowledge of how to change the

carburetor, adjust it, change the oil, and much more. This Kawasaki is a very reliable ATV and a

good one to fix yourself so you are able to learn off of it. And it also has the right-sized engine

and if I had more power it would possibly kill me.

Third, the accident. It was the worst experience of my life. It felt like I was going to die.

It felt like I couldn’t breathe and couldn’t move. It happened on a Friday and I feel the pain until

this day. It all started when my dad my uncle and I went to go by my uncle a quad for himself

because he saw us having fun so wanted to as well. It was an arctic cat 800cc it was a strong

ATV with dangerous power I was anxious to ride it, my adrenaline spiked to its max. As soon as

my dad asked if I wanted to ride it I said yes, I hopped on it and rode off. As I turned it gave me

an idea sine the street was long and flat I decided to test if all the gears kicked I and decided to

give it gas, pedal to the metal. It was towards the end of the street and I squeeze the brakes and

all of a sudden the rear swerve and made the ATV flip. I had no helmet on and my head hit the

asphalt and then on my left side the jacket I had on ripped and so did my hat. As I lay on my

back the sound of the ATV faded away as if it were still was rolling away. I yelled,” Apa!” which

translates to dad in Spanish. With what felt like my last breath. I felt horrible I was scared and

was in pain. Then an idea of great magnitude popped in my head.

“Hey, Siri,” I yelled.

“ yes Eron,” she answered

As I moaned and struggled I said,” call apa.”

 Then she responded,” sorry didn't catch that.”

I was so hurt I gave up and lied down and waited for someone to come for me. I yelled one more

time, and I looked behind and saw my dad running towards me. He had actually heard the crash

and my yell and ran as fast as he could. My uncle hoped in his truck and drove it as fast as he

could with a trailer attached. I was laying and my dad wanted to stand me up but I couldn’t and

he stayed by my side and so did my uncle. When I finally stood up I saw the ATV was totaled

and I was hurt. We had to buy it in the end.

in conclusion, this accident has taught me a valuable lesson to always wear a helmet and

drive more caucus. It has also helped my friends and family to be careful. I truly now believe the

label on the ATV that states,” THIS IS NOT A TOY.”