monte monte i cannot believe that you are gone. we use to have great conversations about everything. i am happy that you went like we all should, doing what we love most! i will miss you my friend.
I grew up idolizing Monte when I was just a kid. I saw him race at the very 1st Sunshine track back in the woods when he was on a Blue Honda SL70 with a cutoff pipe. That was the fist time I ever saw him ride. He was very fast then and only got better as you know, as well as the rest of the country. I was also there at Daytona when he won the 500 Support class and he was going to win that race come hell or highwater. He crashed several times and still won the race on a Suzuki RM 370. It was one of the best races I ever witnessed. I also raced back in the 70′s early 80′s and always loved watching Monte coming over McCoy Mountain Jump at the 2nd Sunshine track where he was so well known. I could go on and on but one thing is for sure he was truly one of the best rider’s I have ever known. When I saw Monte at Sunshine a couple of years ago he still had that kind smile and laugh and it was fun riding with him again after all those years. My thought’s are with all of you guy’s and I am very sorry we all have lost a good friend.
God bless Monte and his Family and his memory will always be with me.
Thank you for the post and spreading the word about the site and the story section as we encourage people to write more about there experiences with Monte.
It’s not the breaths you take in life that you remember, but the moments that take your breath away. Monte, you have givens us so many moments… I love you baby brother, Pat.
Life is full of Ruts and Berms…
You rode them all, on your own Terms-
There Never was a Jump too High…
You always leapt into the Sky…
And when you left us all behind-
to cross that final finish line…
We Wept for Us, but Cheered for You…
You left the way you wanted to…
A Fighter who would not give in-
No matter what Life threw at him-
You lived to Ride, and Rode to Win-
and that’s what makes a CHAMPION!
You were all these things to Me,
but, SO much more Importantly…
the thing I’ll mis most in the End….,
Is simply…YOU, YOU, my FRIEND…..
I am an old school heavy metal fan…I am also an amateur musician…Judas Priest is one of my favorite bands..one of my favorite songs is called “Wheels of Fire” off the Angels of Retribution album…if this is offensive to anyone, I ask that you listen to the lyrics to the song…because if this doesn’t embody Monte, I don’t know what does….
Wheels of Fire
Born on the other side, of the track-
Gotta get outa here, I won’t look back-
Born on the other side…Wild as a Hurricane…
Live in Overdrive…
Wheels of Fire…In my Soul…
Wheels of Fire…Let ‘em Roll…..
Too Fast to give a Damn…
Stand my Ground-
No one or anything…will tie me down…
Born on the other side,
Wild as a Hurricane-
Live in Overdrive…
Wheels of Fire…In my Soul…
Wheels of Fire…let ‘em Roll…
Ride to Live, Live to Ride…
Wheels of Fire…..Forever…..
Born on the Other Side,
Wild as a Hurricane…
Live in Overdrive….
Wheels of Fire, In my Soul…
Wheels of Fire, Let ‘em ROLL….
Wheels of Fire
Wheels of Fire
Wheels of Fire
The words don’t do it justice…listen to the song.
If I could have written a song for Monte, this would be it.
Love, Leslie
I remember one time Monte and myself driving back from doing a stucco job in Inverness, and he was towing his trailer, we just happened to be running about 80-85mph when all of a sudden the left rear tire blew on his trailer, which had 12 ply tires.
I tried to let him know the situation by pulling up along side of him to signal to him there was an issue but he was not having it so when I tried to go around him several time he continued to block my way,
then I decided to make a pass with the cars that were blocking us on the right hand emergency lane, and when I tried to do so he cut me off and took the speed up to 110 mph at which time I finally gave up trying to pass him.
Finally I decided to just continue to flash my lights until he realized that I was trying to communicate to him and he let me along side at which time I told him he had a flat tire, he proceeded to get off at the next exit, where looked at the tire and asked me if I thought he could make it to the next exit where we would get some air so we would make it home.
His mentality of a racer always showed thru in anything we did when it came to two or four wheels, even if he laid back and waited just so he had the opportunity to come by you on the inside of a corner somewhere when you were not expecting it.
I miss those those time but will never forget them.
I have posted a couple of things on this website lately…I hope I’m not boring anyone…I know this is mostly a boys club…and by that I mean…friends who have rode with, hung with, shared hopes and dreams and lives with…on a long term, daily basis. I can’t claim any part or place in that fraternity. I can only look at this incredible website all of you have put together and think…if a Man is Measured by his Friends..than He had Riches without End…So, I wrote this for all of you who Loved him, Supported him, and Allowed him to Be and Do what he loved so much. I Believe He was looking over my shoulder as I struggled to get this right…any errors in translation are mine… thx Leslie.
AREA 51
The next time that you hit the Track,
Do not slow down, do not look back…
You never did before, you know-
Crack that throttle, Go, Go, Go….
Ride for everything you’re Worth…
The next time that you hit the dirt-
I am where I’ve always been…
Riding every lap to win…
Always, Forever…right beside you,
Trying to OutDo, OutRide You..
Just because you can’t SEE me…
Doesn’t mean, I won’t BE me-
Remember, I am still MadMac…
So,
Next time that you hit the Track-
Do not slow down,
Do not look BACK.
Monte was always special to his family I was 16 years older than
him,but enjoyed seeing him grow up.I remember him takeing his
grandmother for a ride on his bike,she had to be in her seventies
she was a spunkie lady.We will surely miss him and hope to see him
again in heaven-Heb.11.1
I had the honor of befriending monte one day about 4 yrs ago at sunshine…I just happen to park next to him…I was a nobody d rider and he was so nice and resectful to me like I was a life long friend and gave lots of tips on riding and the track…him and some of his friends would come over to thundercross mx to ride where I was the track groomer and we would laugh and joke about how a bunch of us old dudes would still be riding at our age over 50 even though I am low and slow(didn’t start riding mx till age 49 cops were giving me a hard time about running triple digets on my sport bike) he could tell my love for the sport he would treat me like I was an a rider god speed monte they don’t make them like you anymore
Monte, my baby brother at 6 weeks old went from Quincy, IL. to Florida traveling in a hearse along with two brothers and two sisters and his mom and dad. When we got to Florida we stayed at a campground, living out of the hearse, until our dad found work. Our mom would wash Monte’s cloth diapers and hang them to dry when we went to the park. We lived out of the hearse for 6 weeks until we moved into an apartment in Madeira Beach. What a way to come into the world… even at 6 weeks old Monte had some wild times. Monte always called me his angel — and he was my angel too! I miss him and love him very much and can’t wait to see him in Heaven. Love Sandy
Monte is my uncle (his sister Sandy is my mom). I miss him so much but I have this great feeling deep inside that he is very happy and at peace in Heaven. Here is one of my stories with Uncle Monte. So my family took vacations every year during the summer… One summer (probably 30 years ago) we went to the Grand Canyon for vacation. We were parked along one of the look out spots enjoying the view when out of the blue Uncle Monte passes us in his van beeping and yelling out the window and pulls around to see us. We all couldn’t believe how funny it was to run into him in the middle of the Grand Canyon. My mom THOUGHT it would be a good idea for each of us to take a picture with Uncle Monte along the cliff…. OH SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN… may not be the best idea to have your 8 yr old daughter take a picture with Uncle Monte near a cliff of the Grand Canyon. When it was my sister Kim’s turn to take the picture.. my Uncle Monte grabs her and holds her OVER THE CLIFF for a “really great” picture. Oh my goodness we all held our breath while Uncle Monte was just being himself and having fun (of course he wouldn’t drop her into the canyon — And of course he didn’t drop her!). I love you Uncle Monte. I never forget the strength and love in your hug OR that beautiful smile you always gave us.
Uncle monte was my uncle and i will never forget that he had the biggest, best hugs that always conforted me, he always made me feel better. He was always the life of the party at every little get together, and now that he is gone the family get togethers have a big something missing, Uncle monte always told me that everytime he saw me i got more and more pretty and i just wish he could continue to watch us grow, i wish i could have one last hug from him. Im happy he died doing what he loves instead of dieing some other way! R.I.P uncle monte i love you so much and none of us will forget you :/
Uncle Monte was the best uncle ever. when he gave you those big hugs it made you fell so special! whenever i was sad i would think of him and he would make me so happy. every time i would see him he would tell me how pretty i am and he would say how much i’ve grown. when i was at the hospital and they said that he had died i cried myself to sleep for a week. now every time i see or hear a motorcycle i think of him– the best uncle ever. i miss him and i wish i could have one more hug… R.I.P Uncle Monte you wont be forgotten. love jasmine! (age 10)
Monte our friend, My brother Jim Nerad used to walk past your house every day as kids on the way to Pinellas Park Jr. High. Jim and you were pretty good friends and I remember your dad very well. He always had a smile on his face as we would stop and chat with you often after school. You would get money from him and we would go to the Biff Burger that used to be at the end of your street on 66th St. Ironically the same day you passed away, Jim was diagnosed with final stage lung cancer and passed away 45 days later. I took him the article about you as our other brother has a friend who was at the track with his son that day and told Jim you had passed away. (Scott) Jim was shocked and saddened. I guess now you are hanging out together. God Bless the loved ones you left behind. You had quite an impressive run. Much love from the Nerad family!
monte monte i cannot believe that you are gone. we use to have great conversations about everything. i am happy that you went like we all should, doing what we love most! i will miss you my friend.
I grew up idolizing Monte when I was just a kid. I saw him race at the very 1st Sunshine track back in the woods when he was on a Blue Honda SL70 with a cutoff pipe. That was the fist time I ever saw him ride. He was very fast then and only got better as you know, as well as the rest of the country. I was also there at Daytona when he won the 500 Support class and he was going to win that race come hell or highwater. He crashed several times and still won the race on a Suzuki RM 370. It was one of the best races I ever witnessed. I also raced back in the 70′s early 80′s and always loved watching Monte coming over McCoy Mountain Jump at the 2nd Sunshine track where he was so well known. I could go on and on but one thing is for sure he was truly one of the best rider’s I have ever known. When I saw Monte at Sunshine a couple of years ago he still had that kind smile and laugh and it was fun riding with him again after all those years. My thought’s are with all of you guy’s and I am very sorry we all have lost a good friend.
God bless Monte and his Family and his memory will always be with me.
Hello Keith,
Thank you for the post and spreading the word about the site and the story section as we encourage people to write more about there experiences with Monte.
Regards,
Jeff
It’s not the breaths you take in life that you remember, but the moments that take your breath away. Monte, you have givens us so many moments… I love you baby brother, Pat.
YOU…
Life is full of Ruts and Berms…
You rode them all, on your own Terms-
There Never was a Jump too High…
You always leapt into the Sky…
And when you left us all behind-
to cross that final finish line…
We Wept for Us, but Cheered for You…
You left the way you wanted to…
A Fighter who would not give in-
No matter what Life threw at him-
You lived to Ride, and Rode to Win-
and that’s what makes a CHAMPION!
You were all these things to Me,
but, SO much more Importantly…
the thing I’ll mis most in the End….,
Is simply…YOU, YOU, my FRIEND…..
Sleep well, LionHeart-
’till we meet again…
Love, Leslie
For Monte McCoy…8/1/57-11/12/2011
MLR 11/18/11
I am an old school heavy metal fan…I am also an amateur musician…Judas Priest is one of my favorite bands..one of my favorite songs is called “Wheels of Fire” off the Angels of Retribution album…if this is offensive to anyone, I ask that you listen to the lyrics to the song…because if this doesn’t embody Monte, I don’t know what does….
Wheels of Fire
Born on the other side, of the track-
Gotta get outa here, I won’t look back-
Born on the other side…Wild as a Hurricane…
Live in Overdrive…
Wheels of Fire…In my Soul…
Wheels of Fire…Let ‘em Roll…..
Too Fast to give a Damn…
Stand my Ground-
No one or anything…will tie me down…
Born on the other side,
Wild as a Hurricane-
Live in Overdrive…
Wheels of Fire…In my Soul…
Wheels of Fire…let ‘em Roll…
Ride to Live, Live to Ride…
Wheels of Fire…..Forever…..
Born on the Other Side,
Wild as a Hurricane…
Live in Overdrive….
Wheels of Fire, In my Soul…
Wheels of Fire, Let ‘em ROLL….
Wheels of Fire
Wheels of Fire
Wheels of Fire
The words don’t do it justice…listen to the song.
If I could have written a song for Monte, this would be it.
Love, Leslie
I remember one time Monte and myself driving back from doing a stucco job in Inverness, and he was towing his trailer, we just happened to be running about 80-85mph when all of a sudden the left rear tire blew on his trailer, which had 12 ply tires.
I tried to let him know the situation by pulling up along side of him to signal to him there was an issue but he was not having it so when I tried to go around him several time he continued to block my way,
then I decided to make a pass with the cars that were blocking us on the right hand emergency lane, and when I tried to do so he cut me off and took the speed up to 110 mph at which time I finally gave up trying to pass him.
Finally I decided to just continue to flash my lights until he realized that I was trying to communicate to him and he let me along side at which time I told him he had a flat tire, he proceeded to get off at the next exit, where looked at the tire and asked me if I thought he could make it to the next exit where we would get some air so we would make it home.
His mentality of a racer always showed thru in anything we did when it came to two or four wheels, even if he laid back and waited just so he had the opportunity to come by you on the inside of a corner somewhere when you were not expecting it.
I miss those those time but will never forget them.
Jeff
I have posted a couple of things on this website lately…I hope I’m not boring anyone…I know this is mostly a boys club…and by that I mean…friends who have rode with, hung with, shared hopes and dreams and lives with…on a long term, daily basis. I can’t claim any part or place in that fraternity. I can only look at this incredible website all of you have put together and think…if a Man is Measured by his Friends..than He had Riches without End…So, I wrote this for all of you who Loved him, Supported him, and Allowed him to Be and Do what he loved so much. I Believe He was looking over my shoulder as I struggled to get this right…any errors in translation are mine… thx Leslie.
AREA 51
The next time that you hit the Track,
Do not slow down, do not look back…
You never did before, you know-
Crack that throttle, Go, Go, Go….
Ride for everything you’re Worth…
The next time that you hit the dirt-
I am where I’ve always been…
Riding every lap to win…
Always, Forever…right beside you,
Trying to OutDo, OutRide You..
Just because you can’t SEE me…
Doesn’t mean, I won’t BE me-
Remember, I am still MadMac…
So,
Next time that you hit the Track-
Do not slow down,
Do not look BACK.
MLR 12/14/11
Monte was always special to his family I was 16 years older than
him,but enjoyed seeing him grow up.I remember him takeing his
grandmother for a ride on his bike,she had to be in her seventies
she was a spunkie lady.We will surely miss him and hope to see him
again in heaven-Heb.11.1
Love You little Brother
Terry
I had the honor of befriending monte one day about 4 yrs ago at sunshine…I just happen to park next to him…I was a nobody d rider and he was so nice and resectful to me like I was a life long friend and gave lots of tips on riding and the track…him and some of his friends would come over to thundercross mx to ride where I was the track groomer and we would laugh and joke about how a bunch of us old dudes would still be riding at our age over 50 even though I am low and slow(didn’t start riding mx till age 49 cops were giving me a hard time about running triple digets on my sport bike) he could tell my love for the sport he would treat me like I was an a rider god speed monte they don’t make them like you anymore
Monte, my baby brother at 6 weeks old went from Quincy, IL. to Florida traveling in a hearse along with two brothers and two sisters and his mom and dad. When we got to Florida we stayed at a campground, living out of the hearse, until our dad found work. Our mom would wash Monte’s cloth diapers and hang them to dry when we went to the park. We lived out of the hearse for 6 weeks until we moved into an apartment in Madeira Beach. What a way to come into the world… even at 6 weeks old Monte had some wild times. Monte always called me his angel — and he was my angel too! I miss him and love him very much and can’t wait to see him in Heaven. Love Sandy
Monte is my uncle (his sister Sandy is my mom). I miss him so much but I have this great feeling deep inside that he is very happy and at peace in Heaven. Here is one of my stories with Uncle Monte. So my family took vacations every year during the summer… One summer (probably 30 years ago) we went to the Grand Canyon for vacation. We were parked along one of the look out spots enjoying the view when out of the blue Uncle Monte passes us in his van beeping and yelling out the window and pulls around to see us. We all couldn’t believe how funny it was to run into him in the middle of the Grand Canyon. My mom THOUGHT it would be a good idea for each of us to take a picture with Uncle Monte along the cliff…. OH SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN… may not be the best idea to have your 8 yr old daughter take a picture with Uncle Monte near a cliff of the Grand Canyon. When it was my sister Kim’s turn to take the picture.. my Uncle Monte grabs her and holds her OVER THE CLIFF for a “really great” picture. Oh my goodness we all held our breath while Uncle Monte was just being himself and having fun (of course he wouldn’t drop her into the canyon — And of course he didn’t drop her!). I love you Uncle Monte. I never forget the strength and love in your hug OR that beautiful smile you always gave us.
Uncle monte was my uncle and i will never forget that he had the biggest, best hugs that always conforted me, he always made me feel better. He was always the life of the party at every little get together, and now that he is gone the family get togethers have a big something missing, Uncle monte always told me that everytime he saw me i got more and more pretty and i just wish he could continue to watch us grow, i wish i could have one last hug from him. Im happy he died doing what he loves instead of dieing some other way! R.I.P uncle monte i love you so much and none of us will forget you :/
Uncle Monte was the best uncle ever. when he gave you those big hugs it made you fell so special! whenever i was sad i would think of him and he would make me so happy. every time i would see him he would tell me how pretty i am and he would say how much i’ve grown. when i was at the hospital and they said that he had died i cried myself to sleep for a week. now every time i see or hear a motorcycle i think of him– the best uncle ever. i miss him and i wish i could have one more hug… R.I.P Uncle Monte you wont be forgotten. love jasmine! (age 10)
Monte our friend, My brother Jim Nerad used to walk past your house every day as kids on the way to Pinellas Park Jr. High. Jim and you were pretty good friends and I remember your dad very well. He always had a smile on his face as we would stop and chat with you often after school. You would get money from him and we would go to the Biff Burger that used to be at the end of your street on 66th St. Ironically the same day you passed away, Jim was diagnosed with final stage lung cancer and passed away 45 days later. I took him the article about you as our other brother has a friend who was at the track with his son that day and told Jim you had passed away. (Scott) Jim was shocked and saddened. I guess now you are hanging out together. God Bless the loved ones you left behind. You had quite an impressive run. Much love from the Nerad family!