Rick "Reno Rick" Scaramella was born in San Francisco, California. At the age of 2, he went to live with his grandparents. It turns out his mother had given him up so she could ride with the Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club. As a kid Rick always had a strange attraction to motorcycles. He had ridden with others for as long he could remember, even though he was barely able to walk, he remembered "hanging on" for brief rides with his mother's friends. Growing up, Rick was overweight as a child, and recalls having a typical childhood for a "Fat Kid" as he puts it. But he never let that get him down, because he rode motorcycles, and they didn't!
Some of his favorite memories stem from the many road trips he and fellow riders made. He explored California in ever greater range, until he finally branched in to Nevada. Rick recalls always having been into the "cruising scene" and had numerous hot rods, from '56 Chevy's, a Plymouth Fury, V-8 Pinto's as well as Mustangs and more. While he had a love for cars, his passion for two wheels never left!
Rick eventually got married, but chose not to have a bike at the time. His wife's father was a colorful member of the Hell's Angel's, George "Chocolate" Hendricks. Before Rick and his wife- to- be Beth met, His future father- in- law was killed in a motorcycle accident after some kids in a car tailgated him, and hit him from behind. He tragically went over the handlebars, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
There was an empty spot in Rick's soul that not having a bike had left. Upon his eventual separation from his first wife, he was able to once again purchase a motorcycle, and describes the feeling as finding freedom and peace. He states that as long as he is on a bike, the rest of his life is acceptable no matter what his situation. He would go on to recover from his separation and other trials, and start his own business cleaning homes that were to be sold. He eventually moved back to Reno, and was employed as a mechanic at the local Chevrolet dealership.
One day, while on his lunch break, a Ford Excursion pulled out in front of him, causing him to "T-bone" the truck and lose consciousness. Upon waking up in the ambulance, he was told the paramedics had to "cut" him out of his car. Due to the accident, his hands were severely damaged, and he'd no longer be able to work as a mechanic. The accident cost him several years of rehab and his profession. Rick decided he wouldn't give up, and instead found work as a Security Officer at Boomtown Casino in Reno. He eventually was offered a position in Surveillance. Here he learned the tricks of the casino industry, as well as how to count cards, cheat games, and most importantly, catch cheats. He gained a vast knowledge of the industry as well as people in general.
Tragedy would strike Rick again in 2007 when he was involved in a motorcycle accident. He shattered his right knee and lower leg. He required an emergency surgery to save his leg and 3 more surgeries to become stable. He would spend 4 months in recovery from his accident. Just 3 days after being released he was again hospitalized and diagnosed with severe blood clots, that should have cost him his life according to the doctors, yet he survived. He spend 10 days in a cardiac care unit, and had 2 "stents" put in his arteries. Following all of this, he was told by the doctors that he was lucky to be alive, and that he would never ride again.
After overcoming all of these adversities, Rick again didn't give up, and due to the damage to his old bike, bought himself a new Electa-Glide Harley, and proved the doctors wrong by recovering, and once again finding the freedom of the road on his Harley. He'll be realizing a life long dream by riding to Sturgis in August of this summer. It seems that no matter what life throws at him, Rick will be on a bike and breathing the air of freedom...
great story. nothing like a bike to open up the road for you.
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