CLEARFIELD — There are plenty of fond memories one can look back on when it comes to someone’s high school days. Such was the case for Clearfield Area High School alumni when it came to the school’s motorcycle safety class, as folks from that class recently gathered to reminisce about the times they had and what the class instilled in them.
The “Motorcycle Safety Class” was the brainchild of then-teacher Bobbie Carlson (formerly Bobbie Karchner/Bobbie Wallace) back in the 1970s. She went back to college to get certified in Driver Education to run the summer Driver Education program at the school. At that time, Carlson said everyone in Traffic Safety was talking about Motorcycle Safety and thought, why not have something at Clearfield — especially since Carlson rode motorcycles herself.
Carlson then said she wrote up a program for it, presented it to the school board and she was then teaching the United States’ lone high school Motorcycle Safety Program starting in 1975 and taught the program for 14 years.
“Clearfield Area High School was very progressive in their thinking and provided their students with something that no other school district has done to this level,” Carlson said. “The training at Clearfield included nine weeks of beginner and intermediate training on a huge Driver’s Ed parking lot, street riding practice on the school driveway, and even riding on the cross country track.”
Students received academic credit for the course and the school received Driver’s Ed reimbursement from the state.
The course was so popular that she taught Motorcycle Safety every period of the day in the spring and fall semesters. The cross-country part was also so popular that some of the students and Carlson then formed a Motocross Club and took a field trip to a local, privately-owned motocross track on Wednesdays after school.
A small percentage of the students participated in the motocross experience since it required having your own motorcycle, Carlson said. However, thousands of students took the Motorcycle Safety Training course over the period she taught.
“I taught motorcycle classes six periods a day,” Carlson said. “We had a fleet of 34 motorcycles — on-loan from dealerships or purchased. Many of the students at the high school rode motorcycles and there was little thought toward safety before the class. Students flocked to the class. Likely for fun, but they also got a double dose of safety. There was never a lack of students for this elective class. The class gave all students the chance to excel and be the superstar of the class, maybe for the first time. The class gave a whole new dimension to school for some. Students who took the class were well behaved, respectful, courteous, and appreciative of the opportunity they were given.
“Most of the course was conducted on a large parking lot at CHS; but the driveway at CHS also lent itself well to motorcycle training after they had the basics down. And, we were also given permission to use the cross country course which gave students extra work on traction management and dirt riding areas, all of which make a more skilled rider. In total, the students received a whole nine weeks of training; approximately 50 minutes of training a day for a nine-week period. The rides on the cross country track led some students to an interest in serious off-road and motocross. So, we formed a motorcycle club that went to a motocross track that belonged to one of the students every Wednesday after school. This was separate from the class, but related, and later came to provide a recreational activity for some.
“About two years after the courses started, the principal called me in to tell me they had discovered something interesting — Motorcycle Safety was changing behavior. The chronic absentees didn’t miss school while taking Motorcycle Safety. The ‘bad actors’ didn’t get into trouble while taking the class. In addition, the school and I won the Governor’s Award for Safety, presented at the Capitol. Kind of like the Oscars, I accepted with my dad and mom looking on. My brother was the first to ride in our family; me next; and then my mom and dad. We were a riding family.”
Carlson said her fondest memories of teaching the class was being “able to teach something and provide something within a school program that the students love.”
She enjoyed the experience so much that after 14 years, she turned the Clearfield training over to another teacher and left to manage state and Motorcycle Safety Training programs, which she still does to this day.
Recently, however, a phone call placed from a former Clearfield student helped bring back the memories and led to a mini-reunion of sorts.
Carlson said Denny Bloom was one of the original students back in 1975 — 51 years ago — and is still riding motorcycles to this day. Several months ago, Bloom made a phone call about becoming an instructor and called Carlson’s office. Bloom asked those there if they knew who Carlson was — which he was told she’s the director — and said he was in Carlson’s first class.
“He then emailed them the certificate I had signed many years ago,” Carlson said. “They gave him my number and he called me. He was talking excitedly about what the class meant to him. He said, ‘I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. Because we learned to ride from you and you introduced us to motocross, there is a group of men in Clearfield who still ride vintage motocross, well beyond the age most people hang it up. Riding motorcycles helped us maintain our fitness so we can still race. None of us have been hurt on motorcycles. Taking the class changed our lives.’”
That in turn led to a conversation where Bloom, Carlson and former classmates decided to get together for a dinner.
“I was in Clearfield at the time and we were able to pull together, on short notice, a group of five riders from the 1975-era,” Carlson said. “And we did what motorcyclists do, we talked and talked and reviewed all the great adventures we have each had in the past. And we’re all fit enough to continue to do so … Now, 51 years after that first course, Denny Bloom is going to go full circle and become an instructor in the State Program to share his expertise and joy of motorcycling with others.”
Those in attendance included Carlson, Bloom, Kevin Rollin, Harry Robbins, Greg Swatsworth and Chris Washek — Carlson said they plan to meet up again.
If you’re looking to get into motorcycle riding and want to sign up for a class, Carlson said you can call 888-601-0613. Those wanting to be an instructor or have other questions can call her at 717-497-5134.
Carlson said that unfortunately with budget cuts, Clearfield no longer has the program. To her knowledge, there is only one similar high program in existence — Northeastern Senior High School in Manchester (near the York area). However, especially after meeting with some of the original classmates, she realizes what kind of a legacy you can leave when it comes to being a teacher.
“The decision at the School Board meeting many years ago certainly changed the trajectory of my life and career,” Carlson said. “However, the most important thing is that they provided safety and a whole new dimension to the lives of thousands of students.”
