Motorcyclist hopes to change lives

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Pablo Smith loves riding motorcycles, and he wants to help others get to know God.

What better way to combine the two, he figured, than hosting a Christian motorcycle rally. Specifically, Pablo’s Life Changing Motorcycle Rally will be held next Saturday and Sunday.

Born in California, Smith grew up in West Texas. He started riding motorcycles in 1982 and became a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association four years ago.

“I always enjoyed riding,” said Smith, who now is semi-retired.

In November 2005, Smith attended a Sunday service at First Assembly of God. He prayed for salvation.

“I was a sinner,” Smith said. “I knew it was past time (to be saved.) I got up and went to the altar, and Jesus saved my soul from hell.”

Not long after that, God worked a miracle in his life.

One afternoon in December 2005, Smith was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle through town. He was struck by a car that ran a stop sign in the intersection of Southwest Fourth and Columbia.

Smith was not wearing a helmet.

“I hit the car about 65 miles an hour,” he said. “They didn’t expect me to live. I was going to be a vegetable.”

Smith was airlifted to a Lubbock hospital where he remained unconscious and on life support for about two weeks. When he woke up in the hospital, he was unaware of what had happened. Although he had a “big knot” on his head, he wasn’t aware of any broken bones.

“God saved my life,” he said. “I’m here for a reason.”

He started riding his motorcycle again about six months after getting out of the hospital.

Then, about two years ago, Smith began thinking about having some kind of motorcycle rally to help change people’s lives. He put it off until six months ago when the desire to hold the rally “came pretty strong to me.”

Smith will hold Pablo’s Life Changing Motorcycle Rally next weekend on property he owns in Quarterway, which is between Plainview and Halfway. “The Barn,” located five miles west of Plain­view on Highway 70, opens Friday for tent and RV camping setup.

People of all ages are welcome to the family-oriented rally. The fee is $10 per person and includes a meal Saturday evening.

Saturday’s activities will begin with a motorcycle parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Broadway Park. The parade will head down Highway 70 from the park to The Barn in Quarterway.

Smith hopes at least 100 people will participate in the parade and expects 500 to come out for the rally.

Several speakers will be featured throughout the day, along with lots of activities like yard games and a Super Bike Show.

Also planned is a scripture run where motorcyclists have to go to several churches in town to collect scriptures. The scripture run should take about 1-1/2 to two hours, Smith said.

Vendors will sell food throughout the day, and a brisket, burger and hot dog supper will be provided by Paradise Riders at 6 p.m. After dinner, gospel and Christian bands will play music late into the night.

A church service will follow around 8 or 9 a.m. Sunday.

For more information about the rally, contact Smith at 806-293-2764 or Kevin McLain at 806-292-0268.

(Contact Hayley Cox at hcox@plainviewdailyherald.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 806-296-1352.)

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