The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Workforce
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Rheum After 5: Retired Rheumatologist Rides and Collects Antique Motorcycles

Rheum After 5: Retired Rheumatologist Rides and Collects Antique Motorcycles

May 1, 2013 • By Carol Patton

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

You Might Also Like
  • Retired Rheumatologist Cruises the Globe
  • Rheum After 5: Rheumatologist Finds Joy in Photography
  • Rheum After 5: Air Force Rheumatologist Fine-Tunes Art of Violin Making
Explore This Issue
May 2013
Also By This Author
  • Rheumatologist John P. Atkinson, MD, Continues Research into Rare Diseases
Retired rheumatologist rides and collects antique motorcycles
Dr. Rochmis opening champagne at a Vincent rally in the 1970s.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE
Dr. Rochmis on in his workshop on his 1953 Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle.
Dr. Rochmis on in his workshop on his 1953 Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle.

1953 Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE
BSA Gold Star special.
BSA Gold Star special.

Dr. Rochmis and his daughter on a Vincent motorcycle.
Dr. Rochmis and his daughter on a Vincent motorcycle.

About 300 original miles on the last of the famous Honda CT series.
About 300 original miles on the last of the famous Honda CT series.

Paul Rochmis, MD, now a retired rheumatologist in Vienna, Va., had never ridden a motorcycle in his life. But back in 1964, when he moved to London for six months—he earned a research fellowship at Westminster Hospital Medical School—he needed inexpensive transportation.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

The only problem was first-time motorcyclists who were British could only purchase small and underpowered 250cc motorcycles. They also were issued a red license plate that featured a capital letter L, which stood for learner.

“It was embarrassing,” recalls Dr. Rochmis. “It was like having a scarlet letter.”

But Dr. Rochmis was American and held an international driver’s license. The same rule didn’t necessarily apply—or so he hoped. Since he wanted a larger, 350cc Norton Navigator, Dr. Rochmis had no intention of admitting his novice status. So when the salesman at the dealership asked him if he had ever ridden a motorcycle, Dr. Rochmis relied, “of course,” then added, “But I’m only familiar with American motorcycles. Why don’t you show me how British bikes work?”

After a five-minute crash course, Dr. Rochmis intended to quickly drive away before the salesmen realized that he had no riding experience and brand him with the red license plate. But not everything went as planned.

“I popped it into a gear, hoping it was first, but it was third gear,” he says, adding that although he chugged away, practically stalling every few feet, the salesman never stopped him because he wanted to dump the motorcycle, which Dr. Rochmis later discovered was an inferior model. It took Dr. Rochmis 90 minutes to drive home in rush-hour traffic, a trip that would normally have taken less than an hour. But by the time he arrived home, Dr. Rochmis says he was an experienced rider.

Since then, no one would ever dream of giving Dr. Rochmis a red license plate. Besides riding motorcycles, he also collects them, having purchased roughly 30 bikes over the last several decades. However, they’re not just any bikes. Many are Vincents and Velocettes, high-end British bikes that would make most devoted bikers drool. To him, such motorcycles are objects of beauty. While Dr. Rochmis still owns nine motorcycles, he’s not done shopping. He may never be.

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Profiles Issue: May 2013

You Might Also Like:
  • Retired Rheumatologist Cruises the Globe
  • Rheum After 5: Rheumatologist Finds Joy in Photography
  • Rheum After 5: Air Force Rheumatologist Fine-Tunes Art of Violin Making
  • Rheum After 5: Rheumatologist Shares Joy of Singing

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2021 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.