Chris, a former nurse, owns a horse she keeps in Sandy. She drives a pickup truck to haul hay and pull her horse trailer, and she rides regularly — trail rides, cattle drives, group rides, anything to be in the saddle. Her love of the West and horses was a major reason the Machens came to Utah.

Chris bought the horse four years ago. This year it was her husband's turn to splurge.

In his youth, Machen rode a dirt bike, but when their kids were born he considered it too risky of a pastime and sold it.

This year, with their three children grown and his wife urging him on, he bought a red Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

"Someone had to hold my hand to get me down there," he says.

He completed a riding class with seven other students — "I was the oldest person in the class by 20 years" — and joined the Salt Lake County Hogs Club.

"You wouldn't believe the letters I get," he says. "They're from people asking if I want to ride with them."

He owns a black leather riding jacket, and the leather pants are on the way.

After practicing in a school parking lot near his home, Machen has ventured onto the roads and occasionally takes the Harley to the office.

"I've had a 30-year fascination with Harleys," he says.

Is it possible this man is having too much fun?

"I had no aspirations for this job," he says. "Which makes it fun. Every day's a new day for me."

---

E-mail: drob@desnews.com