Below are sentiments from Barnett Harley-Davidson’s GM, Mark Barnett, and his good friend, Leslie Kaye of San Francisco.  

 Rodent got involved with Barnett’s Magazine early, sending in reports from all corners of the country with countless photos documenting the Harley rally scene. As he crisscrossed the USA, he would stop in for a week or two in El Paso and keep me up-to-date with all the rally info and industry gossip. He was seemingly everywhere and always on duty. Even while staying behind the shop in his camper, he helped out with guard duty, opened gates, supervised the building, and ran off the stragglers from late night concerts.

  His New York City stories were always amusing. Having lived there myself, that was something we had in common along with motorcycles. Lunches with Rodent usually had a New York Times story-of-the-day segment, as he was a voracious reader of his old hometown newspaper.  When the magazine business went from film and print to digital and blogs, he kept on top of it, constantly pecking away on his iPhone and managing to master the seemingly incomprehensible sets of rules for transferring huge files of photos across the Internet to awaiting editors. His wit, his stories, and his cheery (he only played a grumpy old man on TV) companionship will be missed.  – Mark Barnett

 

    I miss my pal Rodent already. He took off on the last and biggest trip of his life today. And I didn’t see it coming. Stay in touch with your friends, people!

    Rodent was a photo-journalist who chronicled the world of motorcycles. Carl Metzger was the name on his many media credentials, but I knew him as Rodent. He worked for Barnett’s in El Paso, but traveled the country on the moto-event circuit, fitting in many trips to his beloved San Francisco. I met him in September 2007 at Caffe Trieste in North Beach. When he learned I was the managing editor of a new motorcycle magazine, Urban Moto, he suggested we do a story on his friend Goth Girl. That is just the kind of guy he was, networking for friends for no advantage to himself.

   Rodent was practical, curious and forward thinking. A whirling dynamo of information and opinions, and I was lucky to be pulled into his orbit. He knew I was new to the worlds of motorcycles and publishing and he introduced me to some of his favorite people: Goth Girl, Mike Corbin, Sonny Barger and Zorena, Arlen Ness, Rudy and Heather of 415 Clothing, John Stewart, Mark Cresswell, Chris and Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers ─ the list goes on.

  We attended lots of  Bay Area events together, annually, egging each on other for good shots ─ July 4^th at Corbin’s in Hollister, Legend of the Motorcycle, The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, Monterey Car Week, Concours d’Elegance, MotoGP Laguna Seca, etc.

   Rodent knew how to be a friend. He looked out for you. He stayed in touch. If you contacted him for help or advice, he replied immediately. He was observant, thoughtful, had a sense of humor and listened. He always came through and his word was gold. If he said he was going to meet you, he was there early. He always took care of business (except maybe dental). Rodent was a stand-up guy. Though he loved to “stir it up” Rodent’s heart was in a good place. If he went on a rant, you could get him to switch gears. He was serious about his commitments (particularly work), but was proud of his rebel status. I think he took particular delight in walking into swanky affairs in his T-shirt, jeans and flak vest and watch the hoity-toity’s alarm bells go off. He’d be especially proud to call out to the top dog of the event/hotel/auction house and have them happily holler back, “Rodent!”

   I will treasure my last adventure with Rodent this past August at the 2015 Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in Carmel, which appeared in Barnett’s Magazine Online. Of course, Rodent was on first-name speaking terms with the new owner of the Pebble Beach Golf Course by the time I arrived!

Though Rodent was usually the one taking the photos, I have gotten some pretty memorable shots of him that I hope you enjoy. Miss you buddy. Stay busy up there. ─ Leslie Kaye

  Rodent is survived by his son, Jeremy Jennings of Manhattan, New York, and step-daughter, Jessica Jennings, of Durango, Colorado. Godspeed Rodent!