| Author | Message | ||
     Jerry_haughton |
 so i'm taking a photo of a cool old scooter, trying the frame the shot just right, and trying to hold real still, and JUST about the time i pull the trigger some guy walks into frame and says, "Here! Let me fire it up for you!" in this pic, said guy is, indeed, firing it up. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 06, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 said guy would be none other than the Chief Curator hisself, Dale Walksler. the bike's running in this photo. so's Dale, actually. as noted earlier, he doesn't stop moving much, and when he does, it ain't for long. he looks pretty relaxed in the pic, all peaceful and calm, but it was a LONGGGGG exposure, and i got the impression that sitting still for five seconds actually caused him physical pain. thanks Dale, this is one of my favorite pix from our visit. ps: Dale is, by necessity, and by desire, a hands-on guy. if nothing else, his attire attests to that. in that regard he reminds me of another hands-on motohead i know: Erik Buell.  (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 06, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 here's JB2, just before we launched. the bike to JB2's right looks to be an old H-D board track racer. JB2 is waiting for Dale to show up, as Mr. Walksler had promised he'd fire it up for us. (cool!) (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 06, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 so here we are, back at the beginning so to speak, with Henrik strutting his Danish stuff on the old Servi-Car. note the man hiking down the ramp in the background, the man with the cell phone in his hear, the man who seems to suffer real pain if he's not moving with determination and purpose. note that he IS moving with determination and purpose. nope, Henrik wasn't in trouble. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 06, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 in fact, it seems the battery in the Servi-Car was dead, and Dale, spying a group of able-bodied men (yours humble scribe excepted) ogling the thing, recognized some instant free labor in the making, and asked us for a push! and no offense to the boyz, but to my eye it looks like Dale is pushing the hardest. if so, it'd be entirely true to form. Wheels Through Time (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 06, 2006) | ||
| Pdxs3t |
Very cool photo's Jerry, this has been my favorite part of the Journey so far! I'm still blown away over the Traub. What an amazing machine for its time. I wonder who placed it in the brick wall and why? | ||
| Rocketman |
I especially like the way the curator has displayed unrestored as found objects de art..........and I don't remember reading anywhere in HD's history about them building rocket engines. Not even in Sucher. Great pic's, all the way Ferris. I like the open wheel race car. I don't suppose it's British is it? Rocket | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Pics of the mythical Traub -- Sweet! FB, I expect pics of the Unicorn and Sasquatch to follow shortly Excellent work, sir, excellent work. G2 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
I'm still blown away over the Traub. What an amazing machine for its time. I wonder who placed it in the brick wall and why? it's a mystery, to be sure, which makes this machine all the more amazing. Dale Walksler is a super-computer when it comes to knowing everything there is to know about vintage scoots, and knows EVERYBODY in the business, yet no one knows who made the Traub, or why, and why it ended up hidden behind a wall. the features on this bike, for something that was made in 1916 (ninety years ago!), are incredible. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
ps: Very cool photo's Jerry, this has been my favorite part of the Journey so far! thank you! and if you're diggin' these blurry low-res photos, imagine what spending an afternoon at this place must be like. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
I especially like the way the curator has displayed unrestored as found objects de art... me, too, Rocket - it's very cool. i certainly like machines that have been lovingly restored, including cosmetically, but there's something about looking at an original, unrestored motorcycle that's eighty or ninety years old, still proud and standing tall, and STILL FUNCTIONAL! ...and I don't remember reading anywhere in HD's history about them building rocket engines. Not even in Sucher. this display certainly caught my eye, and surprised me as well. i wonder if a Google would turn up any information on this? Great pic's, all the way Ferris. I like the open wheel race car. I don't suppose it's British is it? thanks Rocket! i couldn't tell you a thing about the open-wheel car - my mind, at this point, was unable to absorb any more - but i'm betting it's American, as that's one of the themes of the museum. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Pics of the mythical Traub -- Sweet! FB, I expect pics of the Unicorn and Sasquatch to follow shortly Excellent work, sir, excellent work. thanks BigDad! imagine not only being able to see the Traub, but actually TOUCH it. this bike "just" sits there, not behind ropes, not behind glass, just sits there, inviting you to stop down and gaze in wonder. the fact that you can get so up close and personal with everything in the museum, is just one of the things that makes this place so special. wouldn't it be awesome to see and hear the Traub run? yet another reason to go back there, the off chance that Dale could be persuaded to fire it up right there in the museum. | ||
| Ebear |
Howdy Ferris!!!! Last year when Tbear and I did the Dragons Tail and Blue Ridge Parkway Holiday He told me he was bringing me to his friends "LITTLE" Museum of American Moto-History......Little did I know that Dale and Travis are Buddies and this is where he brought me!!!!!!!Not only are his Volunteer Curators great but they told me to ask Dale the Serial number to ANY of his Collection!(if memory recalls there were at least 300? bikes there at the time)....he rolled off that number without hesitation!!!!!I think it was the very rare XA I asked about.Did you look at that Vintage Corvette with only like 600 miles on it?He also told Travis and I to go up into his office on the second story corner....inside was a Harley Hummer with 2 engines welded together...the only Twin Hummer in existence!!!Awesome person and the friendliest Motorcycle Collection Owner on earth!!PS....he also fixed my Aprilia when I was there!!Hopefully he told you how he got started! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
howdy Ebear! wow, you've added a couple more cool layers of fascination to this place - thanks! nope, i never really chatted with Dale, but i'll go back someday and maybe get another shot at him. he is indeed very friendly, but he sure don't hold still for very long! i didn't know that TBear and Dale are buds, but now that you mention it, it doesn't surprise me. cool stuff. | ||
| Bomber |
the open wheel race car is, I believe, a Miller -- a gent named Offenhauser worked for Miller for a wheil before going off to start his own bisness I was hankering to go to the museum next week when I'm in that neck of the woods (time and tides prevented me from meeting the tribe earlier), but, Jerry, your pics have made it a MUST for me . . . thanks for priming the pump! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
glad to be of assistance. | ||
| Pdxs3t |
thank you! and if you're diggin' these blurry low-res photos, imagine what spending an afternoon at this place must be like. LOL... You know how I like to take pix's, I could spend day's in there just wandering around workin the camera hard! | ||
| Pdxs3t |
Shel has wanted to spank my ass for years - i might as well give her another reason or two to do so. If I remember correctly, while you were here at Chaos Street, Shel gave you a good one with your Levi's down around your ankles! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
shhhhhhhh, that was supposed to be our little secret... | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 one last postscript from Wheels Through Time: this Pan is mine. it's being raffled off by Dale, to raise money to enhance museum displays and improve lighting. the raffle drawing takes place November 11th, meaning you've still got time to buy tickets ($10 each, or $50 gets you six tickets and a free WTT t-shirt of your choice). but you needn't bother. this Pan is mine. (click here if you REALLY think you have a shot at this thing, but don't come crying to me when Dale pulls one of MY raffle tickets out of the barrel on November 11th. all major credit cards accepted, at 828/926-6266, 9:00 to 5:00 Eastern, seven days a week, but REALLY, why even bother...) (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 06, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
sorry, can't help myself, just one more from WTT, lifted from their website:  Found in "as raced"condition, this rare single cylinder racer was produced in an effort to limit speeds thus creating a "safer" image of motorcycle [board track] racing. The public outcry against large displacent, thin tire, no brake, racing models forced manufacturers to realize the impact on sales for standard models. Difficult years were ahead for the entire industry. This machine is the only one known and carries Serial number #1. It is an important machine in Harley Davidson's racing timeline. Maggie Valley, North Carolina - it ain't THAT far away... | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
listen up people, and bear with me here. i've been to this place, and it had an impact on me. it's STILL impacting me. here's one more link for Wheels Through Time, to a place they call The Time Machine. this link will take you to the Time Machine's introductory video - available in several formats depending on your internet connection speed - and it's worth watching. the video won't crash your computer, is work-safe, and it doesn't cost you anything (in spite of the fact that Dale HOPES you'll pony up a few bucks and join his team). repeat: the intro video is free, and is fabulously entertaining. Dave Despain hosts, and Dale Walksler and his amazing museum - including the 1916 Traub - are the stars. me? i saw this video at the museum, have watched it again several times since i got home, and i'm gonna join the Time Machine Team. the money i spend has already been repaid in full. everything else is just gravy. thanks for listening, and thanks for putting up with my enthusiasm. motorcycles, and the people who ride them, always do that to me. The Time Machine Intro Video Selection Link (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 06, 2006) | ||
| Henrik |
... this Pan is mine Dream on  Henrik | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
i'm dreamin', i'm dreamin'! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
one last note about the Wheels Through Time museum before i move on: Gentleman Jim and i had passed the exit for Maggie Valley on our initial run south to Columbia to meet my son Wade, and i'd thought to myself at the time how cool it would be to someday be able to visit the museum. little did i know that JB2 already had WTT dialed up on our radar screen for a little later in the trip. thanks JB2!  after the museum we went up the street and found a nice place for lunch (after the BBQ joint that the folks at WTT raved so much about turned out to be closed), and Henrik fell in love with another dog! (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 10, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 this little ripper belonged to one of the waitresses at the restaurant, and spends his days in a playpen in the shade behind the restaurant. maybe someday his attitude will match the spikes in his collar, but at this stage he's nothing but a lover - just ask Henrik. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 10, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 you gotta love Oldog! before we head inside he gets the bright idea that poking his head inside this dumpster (in honor of Court Canfield) would make a great photo. i had to agree, but before i could get my camera ready Oldog had his head stuck WAY in, and immediately came out looking a little GREEN - it seems the fermentation factor inside this metal hotbox was a mite overpowering. "Oldog, hang on, I missed the shot!" but try as i might, i couldn't get him to stick his head back in. apparently "GDS" stands for "Garbage Does Stink." (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 10, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 this is the last shot on the day, just a little ambience photo, somewhere on the way back to Franklin - the rest of the time i was too busy riding to play Joe Photog. it was a great day with a great bunch of people, chock-a-block full of passion, adventure and camaraderie. Reepicheep had to disconnect from BRATPAC after lunch and head for his hacienda (in spite of the fact that i leaned on him JUST a bit to pull a "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" on his responsibilities back home...). Reep, it was an honor and pleasure to finally meet you, and i sure enjoyed our quality time together. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 10, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Day 11, Sept. 7th, 2006:  today we'd be leaving Franklin, and FINALLY riding the Blue Ridge Parkway! but not before Oldog got to meet and mingle with Mr. Court Canfield on JB2's cell phone. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 10, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 and not before i tagged Oldog's X1! (Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 10, 2006) |
