Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/763593
56 nJanuary 2017n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS Heaven on earth Ten years ago, we rode Tail of the Dragon, an 11-mile stretch of leg- endary road tucked into the southeast corner of Tennessee reaching to the western corner of North Carolina. At that time, we'd intended to make the Wheels Through Time Museum part of our trip but horrible weather had put us behind in our travel plans and it never happened. I fi nally got the chance to return to the area this fall and Wheels Through Time was on the must-do list. The museum, if you've been living under a rock, is located in beautiful Maggie Valley and is brought to us by Dale Walksler, former H-D dealer and full- time gearhead. When we arrived, the outbuild- ings, grounds and vehicles were so interesting that I had to force myself inside. Once there, we tagged onto an impromptu tour begin given by WTT host Andy and he told us about fully-restored jewels like the 1909 Reading Standard board track racer in front of us. He was interrupted by Dale himself, who had asked for a few strong backs to help move some bikes. Now, before I sound like too much of a fan boy, I'll explain that I was a Walksler fan before his What's in the Barn TV show days and I don't consider that show to be his greatest contribution to humanity. I appreciate Dale for his vision and dedication to preserving the history of motorcycling and for making his life's work avail- able to the public to enjoy as though it's theirs as well. I tossed my camera to my wife, or to the ground—I can't be sure I was so excited! Then I fol- lowed Dale and Andy out front where we would help push the ultra-rare one- of-36-made 1941 H-D WR Daytona into its waiting display on the second fl oor of the museum. This involved helping push the bike around the driveway leading to the second fl oor, up the ramp and onto the platform where Dale was waiting to help guide it into place. The bike was previously owned by the late Harry Molenaar, an H-D dealer in Hammond, Indiana, and while I tried to take this all in, I would later realize these opportunities are created several times a day at WTT and are truly part of the experience. Now, that's not to say that you're guaranteed to meet Dale Walksler every time you go there, or that you will get to go hands-on with a rare bike, but you might. As for Andy, he graciously resumed his tour guide duties and we rejoined him several times during our visit as he shared several stories of the bikes and of his own world trav- els with us. He volunteered to take pictures of us with our favorite bikes and while you might think this was because of my connection to THUNDER PRESS, you would be wrong. I hadn't even told him about that, but it even- tually came up and don't you know that Dale recalled Editor Robert Filla's coverage of his 2007 record attempt run at Talladega, and was highly com- plimentary of same. Dale, rider Wayne Stanfi eld, and their team attempted to break Fred "Ironman" Ham's 70-year- old record of 1,825 miles in 24 hours on a '37 Knucklehead, but came up a bit short, logging 1,325 miles. Their effort was no less spectacular, but allows for sincere appreciation of Ham's accomplishments in 1937. Wheels Through Time is a national treasure. You can hear, touch and even smell the history in the cavernous building and it is amazing. Walksler started many bikes throughout the day and even several cars. It was a dream- like experience for me, seeing these people doing what they, and I, love and making it feel like it was all there just for me, even though I know it is all of ours to share. It was like your dad tossing you the keys to his prized 5-speed sports car on prom night. Dale really wants people to enjoy what he values in these treasured bikes in a friendly, clean, but non-sterile envi- ronment. It would be impossible to describe the bikes here—a Flying Merkel, two Crockers and the belle of the ball, a one-of-one Traub. If you can't get there right away, you can enjoy the prolifi c Wheels Through Time Facebook page includ- ing regular live streams. What you'll see there are great old bikes being started, some of them being cantanker- ous and diffi cult and Walksler enjoying every minute of it. He hasn't forgotten what it's like to be just like us, because in many ways he still is. Walksler makes the wheels spin forward while the hands on the clock seem to go counterclockwise at least while you're in his world. SEPTEMBER 2014 0914_TPW 14th annual Las Vegas BikeFest event map... see page 54 See page 72 $4.99 HOLLISTER RALLY 2014 Reclaiming the 'Birthplace of the American Biker' See "Hollister," page 12, column 1 by "Rambler" Steve Austin Hollister, Calif., July 4–6—The town of Hollister will forever be known as the "Birthplace of the American Biker," and the 2014 Hollister Motorcycle Rally once again brought thousands of bikers and enthusiasts to the quiet, tree-lined little town. As is the custom, however, the town is not very quiet around rally time—and this year was not going to be an exception. ! Northern exposure See page 30 CANADIAN ROCKIES M OTORCYCLE TOUR INDIAN MOTORCYCLE FOR 2015 30 NOVEMBER 2014 1114_TPW Celebration of the century... see page 13 See page 12 $4.99 See page 22 See "Street Vibrations," page 34, column 1 by "Rambler" Steve Austin 5(121 (96(37±²8SLQQRUWKHUQ&DOLIRUQLDDQG1HYDGDWKHODVWELJELNHUHYHQWDQGWUDGLWLRQDO HQGRIVXPPHUEDVKLVZLWKRXWDGRXEW6WUHHW9LEUDWLRQVLQ5HQRDQGWKHVXUURXQGLQJUHJLRQ)RXUGD\VRIULGLQJ SRNHUUXQVVFDYHQJHUKXQWVFHOHEULW\DSSHDUDQFHVEDQGVELNHVKRZVYHQGRUVUXQLQVZLWK/DG\/XFNERWK JRRGDQGEDGQLJKWO\VKRZV²DOOLQDSODFHWKDWVSDZQHGJROG VLOYHUJDPEOLQJ0DUN7ZDLQDQG/HYLMHDQV SEPTEMBER 2014 0914_TPN Delmarva Bike Week and OC BikeFest event map... see page 49 See page 30 $4.99 See page 66 See "Roar on the Shore," page 12, column 1 by Ernie Copper Erie, Pa., July 16-20—"Born to be Wild" by John Kay & Steppenwolf has de¿ ned bikerdom since 1969. When they appear live at a motorcycle rally, as they did in Erie at the 8th iteration of Roar on the Shore on Friday night, the world simply must stop spin- ning and attend. And it did. Roar spokeswoman Tammy Polanski estimated the attendance at this rally was at least 125,000. 6HSW731&RYHULQGG 30 30 The GIFT that keeps giving! Sign up today to receive one year (12 months) for only $29. A sav- ings of HALF OFF the cover price. It's that easy. ✓ Go to thunderpress.net/subscribe check the gifting box ❆ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❆