Dale Walksner

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sfr4201

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Feb 4, 2021, 10:05:53 PM2/4/21
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Just found out that Dale Walksner passed away on February 3rd.Dale who?Better known for the cable tv show, Wheels Through Time, about a vintage motorcycle museum somewhere in North Carolina.Did not see all the episodes, but the ones l did see were really good.R.I.P.,and thankyou for keeping turn of the century motorcycles alive......


           ...E-Steve...






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Jim Baker

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Feb 4, 2021, 10:41:56 PM2/4/21
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Sad.  Wheels Thru Time was in my backyard when I lived back east.  It's an amazing museum.  Sad to lose him, and here's hoping that he left the museum provided for. 

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Jim Kerick

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Feb 4, 2021, 10:42:22 PM2/4/21
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The location is out in Maggie Valley, NC. The western part on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a great area for riding.

I met Dale at his museum the one time I was there. He was gregarious and genuine. He was giving kids rides in an old (of course) side car rig and talking to the crowd. 

Sad news. He really loved preserving the old machines, and wanted each one to run and be enjoyed.

-Jim Kerick

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Steve Smith

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Feb 5, 2021, 9:51:55 AM2/5/21
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The coolest thing about his museum is that many of the displays are set up in period correct settings such as old gas stations and other places where people rode bike. Since the museum was using American settings, the collection is heavily Harley-Davidson but lots of other bikes and cars are there too. It’s an amazing place. 

There was an ongoing dispute between Dale and the city about the size of the sign on the highway for his museum that got so rancorous that Dale threatened to move the whole thing out of Maggie Valley. I don’t remember what became of that but he never moved. 

I was able to visit it back in 2008 on a solo trip out east that lasted about 3 weeks. Here’s a couple of pictures that I took out of about 50. 

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LARRY POAGUE

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Feb 5, 2021, 10:07:48 AM2/5/21
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I had a  M.C. trip planned to Maggie Valley N.C. for June of 2020, to visit “Wheels Through Time” museum.
But, like everything else, they closed up for an indefinite time.
His Son was a big part of the TV show and museum. I assume he will proceed, unless Covid forces a permanent closure.
Or, he could liquidate the museum inventory (which is quite valuable) and retire to the South of France ??

sfr4201

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Feb 5, 2021, 11:14:47 AM2/5/21
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Like to go there,one day, if son Matthew can keep this going?Steve, do you have pictures of 
any of the board track race bikes?

                     E-Steve


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Norman Wright

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Feb 5, 2021, 11:59:11 AM2/5/21
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I've been to the museum three times and met Dale once when he went around with our group explaining the history of many of the bikes.  He was a Harley Dealer in suburban Chicago before selling and retiring to establish his museum.  Sad loss, I agree with the hope that the museum is well funded for the future.  The difference between Wheels and Barber is stark.  Barber is all spit and polish and do not touch.  With wheels you were free to sit on almost every bike or touch the other displays.  It's a great experience.  REST IN PEACE!

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Jim Baker

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Feb 5, 2021, 2:31:42 PM2/5/21
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Hey Larry, perhaps this goes without saying but if you're gonna make that kind of trip, you should also do the Barber Museum.  I need to go back myself; he had 1000 bikes, 990 running, when I went there in the mid-2000s; I've heard it's doubled since then.

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Steve Smith

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Feb 5, 2021, 4:22:02 PM2/5/21
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E-Steve, I took a lot of pictures when I was there, I’ll look though them and see what I have. It might take me a day or so to get to it but I’ll let you know what I find. 

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sfr4201

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Feb 5, 2021, 4:25:22 PM2/5/21
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No worries Steve, take  your time,besides,you have snow that needs to be shoveled.........

Steve Smith

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Feb 5, 2021, 4:27:26 PM2/5/21
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Nope, it melted away this week. It finally hit the 50s on Wednesday. 

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