Wheels Through Time

SouthportFLRT

60+ Posts
Feb 2, 2023
93
152
Southport, NC
Name
James
My wife and I are currently in Denver NC visiting my best friend from college and his wife. Today, Sunday, heading to Maggie Valley to tour the Wheels Through Time museum. One of my "bucket list" items especially after moving from Ohio to North Carolina. I admit I watch Matt Walksler's YouTube channel with great appreciation for everything he, Matt, has done to continue the legacy that his father, Dale, created. All American-made motorcycles that today start and run nearly as well as the first day each bike rolled off their respective assembly line. Should be a great day.
 
My wife and I are currently in Denver NC visiting my best friend from college and his wife. Today, Sunday, heading to Maggie Valley to tour the Wheels Through Time museum. One of my "bucket list" items especially after moving from Ohio to North Carolina. I admit I watch Matt Walksler's YouTube channel with great appreciation for everything he, Matt, has done to continue the legacy that his father, Dale, created. All American-made motorcycles that today start and run nearly as well as the first day each bike rolled off their respective assembly line. Should be a great day.
I first met Dale when he had the dealership over in Ind. we stopped in for something & he introduced himself & had a small version of WTT in back . he took us through that & when he moved to NC made an even bigger version. fast forward 15-20 yrs & we found ourselves in NC & meeting up with him again. great guy. If you have never been to Wheels. take time
 
If anyone is on the West Coast near Santa Barbara there is a pretty good motorcycle museum in the town of Solvang, CA. Solvang is a small Danish village on Hwy. 246 in the Santa Inez mountains just east of Santa Barbara. It is about 15 miles from the "Neverland Ranch". The owner of the museum has some pretty unique motorcycles and they all run. He has a Honda Race bike that Honda has been trying to buy back He was offered in the high seven figures for it. Honda built 4 bikes, one was destroyed in a wreck on the racetrack, two that Honda has. there was a three wheeler that was built by Mercedes in the late 1880's. The museum is located an Alisal road.
 
As everyone that has had the pleasure of visiting Dale's Wheels Through Time will confess...his son, Matt, has simply done an outstanding job of preserving and increasing the collection of bikes and memorabilia. On both Sunday and Monday, my wife and I had the pleasure of talking with Matt.....a true and humble gentleman....and as I mentioned to him...he is a veritable sponge of absorbing and using the wisdom and knowledge that that has been so generously provided by his Father and those that also have been instrumental in passing along their own respective knowledge. Indeed, Matt is the Captain that has taken the helm of the museum and continues to steer it in a direction that should allow generations of enthusiasts to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of all the incredible equipment on display. "The museum that runs". So very true. As I mentioned to Matt...my favorite bike of the hundreds on display is a very recent restoration. A 1941 Knucklehead done in Cruiser Green. She is a beauty.

Our first time visiting DWTT but certainly not our last. All of the staff are welconing to the "guests" that keep Dale's vision alive and growing. And the staff are incredibly knowledgeable as well. Each and every one.

20250720_130015.jpg
 
Have you seen this one there?
View attachment 138865
I honestly do not recall seeing that particular bike. But to be honest, I was more interested in the older bikes. Perhaps it was on the 2nd floor....spent time admring the Sportster collection...and maybe, just maybe...if memory serves...it was on display next to the Sportsters. Several bikes of that era and earlier (think AMF days) were displayed.
 
That bike is quite rare as it is the 1984 with the Evo motor, with Shovel transmission, primary and enclosed chain drive. Dale was looking for one of those and I happen to find one, I donated it to the museum. Never had a chance to meet the man, but I was happy to donate the bike to the collection. (y)
 

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