<< Dale: Please send this note out to the Classic Rendezvous e-mail group.
I understand now why Mike loved this classic show. What a magical place it was with all those bikes and classic collectors who were just as passionate as Mike was about the bikes and parts. What a great experience, it was really neat.
Mike use to tell me, when he came back from the show that "he did not really have so much stuff, there were others at the show that had much much more then he did"!!! Mike loved collecting and restoring the bikes to their classic condition. He loved riding and sharing riding with others. In fact that's how Mike and I met was on a club ride when he was 20 years old. He looked so young that my sister told me to make sure that he was 18 so that I did not get in trouble with the law!!!!
I know the Classic Rendezvous Vintage Bicycle Award is for the person who gave the most time and effort for classic bikes and I would agree Dale has done that for a number of years. I was glad to hear that Dale was going to be recognized. What was also neat for me was that Dale and Mike were very close friends. Dale was a mentor, a friend and confidant for Mike. Mike loved hanging out at Dale's shop just talking and being together, gossiping about whom had what and did you know such and such type stuff. Mike helped Dale from the first show and loved being in the middle, talking to everyone helping if he could.
Dale and I had talked about getting together this past year and going thru Mike's bikes and stuff and deciding what to sell and for how much. I really did not know much about what was what. Dale and I never did get together because I think we both knew it would be too hard for us. I did not want to keep all of Mike's collection just because it was Mike's. I wanted people, like Mike, who loved the classic stuff to enjoy it and share it and show it at these shows. In some way I think what happened was better than Dale helping me because the way it went I got to meet many more of you and watch you in "buying and trading " and selling parts. So I would like to thank all of you who did come and help me especially, John, Lou, Wayne and the others. Thank-You, Thank-You. It really was a group effort and I did not feel that anyone was really trying to take any thing from me.
To Ken and Dave, Mike would love knowing you guys got his bikes.
To Marshall, Natalie, Mitch and Paul who held my hand the whole way there, I am grateful for all of you being in my life.
To Dale who always listens and gives me a hug and takes cars of my bike needs and who loved Mike like a brother. Thank-You. Mike would have wanted you to check on me from time to time. You helped him more then you will ever know and I often forget that there are others who miss Mike as much as I do.
I want you all to know that Mike just lost his way in this life\u2026\u2026. I am left with loving memories of Mike and he is always in my heart and on my mind. What is comforting to me now is that on the first week-end of May I will have the cirque to go to and I will not stay home and be by myself thinking of Mike. I will be able to come to Greensboro and be crazy with the rest of you. So enjoy the collecting and swapping and next year I will know what I am doing. I hope to see you there.
Mary Richardson >>
Dale Brown cycles de ORO, Inc. 1410 Mill Street Greensboro, North Carolina USA 27408 336-274-5959 Fax 336-274-6360 <A HREF="http://www.cyclesdeoro.com">cyclesdeORO.com</A> <A HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/main.htm">Classic Rendezvous</A>