I don't know if he was a member here but he was a Bigfoot Sidecar Club member. Got word of our Canadian friend's passing this morning. Del West certainly enjoyed his Beemer and he liked to ride it fast. RIP Del.
Also back on May 29th, Ned Akerman, a dear friend and very long time rider and sidecarist passed at the age of 101. He was very well known in the UMCI group. RIP Ned.
Tom, thank you for sharing that info. Never easy to see friends pass away, but at our ages, we are going to see this more and more often.
Hope YOU are well today.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
I met Del at Toad Rock back in 2013 which I believe was the same Bigfoot Rally where you and I first met, Tom.
I remember so well riding with Del from Kaslo, BC to Three Forks up Rt 31A, me on my R1150GSA rig and him on a watercooled 2013 R1200GSA rig. We were with a group of riders and had stopped in Kaslo for coffee. As we mounted up to begin the next leg, Del didn't say anything to me, he just gave me one of those head nods. You know, when you nod your head up not down? I up-nodded him back and IT WAS ON! Only 20 miles to Three Forks, but it was a race! I wasn't able to pass him, but I would late-brake into each of the curves then ride his tail to the exit where he would out-accelerate me to the next curve. God, what fun that was! When we got to the turn-off for Sandon we parked the rigs and waited I shit you not 10 minutes for the rest of the group to arrive. Man, he could fly! As we were waiting for the other fellas I still remember him saying to me "I just wanted to see if you Americans were all talk." I guess I might of been complaining earlier about the slow pokes maybe? We then rode to the ghost town of Sandon and finally up the steep dirt road to the top of Idaho Peak. That was a memorable day!
I have a few pics from that day but no good ones of Del. I did find this one though of him pointing at something in the distance. The white rig is my 1150, and the blue is his 1200. The lid off his right pannier is missing in this pic -- it became unlatched during our ride and went flying off into the bushes. I saw it go and noted the spot in my mind, then we went searching and found it on our way back to Toad Rock.
What a dude he was! RIP. Thanks, Tom.
So you were the other rider that day Drone!! I knew Del and another rider were going way faster than I cared to on unfamiliar roads. Right from Toad Rock into Kaslo, then you two were waiting at the service station just outside Kaslo. "What took you so long?" Del asked. Typical Del. Then the same when we left for the ghost town. That was a wonderful rally, the Bigfoot rally in 2013. But I suspect right now Del is waiting on the other side and when any of us arrive we'll hear him say, "What took you so long?"
I've got photos from that ride and that rally but not sure I have any real good ones of Del either. I think I have some of you because you were our next door neighbor. Petey and I were in Cabin #7 and you were next to us with Kirby in your tent. My favorite issue of the Sidecarist magazine and the only one I have a digital copy of.
One thing I notice now, Drone, looking at the 2013 issue is that I misidentified Kirby's breed.
Quote from Reardan Tom on June 12, 2023, 2:58 pmOne thing I notice now, Drone, looking at the 2013 issue is that I misidentified Kirby's breed.
I think you got it right. You called him a Standard Poodle cross. He's half Standard Poodle and half Giant Schnauzer. Pic of Kirby and my wife playing in the front yard--
