Got this link in an email today and I must confess it brought a tear to the old eye! Back in 1983 Sherman Schroeder and two other fellows started a group called the British Motorcycle Association of Colorado. These guys were not your run of the mill Harley riders. They rode the bikes that were known as British, for whatever reason.
When I met Sherman he was forever telling me about his Matchless, his Norton, his featherbed frame, his TT Special and I had no idea what he was talking about. I was in his garage and all I saw was motorcycles in various states of repair or disrepair depending much on the eye of the beholder. I , myself, thought it was a hell of a mess. Then dear Sherman was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I got the wake up call of my young life.
Mark Bosworth, a life long friend of Sherman's, came from St. Louis. He had a pickup and a trailer and in the trailer was a Norton motorcycle that Sherman had ridden 30 years earlier. It was restored to pristine condition by Mark. He had even gone so far as to have decals painted because they did not make the decals anymore. Sherman was tickled to death. I have a picture on my desk of Mark, Steve Vallejo, Sherman, Dave Irving, and Ken Ito standing behind the Norton. If you look closely you can see Cleo, the dog. This was the first labor of love.
In Colorado Springs is a beautiful man name Dana Robbins. He took the Matchless, which gave new meaning to "Basket Case" and restored it to museum quality. I want you to just click on that link and see for yourself! You can even hear it run and it is smooth as butter. And check the garage. Sherman was always fascinated with Dana's garage. He used to tell me "It is neat as a pin. It is so nice you could take a date there.!" Dana has worked very hard putting this bike back into running order and there is no way that this was done with anything but love.
Over the last year or so I have had occasion to spend time with many of Sherman's friends. They have all treated me with the same love they had for Sherman and I am touched beyond words by all of them. So as I settle in for a night alone I leave you with this video made and posted by the man who built the Matchless, Dana Robbins, a wonderful man who shared Sherman's love of the British Motorcycles. A heart felt thank you to Dana for a true labor of love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y57dnNtUk_Q&feature=youtu.be
