Now totally off topic but here goes, I have always wanted to visit the Trev Deeley museum, or it used to be called that. For years had been going to the Canadian Vintage bike show and swap meet up Tsawwassen BC Canada. My friend Todd Copan and his family have been running that event 30 plus years.
Sadly, The mgmt at the Delta rec center got to be too difficult and the event was moved to Cloverdale BC.
* Hint Hint, Next event is coming soon! See:
http://www.classicbikeswapmeet.com/Road trip??
It has always been on my agenda to go to the museum and dealership and been hearing stories about them for years. In the past there has also been a Saturday event on the US Side at Mt Vernon Wa, And was never able to line up the time to go/see/do everything. Then they cut back the hours of the museum as well as the volume of bikes in there. Still would like to go, but the story is that the Deeley Dealership was also a very important dealer for many Marques and Harley would ship up many unique bikes to test the waters with them, They ended up keeping many of these low production and prototypes and were exhibited in their display. So they were a must see for many in the AMCA Clubs (Antique MC Club of America) and been a lot of magazine articles about their bikes.
I am certain all their BSA Stuff is gone these days, But I do know a English nutter living in BC who pulled out a super rare trials bike out of there and then took it racing. Collectors were appalled, and it created a bit of a stir for a while this madman was splashing around in the mud, rocks and trees with such a rare bike.
Kens response was simply "When I cant get my race gear on anymore I will worry about show & shines"
IIRC it was a Greeves and only a few were made, Somewhere I have a picture of it lashed to the back of his van, He sometimes camped at our farm doing long road trips for AHRMA events.
https://www.trevdeeley.com/learn-more-about-us--xinfo" To say that Trev Deeley loved motorcycles would be an understatement. He raced, rode, repaired, collected, sold, distributed and talked motorcycles throughout his life.
In 1917 Trev's grandfather, Fred Deeley Sr., began selling Harley-Davidson® motorcycles on Granville Street in Vancouver. Trev's father, Fred Jr., took over running the motorcycle operation in 1925. The business moved to 915 West Broadway a few years later. In 1950 they moved to 606 East Broadway.
During the 1940's and 1950's Trev dominated flat track motorcycle racing in the Northwest. He became a factory sponsored rider for Harley-Davidson®. His bikes bore the number 22 as an AMA expert national plate holder, the first Canadian to have this honor. After retiring from racing, Trev continued to affiliate with the sport through sponsoring and tutoring new riders. Champions like Yvon Duhamel, Barry Sheen, Steve Baker, Jim Allen, Don Vesco, and Pete Kellond had the benefit of Trev's support.
In 1953, Trev was appointed General Manager of Fred Deeley Motorcycles. Four years later he became the first Honda motorcycle distributor in the English speaking world. In 1973 the Harley-Davidson® Motor Company asked him to become its exclusive Canadian distributor. The distribution company was named Fred Deeley Imports Ltd in honor of the family's history in the motorcycle business. The retail store was renamed Trev Deeley Motorcycles in 1975 when Trev and his partners purchased the retail portion from Fred Deeley Imports.
In 1985 Trev became the first non-American on the board of directors for Harley-Davidson® Motor Company. He retired from the board in 1993.
In 1995 Trev Deeley was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. This followed with the induction into the AMA Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. In 1997 Trev became the first Canadian to receive the Dudley Perkins Award for his outstanding contribution to the sport of motorcycling.
Trev Deeley's impact on the world of motorcycling in general, and Harley-Davidson® in particular, continues today through the Fairview Campus of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. The Trev Deeley Building was made possible by Trev's donation of $750,000. Its main role is to train and certify Harley-Davidson® technicians for dealerships across Canada.
The number 22 AMA Expert plate that was Trev Deeley's racing number is proudly displayed at Trev Deeley Motorcycles in honor of a great sportsman, businessman and Canadian.
We have moved to a larger building expanding our facilities for our customers at 1875 Boundary Road in Vancouver. Our newly expanded dealership features the Trev Deeley Collection under the name of Deeley Motorcycle Exhibition.
The Exhibition has photos and mementos from Trev's racing past as well as motorcycles from almost every era. This is a must for "Motorcycle Enthusiasts".
