Reuniting my Grandfather with his old motorcycle after 60 years apart!

I'm Vince am Belt, I'm Bill and Wilma's middle child and I raised five kids, two older kids, two younger kids. I'm on a committee here in Winchester, we run Winchester Bike Knights, so we started this last summer and we have everyone. different types of bicycles, we have old bicycles, new bicycles, old bicycles. I got to thinking last year that Dad's birthday was coming up and I said wouldn't it be great to have his old bike, a 1956 dkw. It would be great to reunite those two after they were 60. He also left the bike with his bike for

years

. brother Garrett because dad had to come to Canada so he said, "Do anything if you can sell it," so a local gentleman bought it and drove it for about four

years

and then dad. lost track of the bike, he actually found out where it went for dad this year, you're turning 90 and you were just a few days away from your 60th wedding anniversary, but for all intents and purposes, we'll say you did it, we found each other.

This photo, do you remember that photo? Yes, mom with me, of course, the engine to tell you a couple of years ago. You know, if you remember, they sent us photos of the restoration of it. Remember all the parts of the bicycle. There are old, rusty shock absorbers on the side. the containers absorb the hits from their engine guards and then the next picture shows there is the frame, everything is chipped, all the paint is gone, the wheels were all rusted, the engine looks like it has seen better days. I can't believe it, it has so much Sunday, yeah, because you never saw it, so there was a guy named Haim Johnson and he restored this bike, restored it and got it in beautiful shape, so last year I called him and asked him If you could send me some photos and also some parts of the bike. bike, he agreed to send you a couple of pieces for your special event, so I think you remember this part here.

Do you remember that plate that is the original plate when you had it? Yes, and then he also sent another thing about this here is the original. property and if you look down here, it has all the specs here, the bike, the size, the serial number and your name still on it, so we had all the original documentation, yeah, yeah, how many years ago, 60 years ago, probably next week when you left that. on a bike so dad we've got another little surprise for you you know we have bike nights in Winchester here in the summer we've got all the

motorcycle

s so we took some of the pictures and blown them up so off we go. continue to expose them for Bike Night in the summer, so the first one is a full size humor.

I like it and it was taken 60 years ago yesterday. It was a shame, a shame Mom wasn't around to enjoy the day. I wish it was, we took another picture for you too, dad, it's you and the boys, yeah, so he and Garrett are sitting in that luggage rocking J's and that's your cousin, yeah, and there you are with a big cigar, yes, and you try to resume your natural ending. movie yeah well we have one more little surprise for you and we agreed that well I won't talk about it we'll just show you so stay there and maybe I'll talk as I go.

So you have an old friend from 60 years ago that you left behind and Dad, it is a great honor for me to be reunited with your long lost friend. This is your old bike, you know, come take a look, maybe we can help you. Outside, do you remember this one? Yes, that's your bike. I got mine and we brought it. We brought her to you so that you can stay in the Sam Bell family. Thanks, see you, thanks, hey, just take a step up, remember all the things? dad - brings back some memories oh yeah oh yeah you're getting bigger I don't think this was added that wasn't in any of the photos there's that key we were talking about last night Billy, good house, I feel you, I feel you same P, yeah, yeah, it's only been around for 60 64 years, there's four owners, so it went in a shipping container that he left.

They picked it up after Christmas from the Himes house, the owner's house picked it up with the trailer they took it to. In Rotterdam they cleaned the bike so we had to clean it before our goal was on the ship, like disinfect it, and then they put it in a container with two other cars and it went to Montreal and then it was supposed to go by train to Toronto, but We ran into a lot of problems, did customs take the trailer out to inspect it and there was one obstacle after another, so thanks for the patience because I was very patient with it and it took me two and a half months sitting in Montreal and we finally got home the day before my mom passed away, yes, it was a long trip, but it was worth it and we thought you would love this, yes, yes.

I'm sure I can't find the words to say it.