Darren Bedford
PCS Member
A friend of mine for the last 20 years or so passed away March 16th 2014 after a couple year battle with cancer. He was 57 years old.
He lived and worked in Michigan and was very well known in the community.
He owned a huge bicycle shop and was known worldwide as a Schwinn bicycle guru and the go-to guy for historical knowledge. They called him "BicycleDon". He worked in that bicycle shop for over 40 years starting as a teenager and then owning it. He always had hundreds of bikes on display ready to ride. It was a old furniture store with lots of room !
Besides being a bicycle guru, he was a real car guy and had owned some very cool cars in his time. He spent a lot of his teenage years at the Detroit Drag strip and loved everything cars.
His very first car was a 1960 Cadillac and later owned a 1960 Cadillac convertible. He knew a lot about Cadillacs and has been driving them for the last 10 years as well.
I had my 1962 MM Landau and my 1960 S/S 3way shipped to his house when I bought them. Then went down and cleared customs and drove them home from there.
When he saw the 1960 arrive on the car hauler, he said it brought back memories of his 1960 Cadillacs and he talked about them proudly.
He was a car culture guy loving Rat Fink, pinstripping, hot rods, engines, speed parts, etc.
A couple weeks ago he sent me a note asking if I would bring down the 1960 hearse for his last ride when the time came. I replied saying I would have it there for him. He replied saying he had a smile from ear to ear and there are some tears too. He said he was so happy I would bring the 1960 for his final ride. He also sent a note saying he hopes it will be a long time before he needed that ride.
As it turned out that ride was required just a week later.
Well, keeping my word, I got the 1960 out of winter storage and headed to Michigan with my 54 year old baby. I headed down on March 18th.
I was extremely worried about driving my pride and joy in the winter with the weather being very random this year. I was so worried about road salt !
It turned out not to bad at all and as soon as I arrived I stopped at the spray it yourself type car wash and washed off the little that was on the car.
The next morning, I washed it again just because and got the car ready for the funeral.
The day was quite nice and he was loaded into the hearse and driven to the cemetery. After the reception following the funeral, I drove back to put the car back into the garage.
The drive home was awesome with dry roads the whole way. No salt on the way home.
The car was flawless and drove like a couple year old car, not a 54 year old car. I was thrilled !
The hearse was a photo opp constantly before the funeral including along the procession route.
I was very surprised as we were driving the procession route that the tire shop Don bought his car tires from had two vintage Schwinn bicycles set out on the sidewalk in front of the shop to show support for a lost friend. Very cool indeed ! :thumbsup:
I was very pleased I was able to provide the last ride to a friend, car guy and lover of Cadillacs, in his favorite year, a 1960 Cadillac.
I wish that little bit of salt never touched my car but in general, it was very little and much better than it could have been.
Rest in peace Don !
You will be missed brother,
Darren
P.S. I met a man at the funeral who says he visits this site and loves all old cars. He mentioned the Professional Car Society by name ! Small world !
I would post photos but for some reason I am no longer able to.
He lived and worked in Michigan and was very well known in the community.
He owned a huge bicycle shop and was known worldwide as a Schwinn bicycle guru and the go-to guy for historical knowledge. They called him "BicycleDon". He worked in that bicycle shop for over 40 years starting as a teenager and then owning it. He always had hundreds of bikes on display ready to ride. It was a old furniture store with lots of room !
Besides being a bicycle guru, he was a real car guy and had owned some very cool cars in his time. He spent a lot of his teenage years at the Detroit Drag strip and loved everything cars.
His very first car was a 1960 Cadillac and later owned a 1960 Cadillac convertible. He knew a lot about Cadillacs and has been driving them for the last 10 years as well.
I had my 1962 MM Landau and my 1960 S/S 3way shipped to his house when I bought them. Then went down and cleared customs and drove them home from there.
When he saw the 1960 arrive on the car hauler, he said it brought back memories of his 1960 Cadillacs and he talked about them proudly.
He was a car culture guy loving Rat Fink, pinstripping, hot rods, engines, speed parts, etc.
A couple weeks ago he sent me a note asking if I would bring down the 1960 hearse for his last ride when the time came. I replied saying I would have it there for him. He replied saying he had a smile from ear to ear and there are some tears too. He said he was so happy I would bring the 1960 for his final ride. He also sent a note saying he hopes it will be a long time before he needed that ride.
As it turned out that ride was required just a week later.
Well, keeping my word, I got the 1960 out of winter storage and headed to Michigan with my 54 year old baby. I headed down on March 18th.
I was extremely worried about driving my pride and joy in the winter with the weather being very random this year. I was so worried about road salt !
It turned out not to bad at all and as soon as I arrived I stopped at the spray it yourself type car wash and washed off the little that was on the car.
The next morning, I washed it again just because and got the car ready for the funeral.
The day was quite nice and he was loaded into the hearse and driven to the cemetery. After the reception following the funeral, I drove back to put the car back into the garage.
The drive home was awesome with dry roads the whole way. No salt on the way home.
The car was flawless and drove like a couple year old car, not a 54 year old car. I was thrilled !
The hearse was a photo opp constantly before the funeral including along the procession route.
I was very surprised as we were driving the procession route that the tire shop Don bought his car tires from had two vintage Schwinn bicycles set out on the sidewalk in front of the shop to show support for a lost friend. Very cool indeed ! :thumbsup:
I was very pleased I was able to provide the last ride to a friend, car guy and lover of Cadillacs, in his favorite year, a 1960 Cadillac.
I wish that little bit of salt never touched my car but in general, it was very little and much better than it could have been.
Rest in peace Don !
You will be missed brother,
Darren
P.S. I met a man at the funeral who says he visits this site and loves all old cars. He mentioned the Professional Car Society by name ! Small world !
I would post photos but for some reason I am no longer able to.
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