Remembering Dale Walksler

Dale (center) Presenting Mark & Molly With Lifetime Donorship Portrait

By: Mark & Molly InfIeld

Every once in a while, you are fortunate to meet

someone who is remarkable. When we first met Dale Walksler, there was just something about him…I think it is called charisma. He was promoting his museum, new to North Carolina, and from Illinois. He had moved his collection from Mt. Vernon Illinois to Maggie Valley North Carolina. Little did we know then what a treasure Dale and his museum would become to motorcycle enthusiasts in NC.

Our first encounter with Dale was at Rockingham Dragway in 2002 when he was promoting the opening the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC. Amidst the booths of t-shirts and motorcycle parts, Dale set out an antique display case on which to place his literature for the upstart museum which has become the jewel of western North Carolina and a starting point for many local and national events of interest to motorcycle aficionados.

Over the years, we have had many occasions to interact with Dale, son Matt, and the staff at Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum. Sometimes it was delivering magazines or on one of our many visits to Maggie Valley. In May of 2012, Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum hosted the 2nd Annual Kickstart Classic. I rode my ’51 H-D Panhead and Molly drove the truck pulling our trailer in the event that anyone broke down and needed a lift. We got to know Dale, Buzz Kanter, editor of American Iron, and Pete Hill, legendary drag racer, on that ride. We rode from Maggie, up on the Parkway to CrossRoads Harley-Davidson in North Wilkesboro and then on to the AMCA National Swap Meet in Denton, NC. I didn’t break down, but Molly did help another rider get to North Wilkesboro. While the pan didn’t break down on the 300 mile shake down, Matt did come to my rescue several times when I couldn’t persuade her to refire after a stop. After our arrival in Denton, Dale narrated the “History In Motion” parade of antique motorcycles at the event.

Dale had that kind of personality that made you want to join in at whatever he was doing. He loved motorcycles and his eyes would sparkle when telling one of his stories about a new acquisition for the museum. His excitement and enthusiasm in sharing the new exhibits or bikes was infectious. He was a storyteller extraordinaire.

One time when we visited DWTT museum, we were standing just inside the entrance when I mentioned to Dale that I was looking for a dash backing plate for my 51 pan. Dale smiled and reached down into a cardboard box full of assorted items and pulled the part I needed out and handed it to me. The story was that the previous owner had passed on and would be glad for me to have it.

If you haven’t visited Dale’s Wheels Through Time and were expecting a sterile, pristine display of famous motorbikes, you might be taken aback when you arrive. Dale is telling the history of motorcycles at the Wheels Through Time, complete with dirt floor bike shops, hill climber display, and rusted, dusty parts and paraphernalia. Take your time to

absorb all that the museum contains, the bikes, the motorcycle apparel, posters, toys displayed on antique cabinets, advertising signs, art, and mementoes. The real gritty tale of American motorcycles in all their glory – the war machines, the board track racers, the one of a kind machines – all have their place in the historic tale told by Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum.

We believe Dale’s spirit will haunt, in a good way, the Wheels Through Time Museum for years to come as Matt and the crew of workers and volunteers carry on the vision of documenting the history of motorcycles. And, by the way, the museum isn’t called ‘the museum that runs’ for fun, their motto is: “If it doesn’t run, it’s probably out of gas.” One of our fondest memories of Dale is watching him jump start some old, rusted bike that looked like it hadn’t run in years and come roaring out from the back of the museum down the aisle and out the front doors to the amazement of the visitors!

Check out WheelsThroughTime.com to view Dale’s restoration videos, information of the 2021 raffle bike, and opportunities for museum support like Dale’s Donorship program. In 2017, we became “Lifetime Donors” to help sustain long term growth of Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum and have a beautiful framed and numbered David Uhl portrait of Dale discovering a Crocker motor and a donorship certificate.

His legacy will continue to “run” as Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum will reopen on April 1, 2021. We urge you to visit Maggie Valley and tour the best motorcycle -transportation museum in the country.