The Man Behind The History 

I have to tell this story... I went to the museum on one our trips to Waynesville, NC. My wife is not into motorcycles, but she would go with me an knit when I wandered around the museum. I came back to where she was sitting (knitting) and she was talking to Dale. He found out she was a retired school teacher of 37 years and set up the reading program at the school where she worked. He had an idea for organizing the paper information, documents and books that he had collected prior to that point. The two of them were so into the discussion that neither one of them noticed the group of men that came and went during their discussion. I just came back and sat across from them and did not even try to interrupt. Then when he found out my daughter was into painting and wanted to do pin stripping on cars, (she has done some things for me on my cars) he took her around showing her various paint details on bikes for about and hour. I found it funny how driven and also how nice and caring he was as a person from watching these interactions. Dale did not know us but his caring is contagious. Our family was very saddened by his passing and he will always be remember with fondness, What a great guy he was..

My ex wife and I showed up at the museum before it officially opened. Dale saw our plates from Tennessee and knew we traveled far. He also could see our love of motorcycles and told us to just let ourselves in and take all the pictures you want and to feel at home. R.I.P. DALE, AND THANK YOU.

Luckily for us Matt has the same characteristics as his father and we can all still enjoy the legacy Dale built.

Matt I started watching your channel about a year ago and had no idea who your father was. One of the things I noticed and liked so much about your channel is how much you love your Dad. It was obvious in the way you talk about him. Very special. I hope my kids will talk about me in the same you talk about your dad someday.

One of the best videos EVER. God Bless Dale and his family. One day I’m riding to Wheels through Time Museum and I’ll take it all in.

Your dad was an inspiration to everybody that loves American motorcycling history or just motorcycles in general. And lucky for us We still have that in you Matt! Keep on doing what you love!

I found so much joy in watching Dale on "Whats in the Barn?" I decided to go up to the Maggie valley and see this museum, boy was I amazed. Dale basically created the Disney World for motorcycle lovers. Cheers to Wheels through Time and family!

Perfect tribute. Thanks for your passion and legacy Dale. I’m sure he’s even more proud to see how Matt is carrying the torch

Dale is a hard act to follow. But Matt is doing the job admirably. A great team

I didnt know much about Dale before now, but it left a lasting impression learning about him today . Thank you.

Missing Dale. Met him years ago. Always went out of his way for me and my family when we visited. His picture hangs on my wall.

Amazing Man. Gone to soon. Great to see that Matt shares Dale's enthusiasm for the machines and history. Thanks Matt, for all you do for us distant fans!

Thanks Matt, I lost my dad in 2016, He was also one of a kind. A lifelong craftsman, hot rodder, and all around good man and father, I miss him every single day. Thanks for all you do bud, sincerely, God bless!

30K miles into my solo RTW on my Triumph, I bumped into a cheerful guy at a gas station in Nevada. He asked about my story, insisted on buying me breakfast, made me feel special, and invited me to stay in the trailer at his "Motorcycle Collection' in North Carolina ...... That man was Dale, and his collection was Wheels Through Time... Legend. Hero. Giant of a Man. Thank you Dale.

Great video awesome tribute to the man! Never met him but still loved him... Cause of his awesome work!

What a fantastic retrospective, all of you! What a great episode, Matt! Thanks very much, to everyone involved!✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦

I'm so glad you did this video, Dale was amazing person with a contagious passion for the motorcycles!

Thanks Dale and the whole Wheels Through Time staff for building one of my favorite places to go. Looking forward to my yearly visit this summer!

Going into Wheels Through Time with Dale there was more like walking into a friends garage than museum. Thankfully it’s the same with Matt!

Wish I could give this more than one thumbs up!

Dale's passion for motorcycles reminded me of my fathers. Cancer sucks. I miss them both. 🇺🇲

A really sad moment when I heard of Dales passing. I took my son to Wheels thru time on one of our bike trips a few years ago. Dale was there and as busy as I've ever seen anyone. But he still made the time to greet us and make us fell welcome. He was one of a kind. The kind of guy that we should all aspire to be. RIP Dale!

I remember walking around for hours with Matt and Dale, exploring every inch of that museum. I was only about 13 years old and just starting to have interest in “old” stuff. They really went out of their way, were so incredibly kind, and eager to share their passion. I remember going back in the shop and being shown exactly what they do to bring these back to life. I really believe the 2 of them and that experience, was what got me hooked, and pointed me in the direction of what I do now. Dale really was a good one. Thank you Matt for continuing to rescue and preserve these incredible machines and stories.

The man

Hello from Detroit Michigan brother thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise and for taking us on your adventure through time on too wheels

"The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree", Matt I know Dad would be proud and pleased with the way you have stepped up to the mark, proud of the man you are.

I didn’t know we lost Dale until now. He was one of the nicest guys I ever met. I swung by before the museum was open, dale came out and said “ you are far from home(saw my Ma plates and military base sticker), we aren’t open but go in and check it out”. RIP to a great guy

A really touching tribute to a very special man. After seeing him on American Pickers, WTT became a bucket list destination for me. We just checked off that visit in September and all I can say is Wow! Dale left a beautiful family and an amazing legacy and all too many beautiful friends. Oh the Museum is pretty special too.

I first met Dale just outside the closed gate of wheels through time. My wife and I were traveling through on my motorcycle, the museum was closed but he came riding out on an old bike,,,I said wow that looks like it came straight out of the Jack Pine,,,,he laughed and said,well it did. He opened up the museum and showed us around, somewhere towards the back of the museum he said, hey help me put this motorcycle up on this bench,,,he was just a great guy! I told him I retired from the motorcycle business and we talked a long time. He never forgot my face every time I came in. Our last conversation was out front on a beach, he told me he was sick but trying to do his best. I miss him he was a true enthusiast. Ocala Fl.

Noticing I was a BMW rider Dale asked me if I wanted to ride the flat twin Harley developed for desert riding. He said it was similar to a BMW. I'll never forget him letting me ride it around the lot. Have been to WTT 5 times. Will never get tired of it or Maggie Valley.

Inspired once again thank you dale

I remember his place in Mt.Vernon ILL. (My wife's grandparents lived in that area) They are an amazing family ! And it's nice Matt is carrying on that tradition...he is very smart and a cool guy ! P.S. One of these days I would love to check out Wheels Through Time in N.C.

RU-vid definitely needs a "LOVE" button! What an amazing video about an infinitely amazing man. RIP, Dale! Thank you for sharing your passion, knowledge, and just so much of yourself with the world.

I think Dale visited San Jose, Calif with What's In The Barn, where he and his team found a 1903(?) Cadillac....a Cadillac which they got to not only turn over after decades of it bein forgotten in a barn, they got that thing to run...it was awesome...

So Excellent! his life makes me strive to be a better person - accomplishing more, doing more. Matt - you're following up spectacularly!

What a truly humble man. I didn’t know much about your father but I’m amazed at what he did and how he did it. Thank you for sharing his story

A visionary. I love originality. Restored bikes usually look nothing like the original. Paint colour and finishes all wrong.

what a beautiful tribute to a well loved and respected man! this is so awesome! Matt, you are doing a great job keeping his legacy alive both in the museum and in your actions! keep up the great work!

A couple of riders and myself are surely interested in taking a 1st time trip down from Michigan this summer to enjoy all the hard work that Dale, Matt and the crew have set up for everyone at the museum. Thanks for being there for us.👏

Always enjoyed watching him cruising through Maggie Valley on an old motorcycle. It almost took me back to a time in history. Godspeed Dale!

Never seen anyone more excited over his finds in motorcycles and poeple he is definitely missed and always will be looked upto in the motorcycle community and just as a great person in general.

What a story... So lucky to get to see this amazing video!

Dale lived the life for motorcycles that I long to live for God... full of love and passion

Dale's passion for all things old is unparalleled. I truly miss him. The knowledge he had was priceless and I am so glad Matt is carrying on the vision his dad passed on to him.

Respect from New Zealand.

A very amazing man that I had the good fortune to meet. RIP. Dale.

Dale was not working at all........he was playing. An iconic American.

4 o’clock in the morning and im sitting in my garage tearing up. Maybe a million people could think of filling up a big building with motorcycles that all run that span over 100 years of time but only 1 man could actually DO it. He was the most on the go, get things done guy i ever seen. I learned alot from watching Dale on tv and listening to him talk about motorcycles and their history and I’m greatful for the opportunity. I always liked matt and im glad he’s still at it. I’ll learn things from him now.

Great Video 🤘

What an ambassador, and a father figure for American motorcycling, to create such a legacy is truly a mark of somebody very special, without men like this, so much history, personal history would be lost forever, I always enjoy watching things from the museum, its full of passion, and life

I can see them coming over the hill, up there in the sky, one after the other, smiling and laughing. Dale, Rollie Free, Pappy Hoel, Burt Munro, and all the rest. RIP Dale!

I was sad when I saw that Dale passed. He was an amazing man!! He loves ppl and bikes from everything I have ever seen or read about him. Matt is doing a great job carrying the torch for him and the museum. Matt is just like Dale and never has a loss for words and is a complete wealth of knowledge. This museum is amazing!!! I love everything about this place!! The ppl, bikes, history, and last but not least the channel to share the museum with ppl that can't make it to NC. Matt keep up the great work!! Your father is smiling in his grave and so proud of you in the afterlife. Keep up the great work!

A man could go his whole life not expecting anything and not realizing he is the richest man in the whole world just for who he is. This was an overwhelmingly great tribute to a man I never met. He left quite a legacy behind.

Dale was a great guy. I met him and talked with him several times at the museum. Great guy. His son is right, you talk to him, and you feel like you've been friends for years. RIP Dale, you ARE missed. I hope you meet my brother in heaven.

I was blessed to meet Dale Walksler years ago. He is truly a great man for the ages. Thank you Matt et al for preserving Dales's genius.

What a great video. A very long running bucket list item for me is visiting the museum, and it looks like it may come true this year. I wish I could have met Dale, and I think it’s so wonderful that he passed in the knowledge and passion to Matt.

What a tremendous legacy Dale left behind. That passion is ABSOLUTELY conveyed through Matt. It’s truly fascinating to watch these videos and hear such rich stories about the history of motorcycling and these awesome machines. I look forward to visiting soon. That building is a national treasure. Thank you, Dale!

Dale’s spirit will never die !!! ❤️🥀😎

LONG LIVE DALE WALKSLER. As a motorcycle rider all my life and to the core an American motorcycle lover I can say that Nobody in the history of collecting has ever came close to the contributions of saving the heritage and history of American motorcycles as Dale. Everyone in existence who is a motorcycle lover owes this man homage and respect because of his unmatched dedication and work ethic were able to experience history in a pure form and environment exclusive to only one place in the world. Thank you Dale.

What an amazing museum he built. And such a friendly guy. Me and a buddy visited one weekend, and he was sitting out front talking to us like he knew us all his life. Great guy! I'm due a visit!!

We were not fortunate enough to have met Dale. When we visited the Wheels Through Time Museum a few years ago, he was not able to be there that day. But we did meet Matt and had a wonderful time exploring this amazing place. Matt even fired up one of the old racing bikes for us while we were there. Through Dale's efforts we were able to see and hear machines run that otherwise we would have never known existed. Few people are able to touch so many lives. I have heard that the greatest honor you can bestow someone is to never forget them. Many thanks Dale, Matt, and the entire staff at Wheels Through Time. Looking forward to visiting again!

Great tribute!

One word? Easy…….. DALE!

What a great tribute.

I watched all the episodes, absolutely loved Dale, his energy was addicting and he made me really appreciate these antiques. He will be missed.

Over 2500 views in the first 2 hours. The world loves Dale. RIP my friend.

a true meaningful video. Thanks he was a blessed man and left a warm touching love to everyone!

Absolutely awesome!!!!!

Most Awesome 👍👊🇺🇸

Dale has passed? Oh my god… Matt I’m so sorry! Loved watching What’s In The Barn and seeing Dale collaborate with Wayne Carini too. Absolutely gutted. RIP Dale hope you’re still riding up in heaven 😢

He was such an awesome and very passionate guy. RIP Dale

Spectacular dream spectacular life spectacular man

So much motorcycle information and passion passed with him. He will be missed.

From Louis-Guillaume Perreaux, to Terrot (1939, model VATT 750), Magna-Debon (1938, model 350 BST), Harley Davidson, motorcycles have come a long way.

MATT I was a Truck Driver long Haul I watched Wheels threw Time . When I Could . Now that Ive Had My stroke I can watch any Time Your Pop and You and thev Gang Have Open My My Eyes . To The History of Motor Cycles . Im 68 Years old and Grew up in the panHead and ShovelHead Days . ThankYou for Doing what You Boys Do , and Keep on Doin it ✊️✊️✊️✊️✊️✊️✊️✊️✊️✊️👍🫶

WTT is on my bucket list.....

What an amazing tribute to a great man. Thank you for sharing, I wish I could have met him in person. I enjoyed his TV shows.

Did Dale get to see any of those nice remembrances and well wishes before he passed?

If I ever get back to the USA, I would like to visit this museum, I have never own a Harley, but at 66yo I am getting too old to get one, keep safe one and all. Best regards from Australia.

I have friends that new your dad when he had his dream in Mt Vernon IL,we all down here in Benton still talk about ,your a lucky man to have a father like that ,it's now your legacy, be proud

Thank You to Sean from Bikes & Beards for introducing me to Matt through RU-vid. I have been binge watching all the videos this Christmas. Why this Channel doesn't have millions of subcribers , I don't understand. Through these videos I have learned so much. I am 67 and have been riding since I was 5 , first in Scrambling then owned a Harley speed shop. Dale reminds me so much of my uncle who owned a Honda Dealership in 1962 then changed to Yamaha.We sold everything, BSA, Norton, Triumph , old Harleys, ducatis, Osa, Huskys the list goes on. Dale left us way to young but Matt is a real chip off the block. What a wealth of information. God Bless and wish you all there many happy healthy years to come.

Would loved to have met him , followed all his TV programmes here in the uk 🇬🇧 I'm a 80year old still biking have owned Harley-Davidsons' since the 70s . Love the knowledge you have on the bikes . Would love to visit the museum. Keep up the brilliant work .

About 18 yrs ago my wife and I stopped by the museum during a week day, place was almost empty except for a guy pushing a dust mop. We started looking around and he came up to us asking if this was our first time at the museum, we said no we had been here before. He introduced himself and said they let him work there and keep the place clean. We had a little small talk and then he proceeded tell us about the bikes we were in front of. I was impressed with his knowledge of each of the bikes. We continued to look around with Dale giving us a private tour not realizing he was the owner, finally during him describing how he got the little shop back in the corner of the museum, I came to realize who he really was. He started several bikes and from the looks of all the black marks on the floor, he rode them in there too! We had a great morning with Dale, he will be missed. The museum is always on my list to see when I'm over that way.

Your dad was the man, keep it going strong matt.

I am so happy to have met him. I worked at Campbell soup I loaded my goldwing with soup and delivered to him at Wauseon at the Fulton county fair rounds. And have been to Maggie Calley what a great museum !!!!!!

Cool Brother . love bikes . work in a bikes had C15ds B.S.A .1959.250 .A. and H.D. and 741 Indian. 198 cc C.J. .I in New Zealand . love seeing your shit . Keep it up.BRO.

Great story and passion. Matt continues that enthusiasm. I grew up in the 6o’s racing 2 stroke motocross then later 4 stroke flat track. Analog bikes such a joy to work on as so basic vs digital bikes today. Dale said it perfect, just kick it. I will see that museum. History always important with the machine. I got into cars later in my life. History was very important to me in any car I owned. I still have motorcycles also today. RIP

The way everyone was speaking about this man got me so choked up .... didn't know him ,but i know he had a heart of Gold and untiring , just from what's being said . AWESOME !!! i will get to that Museum

As a British person, I first found out about Wheels Through Time on television through the discovery channel, I have always been interested in Motorcycles through my Dad and eventually learning to ride myself and I also follow the Isle of Man TT for the road racing, I have always loved How Dale Created the museum to Run... I am Very Saddened to hear of Dale's Passing, He had a Passion that cannot be matched... R.I.P. Dale you are Very Missed...

Me and my wife rode on my 99 Dyna superglide from Blacksburg Va ( wasn’t fun after couple hour 😆) to the dragon and then the national forest and Cherokee and one thing I couldn’t do that I wanted to do was visit wheels of time they were closed for that week that I was there like two years ago in September. I’m thinking, but will definitely have to make the trip again. Edit …( Sorry for the lose 😢🙏)

In 2010 my wife and I rode from Vancouver BC, Canada to visit Friends in North Carolina. We stopped at Wheels Through Time along the way. Early in the morning Dale met us and enthusiastically proceeded to give us a general tour of the museum. During our tour Dale found out that I once owned and loved a new-in-the-box love WLC (Canadian version of the WLA). He promptly directed one of the gals to fetch a .010" over size 45 piston as a gift. I'm looking at the boxed piston on my desk as I write this. Dale spoke at length with every visitor while we were there. He also connected with a couple from Nova Scotia, Canada and hunted us down to make sure the four of us from Canada could get our picture together with him and the Belly Tank car. Our visit with Dale was truly the highlight of our cross continent trip

We were there day before it closed for the season. Really enjoyed it. Taking the bike out today and just happen to have on my long sleeve WTT tee!

I remember in 1996 ) on the way to Cherokee rallies - I remember talking to you and your dad ) I remember you Matt cutting our conversation short ) cause there was a young boy about 8 or 10 years old - wanting to take a ride with you in a side car in a 42 WLA - I remember thinking ? Them fellas want to get them yungins riding the coolest bikes ever !!! I was so proud to have met you fellas. God bless yunns !!!!!!

Unfortunately, I never got to meet Dale, but would like to meet Matt one day. The first time I saw Dale was on the show American Restoration and immediately I knew I liked him. He was a no BS, straight forward kind of guy who was on a mission. And if he wasn't on a mission, he was on a mission to find a mission. He will be greatly missed, but he went out doing his passion and that's the way to do it. R. I. P. Dale and thanks for all you've done.

I love those old mountain climbing motorcycles they're just like Jurassic dinosaurs spitting out gas fire and fumes...😈😈😈🤘🤘🤘

I knew Dale from his first museum not in North Carolina but southern Illinois. Many times getting off work around midnight, would see Dale with the lights on working late on something. Matt was a little boy back then. Dale sold me my first Harley and even fixed my shovelhead for free from some junk parts he had in a box one morning after working night shift after bending a push rod in front of his shop. He was a good man. Glad to have known him.

I bought my first Harley-Davidson in 1988 and living only 80 miles from MtVernon Illinois found myself riding to his dealership all the time. He gave me a tour of the museum behind the store, I was amazed at the diversity of items displayed. The billboard displayed at WTT was there along with the original oil painting used for the Harley rider comic book. Funny some of the things that stay in your memory. I can still remember what the dealership looked like. I also remember buying my first and only new Harley-Davidson from him. I watched him riding the Crocker in the museum one day and was totally blown away. I’ve been a fan of his for over 30 years.

I met Dale at the Museum in 2015, he was the 'real deal', interested in my Bonneville racing, willing to answer my questions about board track bikes. As I drove up to the parking lot, he was giving a special needs kid a ride around the property in an early Harley sidecar rig... Yep, he was THAT guy. The world is a worse place without him, but thankfully, his legacy lives on.

I have to tell you, several years ago I was visiting in-laws that have a cabin in Maggie Valley, and when asked if would like to visit the museum I said no. I kick myself now that I didn’t go in and meet Dale! I hope to go back and meet Matt soon!

Congratulations from México I love vintage bikes there so incredible mi father had a 1946 knucklehead i would like to turn it on please can you help me .