Bruce Rossmeyer

[jimfastcar]

Apparently died yesterday on the way to Sturgis...
He was quite the businessman, building a large network of HD Dealerships. His main outley in Daytona should be on anybody that loves motocycling "must see" list.
RIP

 

[rbertalotto]

Amazing guy! .........RIP

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-bruce-rossmeyer-obit-073109,0,4402645.story

 

[35634]

no helmet, but then, if you're gonna go, go doing whatcha love.

 

[testinglogin]

Here are some news stories about the accident and how it happened:

From the AMA Website:

"The News Journal Online quoted Lt. Shawn Dickerson of the Wyoming Highway Patrol saying: "The pickup slowed and activated his left signal. Four of the motorcycles passed to the left... When Mr. Rossmeyer attempted to pass, the truck made its left turn and he hit the driver's side door. The sixth motorcycle swerved to the right and avoided collision.""

Also, from the Orlando Sentinel:

"The truck driver, Robert L. VanValkenburg, 73, of Rock Springs, Wyo., slowed down and began making a left turn when Rossmeyer tried to pass him, the Highway Patrol said. Rossmeyer, who was not wearing a helmet, struck the driver's-side door. VanValkenburg's turn signals and brake lights were working at the time of the crash, the report said."

 

[statdawg]

no helmet, but then, if you're gonna go, go doing whatcha love.

I love breathing I wonder how I will go ?

 

[redclfco]

Robert L. VanValkenburg, 73

Mr. Van thought he made through life without killing somebody. Brake lights worked, turn signal worked, yet it happened, a man is dead; leads me to believe this accident didn't have to happen.

Accident or not, this old timer didn't deserve it, and I am sure he is a victim as well of the act of foolish riding.

 

[njnomad]

Robert L. VanValkenburg, 73

Mr. Van thought he made through life without killing somebody. Brake lights worked, turn signal worked, yet it happened, a man is dead; leads me to believe this accident didn't have to happen.

Accident or not, this old timer didn't deserve it, and I am sure he is a victim as well of the act of foolish riding.

As a retired Police Officer, I'm a firm believer in helmets. I've seen enough motorcycle accidents (including my own) where the deciding factor whether the rider lived or died (or worse) was a helmet.

And you're absolutely right, redclfco. This accident didn't have to happen.

Watch your asses out there folks cause nobody else will.

RIP Mr. Rossmeyer.

 

[njnomad]

One more note about helmets and I'll get off my high horse.

A guy in my club went down a few weeks ago. He was wearing a novelty helmet. He's been in a coma and is currently on life support.

Something to think about.

 

[testinglogin]

One more note about helmets and I'll get off my high horse.

A guy in my club went down a few weeks ago. He was wearing a novelty helmet. He's been in a coma and is currently on life support.

Something to think about.

And even after some very heavy rain storms, the blood stain in the street from a fatality accident (unhelmeted) from last week is still pretty easy to see. I pass by that spot each morning going to work.

I'd like to think that this might convince some people to start wearing helmets, but I'm just not sure. I'm disappointed but not surprised the AMA story didn't say anything about a helmet, or lack of one (and also said "was killed" instead of "passed away" or "died", which to me sounds like it tries to place blame on the driver). I'll stay positive and assume they posted the story before full details were out.

 

[E_Page]

Robert L. VanValkenburg, 73

Mr. Van thought he made through life without killing somebody. Brake lights worked, turn signal worked, yet it happened, a man is dead; leads me to believe this accident didn't have to happen.

Accident or not, this old timer didn't deserve it, and I am sure he is a victim as well of the act of foolish riding.

+1, I was thinking the same thing.

 

[rbertalotto]

The issue about "left turning with directional light on"...........When did he put the directional light on. The terrible drivers around here, activate the turn signal just as they start to make the turn (if they use the signal at all)...........

None of us where there. It's impossible to focus blame........I feel terrible for his friends who witnessed the accident and the old gent who was driving the truck.

He was a great guy.............surely he will be missed.

And about motorcycle police officers. Why the hell don't they wear gear. Shorty helmets, short sleeve shirts, tons of kidney breaking gear around their waists, cotton pants............and then they go 100 mph chasing folks. Insane! There needs to be a law.........I don't want to pay for a disabled officer for the rest of his life.

Sorry for the off topic, but it's a major pet peeve of mine.........

 

[TANDEMGEEK]

And about motorcycle police officers. Why the hell don't they wear gear. .

Denmark

UK

Italy

Germany

 

[TANDEMGEEK]

Back on topic...

Truly a tragedy, doubly so as it certainly appears that it could have been avoided.

Condolences to the friends and family of Bruce and his extended family of motorcycle enthusiasts.

 

[535IS]

The issue about "left turning with directional light on"...........When did he put the directional light on. The terrible drivers around here, activate the turn signal just as they start to make the turn (if they use the signal at all)...........

None of us were there.

While I was not there, either, I can tell you that last-second signals are a lot more rare in the Midwest than they are in New England.

 

[amiles]

Wasn't there another eminent member of the HD family killed in a similar accident last year?

If anyone is interested in the Deja Vu from August 2008:

On Tuesday evening, family and friends lined up by the hundreds at the First Assembly of God to pay their respects to Click Baldwin.
Baldwin who was the owner of Carolina Harley-Davidson Buell was killed last week in Montana.
A memorial service is planned for Wednesday at 1:00 pm at the Calvary Church on Pineville-Matthews Road in Charlotte.
Baldwin was on his way to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota when he died.

 

[boxwrench]

The issue about "left turning with directional light on"...........When did he put the directional light on. The terrible drivers around here, activate the turn signal just as they start to make the turn (if they use the signal at all)...........

None of us where there. It's impossible to focus blame........I feel terrible for his friends who witnessed the accident and the old gent who was driving the truck.

He was a great guy.............surely he will be missed.

And about motorcycle police officers. Why the hell don't they wear gear. Shorty helmets, short sleeve shirts, tons of kidney breaking gear around their waists, cotton pants............and then they go 100 mph chasing folks. Insane! There needs to be a law.........I don't want to pay for a disabled officer for the rest of his life.

Sorry for the off topic, but it's a major pet peeve of mine.........

I wonder about that too.....
Euro motor officers do, as shown
Style over saftey?

 

[boxwrench]

After a career in the automobile business, Rossmeyer opened Daytona Harley-Davidson in January of 1994 and he followed that up with New Smyrna Harley-Davidson in 1997, Grand Junction Harley-Davidson in 1997, Ft. Lauderdale Harley-Davidson in 1998, Harley-Davidson of Pompano in 2002, and Aspen Valley Harley Davidson in 2002. In 2006, he opened another South Florida dealership, Sunrise Harley-Davidson, and Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson in Horn Lake, Mississippi.

Rossmeyer also is the developer of Destination Daytona and co-owner of two area auto dealerships in South Florida. His biggest dealership is also a sponsor of the Buell team that currently fields Danny Eslick in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class.

He is survived by his wife, five children and seven grandchildren.

 

[hexst]

After living and driving/riding in Fla since 68 and driven and ridden all over the U.S. Asia. and Europe. U. S. drivers as a whole suck. I've spent 10 out of the last 24 months in the Plains OK,Ks.Io.Ne,do these morons have to pay extra for tun signals cause they sure don't know they exist,in the midwest is every one a speed Nazi, cause if you go any faster than they do which is 2 to 4 over they pull out and cut you off. Or if you go to pass a squadron of "American Iron" they pull out in front of you indignant that you had the gall to interceed on their parade.the South in particular Florida is a melting pot of SHITTY drivers forgetting every lesson ever learned about the road. If I see one of those Qtips with the sunglasses that fit over their regular glasses I pull into the next driveway and let the "Magoo" head on down the road because they are the lighthouse of Street Disasters they collect accidents like moths to a flame. Am I any better, sometimes not.But I do try to be courteous apologize for mistakes that I make.

 

[kgadley01]

Wasn't there another eminent member of the HD family killed in a similar accident last year?

Yes, and it happened almost exactly the same way. it happened in Montana. the owner of the Gastonia, N.C. Harley Dealership was killed. he also was heading to Sturgis...

 

[womanridge]

I wonder about that too.....
Euro motor officers do, as shown
Style over saftey?

You mean like this? Eastern Austria (Burgenland) April, 2009