Pamco Pete has died

[scott s]

I'm really sad to hear this. Pete was a good man and a good friend.

https://www.greenefuneralhome.net/obituary/peter-a-mclean/

https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article312351556.html

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208.104.49.25 (?

 

[YamadudeXS650C]

Very sad news.
Pete was a great contributor to motorcycling. So much can be said about that; I'm not the person to do it.
....but I can say that I have his ignition in my '75 which I installed 10 years ago. It has always started instantly and the bike runs like a champ.

He died at 84 while riding his bike! What a way to go

Bon voyage, Pete!





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[gggGary]

Sad news, quite the XS patron saint.
Madness is happily racking up miles with an original Pamco Pete ignition complete with advance box.
We all gotta go, and riding a bike at 84 seems like a great end.

 

[YamadudeXS650C]

Rock Hill, SC – Peter McLean, 84, died suddenly while enjoying a morning motorcycle ride on October 1, 2025.

Born in Montreal, Canada, Peter was the son of the late Alexander Grant McKay and Irene McKay. He was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Angela McLean and his loving wife, Candy McLean.

Surviving are his son, Mark Alexander McLean of Canada, his daughter Jennifer Angela McLean (Lothar Jobczyk) of Germany, and his companion of nine years, Betsy Whitman of Charlotte, NC.

Peter served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He started an Electronics Telecommunications business and then moved on to Motorcycle Ignition Systems. Peter was very inventive and loved a challenge. He and his wife Candy enjoyed traveling together through the years and he loved flying his airplane. Peter was a devoted friend and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Memorials can be made in Peter’s name to the Salvation Army.


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[bosco659]

So sad. I didn’t know Pete was a Canuk. He will be fondly remembered by many of us. May he rest in peace.

 

[Grimly]

He died at 84 while riding his bike! What a way to go

Not if it was caused by some asshole on their phone.

 

[gggGary]

Not if it was caused by some asshole on their phone.

Even then.

 

[jetmechmarty]

He died at 84 while riding his bike!

It would be my preference over a slow death in a nursing home.

RIP Pete.

 

[650Skull]

84 and still riding. Must have kept himself in good Nick.

Pamco, the name and ignitions will live on for many years yet. Seem to remember you being, and giving advice, on here, replacing Pamco's to a lot of people who had no idea how electrics worked,.blowing them up with regular monotony through no fault of the pamco ignition


RIP Peter McLean, (pamcopete).

 

[Wagner73]

Hit by a minivan...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.heraldonline.com/news/local/article312351556.html

 

[YamadudeXS650C]

It would be my preference over a slow death in a nursing home.

RIP Pete.

I will have my friends carry me over to my running bike, set me on it, tape my hands to the grips and push me off down the road before any nursing home can ever get me. Think Thelma and Louise ending


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[gggGary]

I will have my friends carry me over to my running bike, set me on it, tape my hands to the grips and push me off down the road before any nursing home can ever get me. Think of the ending to Thelma and Louise.


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My thinking exactly.
Related, a friend of mine:
Pete was 84

RIP Pete Cleveland​

by Alpinist » Tue Oct 07, 2025 4:31 pm

On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Pete Cleveland died in a (tragic?) climbing accident at Devils Lake State Park. Pete was a longtime CMC member since 1963. He was well known and regarded within the Devils Lake climbing community.

Pete was one of America’s early great rock climbers. He was well known for his incredibly difficult, super technical first ascents in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. His climb of the Superpin in the Black Hills was chronicled in a 2016 article, The Ascent: Pete Cleveland's Climb of Superpin Still Baffles and Astounds Nearly 50 Years Later | SDPB.

Another article on Mountain Project described how Pete may have introduced 5.12 level climb back in the 1968 Son of Great Chimney may have been the hardest route ever climbed in the country at the time of his first ascent, Climbing in Devil's Lake, Baraboo Range.

Pete Cleveland passed away doing what he loved most, climbing on a perfect day at Devil's Lake State Park, surrounded by some of the people he loved best. He was a mentor to many including climbing veterans, youngsters and those climbing for the first time. He was probably best known as a friendly, approachable, even chatty retired family physician who was a regular at CMC campfires and climbs. He will be dearly missed.

 

[650Skull]

This article states both vehicles were traveling West, in the same direction.
Pete was turning left into Homestead rd.
There are double yellow lines, Pete would have been turning across the lines and traffic to get into homestead Rd. No one should have been passing,
Looks to me he either got hit from behind or the van tried to overtake him as he turned into homestead rd

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/l...rash/275-fbd09f89-24da-42d5-91fe-7af0f570b9cb

"Both vehicles were driving west on Mount Gallant when McLean attempted to turn left on Homestead Road. The driver of the minivan struck McLean. "

Coming from towards us


Looking past Homestead rd

The intersection he was turning into



Unless there is something else, it looks the driver of the mini van was completely at fault.

 

[650Skull]

Pete could have been going slow around the corners where the van couldn't pass.

When the van saw a long straight??????

 

[YamadudeXS650C]

Pete could have been going slow around the corners where the van couldn't pass.

When the van saw a long straight??????

View attachment 359296

Interesting analysis, thanks.

One aspect of my own brand of intensive defensive driving is to as quickly as possible get the hell away from other vehicles.
And I always assume that the drivers around me are going to do something stupid.


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[Wordman]

Let's not speculate. Neither "died suddenly while enjoying a morning motorcycle ride" and "Peter McLean died after the 1981 Honda motorcycle he was driving collided Wednesday with a 2020 Chrysler van" sound like the van hit him and caused his death. Yes, that is the most common way this happens, but it could also be he had a medical emergency and hit the van. As the article Wagner73 posted says, "The fatality remains under investigation."

Prayers for all who will feel his absence.

 

[Jim]

Yes, that is the most common way this happens, but it could also be he had a medical emergency and hit the van.

Speculation?

 

[Wordman]

Speculation?

Not if you read everything I wrote. I'll sum it up for you: At the moment, any claims as to how his death unfolded is speculation.

 

[Jim]

Not if you read everything I wrote. I'll sum it up for you: At the moment, any claims as to how his death unfolded is speculation.

You stated "let's not speculate." You then went on to add "but it could also be....

That is speculation.

 

[650Skull]

Not if you read everything I wrote. I'll sum it up for you: At the moment, any claims as to how his death unfolded is speculation.

In the article I referenced it states the van hit the motorcycle. Both vehicles were traveling in the same direction.
The motorcycle was turning left into a side road. There are double yellow, no passing ines.
Analysis based on situational and visual information.

Speculation would b the cause without any information

Not speculation. Analysis based on information from the article, google maps showing the site and geography where the accident is reported to happen.

Are there other mitigating circumstances? Yes there could b. Article states the investigation is ongoing.


From the report of the collision.

"The crash occurred at the intersection of Mount Gallant Road and Homestead Road.
Both vehicles were driving west on Mount Gallant when McLean attempted to turn left on Homestead Road. The driver of the minivan struck McLean"