-
Enjoy XS650.com? Consider making a donation to help support the site.
XS650.com receives a small share of sales from some links on this page, but direct donations have a much greater impact on keeping this site going.
Pamco Pete has died
- Thread starter scott s
- Start date
Yeah, I've noticed you throw that one in your signature a lot, mostly when responding to me near as I can tell. Very fast on the signature changes, I'll give you that.
I can't decide if that's trollish behavior, or childish... or if there's even really a difference?
Almost forgot... you absolutely have to have the last word, so have at it. Jus' try not to contradict yourself this time.
I posted a snarky reply in its own thread, but then thought better of it. As I edited that thread to read, I don't know why we seem to push each other's buttons, but why don't we just grab a beer, cut the shit, and be civil with each other. Seriously. I'll even buy the beer. We'll drink one for Pamco Pete.
Last edited:
No harm, no foul. I'll delete that thread then?
Such a loss
scott s
XS650 Guru
Pete wasn't far from his home when the accident occured. I know Pete always wore a helmet (usually open face), but the rest of his riding gear normally consisted of a fashion leather jacket and loafers.
Pete was an interesting guy. My girlfriend at the time assembled Pamco's for him for a while. We spent a lot of time together over the years, and I would still call him once or twice a year to check on him. I rode past the intersection for his his neighborhood last Thursday and told my wife "I should call Pete. I haven't talked to him in a while.", not knowing that he had passed the day before.
There was the time we all got together and tried durian fruit at his place.
We made many runs to the annual vintage bike show in Chesnee, SC. And Pete always made it a point to grab a burger at the Bantam Chef.
Pete was insanely smart. He told me a story of when he was working on the Distant Early Warning Line ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distant_Early_Warning_Line ). I'm not sure if this was when he was in the Canadian army or as a contractor (more on that later). He said they would be there for weeks, months, with only limited supplies. There was a local/Inuit that would come to the base on hos snowmobile to bring them snack, booze and girlie mags.
Every so often, they would lose signal between towers. Everyone would scramble to fix it, but nobody knew why it was happening. Pete figured out that every time the guy showed up on his decrepit old snowmobile, the system would crash. There was something in the ignition system that would interfere with the towers. They couldn't allow that to happen, but also didn't want the Russians to know that a simple snowmobile could take down the DEW Line. They had to figure out a way to get the snowmobile from him, so it was decided that they would gift him with a brand new snowmobile for his "loyal service".
Pete was a pilot and renewed his license just a few years ago. We have a small airport here, and it was nothing for Pete to load up his wife (and GF, after Candy passed) and fly out for lunch. He would often go just for a burger or seafood, then come back.
One year, they held an Olympics party at their house and everyone played Wii Sports. I still have the plastic "gold medal" hanging on my fridge.
Pete was an entrepreneur and had started several businesses over his lifetime. One of the first was a device he designed that allowed phone calls and records to be tracked, or something along those lines. This was way back in the dial up days, well before cell phones. He had a contract with the U.S. government for that device. He told me: "That's how I made my first million. But I was like that Jimmy Buffett song; 'I made enough to buy Miami and I pissed it all away' ".
Pete helped me get a BMW R100 running one time. I guess it was just different enough from vintage Japanese bikes that it made him really think. At one point, he told me "Scott, do me a favor." Sure Pete, what ya need? "Will you turn off the radio and go get me a damn beer so I can think?!".
I'm sure there are more memories I could share. I have some pics with Pete that show up on my Facebook memories from time to time. I'm trying to find them, but they're deep in the hard drive somewhere. This is the only one I can dig up right now.
That's Pete on the right in the leather jacket, standing in front of my girlfriend. I can't remember where we were headed that day. You can see my dad just behind Pete's 1981 CB750, the bike Pete was riding when he died.
Pete was an interesting guy. My girlfriend at the time assembled Pamco's for him for a while. We spent a lot of time together over the years, and I would still call him once or twice a year to check on him. I rode past the intersection for his his neighborhood last Thursday and told my wife "I should call Pete. I haven't talked to him in a while.", not knowing that he had passed the day before.
There was the time we all got together and tried durian fruit at his place.
We made many runs to the annual vintage bike show in Chesnee, SC. And Pete always made it a point to grab a burger at the Bantam Chef.
Pete was insanely smart. He told me a story of when he was working on the Distant Early Warning Line ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distant_Early_Warning_Line ). I'm not sure if this was when he was in the Canadian army or as a contractor (more on that later). He said they would be there for weeks, months, with only limited supplies. There was a local/Inuit that would come to the base on hos snowmobile to bring them snack, booze and girlie mags.
Every so often, they would lose signal between towers. Everyone would scramble to fix it, but nobody knew why it was happening. Pete figured out that every time the guy showed up on his decrepit old snowmobile, the system would crash. There was something in the ignition system that would interfere with the towers. They couldn't allow that to happen, but also didn't want the Russians to know that a simple snowmobile could take down the DEW Line. They had to figure out a way to get the snowmobile from him, so it was decided that they would gift him with a brand new snowmobile for his "loyal service".
Pete was a pilot and renewed his license just a few years ago. We have a small airport here, and it was nothing for Pete to load up his wife (and GF, after Candy passed) and fly out for lunch. He would often go just for a burger or seafood, then come back.
One year, they held an Olympics party at their house and everyone played Wii Sports. I still have the plastic "gold medal" hanging on my fridge.
Pete was an entrepreneur and had started several businesses over his lifetime. One of the first was a device he designed that allowed phone calls and records to be tracked, or something along those lines. This was way back in the dial up days, well before cell phones. He had a contract with the U.S. government for that device. He told me: "That's how I made my first million. But I was like that Jimmy Buffett song; 'I made enough to buy Miami and I pissed it all away' ".
Pete helped me get a BMW R100 running one time. I guess it was just different enough from vintage Japanese bikes that it made him really think. At one point, he told me "Scott, do me a favor." Sure Pete, what ya need? "Will you turn off the radio and go get me a damn beer so I can think?!".
I'm sure there are more memories I could share. I have some pics with Pete that show up on my Facebook memories from time to time. I'm trying to find them, but they're deep in the hard drive somewhere. This is the only one I can dig up right now.
That's Pete on the right in the leather jacket, standing in front of my girlfriend. I can't remember where we were headed that day. You can see my dad just behind Pete's 1981 CB750, the bike Pete was riding when he died.
scott s
XS650 Guru
Also, the black XS in the front has the factory TCI ignition, but every other bike in that pic is running a Pamco. The silver CB500 has a swapped CB650 engine. Pete made me a custom, one off Pamco for that swap, since the CB650 also used a TCI/CDI ignition.
He bought the DOHC CB750 to use as a test mule for other potential Honda Pamco's.
He bought the DOHC CB750 to use as a test mule for other potential Honda Pamco's.
Very nice words from a good friend that obviously knew him well for many, many years.
Traveling to/from/in Asia for many years for work, my eyeballs popped when I read "There was the time we all got together and tried durian fruit at his place."
Takes guts, Pete must've wanted to experience anything he could! Gross fruit, nearest I can come up with, it smells like odiferous strewed onions...most hotels in Malaysia and Singapore will not permit guests to take any into their rooms.
Traveling to/from/in Asia for many years for work, my eyeballs popped when I read "There was the time we all got together and tried durian fruit at his place."
Takes guts, Pete must've wanted to experience anything he could! Gross fruit, nearest I can come up with, it smells like odiferous strewed onions...most hotels in Malaysia and Singapore will not permit guests to take any into their rooms.
scott s
XS650 Guru
Honestly, I didn't think it was that bad. Kinda reminded me of a cross between onion and pineapple.
Although I never had the privilege of meeting Pete, from what I understand, he was a great guy and will be missed. Very nice write up. Makes me wonder what people will say about me when my time is up
.RIP Pete.
Nothing but nice things I’m sure.Makes me wonder what people will say about me when my time is up
Although we’ve never met, I like you Marty!
At '71, I think about this a good deal.Makes me wonder what people will say about me when my time is up
Do my friends really know what is important to me?
Do they know about the adventures I've taken?
.
Mikey
got muscles in his head that ain't never been used
Only the ones still alive 'I'm kinda kidding there
The ones that know just know and their the ones you keep, there your memorys together
The rest just wonder why you smile when you look at them after being out on a bike ride and wonder WTF is he smiling about
scott s
XS650 Guru
I went to Pete's service yesterday. His son said that Pete was on the way to the airport to put StaBil in his plane. He planned on taking a flight for his birthday and was considering selling the plane next year.
From what I've gathered (and this is not official), Pete was probably slowing or stopped to make a left turn and was hit from behind.
From what I've gathered (and this is not official), Pete was probably slowing or stopped to make a left turn and was hit from behind.
Turning It is a well known accident situation .Getting hit from front or back
If standstill it usually happens near the center of the road A car then have time and room to steer away going off road on the right side worst case
Assuming sober and alert and not messing with a phone or bees inside. Or so.
And health conditions can happen but given a turn -- the first assumption is the van have not realized a turn was happening
And rammed him .Blinkers can be a factor.
Assumption ... Not a Fact so far.
If standstill it usually happens near the center of the road A car then have time and room to steer away going off road on the right side worst case
Assuming sober and alert and not messing with a phone or bees inside. Or so.
And health conditions can happen but given a turn -- the first assumption is the van have not realized a turn was happening
And rammed him .Blinkers can be a factor.
Assumption ... Not a Fact so far.
And this is why we are taught to constantly check our mirrors when slowing or at a stop. It's also why we're taught to keep the transmission in gear when at a stop.
I am NOT blaming Pete, but it is a lesson we should all remember.
Any time you are hit from behind is never your fault. It is 100% the other driver. Precautions and attentiveness may help avoid the crash. A lot could b going on, if Pete had stopped it was due to oncoming traffic. They had to pass before he could cross over their lane into the side road.
In that situation anyone's attention is divided between the oncoming traffick, (what is that vehicle doing, am I safe from it), more than what is behind.
In no way am I suggesting this happened to Pete.
I never remove a light checker or safety relay. During a ride a blown taillight or brake light will show up on the dash warning light. Once removed there is no warning, this could and will increase the danger of someone hitting you from behind.
In that situation anyone's attention is divided between the oncoming traffick, (what is that vehicle doing, am I safe from it), more than what is behind.
In no way am I suggesting this happened to Pete.
I never remove a light checker or safety relay. During a ride a blown taillight or brake light will show up on the dash warning light. Once removed there is no warning, this could and will increase the danger of someone hitting you from behind.
