Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2014 - 06:25 pm:

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Tilley Harley-Davidson
8 hours ago.

It is with our deepest regret to announce that Don and Robinette have been involved in a motorcycle accident on Friday August 29th. We are extremely sad to say that we have lost our beloved Don Tilley and that Robinette is currently in critical condition. We ask that everyone keep the entire Tilley family in their thoughts and prayers. We thank you all for your love and condolences and appreciate the many years of loyalty to the Tilley Harley-Davidson Family. DON TILLEY 1936-2014. He will be missed by all.

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Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2014 - 06:32 pm:

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Don Tilley killed, wife critically injured, in motorcycle crash

From staff reports | Updated 6 hours ago

A motorcycle crash on Friday night claimed the life of Don Tilley, 78, and left his wife, Robinette, in critical condition.

News of the accident left people across Iredell County and the nation and throughout the motorcycle and NASCAR communities shaken.

“God speed, @don_tilley. Don taught me how to ride long distance, love Harleys & most importantly how to be a friend,” Kyle Petty wrote Saturday on Twitter.


The motorcycle driven by the Tilleys, who own Tilley-Harley Davidson in Statesville, crashed near Mile Post 394 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe County, according to the U.S. Park Rangers office.


Robinette Tilley was taken to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, and was listed in critical condition on Saturday evening with a spinal injury.


“We ask that everyone keep the entire Tilley family in their thoughts and prayers. We thank you all for your love and condolences and appreciate the many years of loyalty to the Tilley Harley-Davidson Family,” read a post on the Tilley-Harley Davidson Facebook page.


The R&L will update this article as more information becomes available.

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Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 10:38 am:

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We are heart broken after the news of our long time friend and supporter Don Tilley's passing. We are so thankful to have known such an amazing man who rode countless years on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. We send lots of love to his family from the whole Petty and Victory Junction families.


--Don Tilley and Kyle Petty

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In honor of the life of Don Tilley, the Tilley family has requested that in lieu of flowers, all memorials be sent as donations to Victory Junction Gang Camp. Follow the link below to make a donation. Thank you, Tilley Harley-Davidson. www.victoryjunction.org

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SUNDAY SEP 7th, 2014
MEMORIAL RIDE AND SERVICE IN HONOR OF DON TILLEY
Please join us as we pay tribute to our beloved Don Tilley.
Kick stands up at 4:00pm from Tilley Harley-Davidson of Salisbury.
Kick stands up at 5:00pm from Tilley Harley-Davidson of Statesville.
Police escorted ride to Statesville High School.
Memorial Service is at 6:30pm — with Bill Morrison and Billy Pendergrass.

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Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 10:46 am:

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Friends and customers are mourning the owner of two Harley-Davidson dealerships in Statesville and Salisbury, who died in a motorcycle accident on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Don Tilley, owner of Tilley Harley-Davidson, died Friday while riding back from a dealership awards banquet in Nashville with his wife, Robinette, and friends.

Robinette Tilley was critically injured in the wreck, said the couple's son, Derek Tilley. Robinette was riding on the back of her husband's motorcycle.

Derek Tilley said his mother already had surgeries for a compound fracture in her arm, and for her pelvis. Her next surgery, Monday, will be on her neck. The family is concerned she may suffer paralysis.

"We would like everybody's prayers that she would come through that without any kind of paralyzation (sic)," said Derek.

Sunday, customers paid their respects at Tilley's dealership. Black bows hung from the doors, and flowers laid against the windows outside. A book for condolences laid on a table inside surrounded by flowers and framed wedding photo of the couple.

Ben Stockner remembered buying his motorcycle from Tilley last year.

"I remember whenever I come up here to get this bike, he put the first 8 miles on it and said he wanted it," said Stockner, "but I bought it before it went to him."

Those little touches made all of Tilley's customers feel special, said another customer, Chuck Bralley.

"He tries to be really personable with his customers, always has," said Bralley, "and we hate we lost him."

Another customer laid a flower at the door an hour after the dealership had closed, and shared the front of the local paper. "Superman rode a Harley," it said.

Derek Tilley shared that his father had been racing motorcycles and stock cars for more than 50 years, and even worked on Richard Petty's pit crew when he was young. His love for motorcycle racing grew into successful dealerships in Statesville and Salisbury.

He made a lot of friends and drew a lot of customers along the way.

"You know he loved The Lord from the way he treated other people," said Derek, "and the way he interacted with people."

While Tilley's children gather at Mission Hospital in Asheville to be close to their mother, they are buoyed by the outpouring of condolences and prayers from friends on social media and elsewhere.

"God speed, @don_tilley," said Kyle Petty on twitter. "Don taught me how to ride long distance, love Harleys & most importantly how to be a friend."

One of Tilley's favorite charities, Victory Junction, posted their condolences on Facebook. "We are heart broken after the news of our long time friend and supporter Don Tilley's passing," the post read. It was accompanied by a picture of Tilley with Kyle Petty, and referenced the annual cross-country charity motorcycle ride that raised money for the Victory Junction Gang camp, a camp for children with terminal illnesses.

"My family is so blessed," said Derek. "I look at all the people who loved my dad and all they people showing their support to us -- it's overwhelming sometimes."

The family is hold a memorial service for Don Tilley on Sunday, September 7, at Statesville Sr. High School, at 6 p.m. Anyone interested in riding to the service together on their motorcycles can meet at Tilley Harley-Davidson at 5 p.m.

The dealership will also host a memorial motorcycle ride on Saturday, September 20, to raise money for Victory Junction Gang. The ride will be part of the annual Biker, Blues, and BBQ festival to benefit the Salisbury VA Hospice Center. You can sign up for the ride here: bit.ly/1owJbp3

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, to make donations to Victory Junction Gang Camp in Don Tilley's memory. Donations can be sent to Victory Junction Gang, 4500 Adam's Way, Randalman, NC 27317.

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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2014 - 11:07 am:

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'What a ride': Crowd of thousands celebrates Don Tilley's life

By Amy Fuhrman
Sunday, September 7, 2014




Don Tilley gave plenty of advice in his 78 years on earth.

Much of it involved motorcycles and mechanics.

But there were also lessons in the things Tilley cherished most: family, friends, faith and fun.

And so, even in his death, Tilley offered guidance in how he believed life should be lived — at full throttle — in the verse that opened this article. It is one Tilley copied in his own hand, and it appeared on the program for a memorial service Sunday that drew thousands to celebrate his life and legacy.

In a stark reminder of the fatal accident that claimed Tilley’s life and left his wife, Robinette, critically injured, a red rose was placed in the chair where she would have sat beside her children. And throughout the service, prayers were offered for her recovery along with the memories shared of Tilley’s life.

One of Don and Robinette's closest friends, Steve Phillips, told those packing the stands of the Statesville HIgh School stadium that he had imagined asking Tilley if he had any final advice for those who loved him. And Phillips said he knows just how Tilley would have answered:

“Yeah, man. Y’all need to get on with life, having fun and riding motorcycles — and you better do it fast because y’all are burning daylight.”

Kyle Petty also shared memories of Tilley, calling him a hero who seemed larger than life.

“Even though I grew up in a house where they drove race cars, I wanted to be Don Tilley,” Petty told the audience, which included his father, Richard. “He was everything I wanted to be, and everything I hope to be someday.”

Throughout the stories ran a common theme of Tilley as a “mechanical genius” on a motorcycle, who knew the roads like the back of his hand and was always up for a good long ride.

In a fitting tribute, more than 3,000 riders took to the roads Sunday in a ride that spanned from Tilley Harley-Davidson’s Salisbury dealership to the high school, where the stream of Harleys poured in for at least an hour.

It was similar to other memorial services, in that there were a lot of people wearing black. But that’s pretty much where the similarities ended. Cowboy boots, leather jackets and Harley T-shirts replaced the usual Sunday best, and the sound of revving engines provided the soothing background music.

And in the stands were thousands of people who felt like Phillips — like they had lost a best friend.

“I believe everyone in this place could say, ‘Don Tilley was my friend,’” Phillips said.

TIlley’s connections to the NASCAR community were also honored during the service by Donnie Allison and NASCAR President Mike Helton, who described his friend as both “legendary” and “priceless.”

“These stories will continue for generations,” Helton said.

And it seems clear the next generations of Tilleys — his beloved grandchildren — have embraced their grandfather’s love of life and excitement. In opening remarks, Beth Davidson said that the grandchildren — with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces — told her Tilley would want people to move past their sadness

“Their PawPaw would tell us, ‘Put it in the hammer lane, and hammer on,’” Davidson said.

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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2014 - 11:13 am:

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Motorcyclists travel miles to remember Don Tilley
Shavonne Potts, Monday, September 8, 2014



Every now and then Don Tilley would drop into the Waffle House not far from his Tilley Harley-Davidson store in Statesville where Teri Randol worked.

Randol, who doesn’t ride a motorcycle but had to be there to greet those who did, stood outside the restaurant with her cell phone in hand to video the thousands of motorcyclists who traveled more than 40 miles during Sunday’s memorial ride to honor Tilley.

The popular owner of Tilley Harley-Davidson stores in Statesville and Salisbury died a week ago in a motorcycle accident on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. His wife, Robinette, was critically injured in the crash. She remains in an Asheville hospital.

“He was the most humble man,” Randol said.

She also noted how down-to-earth Tilley was.

“My heart goes out to his wife,” she said.

Randol spoke of the range of motorcyclists who participated in the ride, some of whom were women, African-American, young, older, professionals, law enforcement.

“It’s all about peace and love,” she said with a smile.

An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 motorcyclists from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and other states began the memorial trek from Cabarrus County. Some of the riders were led into Rowan County from the Speedway Harley-Davidson in Concord, where the bikers of all ages and walks of life gathered before the nearly two-hour journey to the Statesville Senior High School stadium.

The bikers set out from Tilley’s Salisbury store on Bendix Drive and traveled along U.S. 70 where they stopped at the Statesville store.

The bikers were escorted by the motor squads from Iredell County, Davidson County, Cabarrus County and the Mooresville Police. Along the route several other area law enforcement helped block the streets so the motorcyclists could travel unobstructed.

Sgt. Chris Smith, with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office’s motor squad, said he’s escorted bikers from Tilley’s store on past charity rides, and the family asked whether the motor squad could safely escort them to Statesville.

“It’s an honor to be able to do this for the family,” Smith said.

He reached out to the other riders in nearby motor squads and the members agreed.

Tilley Harley-Davidson had provided the Iredell County motor squad with a number of motorcycles over the years, Smith said.

More than his love of motorcycles and the racing world, what most people noted about Tilley was his giving heart.

John Howard, a Rowan County Sheriff’s deputy, said he first thought about getting a patrol car to join in the ride, but instead decided to ride his motorcycle.

The turnout, he said, showed how close-knit the motorcycle community is and just how much people respected Tilley.

He’d known Tilley since 1980 and bought his second Harley from Tilley’s store.

Howard said Tilley contributed to lots of charitable organizations, including Victory Junction Gang Camp, a camp for children with chronic medical conditions.

Gina Murdick met Tilley once at a charity bike ride in Mooresville. She said he was “a friend of everybody.”

A friend shared a story with Murdick about how she’d met Tilley on the Blue Ridge Parkway when her motorcycle broke down on the roadside.

The friend told Murdick there were motorcyclists who’d passed by them without stopping, but not Tilley. He stopped, gave the friend the needed parts to repair the bike, repaired it for them and left.

He didn’t expect any form of compensation, Murdick said.

Riders turned out Sunday “to show respect for a man that did a lot for people, the children and the biker world,” she said.

As the thousands of motorcyclists turned onto Morland Drive to the Tilley store in Statesville there were plenty of thumbs up and some sideways as a sign of respect, one biker said.

A number of motorists on the opposite side of U.S. 70 pulled over as the motorcycle procession made its way into Statesville. A convoy of National Guard vehicles even pulled over and stopped to salute as the motorcyclists continued on by, a motorcyclist said.

On any other day, the casual observer might have thought a parade was taking place in downtown Statesville because of the people lining the streets. There were people on the backs of trucks, a few sitting in camp chairs and others standing as they awaited the mass of motorcyclists that would roll through downtown.

Nancy Cook and her husband, Wendell, were two of those waiting in downtown Statesville.

The couple have been longtime friends of the Tilleys since their daughters were in the band together.

Nancy and Wendell said they’ve known Don and Robinette since 1960 and felt it an honor to await the convoy.

Nancy said Robinette is a good friend, and the Tilley’s daughters, Denise and Donna, were “like adopted children.”

She said they lived in the same neighborhood as the Tilleys and attend church with Derrick Tilley, the son of Don and Robinette.

“I think it’s spectacular,” she said of the turnout.

The Cooks’ daughter and adopted son were both riding, she said.

Wendell called Tilley an expert rider and an expert at working on motorcycles. He also credited Tilley for being a large supporter of fundraisers that aid children with illnesses.

Jim Hargrave credits Tilley with getting him back on a bike. The 71-year-old Salisbury business owner had not been on a motorcycle in about 25 years. Hargrave, owner of Rowan Funeral Services, said he and Tilley would occasionally talk about serving in Vietnam.

He said Tilley was still friendly and kind even if you didn’t buy a motorcycle from him.

Hargrave is a member of the Old Skool Motorcycle Club of Salisbury.

Tilley co-founded the Kyle Petty charity ride across America, which he had participated in for the last 20 years.

Tilley was well known in the auto racing community as well as the motorcycle world.

In the late 1950s, Tilley raced stock cars and motorcycles while working for a Harley-Davidson dealership in Statesville. Don and Robinette didn’t open their Statesville store until 1972.

Speakers at the service included well-known NASCAR drivers Kyle Petty and Donnie Allison. Mike Helton, president of NASCAR, also shared memories of Tilley.

Petty said Tilley was his hero and growing up, he wanted to be just like him.

“The longer I knew him, the kinder he became,” Petty said.

He said Tilley never just sold a person a motorcycle; he made friends.

Steve Phillips, former vice president of Harley-Davidson, spoke of how he and Tilley rode in all types of inclement weather — rain, snow, cold, and the “blistering heat.”

“He was the best motorcyclist I’ve ever ridden with in my life,” Phillips said.

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