Greetings,
A gentleman who's dedication and hard work helped to provide many of us with our introduction into the world of vintage motorcycling has passed away.
Paul Atkinson along with Clark Francy founded the Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club in August of 1982 as an AMA chartered club dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of motorcycles manufactured by the Birmingham Small Arms Company and BSA Motorcycles Ltd.
Paul passed away on Monday October 15th.
My life and the lives of many of my dearest friends have been enriched beyond words with our involvement with the OVBSAOC. When I read about a Vintage Trials being held at Cable's Campground in Toronto, Ohio in the events section of the AMA magazine many years ago I figured Toronto was probably many miles away, until I looked at the map.
On the designated day Judy and I loaded our three young kids into the van and off to Toronto we went. What a sight it was as we rounded the bend and the Campground came into view with numerous Triumph Cubs, BSA Victors and many, many more of the machines of my early days just putting around and having a grand time. I had been out of the two wheeled game for a few years and I now had the itch to get back into it. I think the year was 1988.
Like most clubs they needed an extra hand with some things and fairly soon Bud Kubena asked if I could help with some items when they hosted the BSA International Rally, I think it was 1990. Soon afterward I was invited to join the board of the club and then a year or so later Paul asked if I would be willing to take the office of president, which I did. When the AMA decided to create the featured marque portion of Vintage Days they wanted BSA to be the marque and off to the AMA headquarters Paul, Jim Cable and I went for a meeting to decide how the featured marque display should be done.
Why do I tell you this, well it is short and simple, it was during my time with the Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club that the thought came about that it would be really neat if there were a club for Penton motorcycle enthusiasts. About this time Will Stoner, whom I had gotten to know at OVBSAOC events put on his very first swapmeet on a cold and snowy day. It was at that first swap meet that I met Alan Buehner as he was sitting with all of his Penton parts wanting to unload all of them except what he wanted to keep for his personal use. Later in the day we got into a serious conversation about John Penton and his remarkable machine and Alan decided right then and there to not unload all of his parts but to start looking for more inventories with a desire to become a Penton parts supplier.
In the next couple of years at each Will Stoner swap meet Alan, Norm Miller and I would always seem to end up together at Alan's booth and the topic of forming a Penton club always came up... and eventually one was formed.
I am and will forever be indebted to Paul Atkinson and Clark Francy for their efforts in forming the Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club. To this very day under the able leadership of Ted Guthrie the Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club continues to enrich the lives of countless motorcyclists .
God Speed to you Mr. Paul Atkinson,
Paul Danik
Below is a link to Paul's obituary.
http://www.heraldstaronline.com/obituaries/2018/10/paul-atkinson/