Paul Golde
27-05 2020 17:03
wrote:
A Salute to Peter Sheen from California, USA
I will never forget the beautiful early May day I met Peter at the Son Vida Sheraton in Palma, Mallorca where I was attending an international motorcycle business conference. Having attended this yearly event many times before and therefore knowing everyone, Peter must have discerned that I was the newcomer from the States and he approached me straightaway, resplendent in dapper duds and a fabulous tan. After introductions, he proceeded with my interrogation.
“Are you a motorcyclist?” to which I replied, certainly. “Right then, are you going the TT next month?”. I was gobsmacked and asked in return if he meant the Isle of Man TT, to which he replied “Why yes, of course and every proper motorcyclist must experience the TT at least once!” . I returned with “In my dreams!”. Peter then proceeded to lay out instructions for making my way to London the following year and he would take care of arranging everything else. I was speechless. We got to know each other during the conference and he told me of his brothers Phil in Texas and Mike in Canada, his love for steam trains (“I get excited when the kettle boils!”) and desire to see the American West.
That was the start of a long and storied relationship that found Peter and I reuniting the following May in Newport Beach, California where I was responsible for hosting the BPICM Spring Congress on behalf of the American industry organization. I had recently crashed on a motocross motorbike and was nursing a broken left hand, three fractured ribs and a broken right clavicle. Needless to say, I needed help getting my suit on and Peter obliged so I dubbed him Jeeves, the Butler. He was by my side the entire event and was indispensable in the performance of my duties as event host.
We shared many, many adventures over the years on both sides of the Pond, including on my side, the Mojave Desert, the Pacific Coast Highway, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Nevada ghost towns, hot springs, steam trains and more motorcycle rides than I can count. Along the way, Peter met many of my friends who became part of the PRT Sheen Fan Club USA Chapter. I returned to the Isle of Man another 13 times, always with Peter and often joined by lucky friends and family. I spent many wonderful visits at Remember, No. 1 Landor Cottages on the Village Green, Letchmore Heath and shared many a pint and a meal with Peter’s family and friends. Jetting over for his gala 80 in 08 and 90th birthday bashes will be but a few of many lasting memories of PRT Sheen.
Peter was also a great mentor to me as I advanced my career in the motorcycle industry. Nuggets of wisdom included “Better a surgeon with as scalpel than a butcher with an ax”, “The market will always win” and my favorite “Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted”. If I had a dollar for every time I would preface words of sagacity with “As Peter Sheen would say…”, I could buy a round of drinks for all of his adoring family and friends, then we would raise our glasses high and proclaim, “To Peter Sheen and a life well lived!”
Godspeed to my dear friend Peter.
Sincerely,
Paul Golde
Rancho Relaxo, California
Paul Golde
27-05 2020 17:03
wrote:
A Salute to Peter Sheen from California, USA
I will never forget the beautiful early May day I met Peter at the Son Vida Sheraton in Palma, Mallorca where I was attending an international motorcycle business conference. Having attended this yearly event many times before and therefore knowing everyone, Peter must have discerned that I was the newcomer from the States and he approached me straightaway, resplendent in dapper duds and a fabulous tan. After introductions, he proceeded with my interrogation.
“Are you a motorcyclist?” to which I replied, certainly. “Right then, are you going the TT next month?”. I was gobsmacked and asked in return if he meant the Isle of Man TT, to which he replied “Why yes, of course and every proper motorcyclist must experience the TT at least once!” . I returned with “In my dreams!”. Peter then proceeded to lay out instructions for making my way to London the following year and he would take care of arranging everything else. I was speechless. We got to know each other during the conference and he told me of his brothers Phil in Texas and Mike in Canada, his love for steam trains (“I get excited when the kettle boils!”) and desire to see the American West.
That was the start of a long and storied relationship that found Peter and I reuniting the following May in Newport Beach, California where I was responsible for hosting the BPICM Spring Congress on behalf of the American industry organization. I had recently crashed on a motocross motorbike and was nursing a broken left hand, three fractured ribs and a broken right clavicle. Needless to say, I needed help getting my suit on and Peter obliged so I dubbed him Jeeves, the Butler. He was by my side the entire event and was indispensable in the performance of my duties as event host.
We shared many, many adventures over the years on both sides of the Pond, including on my side, the Mojave Desert, the Pacific Coast Highway, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Nevada ghost towns, hot springs, steam trains and more motorcycle rides than I can count. Along the way, Peter met many of my friends who became part of the PRT Sheen Fan Club USA Chapter. I returned to the Isle of Man another 13 times, always with Peter and often joined by lucky friends and family. I spent many wonderful visits at Remember, No. 1 Landor Cottages on the Village Green, Letchmore Heath and shared many a pint and a meal with Peter’s family and friends. Jetting over for his gala 80 in 08 and 90th birthday bashes will be but a few of many lasting memories of PRT Sheen.
Peter was also a great mentor to me as I advanced my career in the motorcycle industry. Nuggets of wisdom included “Better a surgeon with as scalpel than a butcher with an ax”, “The market will always win” and my favorite “Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted”. If I had a dollar for every time I would preface words of sagacity with “As Peter Sheen would say…”, I could buy a round of drinks for all of his adoring family and friends, then we would raise our glasses high and proclaim, “To Peter Sheen and a life well lived!”
Godspeed to my dear friend Peter.
Sincerely,
Paul Golde
Rancho Relaxo, California
