Harley Owners Group #1665 / Antelope Valley CA Chapter / Ridgecrest Activity Group

Sad News -- The Loss of Two Members
Crash Begin and Rich Newton

Update: Tuesday 17 October 2006, 10:15 PM

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Lionel "Crash" Begin [1935 -2006]:

[Tuesday, 17 Oct 2006, 10:15 PM] The ride time has changed. We will be departing Holland and Lyons at 4:30 PM Thursday. Please plan to arrive NLT 4:15 so that a short pre-ride briefing can be conducted.

P.S. The obit in the DI is wrong as usual.

Dave Hunter

 

I just received a phone call from Michelle Smith, Crash Begin passed away shortly after 3:00 am this morning [13 October 2006].

Barb

Crash's family is having his remains transported back east for internment. They have requested that his friends accompany him as far as 4 corners. (Junction of US 395 and Hwy 58). From this point, the hearse will continue on to LAX unescorted.

The family does not wish riders to accompany the hearse all the way to the airport due to the dangers involved with riding in heavy traffic. 4 Corners was chosen by the family as the break-off point for the Escort Riders in the interest of everyone's safety.

The ride will depart Ridgecrest from Holland and Lyons Mortuary, 216 S. Norma St. at 1500 (3:00 PM) on Thursday the 19th of October and will go Rain or Shine.

It is requested that anyone wishing to ride in memory of our fallen brother arrive at the mortuary by 1430 (2:30 PM) fueled and ready to roll so that a pre-ride briefing can be held. There will be a chase vehicle incase anyone experiences mechanical difficulty on the ride.

This is an open invitation to all of Crash's friends regardless of what they ride or even if they ride, so please spread the word. If anyone would like to accompany the group in a car they are more than welcome.

The family is also looking for one or two people willing to shoot a couple of short videos of the group as it leaves Ridgecrest and as it arrives at 4 Corners. If you have a video camera and are willing please let me know.

Dave Hunter

Crash and his constant companion Warren...
at our RAG HOG Picnic 15 Oct 2005
 

Richard D. "Rich" Newton [1940-2006]:

Since my original message I have learned that Rich Newton suffered a massive coronary while riding enroute to Elko, Nv. He apparently realized he was in trouble and had slowed down, ran off the road and just laid the bike over. As a result, I have been told he suffered no major trauma other than to his heart which was the cause of death. The incident occured in Idaho at milemarker 47 on Highway 51.

Rich was a good man and a good friend to me and I am sorry for his passing. His loss will be felt throughout the community by his many friends. Born on August 18th, 1940, Rich was 66 years young and he went out of this life doing what he loved to do.

Rich didn't want a big church service and always said that when he left this life, he wanted a party where his friends would come together and remember him.

There will be a memorial service held for Rich at Mickey's on Sunday afternoon, November 12th, 2006. I have been informed that Rich's nephew is a ranking officer on the USS Nimitz and his sister's have asked to have the memorial service on that date so he can be in attendance, as well as all of them. As many of you that knew Rich well are aware, he was an avid golfer. I have spoken with some of his golf buddies and they are planning a memorial tournament that day and would like the Ridgecrest biker community to plan a memorial ride that day with both groups of Rich's friends coming together at Mickey's to celebrate his life and his time among us.

I hope to see many of you there in attendance on November 12, 2006.

sincerely,

~tony jaime~

This is a photo I took of Rich at a cruse night back in March time frame. Hope the photo gives everyone a positive ID of who Rich is. His favorite water hole was Charle's at the Carrage. The executive chef, John Broyles, at the Carriage is a personal friend of Rich's and would probably be honored to do the memorial service there. Most all the people who work there know him and like him. He rode to AZ. with the Hunters and us in 2005. We had a great trip and a fun time even in the rain, hail and snow. Once on that trip, Rich put on a plastic poncho which soon blew over his head in the pooring rain. He made it off the road safe but could not see a thing. After it was over we had some good laughs about it. Please think of his family at this time of loss.

Stan Austin

Rich [on picture left here] on Sedona ride -- April 2006
Rich at cruise nite -- March 2006
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