Tweet
Ed Gerlits passed away on December 17th in Pomona California. He was there assisting with the preparations of Union Pacific steam locomotive #4014 as it was being prepared to be towed to Cheyene Wyoming for restoration. He came down with pneumonia while there and was in the hospital for 3 weeks. He fought long and hard, but lost his battle after 2 weeks and 3 attempts to get off the respirator.
While Ed's true love has always been steam trains, he shared my passion for old motorcycles too. Ed and I both joined the fledgling Rocky Mtn. Chapter in 1982. Ed was instrumental in helping the chapter plan and coordinate the very first national road run, the 1st Rocky Mtn. DJ Run, as it was called. Ed had years of experience running railroad excursions for large groups of people so he was a natural and steered us in the right direction. His work helped set the stage for what has now become a very popular part of our club, all the road runs that we enjoy today.
Ed first wanted to build a steam powered Servi-Car! We rounded up a chassis, steam engines from a Locomobile and Dayton steam cars and started laying out the workings of the mighty Gerlits steam trike. It was shaping up to be a real Rube Goldberg delight! Many obstacles popped up but plans were progressing when Woody Carson posted an ad in the Rocky Mtn. Chapter newsletter advertising a '41 Servi-Car for sale, in "Kit Form". We met Woody and Ed bought the partially restored project from the widow of the previous owner. I helped Ed restore the Servi-Car as a Fire Chief's vehicle, because it had many police accessories, but Ed didn't like police colors, but loved fire engine red and gold leaf striping. He rode the trike on a number of road runs here in Colorado. Don't ever let anyone tell you that Servi-Car can't go down the road. The trike could run 55 mph all day long but did need to get a run at the hills to keep up speed. He rode over 12,000 foot high Trail Ridge Road more than once with the trike, all stock except for gearing!. His last road run was on the Angel Fire Road Run in 2008. Ed also had a 1939 knucklehead that was restored and he rode that on a few road runs as well.
Ed was one of the men who came into my life at a critical time, as I had no good father figure. Ed was a father to me as well as a great friend. He taught me many things and was always willing to drop whatever he was doing to help me out, whatever the job may be. I will miss him very much! Godspeed to you Ed!
Gene Harper
While Ed's true love has always been steam trains, he shared my passion for old motorcycles too. Ed and I both joined the fledgling Rocky Mtn. Chapter in 1982. Ed was instrumental in helping the chapter plan and coordinate the very first national road run, the 1st Rocky Mtn. DJ Run, as it was called. Ed had years of experience running railroad excursions for large groups of people so he was a natural and steered us in the right direction. His work helped set the stage for what has now become a very popular part of our club, all the road runs that we enjoy today.
Ed first wanted to build a steam powered Servi-Car! We rounded up a chassis, steam engines from a Locomobile and Dayton steam cars and started laying out the workings of the mighty Gerlits steam trike. It was shaping up to be a real Rube Goldberg delight! Many obstacles popped up but plans were progressing when Woody Carson posted an ad in the Rocky Mtn. Chapter newsletter advertising a '41 Servi-Car for sale, in "Kit Form". We met Woody and Ed bought the partially restored project from the widow of the previous owner. I helped Ed restore the Servi-Car as a Fire Chief's vehicle, because it had many police accessories, but Ed didn't like police colors, but loved fire engine red and gold leaf striping. He rode the trike on a number of road runs here in Colorado. Don't ever let anyone tell you that Servi-Car can't go down the road. The trike could run 55 mph all day long but did need to get a run at the hills to keep up speed. He rode over 12,000 foot high Trail Ridge Road more than once with the trike, all stock except for gearing!. His last road run was on the Angel Fire Road Run in 2008. Ed also had a 1939 knucklehead that was restored and he rode that on a few road runs as well.
Ed was one of the men who came into my life at a critical time, as I had no good father figure. Ed was a father to me as well as a great friend. He taught me many things and was always willing to drop whatever he was doing to help me out, whatever the job may be. I will miss him very much! Godspeed to you Ed!
Gene Harper
Comment