The King Has Fallen, Long Live The King
John was the official King of the Royal Order of Garbage Posters, established in 2001.
I needed to go for a long run and clear my mind and really use that as an opportunity to reflect on all of the hugely positive encounters that I have had with John over the years.
The first time that I met John was at a BC J-body car meet downtown in October of 2000. It's important to remember at the time that the import scene was booming but there was a massive, visceral distaste between owners of imports and owners of domestic cars. John was infinitely wiser and more mature than any of us kids and did a tremendous job of bridging the gap between the "outsiders" (as we perceived ourselves) and the import crowd (Vancouver Imports, Revscene, etc.). He was also hugely liked amongst our crowd and made an effort to attend every event.
I even remember in February of 2001 when I came over from the Island to buy lowering springs for my car, he made an effort to meet up for lunch to talk cars.
It was soon after that, with John creating the momentum, the ROOGP posters was born! And with it, many, many, many long winter nights were spent posting, and reading, and sharing and generally consuming all of the bandwidth that our primitive broadband internet connections to provide! I remember working with John in early-2003 to stage a "ROOGP comeback...." when the ROOGP would plan stage FLASH WHORINGS on RS ....
I went one way with cars, and John went another ... but it was always great to be able to connect with him on RS and share memories from all of the old J-Body events. I enjoyed watching his Miata build over the years and last year totally struck up conversation with him on the regular... I discovered "Revscene Riders" and realized he was very much Revscene's long-establish elder-stateman that now represented the site's bike crew. I had always wanted to get into bikes and realizing that John was riding emboldened me to go to bike school, get my license and get a bike (and then another after the first was stolen).
He was very much an information super-source for me as I learned the new sport. I have no issue saying he provided the motivation and inspiration for me to get into bikes that I probably wouldn't have otherwise had.
I remember spending much of last summer's RS Summer meet walking and chatting with him after we both rolled in. The conversations with him that day reminded me of a couple of things; he always had a sharp, humorous wit (never intended to harm), that he was always extremely positive, had a strong moral compass and was never even remotely interested in gossip. A great personality and character for sure.
A few months ago I managed to go on an amazing ride up to Whistler with Morgan, Tommy, one of Tommy's friends, Winson, and John.... it was the best ride of the year. The weather was spectacular, everybody rode within their means and I think I will always use that memory as frame of reference looking back.
RIP John.... I have nothing but good things to say and wish your family nothing but the best
Fun fact : being that I was a white boy from Victoria, one of the first things that I asked him when I met him was what his name ("Gwilo") meant : he explained that it was what the people at the car washes in Richmond would call him when he took his Cavalier to be washed.
Attached is a picture of John from the first event I met him at... the BC J-Body event in October of 2000.