Don Tilley Killed in Accident, Wife Critical

We're sad to report that well known motorcyclist Don Tilley, 78 has died in an accident Friday night on the Blue Ridge Parkway near mile post 394. His wife Robinette is in the hospital in critical condition.  The couple was returning from the HD dealer meeting in Nashville.   Tilley was the owner of Tilley Harley-Davidson in Statesville and according to a report in Dealer News, was "perhaps best known for the championships he earned as tuner of Lucifer’s Hammer, an ex-factory Harley-Davidson XR1000, that Gene Church rode to three consecutive AMA Battle of the Twins Championships in the mid-1980s."

Tilley was also well known in the NASCAR community.  Kyle Petty wrote on Twitter, “God speed, @don_tilley. Don taught me how to ride long distance, love Harleys & most importantly how to be a friend.”