DARK TIMES IN RICHMOND, ILLINOIS

Gauger's Motorcycles, where Rich bought the Tl20R in 1973, is now called Morrie's Place, and is owned and operated by a gentleman named Ed Zender, who began hanging out at Gauger Motorcycles back in the 80s.

Morrie Gauger and his wife Ruth started out as BSA dealers in 1954 from a farm shed and added on the marques of Triumph, Norton, Matchless and BMW.The roof of the shed was made from the old packing cases that Triumph shipped bikes in from Meriden. Even into the early 1990s the shop did not have running water, a toilet or heating, let alone a phone. Morrie had a farmer's mentality, and didn't believe in using banks, stashing cash in various locations around the farm. In 1993 the couple were brutally murdered. Initially it was thought they had been killed by their son, who was convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison. He spent three years protesting his innocence, saying that a confession had been obtained under duress. The courts decided the conviction was unsafe and released him. Even then the Police believed him to be guilty and kept searching for evidence to convict him a second time. In 1997, however, an informant passed information to the Police that confirmed the couple had been killed in a botched robbery attempt by two motorcycle gang members, who were searching for Morrie Gauger's hidden money. The gang members had escaped the scene with just $15. The pair were convicted of the killings and are now serving life terms. Ed Zender purchased the business from the Gauger family, operating from the same small farm before building a new shop eight miles away.

Ryan plans to take the T120 on a trip to recreate some of the photos from 1973 at his grandparent's former home, and to visit the new Morrie's Place. After all, he still has the original bill of sale and coupon for a free oil change and first service.