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"Click" Baldwin Killed in Montana Motorcycle Crash
#1
Officials from the St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana have
confirmed that Clifton Baldwin, "Click" as he known by his friends,
passed away last night after sustaining fatal injuries in motorcycle
accident in Lolo, Montana while traveling to South Dakota to attend the
68th annual Sturgis Rally.

The well known Carolina Harley-Davidson Buell owner underwent
emergency surgery Tuesday after his 2009 Harley-Davidson collided with a
1999 Honda Civic.

The Montana Highway Patrol reported the accident occurred Tuesday
morning on U.S. 12 in Lolo, Montana, in front of the Traveler's Rest
campground, which is about 8 miles south of Missoula, Montana.  Baldwin
was flown to the St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana where he was
treated for multiple injuries.

Click Baldwin, who was 54 years old, was a native of Belmont, NC and
he is survived by his wife Diane, daughter Chelsea and by his mother and
brother.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Baldwin, who lived in Gastonia, NC, is a well known Harley-Davidson
Buell dealer.  Baldwin has won various national awards for some of the
many custom motorcycles his company has produced over the years.  He has
been featured in many national publications and covered on multiple
television specials including a documentary about the "Hamsters USA," a
motorcycle club and Click was included in a documentary film that
followed the Kyle Petty Charity Ride.

As well as being a noted businessman, Click is a member of the
"Hamsters USA", a member of H.O.G., he was an avid fan of all things
mechanical, Click also enjoyed collecting "Cushman" Scooters, he was a
friend of thousands and a supporter of various local and national
charities. 

Click is also very well known to the NASCAR world.  His dealership,
Carolina-Harley Davidson, is one of the premier providers
of motorcycles to many NASCAR drivers, team owners, and employees.

Click Baldwin has had a long friendship with Nascar driver Kyle Petty
and is a big supporter of Petty's Annual Charity Ride and The Victory
Junction Gang.  Click was also very fond of and a supporter of General
Tom Sadler and The Speedway Children's Charities plus he supported many
other charitable organizations and other individuals in need.  Click
also helped bring Christmas to those in need as he would wear his Santa
suit over his "leathers" and brighten up the lives for residents of Holy
Angels, in Belmont, NC.

Though Click's and Diane's dealership was a shopping spot for some of
the most elite motorcycle enthusiasts in the country it was also a
shopping spot for many local Gaston area residents and Click never
forgot that.

Click often showed his appreciation for his many customers and
friends by hosting free barbecues or "Pig-Pickins" as they are more
commonly known.  One thing Click really enjoyed doing, and he was
actually very good at it too, was standing over a barbecue smoker for
hours on end trying to get the meat he was cooking "just right" before
he served it.

On multiple occasions I have seen Click stand in the hot sun and
serve every single person in attendance at some of his famed, Carolina
Harley, "Pig Pickins" before he ever stopped to take a break or get a
plate for himself. It was important to him that everyone else got served
first and most of all, that they all had a good time.



Although Click was a natural businessman I knew he gave away a lot
more than most people will ever know.  He loved what he did and he got
paid to do it. "You cannot ask for much more than that," Baldwin would
say. I once asked Click when he knew he had "made it?"...  His answer, 
"Well, I am not sure I have...so I am going to keep working on
it"...but, he said, "I had a good idea I was doing something right when
I was coming back from Daytona Beach and looked out of the window of
Richard Petty's private jet and thought,  that's not too bad for a small
town boy."

Click was very fun to be around.  I remember an incident, back in the
winter of 2000, where Click and I, among others, had been "snowed" and
"iced" in after a winter storm, and had to spend the night in a
Charlotte hotel, following the Easy Rider Bike Show. The next morning
the bikes had to be removed from the convention center but we could not
get Click's truck and trailer close to the convention center loading
docks because of the conditions.

I remember slipping and sliding while pushing some, very prized,
custom motorcycles to Click's hauler which was parked about a block or
so away from the convention center. As we struggled with the heavy bikes
through the icy Charlotte streets a brand new, black, Lincoln Navigator
sped toward us and quickly stopped.  Down rolled the tinted window and
the driver said, "you need any help, Click?" "Nah," Click
answered...then we all had a good laugh.  I recognized the driver of the
SUV as being Championship Nascar team owner, Robert Yates.  I said,
"Click, is there anybody you don't know?" "Maybe," he said..."but I just
don't guess I have met them yet, that's all."

I am asking that your thoughts and prayers would be with the Baldwin
family during this time.

In closing, I remember having dinner one night, quite a few years
ago, with Kyle Petty, Click Baldwin and others.  One thing I remember
from that night was the shared belief, they had, of trying to spend time
in life doing whatever it is you enjoy or love doing.  I will guarantee
you that Click was doing exactly what he loved Tuesday as he and 14
other members of the Hamsters were on that trip to meet with other
riders.

If you would like to make comments or leave words of encouragement
please use the "comments" section below and it will be passed along to
the Baldwin family.
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#2
Man thats awful! Gives me a real bad feeling in the pit of my stomach when I hear of someone getting killed doing what they love. Never take for granted the small things and enjoy each day to its fullest cause you never know when someones lack of attention could cost a life and loss to our families. Keep an eye on motorist and slow down and take an extra glance when coming up on and intersection. Stay safe my brothers and sisters and enjoy the ride!!!!!!!
"Wind in my face...Two fists in the air...Not a care in the world!!!"
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#3
I was watching American Thunder last night and it was an episode that I had seen before which in no way deters me from watching. It was a episode where Jay meets some guys in North Carolina to ride from there to Daytona. They meet in the Carolina Harley dealership parking lot. Its like 5 or so of em and one of them is Click Baldwin. I didn't realize it the first couple of times I saw that one. I immediatly recognized his name this time because of this Thread in this forum. I watch the show this time paying special attention whenever Click was on the screen. Man... Talk about someone who seemed to love life. I mean, everytime you see him he's either cracking jokes or smiling or riding his Harley with his head back and in the wind like most of us do when we are all alone with our thoughts on the back of our favorite toy! It was kind of a sad show this time knowing what happens to him in a few months from then but at the same time, it gave some kind of glimpse into who he was a person. He was just one of us....A BIKER!!! If you get the chance to see this episode of American Thunder, I highly reccommend it. Every one of em is great in its own way to me, but this is kind of a tribute now to a man who loved to ride......Tattoo
"Wind in my face...Two fists in the air...Not a care in the world!!!"
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