RIP John Rice (johnr)

[Muzz]

I had been trying to get hold of John Rice and couldn't raise him either on his phone or by text.  On the spur of the moment I did a Google search and sadly this is what I found

RICE  John Russell Clarke.  Suddenly Mon September 9th.  Motorcyclist, yachtee, teacher, raconteur and Lover of Animals.  Aged 69

Looking back, I had been in contact with him a week before he died.  His health was not the greatest, having had two major heart attacks.  He had had to vacate the flat he was in and for a time was living in a tent at the back of a friends place.  Low cost rental accommodation is almost impossible to get in Invercargill.   However, some friends had bought a caravan for him to live in and he was camped at a camping ground.  As he said, a bit snug but at least he was warm.

I had first met John face to face in 2008 at about the half way stage of a 2600 mile trip around the South Island.  I had started communications after getting to know him via W.G.  He had a 2002 Hydro, which sadly blew it's brains out because the gorillas that did the recall stuffed up big time.  I know he was overwhelmed when a number of guys on this site clubbed together and sent out a low mileage V11 Sport engine (GuzzistaJohn?).  Communications went back and forth, and after a meeting of minds Steamdriven (Kev), the inimitable Pete Roper and myself met down in Invercargill and crashed in John's flat for the best part of a week and shoehorned the new donk in to place.  No, isn't wasn't a straight froward job!

John swapping bits out.



Pete and John getting hydraulic fittings to organise the venting system.  The motors were completely different




Finished! Kev, John, Pete, myself.  The fire extinguisher is not for show.  We managed to set the beast on fire!




In 2015 the Tattley Rappet rally was held in Invercargill, so I went down on the Breva.  it was a hell ride as my neck was completely frozen with whiplash after being rear ended in my work''s vehicle a couple of days previously.  565kms and half in to a howling gale.  When we went to get the warrant of fitness the next day John's Cali suddenly made the whole street disappear with dense white smoke.  A passing motorist with a trailer kindly took the bike back to John's and I did the first ride on my ownsome.  However, with a bit of persuasion and with John driving and my riding pillion (much easier on my neck) we did the rest of the rally on the Breva.  John being just under 6 foot and with a combined weight of about 380lbs John was somewhat dubious.  By the end of the rally he was a "convert", reckoned it was a "wee jewel".

John never got around to work out what happened. He did a heap of research and concluded it was something to do with the venting system.  I threatened a couple of times to go down and stand over him with a whip but to my regret it never happened.  With lots going on in my own life at the time, and a second heart attack at his end things conspired against it.

I was hoping to make a final ride for the season and shoot down and see him in between coming off lockdown and before the registration goes on hold for winter.  Sadly now, my reason to do so has gone.

RIP John.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I'm sorry to hear about JohnR passing, he used to be quite a prolific poster on WG
I just re-read his post No 2804 about his old BSA adventures, its a classic.
https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=32456.msg491179#msg491179
He invited me to come and visit if I was down that way, unfortunately it never happened.
Rest in Peace JohnR

[Dave Swanson]

I am very sorry to hear this. I always enjoyed his posts here, and remember the saga of the EV very well.  RIP John, you will be missed. 

[Aaron D.]

I wondered what had happened, having followed the saga and enjoyed his stories and memories here.

Thank you for letting us know. Sounds like he was a good fellow to know, and so are you.

[Old Jock]

That is so so sad, thanks for the update Muzz

I never met John but read a lot of his posts, I remember him posting up about what he was going through after one of heart attacks, it sounded bloody horrendous

Really down about hearing of his passing, almost felt like I knew him

John

[Kev m]

 

[Dilliw]

RIP John.  I followed this story from beginning to end.

[john fish]

Pete Roper sends his condolences.

I've never met John, but I am sorry for your loss.

[Nick]

RIP John

[oldbike54]

 I knew something was wrong when he stopped answering messages . Never had the chance to meet John , but have a wonderful book about Elephants he sent me some years ago , a humorous tome it is . We shared many interests , and his knowledge of all things aquatic kept us entertained for hours here on WG .

 Safe passage my friend .

 Dusty

[rocker59]

Sad news. He was a valued contributor to WildGuzzi.  He'll be missed.

[Joliet Jim]

Just another sign of how old we're getting. Hard to believe I'm 19 years older than I was when I bought my Stone.

Rest in Peace John

[Chuck in Indiana]

I know he was overwhelmed when a number of guys on this site clubbed together and sent out a low mileage V11 Sport engine (GuzzistaJohn?).

From memory  it was Eldo Jon that was the mover and shaker.
Sorry to hear about JohnR..he was an interesting (and funny) guy. RIP John

[radguzzi]

Sorry to hear of John's passing.  Condolences to his family.

Rest In Peace kind sir.

Rob

[moto]

I'm very sorry to hear this. Though I never met John, his posts always made me happy and often deeply impressed.

Muzz, your reminiscence about John was a fine tribute. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

Condolences to all who knew him.

Moto

[ozarquebus]

Though I did not know him, I feel like I do after reading of his BSA adventures. May he rest in peace.

[Shorty]

RIP JohnR!

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

Condolences to his friends and family.

[Lannis]

I went back and read that BSA A10 tale from 11 years ago ... still a great story.

He'll be missed.

Lannis

[malik]

Bugger. John was a good bloke, pleasant, helpful, unhurried. When I last saw him some years back, he was still in the throes of sorting the Cali. What a saga.

[guzzler]

R I P ole mate.
Thanks Muzz, I did wonder if he was ok as hadn't seen a post in ages!
Jeez life in a tent in Invergiggle in Winter can't have been much fun eh, but seems as though life looked up for him  in a caravan later on.
Never met but always kept an eye out for his posts eh.
Sad news.
Guzzler

[Muzz]

Thanks for the link to the A10 saga Roy.  Bikes and life in general were discussed till the wee hours of the morning, usually over a cup of tea.  John might have lived frugally but good tea and his gaspers were mandatory.

[Muzz]

John, amongst other things in his life, ended up being the motorcycle expert for Lucas for a time.  When he worked for them he didn't start off in that capacity, but the person who was doing the importing etc. knew nothing, and John did.  A subtle change of direction and he became "the man".  He had an unswerving loyalty to Lucas electrical components.   So much so that in order to get him going I would refer to "the prince of darkness, Lucas generators being an oxymoron because they didn't", that kind of thing.   There was much good natured "discussion' to be had with that topic.

[Muzz]

R I P ole mate.
Thanks Muzz, I did wonder if he was ok as hadn't seen a post in ages!
Jeez life in a tent in Invergiggle in Winter can't have been much fun eh, but seems as though life looked up for him  in a caravan later on.

Guzzler

If I can quote from a text from John when this happened,

"It most certainly is!  I looked to see if he had wings growing out of his shoulders"

A raconteur indeed. 

[oldbike54]

 A little late , but maybe we can have a moment of silence in memory of John , someone pick a time .

 Dusty

[Kiwi Dave]

Muzz, do you remember whether he might've attended any Rattley Tappet rallies in the North Island (Napier perhaps?).  My last remaining brain cell seems to think that I have met him, but I can't remember where.  Don't think it was the South Island ones.

[drdwb]

So sorry to hear about John. I also followed the saga of getting his bike back on the road, and felt a kinship with the group over the combined efforts of the WG family to get him back on the road. I wondered whyI hadn’t seen any post from him in awhile. RIP John.

[Muzz]

A little late , but maybe we can have a moment of silence in memory of John , someone pick a time .

 Dusty

For me, it will be 8.00pm tonight.

Pretty close to the time when I found his obit.

[Muzz]

Muzz, do you remember whether he might've attended any Rattley Tappet rallies in the North Island (Napier perhaps?).  My last remaining brain cell seems to think that I have met him, but I can't remember where.  Don't think it was the South Island ones.

Pretty sure he didn't Dave.  I am pretty sure the Invercargill one was the only one.  I tried to motivate him for the Christchurch one but that didn't happen.

He regularly traveled the length of NZ on his Rocket lll  (which he called Rocketship), perhaps you called in to a Lucas branch and he was there....

[Dharma Bum]

RIP John.