Rebel with a heart: The Bob Bearor Collection

The movie, “Wild One” starring Marlon Brando, showed images of a biker gang terrorizing a small town in California. The leader of pack falls for the Sheriff’s daughter despite objection from the father. Just like in the movie, Robert Elick Bearor was a bit of a rebel. In fact, he took pride that his initials were close to rebel (R.E.B.). Bob drove a logging truck and saw a cute lil’ gal getting off the bus and followed her to where she was working as a waitress. Almost every day he would show up at the diner and Christine would ask, “what could I get for you?” Bob would reply, “You!” Bob was a bit of a rebel and rode motorcycle and had fast cars. Christine’s mother didn’t quite know what to think of him when he picked her up on his Harley and leather jacket. Bob and his “gang” had been known to run around. Bob once drove his Harley into the Cove Point Dance Hall in Leicester, VT and burned out in the middle of the dance floor; the black marks stayed for years. Teenie’s mom finally allowed her to go out with Bob, and they dated for 5 years and got married in a 1958 Corvette. Soon the kids came and Bob sold “Casper” his white Harley Davidson Motorcycle to buy their first home. Teenie eventually learned to ride and they loved riding motorcycles together. She especially liked his Harley because it was so loud and people took notice of them on the bike. They had matching riding outfits and loved to ride around to shows and throughout the Vermont area. Bob was always doing tricks on his motorcycle and quite often Teenie was riding along.

Bob soon started a mail route in Vermont and New York. He wanted Christine to be home with the kids and they started the Teenie Tiny Poultry farm, so Teenie (Christine) could stay home with the kids while he was running his mail routes. Throughout this time there were always motorcycles and classic cars around the house. Teenie figured, Bob did all the work, he deserved the toys. He bought a 1976 Harley Davidson Coney Island MC Cruiser. It was called the Joker and was embellished in lights, 1976 Silver dollars and more. It was toured to events with a 1947 Indian motorcycle that was supposedly gold plated instead of chrome. Bob would also sell Indian and Harley Davidson trinkets and animals from the Teenie’s Tiny Farm aside the display for the Joker at shows. It was a happy, busy life for their family.

People in the area knew that Bob would help them out. Often times, Bob would buy things from them to help them with money problems. Bob helped many people openly and privately. Bob also had a body shop on the farm where he painted bikes and cars. He was a great member of the community.

When he was younger, Bob had befriended Ed Flynn in Bennington, VT. Ed had an Indian dealership and Bob and him would talk motorcycles. Bob was the son that Ed never had. Ed Flynn was a bit of a wild man, and he and Bob were quite the pair. Mr. Flynn passed away and his widow didn’t know the value of the bikes and inventory; stuff started to disappear out of the dealership. Bob had a big heart and moved the widow up to one of his houses and took the remaining inventory back to his home. This inventory is still there, and is comprised of approximately 53 motorcycles, hundreds of parts including NOS, and memorabilia from the Indian dealership. Parts and bikes were stashed throughout his buildings and even under one of his houses. VanDerBrink Auctions and a group of bike guys from the area unearthed 2 Indians from his stash. You can get a firsthand look at these bikes coming out after many years.

Bob loved Indians and Harley Davidsons. He mostly rode Harley Davidsons, but he also enjoyed the history and uniqueness of Indian Motorcycles. When Indian was going to bring back the Indian brand, they brought a new bike for Bob and his “gang” to test. Unfortunately, it broke down on their first ride and they were treated to a Harley ride home.

Life was beginning to become hectic. Bob’s mail routes were now numbering seven and Teenie’s poultry farm was growing also. They took animals to the Vermont State Fair and many people came to their farm for purchases. At the farm there was everything from Russian deer to turkeys and even a fishing pond. Bob’s dad was an avid fisherman and confined to a wheelchair. Bob decided to dig a pond on his farm and stock it with fish creating a place for his dad to go fishing anytime. Bob then started allowing open fishing for any Veteran, disabled person and children. The Bearors hosted an annual fishing derby for years and provided a free banquet for the fisherman from the aforementioned groups. Hundreds of people would come out for a great day of fishing. This continued even after Bob’s passing until COVID.

Bob was diagnosed with kidney disease and tried to keep it from his precious Teenie, but she found the doctor letter. Like always, he wanted to take care of her and not her taking care of him. He passed away at their home with family. Even at the end, he wanted to go for a ride with Teenie on their motorcycle. He passed away and now the family has decided to sell his collection. Little did they know what all he had.

VanDerBrink Auctions, LLC visited the family in 2019, but COVID hit and delayed the auction. In May of 2021, motorcycle guys from New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire and I started to unearth the collection. In a chicken coup there were 14 frames and vintage Indian and Harley Davidson motorcycles. The museum was full of Indian and Harley Davidson memorabilia, parts which includes NOS parts. For 3 days, the crew dug in the buildings and unearthed 53 motorcycles from restored to vintage frames. Hundreds of early Indian and Harley parts, and a lot of memorabilia. Unfortunately, the location at the farm has no internet and no parking so everything will be moved to the Vermont State Fairgrounds and the auction will be held on August 14th, 2021 at 9:00am. There will be everything from classic cars, antique tractors, and even a chainsaw collection at the sale. And of course, the hoard of Indian and Harley Davidson Motorcycles and parts.The auction will be onsite with online bidding. Many of the motorcycle parts will be only for onsite bidders. So, it’s best to be at the auction! This truly is an amazing collection and you won’t want to miss it. To check out the catalog and hundreds of pictures and video www.vanderbrinkauctions.com. See you at the amazing Vermont Motorcycle Hoard-Bob Bearor auction on August 14^th, 2021 at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland, Vermont.