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 a 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 Lynn and brother Cricket . 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" which was a motorcycle club Click belonged to 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 had a hand in the design of many custom bikes, he was a friend of thousands, a supporter of various local and national charities and most of all he was a loving husband and father who thought the world of his family.
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, employees and fans.
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 there were many ohers from throughout the Piedmont area who would travel long and far just to do business with Click and Diane. Click never forgot any of those folks.
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4 months ago
Thanks you so much for the update. Well said and let us know of any changes.
4 months ago
hey man-
appreciate you letting us know what is going on. My thought are with them.
4 months ago
hey dude
thanks for the news. our thoughts are with them. Get well soon
4 months ago
This is a very giving family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Click, Diane and Chelsea.
4 months ago
SPEEDWAY CHAPTER LADIES OF HARLEY WOULD LIKE TO CLICK & HIS FAMILY TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR PRAYERS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR & EXPECTING A QUICK RECOVERY.
4 months ago
Our thoughts and prayers are with you every moment. Lynn B, call me when you can. I love you guys.
4 months ago
Our local ( Gastonia, NC) paper said Click died last night in Montana
4 months ago
Our local (Gastonia, NC) paper said Click Baldwin died last night. My thoughts and prayers are with his family now..
4 months ago
Please remember the Baldwin family in your prayers. Ray
4 months ago
There was no one who gave more of his self, Our prays are with Diane and the family
BIG DOG & BARB
4 months ago
Marcy and I and my family send our prayers and sympathies to the Baldwin family.
4 months ago
It is a sad day here at Blu-Gas and in the community. Click was a good friend to everyone here. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
4 months ago
I would like to tell CLick family that I am very sorry to here of their lost this morning 7-30-2008 My prayers and thought go out to Click's Family and Friends.
Wendy Monroe, NC
4 months ago
Every one who knew Click will miss him greatly. His passion for enjoying life was always visible. His shop in Gastonia really is a true art museum of everything motorcycle. The Hamsters and everyone he was friends with are all losing someone special.
4 months ago
I met Click years ago - in fact, I rented the first motorcycle from his original shop. We've shared numerous meetings, trips and vacations thoughout the years and the 'Certified Derelicts' down here in Florida are pretty numb right now. He was a tremendous influence on all of us and a very dear friend who treated us all like family. Diane and Chelsea, our thoughts and prayers are with you, Mom and Cricket, we grieve for your loss.
Greg Gabert
4 months ago
I was very sad to hear this news. Diane, Chelsea, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
K.T. Macomson
4 months ago
Thank you for your insight and story. Everyone who met Click is better for it. You were lucky to have spent time with him. He will be missed from coast-to-coast.
JJ
4 months ago
I REALLY WISHED WE COULD TURN BACK THE CLOCK ON THIS ONE....HIS LOSS WILL BE FELT.
Jeremy M
4 months ago
Click and his family have been long time friends and partners in the world of Harley! It's hard to imagine this place without his laugh, excitement for Harley and NASCAR and all he did unselfishly for so many. I'm extremely saddened by this loss and pray for Diane, Chelsea and all those he touched. Dawn Schmidt
4 months ago
Our prayers are with Diane, Chelsea and the entire Baldwin family. I feel very blessed to have met Click... He will be missed dearly.
Godspeed friend...
T. Mooney
4 months ago
Thank you so very much for your kind words and comments. The Dealership has requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to: "Bricks for Click" c/o Carlina Harley Davidson.
4 months ago
I am honored to have been his friend, my condolences to the Baldwin family.
BADFUN, MN
4 months ago
I was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of our local legend. I pray Diane, Chelsea, Lynn and the entire family of relatives and friends can find peace in knowing that Heaven is so wonderful Click wouldn't want to come back. I'm sure I speak for many when I commend Click for what he had done for this community. God Bless.
4 months ago
Thoughts and prayers to Diane and family, we all lost & good friend.
God Bless You All.
Chuck Pearson
4 months ago
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Baldwins, to all of the dealership employees, and to the many friends of Click Baldwin . . . I'm so very sorry to hear about this terrible loss . . .
4 months ago
I really enjoyed your stories. It reminds me of things he would do like that. The cookouts, the concerts, the burnout contest, the bike shows, the free popcorn and cold beer on tap and all of the good he did with the Nascar guys made Click's life all about giving. Now, that I think about I have never heard a bad thing about him.
The country had lost a treasure and they dont even know it yet. He will be so missed. Wow, what a spark of life he had.
Robert
4 months ago
I knew Click and Diane when I was growing up from hanging out with my Dad, Thomas Kelderhouse, AKA "T.K." I remember Click making people laugh like crazy and I remember the many good times that were had at the shops...the older ones that is. I only visited their new shop a couple of times. Remember the good times! My thoughts and prayers to Diane, Chelsea and the rest of the family.
Brooke Kelderhouse Munsey, SC
4 months ago
I am so sad to read this news but thanks for reminding us of what Clicker was all about. Not too many people knew him like this and this is exactly how he was.
Diane, Chelsea, Lynne and Cricket we are all sorry and hope you will find peace soon. It will come in time.
Godspeed old friend-
Winston K.
4 months ago
I think of 3 Doors Down "It's not my time" and wish he could say "and i'm not going" but in real life it is God's will and I hate it for a fellow HD rider and wonderful person which he was... My condolences to the family... Screamin1
4 months ago
I was thinking about it. Other than a few basketball players, Click was one of Gaston County's most famous sons. From a humble beginning in Belmont to doing what most just dream of Click had a grand life but it ended way too soon.
I feel so bad for Chelsea and Diane. But I will bet you Click is now probably sitting around talking to Dale Sr. right now wondering if Dale Jr. can win the Cup this year and I know he is looking down saying Hey gang I am ok and you will be too!
4 months ago
Click, thank you for getting me my bikes and taking care of my people over the years. We will miss you
4 months ago
I met Click and watched him cavort from the Myrtle Beach rally in South Carolina to the Arlen Ness show in California. His enthusiasm was inspirational. I remember him cruising around the show on a scooter, creating energy and excitement. My condolences to his family in South Carolina and his Hamster family around the world. My thanks to Click for the memories and for his optimism for this earthly life. He will ride forever.
4 months ago
I just heard of this and couldn't belive it. I remeber when my wife and I first met Click, Dianne, and Lynn...They treated us like they knew us forever, even inviting us to the annual cookout in Sparta (several years ago) only days after we met. I knew I would see him at every Harley event and know he'll be missed by the entire Harley Family, as well as everyone in Gastoina. Our thoughts and prayers go out the the family.
4 months ago
It's truely a sad day for bikers in and around North Carolina. Never knew Click with out a smile, That is the way I will remember him. God Speed Friend!---BFG
4 months ago
Click was a very good friend of my Dad, PJ Otten (Also a member of the Hamsters). He was an extraordinary gentleman and will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to Diane and Chelsea. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
4 months ago
Click was a good man and will be missed by friends and fellow bikers
4 months ago
To Diane, Chelsea, Lynn & Cricket. Wow, what a shock. Mom called me with the news. It's been a long time since I've seen you all, But our prayer and thoughts are with you. Love & Prayers, Kevin Summitt
4 months ago
I just bought my first Harley-Davidson from Carolina H-D a couple of months ago. Click showed up while I was paying for some accessories. Click asked how I was doing and was the first one to welcome me to "the Family". "The Family" will miss you Click. My prayers are out for the Baldwin family.
Bobby Davis
4 months ago
Our thoughts and prayers are with Diane and the Baldwin family, as well as with everyone who will miss Click. He has touched so many peoples lives. God has a new special angel in heaven now to look after us. Click will be missed by all.
4 months ago
My prayers are with the Baldwin family. I am very sorry for your loss..
4 months ago
What a sad sad day it is for everyone who knew Click. The writer was right- Everyone, rich or poor, young and old, black and white were all the same in Clicks eyes. He never stepped on anyone to try and better himself and he made everyone he met laugh.
That is what he was good at (making people happy). He brought in positive energy whenever he came around and we are going to miss him.
Dennis Ray
4 months ago
My thoughts are with Diane and Click's family. I hate this happened and this really hurts as I am just finding out about it but in a way I feel some better to learn about it from someone who knew the same man I knew.
Thank you for letting us know what happened and sharing your story with us.
Greg Zip
4 months ago
To Lynn,Chris,Diane,Chelsae. My heart goes out to all of you for I know what Click meant to you as well as what you all meant to him. He loved his family so much. He had so many people that loved him to. Click had away about him that when you met him for the first time you knew had met a genuine person for he was sincere and treated you like he knew you already. Its hard to believe this has happened. Click and I have stayed in touch with each other every since we were teenagers. I will miss so much as well as thousands of people. I know I will never hear a HD without thinking there goes CLICK.
Long Time Friend, Mickey
4 months ago
All my thoughts and prayers go out to Chelsea and Diane, and everyone else that knows and loves Click. He'll always live on in our hearts.
Thank you for my last hug Click. I love you
Rut
4 months ago
Click you hav left a hole in our world and hearts, we will all miss you! I knew you were special the first day I met you, driving up in that red sports car. You knew that didn't impress me, but you realy did, I knew then you would make one hell of a Harley dealer that would set the pace in the Carolina's that would be next to impossible to beat. Love to you and Diane and that darling daughter that You loved more than life itself. Bill Stewart
4 months ago
it was just a couple of weeks ago our local channel 14 did a segment on click and all he done for people charities etc.the story was about the bikes he leased to the local pd for $1 a year.without click they could not afford to have the bikes.that says alot about the man.he was the man and will never be forgotten.carolina hd set the standard for a dealership.and it was all due to clicks vision.i didnt know him personaly but i still feel like i lost a brother.i wore my carolina hd dealer shirt out tonight on a little ride to show my respect and honor a fallen brother. i will keep the whole baldwin & carolina hd family in my prayers.clicks gone but not forgotten . HE'S IN HEAVEN RIDING THE STREETS OF GOLD WITH DENVER MULLINS ,INDIAN LARRY ETC. RIP
4 months ago
The Cobb Family sends our thoughts and prayers to the Baldwin Family. May God keep you in this sad time. We just never know from day to day if any of us will be here tomorrow. Just have faith knowing there is a God and he will be there for each of you.
God Bless,
Willie
4 months ago
Click was like a second dad to me, and I loved him like one. I remember the first time my dad took me to Click and Diane's house as a kid and I got in his hot tub. They always made you feel welcomed. I love you guys with all of my heart. Diane, Chelsea, Cricket, you will be in my prayers daily.
Love,
Jason Christopher
4 months ago
What a heartbreaker....Diane, Chelsea, Lynne and Cricket, we are all so very sorry for your loss. Click was a proud father and his daughter was his life. He was a husband who loved his wife and always gave her credit for his well being, he was a son who was proud of his mom and he was a brother who trusted and loved his brother more than he did anyone else.
I have known Click since 1985 and I know for a fact Click would give you the shirt off of his back. I saw him do it. He thrived while helping others. In the later years the dealership really seemed to more to Click like a place where he could have his friends come over and get together and also take care of their biking needs instead of a high pressure business outlet. He loved his family and his friends and cared about everyone he came in contact with.
John I.
4 months ago
This one hurts and life aint always fair. But close your eyes and think about Click, think about that raspy voice and how he would sometimes walk up to you kind of hunched, as if he were going to tell you a secret, and when he look at you through those shades...Gosh, he loved his shades, then he would sometimes look over the top of his glasses and look you in the eyes like he was tell you something serious and then just laugh and have you in stitches! I loved the ole boy and he will be missed.
Talk about an example. A few times Click would have people to try and take advantage of him and instead of getting angry or getting even Click took it a different way. It would really hurt him if he found out someone had wronged him. I remember him telling me how certain people had taken from him and how he simply told them how much they meant to him and that he loved them, but they broke his heart taking something he would have gladly given them.
He set a great example for others. His spirit will live on and my thoughts are with his family.
4 months ago
What a great friend we have lost. Folks, his man was a national treasure. He had only just begun but what an impact he had in his 54 years. The biking world has lost many members but Click was one of top ambassadors and he will never be replaced.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Baldwin family.
Sincerely,
A. B. Ness
4 months ago
He will be missed. My thoughts are with his family. He was a great man, fun. giving and full of life. His passing will be leave a huge void. I would ride miles just to do my buisness at his place, bypassing many of the other dealers in my city. He just made you feel welcome...always.
Ride on Click
4 months ago
To Click's family,
We're so sorry for your loss. We talked to Click's mom last Saturday nite at Danny's birthday party. She gave us a full accounting of Click's recent travels and was excited about his going back to Sturgis and return home in August. He will be missed at the family "get-to-gethers".
Jay and Becky Torrence
4 months ago
To Diane & Chelsea,
My family and I are deeply saddened by your loss. Click "is " one of those special people that make a mark on your life with his quick whit, smile, kindness and laughter. He accepted everyone, made everyone feel at home and was one of the most giving people I have ever met.
He probably arrived at the Pearly Gates in style and offered St. Peter a ride.
God Bless you all!,
Billie & Lisa Attaway
4 months ago
Boy, readin that already brings back lots of memories of my friend Click. My prayers go out to the family as I cannot began to imagine this has really happened.
4 months ago
We are awfully sorry for your loss.
JRM, Inc.
4 months ago
My prayers are with the Baldwin family.
4 months ago
View his last blog at Seekbikers.com. thousands of bikers have post comments at his last blog. Visit the blog and post yours.
4 months ago
Thanks Kevin, I read a lot them.
4 months ago
What a sad day it was to see him come home in that Hearse. He would of been thankful for those who showed up.
4 months ago
R.I.P. Click Baldwin.
All of us at Bleacher Report send our thoughts and prayers along to Diane, Chelsea, the rest of Click's family and all of those who he touched throughout his life.
4 months ago
What a wonderful man. Sympathy to his amily and friends. I am sure he is with God now.
4 months ago
They broke the mold when they made him. There will never be another like him. He came from the bottom and went up, he went skyward and never looked back. Clicker did not have a job in the pure sense of the word, he had a life.
I think he would have paid to be able to live the life he lived. Face it, we all would have. Click was smart
but he also had a knack for timing. He got into Harleys just as they were making a comeback. He rode the wave longer and higher than most. But what made Click different from the rest of us was he was a dreamer. He had ideas and more often they worked. he wanted it bigger and better and at every chance he did it.
He could talk to anyone. From a textile worker who liked motorcycles to a multi-millionaire who owned
20 bikes. None were better than other to him and none were worse. They were all just people like him.
He had a wife who was custom made made for him. His momma was about the coolest gal you could ever meet, Lynn looked better than most calender girls! His little brother Cricket was as cool as cucumber. But to Click there was a special one. She was just 16 and he would whip out his phone and say: Lookie here!, ain't she the most beautiful girl you've ever seen! He loved her more than anyone will ever know. He would have given it all away for her in a second for her if he had to. I tell you all other dads out there, he is hard to measure up to as a dad, they just don't make like him everyday.
I am so sorry to the family but know you were lucky to have someone so special. You will never forget him and neither will the rest of us. I hate I did not get to see him more but he was on the go and that was ok too. But I am gonna miss those cell phones from somewhere like Mt Rushmore where he would say: whats going on? I wold say I'm a working, he would say I am standing here looking at old Teddy Roosevelt's head. I already miss him.
Walter from Wisconsin
4 months ago
My heart is deeply saddened as I sit here and write this. I did not know Click personally but I did a lot of business at Carolina HD. He was truely a hometown hero and I would like to say thank you for all of your generosity to all of those that you helped in so many ways (especially all of the children) As a biker myself, I feel the loss of a brother and I am deeply saddened. I pray for God to be with the entire Baldwin family, the Carolina HD family, and all of Click's friends far and near. I pray for God to ease your pain and comfort your hearts during this difficult time. Click left behind a legacy that will forever keep his memory shining. Ride free my brother God Bless.
R. Hardin
4 months ago
To Diane, Chelsea and family,
We are shocked and saddened by the news. Click was an upfront man, easy to talk to, easy to be around and he never met a stranger. He will truely be missed by all who knew him. Please call on us if we can do anything to aleviate your pain.-- RK and Martha Stratman
4 months ago
All of us here at Custom Chrome send our prayers and hope God comforts you, we will miss Click like all will, God Bless,
Norm Hasenpflug- Custom Chrome- Morgan Hill Calif.
3 months ago
Thank you to all of the readers who passed along all of your thoughts and prayers to Click's family.
I personally handed every single comment to Diane and she was very appreciative and gave a heart felt thanks to all.
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