By Kneecap

We, in Florida, fear few things except a woman with a knife, a man with a gun and a Yankee with a U-Haul.

Jim Plesz changed our mind how people from  the north come to Florida. Jim came down on a Harley-Davidson with a sidecar. After 20 years of snowbirding, Jim finally became a Damn Yankee in 2005 when he bought a house in Flagler Beach. Jim Plesz was born in Harvey, Illinois and moved  to Indiana in 1970. After doing a tour in Vietnam with the Army, he became a union electrician from which he retired after 38 years. He is a life member of the VFW and the AMVETs. He’s extremely active with the AMVET’s Post #45 on County Road 206 in St. Augustine.

After the Army, Jim bought his first bike, a 1966 650cc Triumph Bonneville. Later he moved to a 1941 Harley Davidson Knucklehead which he wrecked, but restored to original and you guessed it, added a sidecar. In 1982 he bought his first new bike, a Harley Sturgis. While signing the papers it started to snow. Jim being a diehard biker rode it home without chains. Recently, he parked his 2003 Road King after  150,000 miles and attached his sidecar to a 2003 Classic. He also rides a 2007 Softail Deluxe, no sidecar. When he heard that Harley would stop making sidecars he purchased an extra one. Jim still has every bike he bought except a 1999 Road King, which he sold to a friend.

Unfortunately, Jim lost his wife of 28 years in 2005. Today, Kathy Dearth, a life long friend accompanies him on his travels. Jim’s electrifying personality (a little pun) has drawn him to many friends, including myself. When you see Jim you won’t need an introduction. He’s the one who lights up the room.