[Artemis]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

With heavy heart I inform you all upon the untimely passing away of our good friend Dackelone, moderator and European Editor at Bimmerpost.

Yesterday he died as a result of a very recently diagnosed lethal illness. A life cut short way too soon.

He described his alter ago "Dackelone" on his Instagram account as "An American living in Bavaria, Germany. Loves the Autobahn and fast cars... and loves travelling around Europe & Germany."

Effectively, he was undeniably a passionate BMW petrolhead and car museum aficionado (see his dedicated museum thread here) (for his YouTube channel: see here). His visits to BMW Welt are countless (quipped "Dackel's Welt" by close car friends).

Also omnipresent as moderator and European Editor "Dackelone" on Bimmerpost: a walking BMW encyclopedia, always available to offer help and to share experiences and lots of info & trivia (indirectly promoting BMW).

In the past he explained where he got his "Dackelone" handle from: a combination of "Dachshund" (a dog he really liked) and the BMW 1-series (his spiced up BMW 135i was his loyal friend on numerous trips since many years).

His tenure at Bimmerpost spanned over 10 years (February 2010 - July 2020). With over 23,000 posts and thousands of pictures of journeys, he left many marks behind for possible future assistance. His last comment was posted on June 6, 2020. Unfathomable that less than six weeks later he would no longer be among us - signed out forever.

But Dackelone was much more than that. He was a genuine, generous good man. Kind and altruistic. Personally, I had the pleasure to meet him several times (we spent quite some quality time together in the mountains, some of those trips nicknamed "escapades organized by Dackel Tours AG") and enjoyed many conversations about all things BMW and cars in general. Oh yeah, and on trips he often brought a bag full of sweets: "Here, this is for your daughter !". That's how he was.

Needless to say that I am at loss for words. He will be dearly missed.

Farewell, dear friend. Thankful and honored to have known you. Rest In Peace.

-A-







EDIT - Eulogy post scriptum on Dackelone journeys

A tragic situation like this reminds us of our mortality and of the wise advice to celebrate life as much as we can. Or as that 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' quote from 1986 goes: "I said it before and I'll say it again: life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." And Dackelone definitely stopped and looked around once in a while: in his pastime, his senses have witnessed many nice places and enjoyed numerous fine experiences with lots of people worldwide.

His untimely death could be considered as if a big automotive library featuring an impressive BMW and car museum section of the Bimmerpost community - with free public access and an excellent librarian (very generous, helpful, humble, kind and knowledgeable) - has perished in a totally unexpected fire accident. "Dackel's Welt" and its renowned librarian are no more. As if it were a confirmation of the old saying that the candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long.

Fortunately, he liked to share his automotive passion with others: he left us countless memories and a versatile 'back catalogue' featuring thousands of comments and pictures. The Bimmerpost legacy of this genuine 'Gutmensch' and quintessential BMW enthusiast will live on in the many petrolhead spirits he touched and will continue to touch.

Dackelone made numerous trips, either in a group or alone, often reported over here at Bimmerpost and on his YouTube and Instagram channels: trips to BMW Welt (see for example here, here, here, here, here and here), BMW Individual Niederlassung (see here), the BMW Leipzig factory (see here), Alpina and RUF automobiles facilities (see here), Manhart Racing (see here), Kleißler Klassik Cars (see here), car museums (see here - "I think I have literally been to every major auto museum in Germany": BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari), car exhibitions (see for example here, here, here, here, here and here), suggestions for European Delivery tours (see for example here and here (suggestions that he posted in his profile page)), etc.

As organizer + participant: links to many pictures of a couple of his bigger group trips in the Alps and Dolomites:

• 2012 - Stelvio 1.0: here (2011 scouting) and here (2012 trip);
• 2013 - Stelvio 2.0: here and here;
• 2014 - Sella 1.0: here (Spring scouting), here (trip) and here (trip);
• 2015 - Sella 2.0: here and here;
• 2016 - Sella 3.0: here and here;
• 2017 - 2018 - 2019: Summer trips happened but no dedicated threads were conceived.

As participant (not as organizer):

• 2011 - BMW Welt 2.0: here;
• 2012 - BMW Welt 3.0: here;
• 2013 - BMW Welt 4.0: here;
• 2014 - BMW Welt 5.0: here.

His automotive "coat of arms": a stamp which he happened to use as a practical joke on letters accompanying gifts, featuring a fictitious German traveling agency referencing his "Dackelone" moniker:


Stelvio Pass sign featuring a 1Addicts.com sticker (Italy - 2012):


He loved mountain drives:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I consider myself lucky to have Artemis as a friend who let me drive his "baby" in the Alps.
Dackel

His last comment (June 6, 2020):

Originally Posted by Dackelone

First, welcome to 1Addicts
[...]

Dackel

Message from Dackelone's family:


A couple of tales from Dackelone's pre-BMW past: see here.

[brad850csi]

Very sad to hear, I always enjoyed reading his posts. RIP mate.

[..Rush..]

Rest in peace, sir.

[yco]

Rest in peace, Dackelone..

[Killed by Death]

RIP

[IllSic_Design]

sad to hear, he had some great info and insight. RIP Dackelone

[Jason]

RIP David, our long time friend and moderator extraordinaire. You will be missed!!

This video features David doing what he loved best... interacting with fellow BMW owners and driving around Europe with them.

[quick6]

Awful news, RIP

[markymark666]

This makes me so sad. David really was a good friend. He brought the crew together. Always in good mood...

I'm speechless (((

[Miko M]

Sad day

RIP

[///M TOWN]

😞

Rest In Peace David

You left us way to soon

[Mavus]

very sad

rip Dack

[BeEmVe]

One of my first introductions to this forum was through Dackelone's ED guidance. Which was great. Thanks for the ride ...

[EstorilVic]

Rip :/

[M-Pilot]

Sad day indeed... Rest in peace Dackelone

[KINY3RA]

Damn! Such unfortunate news. Before I joined, I used to read his threads on trips he'd be part of, the Alps and wherever else the group he was part of would visit. Accompanied by tons and tons of photos. I'd live vicariously through those meet ups and smile at the joy they brought me. How he'd prove a great resource to the ED contingent as well as share pics of cars at the Welt.

Condolences to all from Kigali. He'll be missed.

[PewPewF10]

REst in Peace Sir....

[RyanBMW]

What?? Oh no!! It's definitely a sad day here @Bimmerpost!! I have learned so much about ED and Germany as a whole thru Dackelone's posts, can't believe I am seeing this today. RIP Deckelone, you have put a significant mark in my life on BMW cars and history, thank you my friend!

Sincerely,
Ryan N (Dallas, TX)
Drives: Silver 08 E60 M5

[southlight]

Terrible news. RIP my friend! I remember various meetings and I deeply regret that I haven't met Dackelone in recent years...

[gizmo958]

Sad to hear

[desertfox73]

Oh wow. 2020 just keeps getting worse. What a loss for this board, my thoughts are with his family. I can't imagine their loss.

[davem3fan]

This stinks!
He was a great enthusiast and very generous with his knowledge.

Rest In Peace, Dackelone.