Man whose body found after fire was excellent mechanic, 'just a good guy,' friends said

FORT PIERCE — Richard Benson was a gifted and respected mechanic whose shop — Fast Frank’s Cycle Concepts — was a hangout for those in the motorcycle community, friends said Thursday.

“If you needed a helping hand, or you needed a tool, Richard was there. He was the guy,” said longtime friend Dustin McRoberts. “And everybody that I know right now, there are more than several hundred people just in this area that are in mourning right now.”

Friends said it was Benson, 57, who died after a Wednesday fire at the business at South Third Street and Georgia Avenue, just north of the Fort Pierce police station.

More: Body found after fire at Fast Frank's Cycle Concepts

Police reported being flagged down about 9:05 a.m. to smoke coming from the building. Within about 20 minutes the fire was out, according to the St. Lucie County Fire District, and investigators reported finding a body.

Yellow police tape surrounded the scene Wednesday and Thursday. Police there both days declined to speak. 

April Lee, police spokesperson, said via email Thursday that an initial incident report wasn't available. She declined to answer questions.

McRoberts, 50, said he’s known Benson since he was 17, shortly after Benson got out of the military.

“He had an IROC-Z and I had a Honda Magna (motorcycle),” McRoberts said. “He had a girl that wanted to go on a date on a motorcycle, and I had a girl that wanted to go on a date in a fast car, so we traded.”

Bud Smith, 68, said he’s known Benson for about five years. He ended up hanging around the shop and helping answer phones.

“He’s probably the best mechanic I've ever met in my life. And he was self taught,” Smith said. “If it was broke and he couldn't fix it, it couldn't be fixed. And it wasn't just Harleys, it was anything from motorcycles to generators.”

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Smith said Benson always was busy, but never too busy for a friend.

“His reputation was honesty. He was just a good guy,” Smith said. “He would help anybody. And I'm still in disbelief of what happened.”

McRoberts said Benson taught him how to do wiring on motorcycles.

When McRoberts opened a shop in 2013, he said he expected to work on Japanese and European motorcycles, but found himself working on Harley-Davidsons.

“I didn't have the specialty tools, so I called Richard and Richard was like, no problem, come on, come on up and I'll loan you what you need,” McRoberts said.

McRoberts said Benson, originally from Pennsylvania, was an avid bicyclist, riding 50 to 60 miles on weekend days. He also was a championship winning drag racer with a Kawasaki ZX-11 motorcycle.

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Benson was more into the camaraderie of the motorcycle community than necessarily always making a buck, McRoberts said.

“Richard would help you or he would fix something before he would replace a part,” McRoberts said.

Junior Pallin, 48, said Benson’s establishment was like a hometown coffee shop where folks went to talk and hang out.

“People didn't always just go there to fix bikes,” he said.

McRoberts said that Wednesday night he went by to say his goodbyes.

“Knowing that Richard was in the service, I took a small American flag and placed it in … his mailbox,” McRoberts said.

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. He also covers strange, wild and weird Treasure Coast crimes in “Off The Beat.” Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-692-8936. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com

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