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| April 4, 2008 |
Gems like this rarely come from places you happen to be. Rather, you have
to seek out that somewhere kind of place which produces a publication where
a Pillsbury Doughboy collector is front page news. In this case, that place is
Kansas and the newspaper is The Kansas Senior Times, a monthly publication
for active, older adults. Yet another perk of my day job (that's Rose Apley,
collector extraordinaire, on the cover).
to seek out that somewhere kind of place which produces a publication where
a Pillsbury Doughboy collector is front page news. In this case, that place is
Kansas and the newspaper is The Kansas Senior Times, a monthly publication
for active, older adults. Yet another perk of my day job (that's Rose Apley,
collector extraordinaire, on the cover).
| April 29, 2008 |
Here's another keepsake from the 2008 Rose Bowl, courtesy of my mother, showing my relative position
in the stands. We won the battle of the fans (thanks Mom).
in the stands. We won the battle of the fans (thanks Mom).
| May 6, 2008 |
I love tools. I never found one I couldn't find a use for, even if it meant
buying something I didn't already own as an excuse for acquiring new tools.
It's an addiction, really. But I always have excellent reasons for whatever
new tool finds its way into my possession. What you're seeing above are my
latest additions.
The wrenches are the super thin kind for various bicycle applications and
motorcycle suspension internals, where the wrench has to fit between tight
spaces. These would have been very handy when the kitchen counter top
was host to my KX250 forks. Along came eBay, and I was set.
While I was at it, I decided the water pump in my pickup truck, which
originally lasted about 75,000 miles, was probably due for destruction at
any time, given that the truck now has nearly 180,000 miles. Replacing it
myself was one of the few instances where I concluded that I would have
been far better off leaving the job to the professionals - it was that much of
a pain in the ass. The reason was simple: inadequate tools for the job,
namely the devices that allow for separation of the radiator fan from the fan
clutch. The tools in the upper portion of the photo are made for this
purpose. So next time I'll be prepared. However, based on past experience,
the acquisition of tools such as these pretty much guarantees that the
existing water pump will outlast the truck itself. But I'll still have the tools....
buying something I didn't already own as an excuse for acquiring new tools.
It's an addiction, really. But I always have excellent reasons for whatever
new tool finds its way into my possession. What you're seeing above are my
latest additions.
The wrenches are the super thin kind for various bicycle applications and
motorcycle suspension internals, where the wrench has to fit between tight
spaces. These would have been very handy when the kitchen counter top
was host to my KX250 forks. Along came eBay, and I was set.
While I was at it, I decided the water pump in my pickup truck, which
originally lasted about 75,000 miles, was probably due for destruction at
any time, given that the truck now has nearly 180,000 miles. Replacing it
myself was one of the few instances where I concluded that I would have
been far better off leaving the job to the professionals - it was that much of
a pain in the ass. The reason was simple: inadequate tools for the job,
namely the devices that allow for separation of the radiator fan from the fan
clutch. The tools in the upper portion of the photo are made for this
purpose. So next time I'll be prepared. However, based on past experience,
the acquisition of tools such as these pretty much guarantees that the
existing water pump will outlast the truck itself. But I'll still have the tools....
| May 9, 2008 |
Here's a typical post-race view, after all my gear was all cleaned following
the Leadbelt Enduro at Park Hills, Missouri. It was a great day for racing.
the Leadbelt Enduro at Park Hills, Missouri. It was a great day for racing.
| May 16, 2008 |
This isn't supposed to been seen on my kitchen counter twice in two
months. What we have here is my Gas Gas 300EC piston, cylinder, and
power valves. The piston and cylinder were in need of some help after a
cold seizure at the Sand Goblin Enduro last month. What, you ask, is a cold
seizure? It's the end result of not properly warming up a race engine to its
optimal operating temperature. If a gradual warming process doesn't take
place, the heat caused by internal combustion causes the piston to expand
at a faster rate than the cylinder. Eventually the piston makes contact with
the cylinder wall and it's all bad from there. The engine stalls, as it did in
the middle of cornfield a quarter-mile from the start of the Sand Goblin
Enduro. By that time the damage is already done. The piston looked like
this, and the exhaust side of the cylinder wall was almost equally as
scratched.
So a new piston kit was ordered from North Tahoe Motorsports and the
cylinder was sent to US Chrome to have its interior re-plated. That was an
expensive race.
months. What we have here is my Gas Gas 300EC piston, cylinder, and
power valves. The piston and cylinder were in need of some help after a
cold seizure at the Sand Goblin Enduro last month. What, you ask, is a cold
seizure? It's the end result of not properly warming up a race engine to its
optimal operating temperature. If a gradual warming process doesn't take
place, the heat caused by internal combustion causes the piston to expand
at a faster rate than the cylinder. Eventually the piston makes contact with
the cylinder wall and it's all bad from there. The engine stalls, as it did in
the middle of cornfield a quarter-mile from the start of the Sand Goblin
Enduro. By that time the damage is already done. The piston looked like
this, and the exhaust side of the cylinder wall was almost equally as
scratched.
So a new piston kit was ordered from North Tahoe Motorsports and the
cylinder was sent to US Chrome to have its interior re-plated. That was an
expensive race.
| May 22, 2008 |
Preparation for my participation in the 2008 RAGBRAI, the 471-mile bicycle
ride across the Great State of Iowa, requires many things, the first being a
bicycle. While I do have one, it has the fat tires and girth entirely
unacceptable for road riding. Enter Lee Daley, a two-wheeled fanatic not
unlike myself. His upgrade to a Specialized Roubaix left his Trek 2300 without
a regular partner. I was more than willing to take the bike off Lee's hands
and call it my own.
ride across the Great State of Iowa, requires many things, the first being a
bicycle. While I do have one, it has the fat tires and girth entirely
unacceptable for road riding. Enter Lee Daley, a two-wheeled fanatic not
unlike myself. His upgrade to a Specialized Roubaix left his Trek 2300 without
a regular partner. I was more than willing to take the bike off Lee's hands
and call it my own.
It's the first skinny-tired bike of any kind that I've ever owned. I started with
this in 1977, upgraded to this in 1982 (loved the thumb shifters!), then
moved on to this in 1995 (the bike, not the girl), and finally picked up my
current ride in 2003. Will it ever get warm enough in Chicago to actually ride
the thing? Less than two months and counting...gotta get 'dem legs in shape.
this in 1977, upgraded to this in 1982 (loved the thumb shifters!), then
moved on to this in 1995 (the bike, not the girl), and finally picked up my
current ride in 2003. Will it ever get warm enough in Chicago to actually ride
the thing? Less than two months and counting...gotta get 'dem legs in shape.
| April - June 2008 |
| June 4, 2008 |
The Kitchen Counter Archives
A few things in life still fall into the you-get-what-you-pay-for category, and I just
discovered one: mountain bike shoes. These are Shimano M160's, which are far
from the absolute top of the line, but a big step up from these. In anticipation of
470 miles of riding across Iowa next month, I knew I needed to upgrade the
footwear but wanted one set of shoes for all my riding - road or woods. A
stiff-soled variety was a must for the road, and the M160's fit the bill. Light, easy
to get on and off, and I can still almost walk in them (took the garbage cans out
to the curb in them, as a matter of fact). When I'm cruising down the lake shore
path, I can feel the wind reaching my feet. Very cool.
discovered one: mountain bike shoes. These are Shimano M160's, which are far
from the absolute top of the line, but a big step up from these. In anticipation of
470 miles of riding across Iowa next month, I knew I needed to upgrade the
footwear but wanted one set of shoes for all my riding - road or woods. A
stiff-soled variety was a must for the road, and the M160's fit the bill. Light, easy
to get on and off, and I can still almost walk in them (took the garbage cans out
to the curb in them, as a matter of fact). When I'm cruising down the lake shore
path, I can feel the wind reaching my feet. Very cool.
| May 26, 2008 |
A couple months ago I saw an advertisement on Bill Gusse's OMA website for a
magazine called Dust. The preview of a handful of pages caught my eye, as
did its off-road focus. I forwarded $24 for a 2-year subscription and my first
magazine arrived last week.
With its West Coast base of operation, the content is weighted towards
WORCS, Hare & Hound and some D-36 local race coverage (a western U.S.
version of Trail Rider magazine, if you will). But other than a few bike and
product reviews, it's all about off-road racing and riding - no motocross. The
photography and print quality are excellent and the writing is pretty good. So
the stack of off-road magazines on my coffee table has now grown from
excessive to ridiculous.
magazine called Dust. The preview of a handful of pages caught my eye, as
did its off-road focus. I forwarded $24 for a 2-year subscription and my first
magazine arrived last week.
With its West Coast base of operation, the content is weighted towards
WORCS, Hare & Hound and some D-36 local race coverage (a western U.S.
version of Trail Rider magazine, if you will). But other than a few bike and
product reviews, it's all about off-road racing and riding - no motocross. The
photography and print quality are excellent and the writing is pretty good. So
the stack of off-road magazines on my coffee table has now grown from
excessive to ridiculous.
| June 12, 2008 |
The damage done to the Gas Gas cylinder at the Roselawn, Indiana enduro in
April marks the third time I've sent away a cylinder for re-plating of its
interior lining throughout my illustrious racing career. Each time a cylinder
returns, the inside glistens and the outside shines as if it were fresh off the
assembly line. A bead-blasting process cleans of every speck of foreign
material inside and outside. The result is an almost surreal cleanliness that
I once mistook for a silver Krylon spray paint job. With the Gas Gas cylinder
now fixed and ready to go, the motorcycle will live again.
April marks the third time I've sent away a cylinder for re-plating of its
interior lining throughout my illustrious racing career. Each time a cylinder
returns, the inside glistens and the outside shines as if it were fresh off the
assembly line. A bead-blasting process cleans of every speck of foreign
material inside and outside. The result is an almost surreal cleanliness that
I once mistook for a silver Krylon spray paint job. With the Gas Gas cylinder
now fixed and ready to go, the motorcycle will live again.
| June 30, 2008 |
| I have found the perfect t-shirt for RAGBRAI. (thanks to my mom) |