On the Road Again...

A Diamond in the Rough

Having gotten the official ‘Oaky Doky’ from the doctor to start riding again I couldn’t wait to load up a couple of bikes and hit the road. It was going to be somewhat bittersweet as the two most pressing things were a wedding and visiting an injured friend that may become a funeral if God so chose’s.

The trip started out on the wrong foot with a small nail in one of the toy hauler tires.  A quick stop at ‘America/Discount Tire’ shop, who I like to use whenever possible, just because they sponsor #22 Chad Reed. They repaired it pronto and we are on the road.

Next on the list is the 12 volt system on the Weekend Warrior. Everything works fine while plugged in but not when using the batteries to power the coach. I have a generator so I will have to diagnose that later.

It is now 500 miles or so and one day later, just had a good night sleep and a great breakfast in Bridgeport, Calif.  Back on the road for a whopping 5 miles when my GMC Duramax starts running like a 1970 Husky with a broken piston. I can only do 15 mph while towing the Warrior. So a quick u-turn to return to Bridgeport.  We get on the phone since we have tow coverage from two sources, AAA towing and Good Sam/RV towing. The response, help, information, follow up and actual towing in this instance is head and shoulders better with the Good Sam’s representative. Good Sam’s coverage tows the truck AND trailer with my membership. AAA tows the truck but a rather costly extra charge is added to include the trailer.

We are towed from the moderate sized town of Bridgeport where there are No Automotive Repair facilities to the tiny little town of Walker, Calif. Because there is a repair shop, Ted’s Automotive repair that can perform the diagnostic and necessary repairs to get us on the road again. We are dropped at Ted’s Automotives front door and out comes a young man I assume works at this garage. He pulls the truck in and goes right to work diagnosing the problem by plugging into the truck computer and downloading the history. It is not like he has nothing to do because he has a couple of other vehicles he is working on as we are dropped off, rear brakes, oil change and injectors on a Ford diesel are all sitting there and he stops to take a look at my truck because he knows we are on the road traveling.

We quickly learn the young man is 24 years old, his name is Nick and he now runs this shop. It seems Ted’s Automotive was his father’s shop until he passed just a month ago. So much for my little inconveniences like nails, 12 volt batteries and a truck that doesn’t want to cooperate. I now just enjoy watching Nick work and marvel at not only all the areas of expertise he demonstrates on so many vehicles as customers come and go with their little problems throughout the day, but at the manner of calm he possesses as he repeats the process over and over. Nick amazes me that he lost his father so recently and is functioning so well, taking care of other people’s problems and running this shop by himself at just 24 years old. I am sure Nick’s father, Ted, is watching over him and smiling because he is so proud of the man Nick has become.  

We had to spend the night because my truck needed a new fuel injector and it had been ordered but would not be delivered until later the next day. However if I unloaded the Dual Sport and rode the 35 miles each way to pick it up we could get it in the morning. Cheryl and I hopped on the KLR and took a road ride when we got a phone call it had arrived.  When I returned with the part Nick showed me how it is installed and explained a lot of things about a diesel while he worked.  I got quite an education and a little better understanding of a few things pertaining to diesel engines.  I am amazed at the amount of knowledge Nick has stored in his head and is willing to share if someone has an interest; he is kind of like a walking automotive encyclopedia.

Nick finished my truck and got us on the road so we could make it to the wedding we were trying to attend the next day up in Sacramento, Calif.  Thank You Nick!

If you ever have automotive problems on Hwy 395 anywhere even close to Walker, Calif. I would suggest you stop at Ted’s Automotive and see Nick.  But remember he is a busy man so don’t take up too much of his time, because he will never tell you to get lost because he is too busy. But he is, believe me!

#33

‘I was once sad because I had no shoes, then I met a man that had no feet’

The John Penton Movie Preview

The John Penton Story

(The movie)

Monday, June 23^rd, I attended a sneak preview of the movie ‘The John Penton Story’.  It turned out to be an even better time than I expected because of the array of riders and motorcycle industry people that showed up.

I talked to riders, shop owners and friends I had not seen in many years at this screening. It was a blast catching up with some of them for the first time in a decade or two! I saw faces from a distance that I couldn’t put a name to (maybe too many concussions?) and didn’t get a chance to walk over to talk to all of them because of the number of people that showed up. I would estimate there were easily over a hundred people there.

I did get to catch up with a few from ‘Back in the Day’, like Dave Duarte, Hi-Point West CEO in the 1970’s and 80’s, who has just gone through a life changing illness and was out here attending the special screening. Then I figured it out when during the movie Dave’s face shows up splashed all the way across the big screen while he is being interviewed/quoted a couple of times! Everyone in our audience cheered at Dave’s cameo appearance.  What a HAM!  But it was great to see Dave up and doing much better than last year when it was touch and go as to whether he would even be with us. That alone was enough to make it a great evening.            God Bless you Dave.

Then there were the usual suspects of riders, shop owners, mechanics, etc.  Bob Messer, Billy Deprado, Mark Gibson, Bob Pearson, Dave Coupe’, Pat Wilson, Brad Teegarden and many others. So many people and not enough time, literally, because the movie was fairly long especially for a motorcycle oriented flick.

The movie was very interesting and covered a lot of ground in both time and people during John Penton’s life.  A great source of information and history much of which I was never aware of until now and I have been riding since the early 70’s. This covers Penton’s life all the way back to his earliest years as a boy even his service in WWII.  It contains a lot of interesting facts and some great old footage and photos of events and races. I would recommend if you like motorcycling and have any interest in the roots and history of our sport that you make an effort to find where it is playing and go see it.  A last tidbit is that it is narrated by the country singer Lyle Lovett and it is revealed how as a kid he worked at a Penton dealership just to be around motorcycles. Now that is my kind of guy.

#33

“A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you will never get anywhere until you change it”

Matrix Concepts Brings New Technology To Gas Cans

Matrix 3 Fuel Jug

I have been using the Matrix 3 fuel container now for over a year and have been impressed with the features. But with my current rehab status and having to pay attention to EVERYTHING I do and use I am just starting to appreciate the Matrix 3.

To begin, the Matrix 3 holds 4 gallons instead of the normal 5 gallons as with most containers. I never realized what a benefit this really is for someone like me that has a hard time just handling the bigger containers with my current physical limitations. Then I started to think about smaller riders, mini riders or women that may not have the physical size or strength to handle the larger and heavier jugs.

True this can holds 4 gallons instead of the normal 5, but when was the last time you ran through more than a tank of gas plus 4 more gallons? If you are like most people your gas can goes back in the garage until you get to go out riding again. So there sits the leftover fuel for who knows how long and with the poor fuel quality we have to live with now days it is much smarter to start off your next ride with fresh fuel. Fresh fuel equals a better running bike.

Then there is the size benefit, I can fit this can into places the larger containers won’t squeeze into. The nozzle has a nicely attached screw on cap that won’t fall in the dirt or get lost. There is a screw top vent to loosen that allows gas to flow as you pour. The side of the jug has a handle molded that lets you control as you pour. Also there are molded ridges in the bottoms that allow you to get a good grip with the other hand. Not the normal flat smooth nothing to grip bottom like the other cans.

This has become my everyday gas can and I had no idea how great this can was until now.

#33

Rehab #33 Style (phase 2)

Well I finally got it!  The doctor said I wouldn’t do any harm to my hand/wrist at this point because it had been long enough into the healing process that it should be solid.  So he said I could start riding again.  I never did bring up our little secret, you know, about my new little part time job riding street bikes as a test rider. But since he has released me to ride I couldn’t wait to venture off road to see how I would do on the trail. I believe moto and racing may be out for most of this year.

The very next day I was awake at 0-Dark thirty (about 4 am) and headed out to the garage to hop on my KTM 530 dual sport and give it a go. I guess I had a bit of trouble sleeping in anticipation of my first off road ride in 7 months. I dressed, geared up with back pack, tools, spares, etc and set off into the darkness with my Squadron 2 headlight showing me the way at about 4:30. This headlight is definitely bright enough to ride off road at night with as long as you are not trying to go race speeds.

I was in the dirt in 10 minutes of leaving the house and realized immediately how much better riders all you dirt boyz are than the rest of the motorcycle people that only ride the street. I actually had to use the arm and hand as I stood up for obstacles and bumps. It became quite apparent that this was going to take some time since I rode like a girl (sorry ladies) because I was still trying to protect the hand/wrist.

It didn’t take too long to relax and really begin to enjoy the ride. The fact that I was out there is what really mattered and the sun was not up yet, but dawn was beginning to break. It was awesome!  So I continued to ride at a leisurely pace and had a great time. After about an hour or so I noticed the wrist was beginning to ache so I started back toward the garage. My total time when done was about 2 hours of seat time. I lost track of how many times I smiled and probably giggled in that 2 hours, but it felt great.

I got home, lubed the chain, took off my riding gear and sat down in a chair in the garage to savor the ride and appreciate it.  I did think to stop and take a couple of pictures along the way, just so I could enjoy it again and again.

Anyone need a trail riding partner?

#33

“Time spent in the saddle, is time well spent”

Rehab #33 Style!

I just counted the months since my accident down in Mexico at the Baja 1000 occurred and it is now at the 6 month mark!  Wow how time flies when you are NOT having any fun.

I have been doing some rehab therapy now for almost 2 months and am just now seeing any REAL progress. Karen, the therapist I am seeing is very good and tells me how great things are going, but I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. I know part of her job is physical therapy and positive reinforcement. The doctor has been holding her (and me) back because of the extensive repair he had to perform on the fingers and wrist. Doc has had me limited to no more than 5 lbs of weight for the first month. When he took the weigh restriction off I knew it was time for me to take matters into my own hands (or the one good hand) and start making some progress.

So I started out on the bicycle to test the amount of weight bearing exercise I could stand. That was ok and I found out I could support about 10% of the load on the bad hand. It gets sore quickly and keeps me from getting too big for my britches. So now I am looking for the next step in physical training/therapy when I come across a Help Wanted ad in the paper for motorcycle riders! WHAT? Someone is going to pay me to ride a motorcycle! Who do I have to kill? This sounded like the perfect way to rehab a damaged hand, pulling the clutch over and over, you know muscle memory and all that crap. I couldn’t imagine a better way to retrain my now reconstructed rekluse qualified left hand than to go out on someone else’s bike, use their gas and burn up their tires.

It seems there are companies out there that do product durability testing and need bodies to log miles, lots of miles. So I inquire and find out I am qualified.  Who-da-thunk, so I sign up and have been out about 6 times now. The good is that I ride about 350 miles a day on the road and have seen some very interesting things along the way. The bad is that it is all on the road, and as I pass the occasional open area and fields I can feel that big 100 plus cubic inch V-Twin engine trying to drag me off into the dirt. I would love to play Jay Springsteen for a few minutes. I am wondering how these things would jump. Nothing big, just a few small hits. But until I get the doctor’s permission to ride a motorcycle, I have to keep this on the down low. So keep this to yourself, homie!

#33

“Don’t count the days, make the days count”