Greene Acres, DeLand, Florida

Tomorrow's Mission

We expect our journey to be relatively U-Boat free, but will be bringing depth charges just in case those pesky Kriegsmariners try to fuck up the program. Hopefully I can get some decent pics of titties, alcohol abuse, reefer madness, and general motorcycle based debauchery during our stay in Flo-Rida. I will update as long as I can get some internet access in the White Power orange groves of deLand.

Tanks for the memories.

the half off pile at TSI

Road Trip 1986

I had been on a couple road trips before. The usual family, bonzai drive to Florida in the back of Dad's 72 Grand Prix. A Car Craft national meet in Illinois with the guy who worked for my Dad. I didn't get to drive on those runs. A weekender at Watkins Glen, NY for a Car Craft event was a good training mission. The first, true roadtrip of serious magnatude was in 1986.

Todd was this kid who was a mechanical genius. While I was still trying to figure out how to use a tire machine, Todd had built a complete 39 Ford Deluxe Coupe with a 302, c4, pinto front end and a granada rear axle. It came out mint.

Three carloads of dudes headed West for a Hot Rod Magazine event in Indianapolis. I rode with Foof in his 66 Catalina, Todd & Bert rode in the coupe and Scott Kvadas had a nova.

We did the car thing in Indy, then I got shotgun in the Ford. The other crews had to be back home for work, but we headed South.

Driving a red hot rod during the ZZ Top Eliminator days was quite a trip. We wandered down the Interstate to Florida. The strong feeling of freedom. No rules, no schedules, no parents, and no job for a week.

Spent a week at Daytona beach, a place I had been to several times. You can drive your car up and down the beach. Like cruising the local Parkade strip mall times 1000. Girls were hot in the big 80's. The coupe had a loud radio. It was quite a week of Body Glove bikinis and Coors.

Met a big, black Georgia State trooper on the way home. I can still hear his words as we both thought we were busted and the rod dragged off by some hick tow truck.
"You gotta mighty fine looking car heah, Tom Junior. And I knowse you wanna be spendin' yo' money on paintjobs instead of speedin' tickets. So why don't you do us boff a favah an' keep it under sixtyfiiiive in the State of Georgia."

We also snuck in to the Smithsonian Air & Space museum after hours on a Sunday and checked out the cool shit for an hour or so before security asked us to leave.

It was a great trip and has been the inspiration for the million miles afterwards.

Winter Sucks 1977

Powerwagon Wrecker

the toughest wrecker rusting away at Grandma's farm in the early 80's.

This relic intrigued me so much I eventually got one from Bill's junkyard in Tolland. They really sucked to drive around. Slow and shitty brakes. Sold it and bought a 70 SS-396 Chevelle.

Grassmobiles 1977

Pops and his drinking crew had snowmobiles. In the fall they would drag race on a grassy field. It was fun to hang out with Pops for the day without Ma.

Pops had a Scorpion Stinger 440 with 340 decals. Cheaters win in motorsports.

1988

Ahhh, those exciting greenhorn days. The first clandestine rides in the March cold. Parents said I would be evicted and disowned for motorcycle ownership. Stashed it at my buddies house for months. The first bike rally at Laconia, back before NASCAR sanitized the track. The back section on the hill, Apocalypse Now!


A dork wearing shorts, Dave "Loaf" Hess and Deane Soares.

Weeked ramblings

Travis Chimp Attack

Here in my state, some wingnut old lady had a pet monkey. It went mental and almost killed her friend. Cops had to gun it down. Seriously.

COURANT STORY



Wild animals are not good pets because they are wild animals

Today's Motoventures

The scurry about continues for Daytona.
Butchie replaces some brake pads. Brian plans on riding down.









Clutch love for Sharky. Didn't have the correct parts, so we used 41 style plates plus one old one.


Load up on Sunday.

Missy

Missy is a spokesmodel, trade show rep girl we met at the local bike shows. She usually looks very corporate and innocent. She rides sportbikes, so there might be a wild side to her.
She sent this pic over today. Now we really like her.

Success

Troy Paiva

This photographer's pictures and stories really fuck up my brain.








Go on a road trip with Troy
Lost America Page

Carrot on a stick

You know, when you are unemployed, don't have a girlfriend, your phone is shut off and basically have no reason to get up in the morning, you need something to make yourself continue breathing. That something for me is going to Bike Week. It has given me a reason to live this month.

Pink is always better than brown

hero of the day

Not a lot of people ride in Winter around here. Spotted this ride at the Pastrami Diner today.

music by bob

Shark Revival

Work is progressing nicely on the Shovelheaded Shark. Sunday I diagnosed the starter relay failure and replaced it. Thanks to Marco and Joe for the Sunday parts delivery.
Butchie and I removed the top end last night. Didn't even round off one bolt. I usually fuck up something. Tonight I will decarbon the pistons and Todd will help redo the rocker shafts and begin re-assembly. The load up is Sunday, gotta get this bomb finished.



And here is a picture of Lea, just because.

OGRI

Ogri was a good part of the British "Bike" magazine back in the 90's. He was a beer swilling, cafe racer riding thug. He hated cops, car drivers and idiots in general. Had a trusty fleabag named Kickstart, dumbass pal named Malcom and a hot tramp named Mitzie, who also rode.
Found these pics of an Ogri boardgame today.



Stuff it ALL! I've still got my Bike!

game site

murdercycles family bowling day