OC Vintage Bike Meet

Sunday February 8th

It was one of those wonderful SOCAL February days, about 75 degrees and clear skies.

Three of us rode over to the event together, Rick Damrel, Girvan Nichol and me.

Once there we met up with James Wilbourne, a colleague from Shultz, you remember the place I worked sometime in the distant past.

I rode the Velocette, it started and ran really well.

No, I didn't ride it like that, I wore my helmet etc.

There were about 140 bikes there, this one is a bit special, it is a twin engine Triumph.

Why? you might ask yourself, because you can is the answer.

Here's Girvan with our friend and colleague James Wilbourne checking out the equipment.

There was not one but two of these Zundaps at the event, both in absolutely fabulous condition.

Two six cylinder 1,000 cc Honda CBX models.

This Moto Guzzi was a very interesting bike, 

A 1958 Square Four in great shape, there's something to aim for!

On Monday, I decided to take of the headlamp bucket from the Velocette and have it powder coated.

It has a bit of cosmetic damage but should come back in a couple of days looking like new.

More on the headlight when I get it back.

Norm

Ciao Bella.

The Generator

Trials and Tribulations

Just for you Gearheads

I decided to start the emergency generator just to prove to myself that it worked.

It didn't.

There is a small solar panel leaning on that brick which keeps the battery charged. It did a great job, I was able to crank the generator, no problem. (It does not normally lean on the brick, that was just whilst I worked on the generator.)

But would it start? Nooooooo.

 I started on the trouble shooting of the system.
Removed the air filter and sprayed a little easy start in there. Cranked it over and it ran for a few seconds,

That tells me that the control and ignition are OK must be a fuel problem.

Removed the carb, no gas.

Ah Hah! I said to myself.

Stripped the float needle out and found it to be gummed up.

Duly cleaned the needle and the housing.

Once it was all re-assembled I tried it again.

Crank yes, start no!

Checked the carb bowl again, this time it had gas.

I took the carburetor apart again, this time I looked at the main jet.
With a little persuasion it was removed from the mounting tube.

Plugged solid.

Out came the Carb and Choke cleaner.

This was not enough to clear the blockage, so I gave it some help with the smallest drill in the set.

Even a #60 is too big to go though the jet, but it was OK to start the process.
So with time and patience, the jet was cleared.

The carb was re-assembled and installed on the generator.

These are the simple tools needed to get the generator back in action.

Note the bottle of Bud, that helps with the patience!

If you would like to see and hear the results, use the link below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSSjJ9on0rQ




Ciao Bella

Norm
AKA
Him in the Shed.

Retirement

Three Weeks In

A few people have been asking "Well Norm now that you have had a couple of weeks, what's it like?"

I must admit that it is tougher than I had thought.

Firstly there's going on bike rides.

Then when you get back home you have to jack it up and fix the damn thing so that you can ride it again the next time.

 There are new tools which have to be bought.

And then modified because they don't do what you want them to.

Our friend Paul Rogers, bought me two wonderful pans as a retirement gift. This is the first one being tested. This particular pan is actually a soup pot complete with ladle.

For the first effort I decided to make pasta fazul. This was a vegetarian version, but even though I say so myself it turned out very well. This is the Italian American name, in Italy it's called pasta e fagioli.

Another gift, Fartless Beer Bread

Normally, when recipes call for beer the temptation is to use some crap that's been in the fridge for a year because no one will drink it.

This time, I thought no, I'll use some good stuff. So here it is Fartless beer bread made with 

the One and Only, Newcastle Brown Ale.

How it turned out.

And very tasty it was too.

Another thing retirees are required to do is plan trips to Florida. As you can see I have my chosen rental vehicle in the picture. I explained to Anne that it has AC...

But we still have time to party.

Ciao Bella

Norm

Las Vegas

Las Vegas in the rain...

The auction started at 4:00 PM on Thursday with some "Road Art", AKA tat.

Some of which should have been on consignment, that is consigned to the dumpster.
At one point the auctioneer asked for a bid of $10, then he said would anyone take it if he gave them $10, gives you a clue...
There was some decent stuff too especially on the next sessions.

But then the bikes started going across the block and it seems that Thursday evening is the time to get the best bargains. We missed out on lot number one, we were just hesitant even though it was a bike in which we were interested. It sold for $4,500.00 we had it pegged at about $6K. Oh well, you snooze you lose.

Later in the afternoon we ran into Mr. Wayne Carini a real gentleman.

No, I did not take this picture, but I have to tell you that the smile is ever present.

Thank you for a wonderful show and for being such a nice guy.

I know, most of us look the same, gray hair, gray mustache, maybe a chin beard, skinny jeans and a tee shirt.

And what's wrong with that 

I'd like to know?

Hmm that sounds like a line from a Beatles song, or on the other hand it may have been

 Paul McCartney in 1976.

Moving on 

This one brought a smile to my face.

How about this made in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1925

A thing of beauty, but a hair on the expensive side at $30,000.00

This was the highest bid to go across the block.

$230,000 bid and not even close to the asking price.

From a consignment website, it seems that they are looking more toward high $400s.

Oh well, there is always next year and maybe by then we will have won the LOTTO.

Ciao Bella

Norm

Keep your knees in the breeze.

Retirement Parties

Wow!

It went by so fast that I hardly had time to get myself acclimated.

It was one of those weekends frequently referred to as the Three Party System by the eminent metalurgist Dr. Ed. Becht.

Party on Friday, Party on Saturday, Party on Sunday.

Party on Friday

You just never know when these Antipodeans are going to show up.
Our good friend Aussie Glen.
Always welcome, and now that I'm retired I hope to see more of him.
"Not to be taken in the literal sense".

As Jimmy Buffet said, "This Party's Gone On Way Too Long And I Had Too Much Fun"

Party on Saturday

Edit's birthday and my retirement.

Fortunately, you cannot see me in this picture!

By this time I look a bit better.

 The guilty party for my Saturday blues....

(Does that make four parties?)

Party on Sunday

To celebrate Tempe's birthday and my retirement.

We weren't  smokin' da ganja mon, but de band was smokin hot.

This being retired is a lot more work than I thought that it would be.

Ciao Bella

Norm

First Day On The New Job

Today Was The First Day On My New Job.

I thought to myself this being retired lark might be inclined to make you listless.

So, I set to work getting together the necessary parts for a "To Do List"

Before starting any task, you need to ensure that you have and are wearing the appropriate PPE.

With my new job hard hat in place, I set to work.

First step, a trip to Home Depot armed with a gift card from a friend, a retirement gift!

I came back with , new shelving for the shed, wall mount electrical outlet device, fluorescent  light and the mount for the list.

Dry erase board duly mounted.

The list is started.

The shelving and the lights will have to wait until tomorrow.

As you know, at times you need more than just PPE to keep you safe.

Other equipment may be required, for example!

This is a custom made cane from the workshop of Leon Garriz creations.

Signalling device.

Passing mirror.

GPS so that you can find you way home from the bar.

Oh! look there's my house over there, I must be home.


More soon from the OAP

Ciao Bella
Norm