Thursday, August 30, 2012

Yup, so out of alignment that he's worn through the steel already.

So I told him. He may not have been aware that his alignment was out of whack, and that his tire is now dangerous to himself and the other people on the road.

He already knew.

My question... is it wrong of me to contemplate taking the air out of this tire so he will be provoked into replacing it.

My concept is that nothing short of a blowout, flat tire, or causing a problem that might be serious enough to injure himself and unknowing fellow commuters, will get him to replace this dangerous tire.

Anyone think I'm nuts? Or am I doing the right thing. I already let him know it's dangerous, likely to blow out at speed, and cause a traffic collision that will hurt himself and innocent others

JW commented: I wouldn't just let the air out. I think (depending on other circumstances of course) I would take my pocketknife and make a small cut, just enough to let the air out that way. Make it small enough to look like he got it on the road however, then offer to take him and the tire to a shop to get a new one. 

Don't feel guilty...you would probably be saving him, and someone else, lots of pain and misery down the road. 


Andrew at  http://www.tripsandturns.com commented:
I am highlighting your post about your co-workers tire on our site tomorrow. That guy is really nuts.

YrHmblHst  Tough question... as one of the more Libertarian types you'll likely meet, I would at first say that it is his business. BUT, I would tend to say that your deflating his tyre would be done out of care and compassion for him, as well as out of concern for other road users. So, as he refuses to be responsible, and your motives are certainly pure, I would say that you would not be wrong to do so nor are you nuts. It may be the only way to get your point across in this instance. 

Robert L commented YES! After smacking him upside the head. If this blows at 70mph on the front tire he can easily swerve into someone. If he can't afford to get a tire replaced, he shouldn't be driving. 

Gerald V commented I can only hope the tire goes flat while he's on the freeway. It will teach him about false economy.
So if you are driving through Poway, beware, the cops are getting pushed to write more tickets. 

To help you plan your coverage of the 20th annual Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance, here is the list of entries in our 21 classes.
I — Delahaye
1909 Delahaye Type 32 , Gordon Wangers and Jennifer , Fallbrook
1935 Delahaye Type 138/135 Sport, Coupe Des Alpes, Tom and Deb Kazamek, Manhattan Beach
1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Disappearing Top Convertible by Figoni & Falaschi, Ken and Ann Smith, La Jolla
1937 Delahaye Type 135 Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi, Peter W. & Merle Mullin, Los Angeles
1939 Delahaye Type165 Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi, Peter W. & Merle Mullin, Los Angeles
1947 Delahaye 175S Cabriolet by Chapron, Paul Emple, Rancho Santa Fe
1947 Delahaye 135MS Cabriolet by Langenthol, Paul Burt, Lake Forest
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Franay, Rob Wilkinson, Santa Barbara
II — French Coachwork
1912 De Dion Bouton Mod. DM Roadster by Flandrau & Co., Helen & Jack Nethercutt, Sylmar
1925 Hispano-Suiza H6b Cabriolet de Ville by Kellner, Don and Jackie Nichols, Lompoc
1930 Packard Mod. 745 Victoria by Letourneur et Marchand, Steve Snyder, Orange
1931 Bugatti Type 40A with Bugatti factory body, Ria van Daalen Wetters, Burbank
1931 Bugatti Type 51/Coupe by Louis Dubos, Helen & Jack Nethercutt, Sylmar
1933 Delage D8-S Drop-Head Coupe by Pourtout, Dennis Mitosinka, Santa Ana
1934 Voison C-25 Aerodyne, Peter W. & Merle Mullin, Los Angeles
1936 Bugatti Type 57 with Suisse Graber Coachwork, Liliane McCain, Beverly Hills
1937 Talbot Lago Type 150-C-SS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop Coupe, Helen & Jack Nethercutt, Sylmar
1937 Bugatti Stelvio Convertible, Bruce and Raylene Meyer, Beverly Hills
1954 Citroen Type 11 CL Traction Avant, Christine Byrd, Studio City
III — American Classics Open (1925-1948)
1928 LaSalle 303 Roadster, Richard Stanley, Los Angeles
1929 Cord L29 Cabriolet, Gregory T. Vanley, Los Angeles
1929 Duesenberg Murphy Convertible Sedan, Adrien Labi (A&A Premier Classics), Santa Monica
1932 Chrysler CH Imperial Convertible Sedan, Dana & Lianne Graham, Rancho Palos Verdes
1932 Lincoln 248 KB Roadster, LeBaron, Tom and Shannon Hartman, Rancho Palos Verdes90275
1932 Auburn 8-100A Speedster, H. DeWayne Ashmead, Fruit Heights
1933 Marmon 2-Door Convertible Coupe, Aaron & Valerie Weiss, San Marino
1933 Duesenberg Rollston Convertible Victoria, Adrien Labi (A&A Premier Classics), Santa Monica
1935 Cadillac 355D Convertible Coupe, Glenn S. Streeter, Rancho Palos Verdes
1936 Packard 1408 4-Dr Convertible, V12, Stanley Zimmerman, El Segundo
1937 Cord 812 Sportsman Supercharged Cabriolet, Tony Vincent, West Hollywood
1937 Cadillac Series 60 Cabriolet, Todd & Anne Taricco, Rancho Palos Verdes
IV — American Classics Closed (1925
1931 Cadillac V-12 370-A, Steven Muccillo, Laguna Beach
1931
1938 Pierce Arrow 1803 ED Limousine, Hoyt Sullivan, San Dimas
1941 Cadillac Series 75 Limousine, Paige and Bill Baker, Jr., Santa Ana
VI — Ford Model A
1928 Ford Mod A Four Door Blindback, Mark Williamson, El Cajon
1928 Ford Mod A Special Coupe 49A, Bob Burdick, Laguna Niguel
1929 Ford AA Bus, Karl F. Wehrle, La Jolla
1929 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan, Garrison J. Karr, San Diego
1930 Ford Tudor Sedan, Robert DeCrescenzo, Torrance
1930 Ford Model A Cabriolet, Dick and Jan Wyckoff, El Segundo
1931 Ford Model A 160B Slant Window, Jim Beardsley, Redondo Beach
1931 Ford Model A, Terry Wagner, Fair Oaks
VII — Pre-War Chevrolet (1912-1942)
1917 Chevrolet 490 Speedster Race Car, Noel Park, Rancho Palos Verdes
1931 Chevrolet Independence AE Coach, Bernie Merry and Julia Eckstein , Cypress
1932 Chevrolet 3 Window Coupe, Ed Gabaldon, Torrance
1936 Chevrolet Coupe Delivery, David Gonzales, San Pedro
1936 Chevrolet Phaeton, David Gonzales, San Pedro
1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe, Alonso Guerrero, Los Angeles
1939 Chevrolet 4-Door Master 85 Convertible, Walter Teronez (Owner) & Tutu Buresch (Driver), La Puente
1939 Chevrolet 4-Door Master Deluxe, Jim Diaz, Torrance
1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Convertible, Lou Roupoli, Rancho Palos Verdes
1942 Chevrolet Special Deluxe, Richard Luna, Wilmington
VIII — Utility Vehicles
1911 Maxwell AB Fire Chief’s Car, Chuck Richardson and Brian McEntee, Altadena
1914 Ford Depot Hack, Lenny and Barbara Heuser, Torrance
1917 Ford Model T Fire Engine, Carl Laski, Cypress
1929 Ford Model A Deluxe Panel Delivery Truck, Dan & Liz Fitzgerald, Palos Verdes Estates
1931 Ford 66-A Deluxe Pickup, Bruce Howe
1931 Ford AA Truck, Mike James, Fontana
1936 Divco-Twin Coach Helms Bakeries, Eric Breslow, Northridge
1936 Chevrolet Panel Truck, David Gonzales, San Pedro
1942 Packard Ambulance, Automobile Driving Museum, El Segundo
IX — Post-War French Touring
1950 Talbot Lago T26 Record Chapron Coupe, Tom and Shannon Hartman , Rancho Palos Verdes
1953 Ford Comete, Richard Plavetich, Laguna Beach
1955 Facel Vega FV1, John Boccardo, Palm Springs
1956 Facel Vega FV2B, Edd Ashley, Mentone
1958 Facel Vega FVS-FV4 Hemi Coupe, Hilary Raab, Jr., Crown Point
1959 Simca Oceane Cabriolet, Dr. Doug and Carolyn Armstrong, Poway
1966 Peugeot 404 Cabriolet, Chris and Julie Hawkins, San Francisco
1973 Citroen SM, John Boccardo, Palm Springs
X — Post-War European Luxury
1948 Bentley Mark VI DHC, David and June Simon, Gardena
1949 Bentley Mark VI DHC, Paige and Bill Baker, Jr., Santa Ana
1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, David Beugen, Manhattan Beach
1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet, Arthur and Jean Hadley, Rolling Hills
1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I, Howard & Betty Green, Victorville
1965 Jaguar Mark 10, Steve and Cindi Kirby, Dove Canyon92614
1968 Aston Martin DBS Saloon, Cort Rockwood, Tustin Ranch
1969/70 BMW 2800 CS, Murray Fowler, Costa Mesa
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupe, Joaquin Vaquerano, Los Angeles
1972 Jaguar XJ6, Mike Zavos & Jennifer Hanson, Fallbrook
XI — American Fins (1948-1960)
1949 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, Michelle & Herman Desser, Northridge
1954 Buick Skylark, Roland Scott, Lonb Beach
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible, Sal Martin, Cypress
1957 DeSoto Adventurer Coupe, Jim Davidson, Encino
1957 Ford Thunderbird, Sandy Blaser, Diamond Bar
1957 Lincoln Premier Convertible, Jennifer and Matt Allyn, Long Beach
1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, Jerry Cochran, Los Alamitos
1958 Plymouth Fury Coupe , Bob Hansen, Rancho Palos Verdes
1959 Buick Electra Convertible, Richard & Scott Brewbaker, Anaheim
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Seville Coupe, Hiram Bond & Paul Marcelino, Rancho Palos Verdes
1959 Plymouth Sport Fury , Alexander Lehr, Hollywood
1960 Plymouth Fury Convertible, Denny Grundy, Trabuco Canyon
XII — Pony Cars (1964-1974)
1964 1/2 Ford Mustang, Steven Grant, San Pedro
1965 Ford Mustang, Jerry Gutierrez, Rialto
1967 Plymouth Barracuda, Frank Chirat, Mission Viejo
1968 Pontiac Firebird, Jim and Lissa Thomson, San Diego
1969 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro, Michael and Lisa Kellogg, Playa del Rey
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible, John Bateman, San Pedro
1969 Pontiac 400 Firebird, Chris Larsen, San Diego
1969 Dodge Challenger, Jeff Jones, Fullerton
1970 AMC Javelin Mark Donohue, Emily Gebhard, Laguna Niguel
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302, Gary Boyd, Gardena
XIII — American Muscle (1960-1972)
1950 Oldsmobile 88 Holiday 303 (135 HP), Keith Berg, Long Beach
1962 Dodge Dart 413 (410 HP), Blaine Bilyk, Adrossan
1964 Pontiac GTO 421 (360 HP), Tenney Fairchild, Los Angeles
1970 Ford Torino Cobra 429 (370 HP), John Chencharick, Colton
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 (450 HP) , Tyler Lee, Alhambra
1970 Pontiac GTO 455 (360 HP), Steve Herbert, Agoura Hills
1970 Buick GSX 455 (350 HP), Steve Herbert, Agoura Hills
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 455 (365 HP), Robert Stokes, Buellton
1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee 426 (425 HP), Greg Joseph, Long Beach
Post-War European Sports Under 3
1954 Austin Healey Model 100, Don Fisher, Arcadia
1955 Austin Healey 100 BN1, George Keens, San Pedro
1955 MG TF 1500, Tony Ardolino, Torrance
1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 CCS, Dr. Jayson and Sally Hymes, Beverly Hills
1958 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Cabriolet, Dominic Petruzzi, Newport Beach92663
1958 Morgan +4 Roadster, Karen Embrey, Newbury Park
1960 Lotus Elite, Will Nighswonger, Dana Point
1960/61 Fiat Pininfarina 1500 Osca, Douglas Anderson, Altadena
1963 Alfa Romeo Spider, Art Russell, Los Angeles
1967 NSU TT, J. J. Rowley, Valley Center
1969 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce 1750, Chuck Schwartz, Redondo Beach
XV — Jaguar Sports XK120,140,150 (1948
1949 Jaguar XK 120 , Tony Vincent, West Hollywood
1956 Jaguar XK 140 Roadster, Robert Huntington, North Tustin
1956 Jaguar XK 140 FHC, Philip Ludwig, Manhattan Beach
1957 Jaguar XK 140 DHC, Philip Ludwig, Manhattan Beach
XVI — Jaguar E-Type (1961-1974)
1962 Jaguar E-Type OTS Series 1, Sarkis Kassardjian, Palos Verdes Estates
1962 Jaguar E-Type OTS Series 1, Stephen and Julie Russell, Pasadena
1962 Jaguar E-Type FHC Series 1, Tony D’Alessandro, Culver City
1964 Jaguar E-Type FHC Series 1, Ronald Nazeley, Los Angeles
1965 Jaguar E-Type FHC Series 1, Ron & Donna Avery, Winnetka
1967 Jaguar E-Type OTS Series 1, Charlie Hallums, Irvine
1968 Jaguar E-Type FHC Series 1-1/2, Frank Tillman, Glendale
1969 Jaguar E-Type OTS Series 2, George Trahan, Palos Verdes Estates
1969 Jaguar E-Type FHC Series 2, Ken Brown and E. Carol Dales, Long Beach
1970 Jaguar E-Type FHC Series 2, Bill & Ginger Streitenberger, Palos Verdes Estates
1971 Jaguar E-Type FHC Series 2, Craig Lichtenstein, Sherman Oaks
XVII — Porsche 356
1953 Porsche Pre-A Cabriolet, James and Vicki Scrimger, Rancho Palos Verdes
1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Continental, Jack Reich, Rancho Santa Fe
1958 Porsche Carrera GT Speedster, Greg Young, Santa Barbara
1960 Porsche 356 B , Stephen Hoskins, Altadena
1963 Porsche 356 B, Jaime Juarez, Long Beach
1964 Porsche 356 C, Mo Sadrpour, Los Angeles
XVIII — Porsche 900 Series
1973 Porsche Carrera RS, Scott Hendry, Anaheim
1973 Porsche 911S , Linda and David Yerzley, Burbank
1976 Porsche 930 Turbo, Mike Regalia, Sun Valley
1979 Porsche 930 Turbo, Brett Keshtkar, Palos Verdes Estates
1984 Porsche 930, Chuck Bartron, Long Beach
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort, Jeff and Marge Lewis, Ketchum83340-6304
IXX — Ferrari
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4, Paul & Sherrill Colony, Pasadena
1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, Jim Gianopulos, Los Angeles
1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, Rick Cigel, Los Angeles
1983 Ferrari 512 Bbi, Andrew Tymkiw, Irvine
1984 Ferrari 512 Bbi, Jay Glaser, Rolling Hills Estates
1986 Ferrari Testarossa, Ronald and Sonya Pinto, Long Beach
XX — Monte Carlo Rally Tribute
1955 Citroen 11BL Traction Avant, Tina Van Curen & Chuck Forward, Altadena
1955 Triumph TR2, Michael Andrews, Los Angeles
1960 Facel Vega Facellia, Mark Morgan, Rancho Palos Verdes
1961 Facel Vega Facellia, Cesar Rodes, Monrovia
1963 Jaguar XKE Roadster, Dave Segura, Valencia
1965 Riley Elf Mk I, Henry Camisasca, Irvine
1965/2000 Morris Downton Mini Cooper S, Henry Camisasca, Irvine
1966 Willys Interlagos, Rexford Parker, Huntington Beach
1969 Porsche 912-6, Kurt Zimmerman, Huntington Beach
1970 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.6 HF, Edward Levin, West Hollywood
Motorcycles
1920 Excelsior (Military WWI), Richard Morris, Torrance
1934 Husqvarna TT 500, Chris Carlson, El Segundo
1938 Harley Davidson , Frank and Mally Roque, Mission HIlls
1947 Indian Chief, Richard and Rebecca Terrones, Santa Ana
1954 BSA Shooting Star, Dave Zamiska, Huntington Beach
1956 Ariel Square Four w/Garrard Sidecar, James Shaffer, Hawthorne
1956 BMW R60 , Michael Gross, Woodland HIlls
1961 Ducati 175 Sport, Ernesto Quiroga, Long Beach
1965 Benelli 125 Sprite, Hugo and Anna Galina, Mission Viejo
1966 Ducati 125 Sport, Ted Henry, Torrance
1966 Norton Dominator, Yoshi Kosaka, Culver City
1966 Triumph Bonneville, Don Ott, Torrance
1969 Rickmann Royal Enfield Interceptor II, Gerald Hutche

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

from a couple minute video of the guy using the power saw to grind through the not very effective tire boot. It's not as complete as the "Denver Boot" used in the USA
http://www.norcalminis.com/2012/08/i-dont-deserve-this-officer-and-i-wont.html for the full video, but I can save you the time and tell you the sop walked away from the outraged truck owner when this power saw was pulled out of the pickup bed.

Being raised in the Michigan woods, I recognize the orange and white colors as Stihl company so here is the saw http://www.stihlusa.com/products/cut-off-machines/

and dealers sell them new for about $1200 USD, and they go for about $500 on ebay http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=stihl+cutoff+saw&_sacat=0&_odkw=stihl+ts+500&adpos=1s3&MT_ID=69&crlp=11728041381_2416792&tt_encode=raw&_osacat=0&geo_id=9232&clk_rvr_id=381409948748&keyword=stihl+ts+500&adgroup_id=3721779861

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

above is the softcover edition cover, below, the 2009 hardcover cover


by the number (thank you John for that phrase!)
20 Chapters
122 pieces of paper between the covers

Quality photos. Well, this is my usual location to tell you how many hi def, hi res color images you'll find... normally I have to count between old black and white and new hi res hi def. Not this time. Every single photo is a stunning image by Peter Harholdt and without getting every car into a controlled studio environment. Amazing photographer, stunning photos that earn your respect as delivering on your expectations that were formed when seeing the cover, and reading the title

But you aren't reading this review to see that I think it's a deal. You already know I ain't gonna waste your time with a book I don't like and recommend.

So what's inside that's got my admiration? Photos of hot rods that are awesome, both the photos and the hot rods.

You'll think that some of these are museum quality, of course they are. But the So Cal Speedshop Belly tanker wasn't built to be a museum piece. Neither was the So Cal Speedshop 3 window "Kong", the Norman Timbs Special, James Hetfield's 37 Ford 5 window coupe by Rick Dore, the Nuemeister 29 roadster, the Bell 303 Crankshaft Special, the Berardini Bros deuce roadster, the Dick Flint 29 roadster, Eddie Dye's 29 Roadster, the Doane Spencer deuce roadster, and Billy Gibbons' 66 Chevelle and 35 pickup are most definitely not museum cars. They are frequently near museums... http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/nhra-museum-in-pomona-has-rat-rod-out.html  as the 35 truck was at the front of the Wally Parks NHRA Museum during the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show.

Not museum cars in this book. Not Chip Foose cars. Not Boyd Coddington's cars.

See the connection? Well maybe not yet.

The book is 20 interviews/write ups from Ken Gross (ought to be given a doctorate in hot rods and writing in my opinion, he's all that and a tank of nitro) when he went around the US and got talking with car makers and put into each chapter the interview, opinions, and pages of photos of the cars they've made. Not every one, but ones that you can see demonstrate the masters touch at building, restoring, painting and designing hot rods.

Ridler winners? Probably a couple in here. Out of the 20 builders, a couple have won the Ridler, and the Grand National Roadster award, and the AMBR award, and other awards. These builders are that exquisite in their finished cars, that perfect in their designs.

You know most of them by name, Troy Trepanier, Rolling Bones, Don Orosco, Pete Chapouris, Roy Brizio, Rick Dore, Posies, Bobby Alloway, Alan Johnson... and maybe you know the others, but they were either new to me, or I don't recognize the names but know the cars. You know.. like the car, never meet the builder? I have a lot of those. Thousands.

Back to the book, you can sum up the feeling I got when reading the interviews, with remembering that way some easy going down to earth type of people have when you get a moment to chat with them. No pretentious or unsettling conversation, just satisfying and enjoyable. Ever talk to some one like that? They are famous, genius or accomplished more than anyone else at their skills, but seem as cool as the guys at work? That's the way the interviews read.

I talk to Gene Winfield every time I see him, just to say hi, and damn it's good to see you again. He's that nice, and so are the guys interviewed here. Vern Tardel is maybe a bit like a "What are you doing here" flathead traditionalist in his interview when approached to be in a book about cars that are this beautiful, but I get the sense he's one of the hardworking old timers that is fed up with Boydsters, people wanting to buy his cache of treasured impossible to find hot rod parts, and fiberglass wanna be's. I got no problem with this approach to hot rodding at all.

The others are a bit more business casual, but all seem to have the deep values of made in the USA, no billet, and master craftsmanship that  you expect from the best in the business. For guys like Trepanier that can make million dollar rides, or 100 thou hot rods... to Don Orosco who went back to the bench to build Ardun Heads and Veda Orr knockoffs... or Chapouris who has Thom Taylor and Chris Frogget doing the artwork to set the wheels in motion.

These are the best, with the most incredibly rich traditional ways of not knocking the competition, regarding the 40's and 50's ways of building, and making cars ride like bimmers and benzs when it's apropos.

How they took such great photos without a studio is demonstrated at http://lowreysautorestoration.com/coverage/hotrodart.html



his email address is bernespo@me.com
Fear is the New Beauty
www.maxgrundy.com

Monday, August 27, 2012



all of it is a free website
http://jeepdraw.com/images/jeepdraw/ADOBE_ACROBAT_FILES/TM9_803_1944.pdf

for a bunch of unrelated manuals for sale online http://www.amherst-depot.com/truckman.htm
http://www.oldcarsstore.com/


Dear friend,
Invite you to visit our enterprise, we are dedicated to track, recover and restore micro cars,
motorcycles classic garage and various ornaments, vintage pieces of unique features, attractive and rich history.
Meet us in running our hobby, we strive to make each day more friends who share our passion.
by http://www.oldcarsstore.com   - Photos : http://www.facebook.com/Oldcarsstore


Querido amigo,
 
Invitamos a visitar nuestra empresa, nos dedicamos a rastrear, recuperar y restaurar los micro coches,
motocicletas, clбsicos y diversos adornos de garage , piezas vintage de caracterнsticas ъnicas, atractiva
y de rica historia.
Nos apasiona nuestro hobby, nos esforzamos para que cada dнa sean mбs los amigos que lo compartan.
Las piezas que ofrecemos en venta, son unicas y de calidad de excelencia digna de cualquier coleccion,
museo o el coleccionista mas riguroso en su calificacion.
 
Saludos,

Regards,

Pablo Pedragosa

Director
Tel: +598 47721439 - Movil: +598 98956613
55000 Artigas
URUGUAY


Know why Pablo gets a full post advert? Cause Isetta are a favorite of mine, South Americans are cool, and I'd love to hang out and talk cars with him. Yeah, that's it. No nonsense advertising gimmics like I see everyday from someone who has clients who will pay for getting a link on my site, just an honest guy making a living restoring cool old cars. I say, vote for Pablo!  
the high center of gravity is also a big concern for me.

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com



Sunday, August 26, 2012



both are full sized and legible at the source: http://www.transportgooru.com/2012/04/trucking-infographs/


this might only be large enough to be useful on the original site,
http://www.transportgooru.com/2012/06/an-infographic-view-of-auto-theft-in-the-united-states/
The Evolution of Motorcycle Safety
Infographic by Bennetts
found on http://www.transportgooru.com/2012/05/british-motorcycle-safety-infograph/

Saturday, August 25, 2012



Pensacola police officer Christopher Geraci was fired and arrested after a camera mounted in his car showed him slamming a hit-and-run suspect against her car multiple times.

 Based on the video, it seems Bonds did not resist Geraci as she stood outside her damaged vehicle around 2 a.m. on Aug. 2.

 Pensacola Police Officer Christopher Geraci has now been fired for 'Unreasonable Force' on Abbi Bonds, and arrested for battery.

Meanwhile, a woman in Houston was arrested and held in jail foe 12 hours for warning drivers about a speed trap ahead http://news.yahoo.com/video#video=29827295 

anyone else recall the incredible cop (Maine state trooper Stephen Murray) that was ticketing some drunk who screamed and tore up the tickets and verbally went nuts on the cop? Way back in 1992, it was in my military police training as the example of grace under pressure, and how us Navy police were to behave in a bad situation. That is the way cops should be. Professional under pressure.

why not use that useless jack for a garage lamp, because it won't do anything good under the car when you need to switch tires. These small jacks are dangerously tippy

A whole gallery of them on a Romanian website devoted to all things made for SteamPunk... great site http://steampunker.ru/blog/interior_design/6914.html


Looks like a crane or oil derrick in the background, and boxes of Tydol either getting loaded or unloaded... in the snow beside the landing strip... which made me realize that an autogyro has a shorter landing and takeoff distance than a similar size airplane, making it better for landing in showy areas

found on http://yuripasholok.livejournal.com
 wow... wire rims, and aerodynamics... but no information on what is the story behind that car

looks like a bus converted to use as a car hauler, and though the step cut outs are great, the cab looks ridiculous


If the weather is so nice you can sleep outdoors, a bunkbed on your Pontiac might not be a bad idea for the kids to look at the stars

ever think about concept car designers being amazing at everything except the glaringly obvious rims and wheels? Always the most let down aspect of a cool prototype

that wagon must weigh a lot...

 the adjustable wings are suspect, but the fold up 4 wheels looks like brilliant engineering.

the best photo I've found of how people entered and disembarked a dirigible, and how the mast connected to the blimp

all from http://yuripasholok.livejournal.com 






if you know of any more of these Richard Petty mowers, or paperwork about them, Jay would like to hear from you J Phillips <mopar_superbird@yahoo.com>







is this the most far out lawn mower you've seen? Sure, racing mowers are incredible... but a real sponsored RP mower, that he takes time to sign, sit on, and with the owner? That is amazing.  Thanks to Jay Phillips who filled me in about his collecting these

I was a 5-year old kid sitting on a school bus with a friend checking out the newspaper sales ad of a Richard Petty riding mower.

I grew up watching Richard Petty race at both Dover, DE & Richmond, VA.

In 1986, I purchased my favorite car a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird. Then a friend of mine purchased one for himself. He was (and still is) a Petty fanatic. One day, we were discussing our Richard Petty collections we've added to over the years. I asked him if he had ever stumbled onto a Petty Mower. He had never heard of one. This put me in gear to find one and prove I wasn't crazy.

Early 90's I finally found my first Petty Mower. Immediately I called Petty Enterprises asking for information. (This was before the Internet.) The woman that answered the phone told me that I would need to talk to Martha Jane, as she was the only one that would have worked for Richard during that time frame. Martha Jane was Richard's personal secretary. She was quick to inform me that she knew EVERYTHING about those little mowers as it was her husband that set up the meeting between Richard and those at Lowe's headquarters. WOW.....pay dirt!!! She also told me that it was the VERY first sponsorship in Richard's career.

Busy with work and drag racing, I packed the mower away for 11-years.

Finally, I decided it was time for a complete restoration. First things first, I again called Marthat Jane asking her if she remembered our conversation 11-years ago. She said sure I do, you're the only one that's ever called here asking about those mowers. I emailed her pics to show Richard and it was enough for him to confirm it to be an authentic Richard Petty Special. He signed a "Letter of Authenticity" with the model & serial numbers.

Now it's time to document, disassemble, restore or replace, and assemble. (I also spent nights at my local library going through microfiche newspapers, page by page, hoping to find the ad that I'd seen as a kid on the school bus. This is when I found the Richard Petty Special riding mowers were actually built in both 1971 & 1972. Mine was a 1972 and I gotta find a 1971 to complete the set.

I quickly found a second 1972 during the restoration of the first. So, I decided to restore them both side by side at the same time. All the best pieces went to the first, and the remaining parts to the second. (I also purchased 7 other similar, but non-Petty mowers that were used for parts donors.)

Since Martha Jane had a personal attachment to the mowers, and it was Richard's first promotional deal in his career, it was as simple as scheduling a meeting time, and place and an autograph session took place. Yes, Richard and those that work for him are the nicest people you'll ever meet. They're very down to earth people.

Since then I've found (3) 1971's and (3) 1972's, the original cardboard stand up of Richard Petty that was used for the promotion, the original roll of film of the commercial, and the prototype mower that was sent to Lowe's for approval.

Me and my much better half, Jeannie, display the RPS mowers along with many others at antique tractor shows. They've been featured in a MoPar magazine (Mopar Collector's Guide ~ Toys in the Attic), and were on the cover of Lawn & Garden Collector Magazine.

I don't know if Lowe's headquarters knows of their existence, as those that remember have long since retired.

Yes, many have offered to buy, making offers, and asking what it would take to let them go. I did not restore them with thoughts of resale.

Recently I was researching something automobile related, and my Google search took me to your site. I've been back every day for updates. So, thank YOU for that!

Not long after the restoration process, I uploaded images to the web showing before and after views. After seeing those pics, someone from Chattanooga, TN emailed me pics of their Richard Petty Special. Theirs was very different, and not at all consistent with the research that I had found on both the 1971 & 1972 models. I assumed it was a late '71 model that was never shown in the Lowe's ads. It was for sale, but the price was NOT cheap!!!

Fast forward to two years ago. A friend of mine calls me to tell me that he had just found (and picked up) a Richard Petty Special in Tennessee. My heart sank...I just knew it was the odd one that I'd only seen pics of. We talked about it's details, and thankfully I realized that it was not the same mower.

As soon as we hung up, I called the gentleman in Chattanooga. We came to a reasonable agreement, set a date & time for it's pick up, and off we went.

It's now loaded into the bed of my truck, and we're heading to Richard Petty's shop to pick up the other RPS. While making a fuel stop, I then had the time to check out the details of this odd RPS. And THAT was when I realized that the decals were without their part numbers! E.T. Rugg....the manufacturer always included part numbers with their decals. Then I noticed the hood stripe was wider and longer than what was used on the RPS. Then I noticed there were a couple of decals adhered in the wrong locations. Of course the "BY Petty" decals were all the way near the front of the hood, instead of aligned with the seam in the hood....where they were on all of the RPS's that have surfaced to date.

I called a friend that is very familiar with lawn & garden restorations. He explained that when a manufacturer consistently used part numbers on their decals, and they're NOT there....it's a pre-production unit, AKA PROTOTYPE!

Then a call was placed to a retired Lowe's employee, that was the actual buyer for the lawn & garden department. He explained that when a new product was to be sold at Lowe's, the manufacturer would first have to submit a prototype for approval. Sometimes it was acceptable as-is, and other times changes would have to be made. Prototypes were then sold, without warranty to Lowe's employees.

The Chattanooga find was a gold mine to a collector of Richard Petty Specials.....you know....ME! LOL

It was found in the early '80's, in a ditch on the side of the road, somewhere in Georgia. Thankfully the guy was smart enough to stash it away for all of those years.

Jay








that fulfills my monthly need for slotted mags, Keystones and Cragars!

from the best source of 1970's era musclecar looks, http://upintherear.tumblr.com