Subject: RE: Adirondack got back
Author: Gary Cheek
Date: Aug 28, 2001, 6:36 PM
Post ID: 1708038181
Hello Dave,
I think you and I have a lot in common. I like to do as much as I can
right at home. 35 years and over 40 bikes ( British and Italian )and all
I have farmed out was Crak grinding,chrome plating ,cadmium plating and
pin striping. I even went so far as to buy a Quick Way boring bar , a
Souix valve grinder and a Hall Toledo seat grinder so I could that much
more in my own garage. Wound up doing quite a bit of machine work out of
the old garage for most of the bikes in town,
I also get the same thoughts while running down the road about putting
the mill ,trans and everything else together- a real great feeling
indeed. I guess in the old days I couldn't afford to pay folks to do all
that work ,now I won't even think of it even if I can foot the bill.
Heck I still polish aluminum the old fashioned labor intensive way by
hand,very rarely power buffing .
I do look forward to meeting you at one of the meets. By next year I
should have a decent resto mount as well as a nice ,ORIGINAL mount to
take to a Guzzi rally or two.I will likely turn up on a Brit bike from
time to time as well! We can sit on the sidelines and expound the
virtues of keeping these old buzzards on the road.
In the meantime my hat is off to anyone and everyone who endeavors to
keep these beautys and others on the road ,by whatever means they can
muster just for the love of the machines and the fellowship of others
who share that interest.
Oh the joy of listening to a sweet exhaust note roll out behind
you,with your headlight burning into endless darkness. It makes every
mile ahead a special gift.
Till then,
Gary Cheek
David J. Otis wrote:
Don't get sensitive now :-) I think Dave wanted to do just that....get all the Loops together for a photo. Unfortunately the rally site wasn't good for that and with all the travelling needed to get to the restaurants people weren't in much of a mood to take the time to get all the bikes together...they wanted to eat! We'll definately have to do that at the Md rally. After the Loop loop will be a great time....maybe at some point along the route. I will have my camera ready, I will have someone taking a movie also when we roll into my drive for the burger blast after the cookout. No doubt about it......any restoration is a labour of many loves. I (and everyone else) can vouch for that too. I also think the thing that I am most proud of is that I can get on my bike and ride it to the rallies no matter what the distance. Last year's National was a real turning point for me as to the reliability of these machines. I will have no problem hopping on the Ambo and heading to Md next month. They simply are the greatest bikes built! Norine was a hoot to build, %100 completed by me no out sourcing of a single task. It is neat to think while you are riding a bike, that you know every part it, I was thinking back to when I assembled the engine while I was riding it at 80 mph, imagining the rods pumping up and down, the gears driving the cam etc., etc. pretty awesome experience! Another thing I like about these machines is that they are easy to figure out if they misbehave. After the Sunday breakfast my bike died. Literally all the electrics quit. Before I could borrow a fellow rider's tester I knew that the problem was a ground. Traced it to the main ground wire...sorted it out and was on my way in 15 minutes. No doubt you have one of the nice Loops out there Tom. I would never dream of taking that away from you and you deserve every award. You said that being able to ride to a rally was worth more than the "award". To me....being able to have fun bantering back and forth with my fellow riders is worth far more than any award . It isn't who wins that is important....but rather how much fun you have in the process...and I had a blast hanging with you and the other people there. I only wish our bikes were parked next to one another all weekend :-) I personally think awards suck! I prefere the fellowship and riding! All loops are cool and some have extreme character (like Kermit) I like em all! Been doing bikes and shows for years, even won several awards, but the most fun has always been the ride! All the best....Ian -----Original Message----- From: Tom Bowes <kk-@home.com> To: Loopfram-@topica.com <Loopfram-@topica.com> Date: August 27, 2001 10:06 PM Subject: RE: Adirondack got back
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Gary Cheek
1971 Ambassador (I think it's sold)
1972 Eldorado Police
1974 Eldorado 4LS/Amal carb civilian