Folks, I can tell you enough, what it means to me, to see your input and support here. I knew that I would have this support though, because that is just the way our Forum operates. You folks care and that is awesome!
My Dad was SO into motorcycles and the events. As I was growing up, I dreamed of the day when I would be a part of that. Problem is, as I approached that age, things were changing, the guys my Dad rode with and did things with, were getting older and some were having medical issues and such. Next thing I knew, I was in high school and preparing to go into the Air Force, upon Graduation. I felt I owed it to my Country, to do my part, in what ever way I could, so I volunteered for a 6 yr hitch in the Air Force (4 active & 2 inactive). About half way through my 2 yr tour in Japan, my Granddad passed away. That rocked my world severely. I loved my Mom, Grandparents and other relatives, but my Dad and my Granddad and I were very close and all had the Love of motorcycles. I would give anything to have the wealth of knowledge that those 2 men had between the 2 of them. At a certain age (don't remember exactly how old, for sure, maybe around13) My Dad would quiz me on how an engine worked, in it's entirety. Every time I said something that wasn't right or wasn't completely clear, he would stop me, tell me it was wrong and make me start over again. He would give me 2 attempts each time and after that I would have to wait til later, to try again. He kept after me, until I could tell him how an engine worked, from the intake to the exhaust. Then, he told me he would give me a motorcycle, only thing he didn't tell me, right away, was that it was all apart. Yeah, in pieces! The only parts that were assembled were the wheels. I had to find all of the parts and had to use all the used parts that I could. I had to cut all of the gaskets, except the head gasket. IO had to remove all of the paint and we had no sandpaper! He had me get some used piston rings that they had for this purpose. You held a piston ring at an angle and scraped the paint off of all of the parts. Only then, was IO allowed to use some sand paper to finish it up. My Granddad rebuilt the crankshaft, my Dad adjusted the voltage regulator on the generator and mixed the paint and adjusted the spray on the paint Spray gun. A friend of the family stitched up a new seat cover and I did the rest. I never thought I would EVER have a complete motorcycle out of all of those parts! For awhile, I wasn't very happy about what I had to go through, to have that motorcycle, but after awhile, I realized what a valuable education I had gotten from my Dad (and His Dad did the same thing to (for) him! So, a tradition was passed down to my Dad and on down to me. I didn't have a son to pass it onto, but now, after remarrying, I have a Step Son and I hope to pass down to him, what I can, of what was passed down to me. I only hope I can do as good of a job of it. God Help Me!
All the kind words, from you all, Humble me...... Thank you.
