Topic: Interesting Tidbit!

[bill440cars]

       I was talking to my cousin today (my Dad's 1st cousin) and letting him know how my Dad was doing and all. We kinda got off on the family history and such. He informed me that the building that the Motorcycle Shop (my Granddad's) and the Garage (my Uncle's, in the rear of the same building) was torn down in 1999 (just a bit short of being 100yrs old)! I knew that building had been there quite a long time, but didn't know Just HOW long til now. That building started out as a Service Station/Garage & Blacksmith shop, along with a small lumber mill in the rear. My Great Granddad ran things and when he went blind, my Granddad and my Uncle had to quit school and support the family. As time went on, my Granddad started working on motorcycles, finally enclosed the front of the building and opened up his Motorcycle Shop in 1932. If there would have been any way for me to do so (I really wanted to keep the Shop in the family), when my Granddad died in Dec 1968, I would have tried to carry on the business and it would have been 77 years old this year (and the building, if it would have still been in it, would have been about 109 yrs old by now! Man, that's just hard to imagine. If only, but I was in the Air Force in 68' and had until Aug 70' before I was to get out.                                             
                The old "Hindsight and Foresight"

[Sam Green Racing]

IF ONLY

[Bob Wessner]

Like they say, hindsight is 20/20 and foresight is usually blind. Would have been pretty neat though.

[Duke McDukiedook]

You went down the path you were meant to, you can't live life full of regret brother.
I'm pretty sure there is a reason that path didn't become reality (at least in this universe).
That's the way I try to view life these days. 

[bill440cars]

You went down the path you were meant to, you can't live life full of regret brother.
I'm pretty sure there is a reason that path didn't become reality (at least in this universe).
That's the way I try to view life these days. 

           Yeah, probably right! My Dad was going to help me all he could, if I could have save enough (in the last 2 years of my enlistment in the Air Force,  ) to have gotten it going when I returned to Arkansas upon being Discharged from the Air Force. Thing is, he would have likely been there at the Shop on weekends and MAYBE some afternoons and/or evenings. Not sure how my Mom would have taken to THAT. Most likely, she would have liked me to have moved on to something else. Oh well, that was then and this is now. While "The Shop" (as we fondly called it and remember it as) was quite a place! there was just so much history there and, I can still visualize some of the happenings there and it always brings a smile to my face when I do. I like to get my Dad talking on that subject because he can (and will) talk on and on about some of the goings on there and the different people who have passed into and out of our live because of that place. I wish I had pictures of it inside and out. It wouldn't impress a number of folks, but it will ALWAYS be "The Place" in my mind!      

[bill440cars]

Like they say, hindsight is 20/20 and foresight is usually blind. Would have been pretty neat though.

        Yeah Bob, as I've gotten older, I've really learned alot about "Hindsight" and "Foresight". I remember alot about the old place: the old antique battery charger mounted on the wall above some shelves where the batteries were placed, the solvent vat that really smelled, the Oxy- Aceytlene welder (used carbine and a controlled water drip to make the gas, if I recall that right and it had to be cleaned out periodically), There was a grinder setup on a roll around cart that used a "Maytag" (from a washing machine) gas engine to power it ( I thought it was from a Cushman Scooter, but I was corrected), there was an air compressor (not sure what size) a sparkplug cleaner/tester, a large bench mounted drill press, a metal turning Lathe (not sure what year 1940's maybe), a boring bar (don't remember the brand, but it was red and probably from the 40's as well), a crankshaft truing stand (Indian tool and I have it at my home) and lots of motorcycle parts upstairs. Yeah, I can still see that place and BTW, the Lathe and the drill press are in my Dad's shop and are to come to me in time (which I'm not pushing for)  I also have a nice size Jawa Dealer sign (metal) from "The Shop" and wish I had an Indian sign as well.