Author Topic: down to Asheville (Read 1845 times)

Rocking-M · « **on:** October 02, 2009, 05:13:14 AM »

Tracey and I are heading to Asheville. She's driving the chase car.

Hope to see Uncle Ernie and maybe the "Wheels Through Time".

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2009, 12:36:45 PM »

Shoot. I'm going up to Virginia this weekend!

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2009, 02:21:55 PM »

Heading up the Parkway, I saw a Ducati trying to get away from a BMW car. The rider strted waving his arms wildly, so I assumed something was amiss and pulled over. This rider turned around and caught me- turned out to be a Mr. McNab being chased by his wife! Could have blown me over with peanut butter breath. So, reluctantly, I turned around and followed them into Asheville.

At a red light, I yelled, "Would your lovely, gracious wife care to go anywhere WITH us- like in my sidecar?" So they pulled over and argued bitterly for a while until she eventually consented. She must put up with a lot from him...

Long story short, we went to Wheels Through Time. Meeting one of my heroes was a big deal with me and I was nervous. When I get nervous I talk too much. Poor man tried to get a word in edgewise and i could see it happening but i just couldn't stop myself. The hapless Tracy had to put up with a lot from me, also. In fact, I think she became rather disoriented- perhaps panic stricken? When I asked how many kids she had, she replied, "Seven horses and three dogs." O-kayyy...

Am I the only one who thinks he looks like Billy Bob Thornton?

So, anyhoo- it was a real pleasure to meet them. In truth, an honour. I've admired and looked up to Mr Robert for some time. The reality far outstripped my imagination.

Rocking-M · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2009, 02:32:47 PM »

Here I was, just taking my time going down the foggy parkway, when all of a sudden this dude I'd just seen going the other way comes roaring up on my butt. I think I was on the viaduct hanging on for dear life when here he comes and starts to gesture wildly. He said he thought I was in distress cause he'd seen me waving my arms wildly, which I was, the forth bee of the year having entered my helmet. Anyway, low and behold it was Uncle Ernie.

As he says, when he asked if Tracey would like to ride in the side car I went over and asked. Actually, I said, that crazy dude thinks you might like a side car ride. I told her she was taking a big chance riding with that crazy fellow who keeps the side car wheel off the road more than on. I tried to reason with her but she was game. So we follow Ernie to get the
side car rig. A souped up BMW 1000cc engine in a 650 frame hooked to a side car.

Tracey donned the 80 year++ old helmet (I think they're carbon dating it along with Ernie) put on the leather jacket and off we flew. At the on ramp to Interstate 40 I knew she was in for the ride of her life. Yep, the side car wheel was off the road by a good foot and she was hanging out like a real side car monkey trying to get it back down. Her helmet was to loose so it blew back on her head and was also choking her. I sped up along side, pushed the helmet back up, and pushed down on the side car to right it. This maneuver was performed with every lane change. We made it to the wheels of time museum. Tracey wasn't to blue so we toured the museum and they have so much stuff they really need a guide to describe each one. It's worth the trip to anyone in the area.

After the tour we walked up the street for a bite. Whilst sitting and listening to tales of SF and other adventures I noticed that folks thought Ernie was a big movie producer and I was Billy Bob Thornton. They would look over and I'd look back like I had a lawn mower blade under that table and they'd quickly look away. No one asked for autographs.

After adjusting Tracey's helmet,
we returned to Asheville and Uncle Ernie's place to retrieve Tracey's car. You have never seen a woman so happy to be delivered from a side car to a car with four wheels.

Ernie it was a great pleasure to meet you and Kathleen, y'all are a most gracious host and tour guide and one day we will return the favour for you and Kathleen. I do hope you can make a trip here to visit sometime. There is a tremendous art community here from potters to artisans of all variety and I'm sure we can set up a tour for you both. Best and warmest regards from Tracey and Billy Robert.

Tracey in transit.

Ernie delivers Tracey back to Earth.

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2009, 06:34:55 PM »

Loose helmet?!
I thought she was laughing at my jokes...

DammitDan · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2009, 10:11:19 PM »

Quote from: Rocking-M on October 04, 2009, 02:32:47 PM

It's worth the trip to anyone in the area.

My brother in law and I rode out to the museum a year ago, me on the Yammy triple and he on his '81 BMW R100 faux S. We're loaded for bear on a 3-day riding trip and come rolling into the lot and see Dale Walksler riding that XA around the facility with a crowd of onlookers. We are in the process of taking our gear off when he rides up beside Cory and says, "That your beemer?" Cory says yeah and Dale says, "Wanna ride this one?"

Cory hopped on the XA and rode it up and down and around back. Really cool experience, and a very neat place to visit! I don't know why, but Dale seemed to take a liking to us. He started up the Crocker and the Fletcher Flyer for us, and invited us around back to see the maintenance shop. There must have been a dozen knuckleheads and a dozen more flatheads in various stages of assembly. It was really amazing.