I just retired in 2005 from 24 years with the State of New Mexico Radio
Communications Bureau.
My hobbies include ham radio and restoring old motorcycles.
Here is my "ham station" at home. My Extra class ham call is N5BGC.
This is a view of Santa Fe Lake just below Tesuque Peak.
If anyone is interested in Amateur radio, please look at the web site for the ARRL. The FCC has made
getting a license much easier now. The code requirement has been eliminated
so the major stumbling block for most has been eliminated. There are
several clubs that offer classes of study to prepare you for the written
exam still required for the license. The ARRL web site should be of help.
I also have been experimenting with APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System). This allows mobile stations to broascast their location
via radio and have it displayed on maps. It has been used in search and
rescue and commercially in vehicle tracking. The state of New Mexico has
a very extensive network of stations that provide relay of the signals.
The system uses GPS receivers, a TNC and a radio to utilize the system.
You can have a look at their web site. I am finding it very interesting.
Another ham friend and I have a business that is directly related to radio.
We own and operate "Santa Fe Two Way". We sell radio equipment and rent air
time on a trunked repeater system on Tesuque Peak. The picture
above is a view from the top of the 12,040 foot mountain top where we have our equipment. In the summertime, we can travel by 4-wheel drive
vehicle and in the winter, we obtain a lift from the local "ski operation" .
We have a commanding view of the area around Santa Fe, New Mexico from this
location. Our customers can have 50-60 mile coverage with just a small
handheld radio.
Here we are at "work".
I was fortunate enough to run across a late "1940's American Moto Scoot".
It spent a while being restored. It came back in great condition.
While at the Cushman National Meet in Springfield, MO in 1999, I traded
it for a "1974 Vespa Rally 200." It is the first Vespa that I have owned. (I think I rode
one in the 1950's.) It is a different machine to ride. I am used to larger motorcycles
or Cushmans.
It began having problems where it would run for about 1/2 mile then just quit
almost like the key was turned off. It would never happen close to home. When I tried
to start a few minutes later, it would run OK (for a few blocks). My first repair
was to the fuel system. I replaced the sediment bowl and carb gaskets. It did
not leak gas but would still not run. I traced the
problem to a spark problem. I called Randolph Garner and he sent
out an electronic module and that fixed it. It is now back on the road.
I have had to replace the electronics module again later. It gave much the same
indications -- it would run for a while then just quit. It would start
but not have any power. Even a Cushman outran me!!!!!
See what Randolph can do for your at
"Randolph's Classic Scooters".
The last part of 2005 I noticed that I did not ride the Vespa as much
as it needed so I put it up for sale for someone who would ride it as it
needed. I would rather a fine machine like this be used as it should be
rather than just stored in a garage. It is now in the hands of someone
who is riding it full time.
I found a bicycle - a Sears (not a JC Higgins). It is a womens model.
The paint is starting to peel but the chrome cleaned up very well. I am trying
to settle on a date for it also. I would guess the 1960's. It is brown
with yellow pinstripping. If anyone has a guess, please let me know.
At the 2007 national Cushman meet, I picked up another bicycle. It is a
Western Flyer made for Western Auto stores. The small city license tag
on it is dated 1952 so the bike is late 1940's or early 1950's. It is in
excellent shape with nothing bent or broken. It has the headlight and taillight
that use a C-cell battery. These need work because they are corroded
but some work should restore them. The whole bike is not rusted but has
a fine patina that makes it look great. I put new wide white wall tires
on it because you could see right through the tires. The tires and tubes
were actually the Western Auto brand. The tubes only have a couple of
patches.
I am trying to leave it as origional as possible except for the tires.
I had a "2003 Honda Silverwing" as my touring machine. It is a large motorscooter that
has a 600cc, fuel injected, water cooled twin cylinder engine. I was very satisfied
with it on the highway. I added the Givi larger windshield and rear trunk for more
storage. The compartment under the seat will hold 2 full face helmets.
In May 2007 I traded it for a BMW F650GS. This is a street and trail
capable machine. I had never owned a BMW before so this is a new experience
for me.
The first two tanks of gas I got about 65-75 miles per gallon on the open road.
More on this machine as I own it longer. The BMW web site has great photos.
I traded a computer for a "1984 Honda 110." It has the two speed transmission so
it can really do some off-road work. (Well, as much as a 110 can do.) It is the
perfect size for my wife, Maggie. We are looking forward to the summers.
I found a real good buy on a "1956 Cushman Eagle." I had a 1956 in my youth so it is great to have another one. It is the 8-horse model with a Mikuni carb. That carb makes a very good improvement on starting and running of a flat head Cushman.
It also does not leak like the original carb does.
I found a basket case "1963 Cushman Super Silver Eagle" a few years ago, and after
several �basketfuls� of money, I have a very special machine. The engine was
stroked and had a hotter cam installed by Classic Cushman Scooters. The 9-horse
engine sure works better now.
I also found a "1960 Cushman Trailster." It is a motorscooter that thinks it is a Jeep!
It has the 8-horse flat head engine with a 2-speed transmission. The two speeds are
about 6 and 12 MPH. Of course, it was not designed for speed. It is an off-road
machine that could be used for hunting and fishing at out of the way places.
Since I retired and turned 60 years ago in the summer of 2005, I decided it was
time that I did something I have always wanted to do. I took up motorcycle racing!
The local track in Albuquerque, "Sandia Motorcycle Racing," has a great track day
and racing program. The venue I choose was Supermoto racing. It combines dirt,
and street racing with some motocross on slick tires. If you don�t think racing
on slick tires in the dirt is fun � try it!!! I bought a "2004 KTM 450SX" to use.
I wonder sometime if I should have started on a 50 instead of a 450. But, I am
learning. I have the x-rays to prove it. Somewhere I saw a bumper sticker that said
�Dirt Hurts�. I believe it now. Here is some of the "dirt section."
In May 2009 I decided to try a different type of racing. Friends at the SMRI track talked
me into doing Vintage Racing. I bought a "1971 Honda CB450" that was already converted
to a racing machine. It had all the unnedded parts removed. It has racing handle bars
and rearset foot pegs and controls. The mufflers were fabricated by a previous owner.
I will see during the 2009 racing season how I like it. You can keep up by accessing the
SMRI web page above. I will be listed under number 765.
In April 2009 I answered a Craig’s List ad for a 2000 Buell Blast. This is the single cylinder,
500 cc machine. The seller said that he wanted to get back in the dirt. So I traded him the
KTM Supermoto bike. So far I am pleased with it. It seems to be a good in-town machine.
I picked up a real basket case 1958 Cushman Eagle. It actually came in "boxes."
I spent the winter restoring it. The previous owner must have begun work because there
were many new parts. More on it later.
While just window shopping at a local motorcycle shop, I found a beautiful "Kawasaki
KLR-250." It is an on and off road machine. We used to call them enduros in the
1950s and 1960s. I have used it just on the pavement in town and the last tank
of gas yielded 58 MPG. Not bad for this priced gas. My wife and I took
it to a local campground and tried out some dirt roads. I am not much in the dirt
but I was impressed.
In late 2005 I picked up another 1960 Cushman Eagle. It has a bunch of chrome
on it! You almost have to have sunglasses to look at it. It just took
a little carb cleaning and timing to get it to running state.
I added a few parts to get it up to my standards. I will install a
Mikuni carb this summer for more dependable starting and running.
In a trade for the 1956 Eagle, I also picked up a couple of frames and a couple of bodies for 50-60 series Cushmans. In the trade, there were also 2 Solex mopeds. From the looks of them, it may take both to make one working one with a liberal application of new parts. In February of 2008, I found a "1966 Solex" that is very complete and running. The fact that is runs is foreign to me since I restore so many pieces of "junque". This machine is about 90 per cent there but lacks some of the fine parts that make it complete. There is a dealer in Utah that can supply parts. And another thing - I now have a model of what the finished product should look like when I restore the others.
