PunchBuggy

Flathead tractor curiosity

2012-02-11T07:57:00.008-05:00

We went to an auction preview on Rogers Road in Toronto where they were selling off the remains of an old garage. This tractor with 21-stud Flathead Ford V8 caught my eye. What could it possibly be? Maybe an old Funk conversion? The Massey Harris tank further muddied the water:

It has been a while since somebody sat here for work:

I hope it goes to a good home.
Pics by RLT.

Lakeshore loses lodgings, gains cranes and condos

2012-02-10T09:57:00.004-05:00

The changing face of Hogtown is nowhere more apparent than with the loss of the Lakeshore motel strip. We took these pictures before the motels are all gone.

Pics by Annette and RLT.

Raleigh wrenches remain nameless

2012-02-09T13:37:00.005-05:00

These two Raleigh wrenches or spanners, similar but not the same, were made in quantity to fit the old Raleigh steel bicycles of our youth. Doubtless thousands of them have been discarded by folk puzzled by their function and having no further use for the strange sizes (in a metric world gone mad). Typically they have no branding to link them to Raleigh from an era lacking in marketing savvy.

Today they are a delightful reminder of when Nottingham boasted the biggest bicycle factory in the world and a Sturmey-Archer four-speed took this schoolboy to school.

Pic by RLT.

Brompton toolkit in the works

2012-01-31T18:00:00.005-05:00

I sent the following question to Brompton Bicycle Ltd: "In the old days there used to be a multi-use spanner that came with your bike, Raleigh, other brands, Brooks etc. Are there any plans to produce such a spanner for the Brompton? If so, where can I buy one?"

I received the following reply: "Thank you for contacting us. You are not the first person to ask the question of a toolkit for the Brompton and over the years we have listened to our customers and have been developing just that, a toolkit. We aim to have a toolkit available in the very near future, so please keep an eye on our website or your local dealer for details. It will contain all the tools needed for basic roadside repair of your Brompton."

Chunky slippers made in Canada

2012-01-24T20:26:00.009-05:00

Rupert is modeling his new hand-knitted terra cotta slippers. A Canadian tradition they keep your toes toasty in deep midwinter.

They are made with Bernat Chunky 100% acrylic yarn made in Listowel, Ontario. The design by golden bird knits was adapted by Annette using US size 10 needles.
Pics by RLT.

Bloviating on bicycles

2012-01-22T13:28:00.006-05:00

With the weather turned cold in Toronto there are fewer opportunities to go cycling. But there is much activity on the bench. I've been acquiring some old bike spanners or wrenches like the one above. There are no identifying marks on this one so its origins remain a mystery. An extensive search on the internet has turned up nothing.
I also found this old card that came with my Brompton bicycle in 2000. When you have a negligible marketing budget this was a low-cost way of spreading the word by getting your customers to hand out cards.

Another project, some time in the future, will be building a bike with this Fichtel & Sachs Torpedo dreigang 3-speed hub gear. This beautiful 'bean tin' hub is a keeper. I've also just discovered that F&S made the motors for the Messerschmitt cabin scooter.

Pics by RLT.

Philadelphia puzzle

2012-01-17T18:13:00.011-05:00

Two questions were puzzling us in Philadelphia. Just where was the original Baldwin Locomotive Works and why were the railroad tracks nearby running in a trench below grade.
Research pointed to the works being in several locations and in a sense it was, as it covered four huge city blocks, bounded by Broad Street, Callowhill Street, 18th Street and Spring Garden Street (the yellow box shown below, the hatched green box adjacent being a commemorative park, which may also have formed part of the complex).

The rails were sunk below grade about 1900 eliminating many level crossings, as indicated on the tunnel arch (top), shown in detail below.

Pics by Annette.

Etobicoke loses Red Cabin, Canadian Tire

2012-01-15T16:05:00.006-05:00

Dundas Street West is changing by the day. First the Red Cabin, untrendy solid breakfast spot, suddenly closes up, then Canadian Tire throws in the towel after 54 years. Stand by for more construction and condos.

In the spirit of marking the passing of these landmarks we shot these pictures on Sunday, January 15, 2012.

Pics by RLT and Annette.

A streetcar named Kawasaki

2012-01-15T07:58:00.010-05:00

This is the #36 Philadelphia trolley approaching the junction of South 70th Street and Elwood on Tuesday 3rd January 2012, heading back toward the city centre. This "modern" Kawasaki streetcar is now more than thirty years old. Some former-Toronto Red Rockets found their way to Philly, when there was a ready market for used equipment.
We were intrigued by the surviving remnants of what was a much more extensive system back in the day. Most North American cities ripped out their streetcars years ago, while some struggle to put them back. There is now no downtown trolley in Philly to delight tourists - what they have is underground. Curiously the tracks and the overhead power supply survive in a number of locations but the political will to revive the city centre seems to be lacking. Using public transit is habit forming - a habit most Americans have long ago abandoned.
P.S. We bought tokens for the trolley at $1.55 per ride. Deal.
Pic by Annette.

A business burns as a startup struggles

2012-01-12T17:07:00.007-05:00

We went for a cycle ride yesterday, Wednesday, me on the Auto-Mini bicycle with three-speed Sturmey Archer gears. I pumped up the forty-year-old tyres, squirted some oil in the gearbox and off I went. Joining my pal Ron at Sunnyside we decided to get off the Lakeshore at the Exhibition Grounds as the onshore wind was too much. A stopover in Kensington Market to buy cheese and take coffee with muffins was followed by a ride along College Street and up the railpath to Dupont.
We went to check out the fire at Save And Secure Self Storage at 97 Pelham Avenue which started on Monday morning. The building which will have to be demolished is adjacent to the railroad tracks and a CPR train crept past the scene while we were there. Sad to see a business and many folks personal possessions destroyed.

We carried on to Annette Street to check on Creme Fraiche, a new store in "permit purgatory," unable to open until the boroughmongers and sinecurists at City Hall get their act together and issue a permit. The anti-business attitudes live on in Hogtown even though "large imperfect" Mayor Miller is long gone. The regime may change but the crusty bureaucrats carry on. Time to clean house.

Day trip to D.C.

2012-01-09T21:17:00.005-05:00

While in Philly we decided to ride the Amtrak train to Washington D.C. for a day sightseeing. We were up early and caught the local train at the Suburban Station for the short ride to 30th Street Station. We booked on the 08:13 Amtrak NE Regional train #131 from Philly to D.C. and splurged on the Acela Express for the return leg ($70 each outward, $104 each return sector).
It was some 30 years since I rode these rails. The approaches to Baltimore were an eye-opener as street after street of rowhouses were all boarded up. The final approach into Union Station was also rather grubby, in no way suggesting arrival in one of the world's great cities. Once off the train however things immediately looked up as we headed for the Capitol Building on foot in bright but cold weather. A quick gander at the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress and we headed up Pennsylvania Avenue towards the White House. The party was flagging so we stopped in at Starbucks on Indiana, which was more like a drop-in centre with folk taking a nap.
The White House was much changed from years ago - the road to the south being blocked off and security in evidence everywhere. We had already passed the occupy camp at Freedom Plaza. We warmed up in the visitor centre in the Baldridge Building. We then walked south via the Washington monument - a great obelisk - and on to the Smithsonian Institution for a look at the Air-Space Museum. I'd been here before and the exhibits all had a dated feel and in need of a refresh. Across the way we had a quick look in the National Art Gallery.
I felt, what many others have felt before me, that Washington, with its grand scale and lack of industry, has an air of unreality. Far from the rustbelt in a political bubble it is easy for politicians to forget that any healthy economy relies on manufacturing.
We rode the 17:00 Acela Express #2222 back to Philly. The showpiece project of the Amtrak fleet was something of a disappointment as the train juddered and shuddered far too much to sway the doubters. Philadephia is the spiritual home of the American locomotive but here is a railway that has failed to move with the times. I wanted to like it but it is less than it could have been.
On arrival we took the subway to 13th Street for supper at the Banana Leaf, 1009 Arch St (mains $7.50, Singapore noodles recommended).
Pic by Annette.

Philly Mummers memorable moments

2012-01-08T11:02:00.039-05:00

We visited Philadelphia in time for the 112th edition of the New Year's Day Mummers Parade. Put this on your bucket list!

The Mummers are made up of some 44 New Year's Day Associations and Brigades, marching up Broad Street, in a parade lasting from 09:30 until 19:00. This is followed by an evening event indoors at the Convention Center. The show was covered throughout on live TV on Channel Phl17, with extensive coverage in the Philadelphia Inquirer. We chose grandstand tickets, in the City Hall Performance Zone, at $18 each, positioning ourselves in JFK Plaza at the finish line.
The Mummers are constituted in societies which have a history of founding, merging and disbanding; a shifting coalition. The music chosen included the Sound of Philadelphia with Mummers in costume dancing in the street, with umbrellas or parasols, a signature motif. Rosettes were also much in evidence. The event features four main categories: Comic, Fancy Costume, String Band and Fancy Brigade.
The comic division included old timers, babies, Oktoberfest, clowns, smurfs, wenches (traditionally men dressed as women), Lady Gaga (from Vineland, New Jersey), and Super Mario. We also saw Musketeers (I even spotted a Cardinal), Lola the Showgirl, Gorillas, Keystone cops and gangsters, Chinamen and the Disco Duck. Themes vary year to year, including topical and political: this year the BP Oil Spill and vote Ron Paul 2012. We also had lampooning the Occupy Movement with Octopi and Froggupy. Each troupe had a limited time in front of the judging stand.

Also strutting their stuff were pirates (with sailing ship tableau), Hot n Chilli Peppers, Mardi Gras, Egyptians, Oregon Wench Brigade, Jokers, Romans, Astronauts and Aliens, Werewolves, Gators and Frosty the Snowman.

Participation runs in families. The Penguins had two marchers under age one. I even heard: "Bringing them up in the tradition." One gentleman, introduced to the crowd, had been parading since 1937 earning a place in the Mummers Hall of Fame. The comic division was won by the Wenchtoberfest of the Two Street Stompers.

After a while jazz bands show up on the back of trucks with the Fancy Costume Division. There is no attempt at costume accuracy - the Fralinger sequinned Scotsmen in kilts were a parody. The Hog Island NYA won the Fancy Costume Division, a cumulative points competition with nine categories. The String Bands winner was Woodland with "It's A Jungle Out There!"
The event was sponsored by SugarHouse Casino, a Pennsylvania gaming house built to rival Atlantic City. Participants competed for $395,000 in prizes. Free samples were handed out to the crowd including Goldenberg's peanut chews, Turkey Hill lemonade and iced tea, and Phl17 inflatable flags. Serving soldiers, parading with flags, were well received. The weather was relatively warm, untypical for the time of year.

The Fancy Brigade Finale was held at the Convention Center, a choreographed display by ten societies, which has been running for the last 15 years. The move indoors was somewhat controversial, but serves to promote Philly as a tourist destination, being compared on TV to Broadway shows or Las Vegas. The city sees its future in the hospitality industry. The displays set to music featured elaborate, intricate staging:

Downtowners Fancy Brigade - Pirates Dead or Alive, 5th
Saturnalians NYA - Empires of the Deep, 6th
Avenuers NYB - India: The Maharaja Celebration, 7th
South Philly Vikings - Kalightoscope, 1st
Golden Crown NYB - World of Witchcraft, 4th
Jokers NYA - Ancient Egypt, 3rd
Bill McIntyre's Shooting Stars NYB - Quest for the Yeti, 2nd
2nd Street Shooters - Monsters unleashed, 9th
Satin Slipper NYB - Dragon Emperor (disqualified, staging malfunction)
Clevemore Fancy Brigade - Voodoo, 8th

The Mummers are strong in South Philly and they claimed the big prize on the night. We'll have to wait until next year to hear "Oh dem Golden Slippers" once more. Pics by Annette and RLT.

Trolley trip in Philly

2012-01-06T12:04:00.009-05:00

We headed out into the suburbs on this 1981 Kawasaki trolley car (begs the question where would you buy a tram in the USA?). We were going to the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. This proved to be a world class collection in a most unlikely spot. We walked some two miles into an industrial estate, out close to the airport, and there it was. We were greeted warmly and given a pretzel at the desk - Petey the dog eyed me throughout. They let us photograph beyond the ropes, took us backstage into the workshop, and gave us a lift back to the trolley stop.
This Porsche 917 is a Le Mans lap record holder.

We were also taken by the Allard-Cadillac on display and the unrestored Daytona Cobra, CSX2287, with Bonneville heritage.

I sent some Bugatti pictures to Joe Saward, who replied with many thanks.
Pics by Annette.

Wrong side of the tracks

2012-01-01T09:11:00.005-05:00

Still buzzing about our railroad adventures yesterday. We met a Letter Carrier who said the "marauders" had broken the window in this old railcar off Broad Street, close to the centre of Philadelphia.

We walked on a short distance to find the tracks all gone.

Weather unseasonably warm, high of 56° F expected today. We have grandstand tickets for the Mummers Parade.
Pics by Annette.

Tracking down old Philadelphia

2011-12-31T16:42:00.008-05:00

Last night to Vietnam Palace Restaurant, 222 N 11th Street, on the edge of Chinatown. Veggie Spring Rolls, Garlic Shrimp, Eggplant Tofu, Brown Rice, Green Tea plus one bottle of '33' Export Beer - $36.82 plus tip. Recommended. On the way there is a Mummers band playing outside a press reception, for the Winter Classic ice hockey, at the Reading Terminal Market.

Early breakfast and we hike off up the Parkway towards the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Waiting for the Free Library to open we stumble upon Matthias Baldwin Park and an old railroad trackbed running in a trench.

After visiting the art museum on the hill we trace the old railroad running back to town. The trench turns into an overhead railroad east of Broad Street. The librarian told us that they hope to turn it into an overhead park, similar to one in New York. The dereliction in this neighbourhood shows that Philly has some way to go with urban renewal.

Pics by Annette.

Footloose in Philly

2011-12-30T14:49:00.008-05:00

Last night to the Down Home Diner, 51 N 12th Street, for soup and sandwich, in the old Reading Terminal Market, $26.42 for two with bottomless coffee. There are streetcar tracks outside but no streetcar has been seen in a long time.
This morning walk down Market Street to the Reading Terrminal, now converted into a Convention Centre. On to see Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell - repelled by crowds of grockles - so we carry on via the City Tavern (now an upscale eatery, but once home to plotting secessionists) to the Delaware River. Great view upstream to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Return via South Street, the antique district on Pine and up Broad Street. Philadelphia has some bike culture, almost entirely derailleurs and fixie with hardly a hub gear in sight. The sign below was displayed outside the Masonic Temple - what have the Masons got against cyclists?

We find the statue of Matthias Baldwin (1795-1866), locomotive manufacturer, on the north side of City Hall. The inscription simply says "BALDWIN" which is both flattering and uninformative at the same time.
Lunch at Jake's Real Italian Pizza and Grill, 201 N Broad Street, Ziti with Olive Oil, Garlic and Basil with Garlic Bread, $6.95; Veggie Wrap, $6.50.
Pics by Annette.

I'd rather be in Philadelphia

2011-12-29T17:24:00.011-05:00

To Pearson Airport for Air Canada 346 to Philadelphia. Took forever to get through Immigration and Customs. The whole place was a zoo - several hours wasted for a one-hour flight. Let us hope Porter start serving Philly from the Island Airport.
The 73-seat Embraer 175 was 40 minutes late departing - the substitute captain informed us that his colleague was stuck in customs, he was originally going to Newark but now taking us to Newark, er, Philadelphia. The inflight entertainment was hors de combat for most of the flight - "this feature is currently unavailable."
As it was getting towards midnight we took a taxi into town - $31.50 with tip. A quick pitstop at Dunkin' Donuts, some late-night TV (how tired the talk show format has gotten - who is writing this lame material?).

Up for scrambled eggs and out into chilly Philly, down JFK Boulevard. They have HSBC and TD Bank here which is a bonus when it comes to charges. We walk to 30th Street Station (via the Suburban Station) which was named by Trains magazine as the finest surviving station in the USA. Completed in 1934 it is a marvelous marble hall not to be missed. (See pic at top.)

We walk back up Market Street which is altogether seedier, including porn cinema and Sally Army thrift store. We have a kitchen in our room at the Marriott so, after a Pizza lunch in an authentic Italian diner (Zio's, 111, South 13th Street), we crash out with tea and pastries. So far so good.
I forgot to mention Air Canada are charging $25 per piece for checked baggage - we brought carry-ons - I have a folding bag for any shopping so we may check one bag going home.
Pics by Annette.

Canada Federal Debt Clock

2011-12-27T08:10:00.006-05:00

For those of you who think that the Canadian Federal Government is immune from the bad behaviour of other countries clock this:

Add in the worse behaviour of the provinces, notably Ontario, spraying dollars in all directions, and we are even further underwater. Not to mention household debt. See The Globe and Mail.

Happy Expat Christmas

2011-12-19T19:06:00.006-05:00

We're getting ready for Christmas here in Little-Blighty-on-the-Great-Lakes. The big feature here is Christmas dinner (if you don't count family high tea on Boxing Day). I'm looking forward to Turkey, Stuffing, Bread Sauce, Roast Potatoes, Sprouts, Parsnips and Gravy (Aah Bisto!). Not forgetting mince pies.
We've been watching old episodes of Last of The Summer Wine on Youtube and Annette just had to have the squeezy tomato sauce bottle as used in Sid's Cafe, 'sourced' on ebay. Naf is the new kind.
Eat, drink and be merry as for 2012 I predict that governments will continue to spend money that they have borrowed; at least one country will leave the Euro but the resulting problems will turn out to be a blessing; the soon-to-be £10 billion plus Olympics will bring three weeks of 'sport' promoting hamburgers, fizzy pop and credit cards. Let us hope we see the back of some more dictators. Meanwhile have a Happy New Year!
Photograph by Annette.

Let the buyer beware

2011-11-22T08:41:00.005-05:00

Gad’s Hill School, Rochester, Kent is boasting of its academic achievements, claiming to be “The TOP Performing Independent School in England.” This recent photograph of a signboard at the school is misleading. The trouble is Gad’s Hill School has sunk to the bottom of the class.
In the GCSE results for 2011 Gad’s Hill rated 408 out of 420 independent schools – see: Daily Telegraph.
The exaggerated claims so irked another local school that they allegedly complained to the Advertising Standards Authority – see: Daily Telegraph.
The headmaster of Gad’s Hill School, David Craggs, receives a £200,000 annual remuneration package made up of £160k salary + £23k pension + £3,872 governors expenses + 85% reduction in school fees worth i.r.o. £15k. For this he supervises 390 pupils and a total of 68 staff. That is £200,000 for managing a medium-sized, underperforming school.
The Prime Minister receives a salary of £142,500.
Photograph by A. Mole.

Maiden Flight

2011-11-20T17:38:00.005-05:00

This is my newly-acquired 1972 Batavus Batafold bicycle. I'm cleaning her up and making her roadworthy. Threw on a NOS Weinmann 1080 side-pull front brake. These bikes were supplied without front brakes, relying solely on a rear coaster. I took her out on Friday for the first proper test, bedding in the front brake.
The bike features a Sachs Torpedo Duomatic 2-speed kickshift hub gear - no control cables to the rear.

Toronto Tweed Ride

2011-10-17T11:35:00.006-04:00

We went on the inaugural Toronto Tweed Ride on Saturday afternoon. The 1970 Kent Auto-Mini folding bicycle held up well in the circumstances and attracted many favourable comments. The bike has iffy brakes at the best of times, the chrome-steel wheel rims being the limiting factor, particularly in the wet. So I rode with considerable circumspection as the rain came down, being aware of the many cyclists around me and the need to avoid a collision. The street car tracks were another hazard. After a tour of the city centre we finished up at Grange Park in time for tea.

Bike Friday: Know when to fold

2011-10-10T18:02:00.005-04:00

We met Peter and Sally on Queens Quay in Toronto, obviously sold on their Bike Friday folding bicycles, built in Eugene, Oregon. Here Peter shows off his version with drop handlebars and Schwalbe Stelvio tires. The pair have been to Italy, Cuba and major US cities with their Bike Fridays. We talked of the 1970 Auto-Mini appearing in the Tweed Ride next Saturday and they said they might show up.
Pic by Ron Stockey.

Shoe shine kept for best

2011-10-10T17:13:00.007-04:00

This unused shoe polishing set, with simulated leather pouch, came down through the family from Annette's grandma. All the brushes say "Made in England," from a time when they actually made things in England. The additional large brush was acquired at an estate sale here in Toronto, bought for buttons as part of a job lot.
The Kiwi shoe polish says: "By appointment to H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh" - good to know. The Kiwi company address was Ealing, London, W5.
Of course we shan't be using these items as we're keeping them for best.
Pic by Annette.

Oil Flush

2011-10-08T18:14:00.007-04:00

Some of you may think I'm not playing with a full deck but bicycle restoration requires some lateral thought. I am attempting to resuscitate a second Auto-Mini bicycle where the bottom bracket (BB) was not turning freely. I'm fairly certain the bottom bracket hadn't been lubed in decades.
I tried some drops of oil down the seatpost from my $10 bottle of oil from my LBS (Local Bicycle Store) which brought about some improvement. I then thought if some is good more is better. So I bought a litre of 30W non-detergent oil in Walmart for $4. The oil container says "Recommended for use in hydraulics, light-duty gear boxes, general oiling and pre-1940 engines."
I poured a quarter of it down the seat tube, letting it run out the bottom bracket. It ran through fairly rapidly dislodging some crud on the way. The cranks are now turning freely.
For those of you who thought you should use grease I can only quote Sheldon Brown: "The difference between oil and grease is mostly a difference of degree. Grease is very thick oil; oil is very thin grease." I am old enough to remember that my first bicycle, a Raleigh, had an oil port on the bottom bracket. Anyway stripping the BB, wrestling with cotter pins, and possibly damaging it in the process is not for me. I shall investigate fitting an oil or grease port later.
I wondered if this bush mechanics trick had been tried before and found somewhere on the internet where olive oil had been used to silence a noisy bottom bracket in similar fashion.
Pic by RLT.

Trigger Happy

2011-10-05T13:00:00.005-04:00

The gearshift on my Kent Auto-Mini bicycle failed at the anchorage. It was relying on a piece of bent wire to connect the shifter cable to the small chain, which actually changes the gears. This wire straightened out and failed under load. I concluded that if this could happen once it was bound to happen again.
I'd never experienced a failure like this in over ten years riding the Brompton folding bicycle, also equipped with Sturmey Archer hub gears. A trip to my local bike store and I obtained the Brompton-like anchorage (Manufacturer Part #: HSL759) which I fitted myself (see pic). A test ride to Queens Quay, some 15 miles in all, and the Auto-Mini is behaving itself once more. The 3-speed trigger is shifting satisfactorily, as well as can be expected for a component over 40 years old and known for its eccentricity.
Pic by RLT.

Brighton Breezes

2011-10-03T14:08:00.003-04:00

The week-end before Angoulême I was in Brighton for the Speed Trials. This traditional event was on good form, but the second runs were affected by rain. The run-what-ya-brung format is illustrated by this Mini-Cooper heading to the startline.
Pic by RLT.

Angoulême the easy way

2011-09-25T09:31:00.041-04:00

We went to Angoulême for the Circuit des Remparts. Hours of thrashing down the motorway are out so we opted for the TGV, with a change of trains (and stations) in Lille. To add spice we took three Brompton folding bicycles.
We left Lewes on the 05.29, making a cross-platform change at Gatwick, onto the Gatwick Express for Victoria, a more spacious and comfortable way to reach the smoke. Unfold the bikes and we head for St Pancras. Outside Buckingham Palace a shout from Richard Banks reveals a saddle malfunction and a bike pump fallen in the road. Essentially a shakedown run for his new Brompton 6-speed we limp to St. Pancras where running repairs are effected.
After a coffee stop (Costa, £5.65 for three) we depart at 08.27 by Eurostar for Lille. Breakfast on the train in first class comfort is most acceptable. There is time for a quick cycle tour of Lille, in the old town, where we spot a vintage Peugeot folder with 22" wheels and a beater bike with Fichtel & Sachs Dreigang.

After a snack lunch on the concourse at Lille Flandres we join the 12.45, departing six-minutes late for points south. On arrival we assemble the bikes for Angoulême-Nord - it is a climb out of town to les montagnes. We check-in to the F1 hotel and take supper at a Chinese buffet. Saturday and we are bicycling into the boondocks in search of classic cars and the Le Rallye International de Charente. The morning is wet as we stop at the Chateau de Balzac, an intriguing walled house where we decline a tour. On to Bric-à-Brac at Vindelle, where Richard scores two Duralex glasses, 50 cents, for his Citroën 'H' campervan project. The old motorised bicycles are another attraction as we take a pic-nic lunch. We cycle on stopping at a wrecking yard on the outskirts of Montignac where we spot a wonderful selection of postwar French (and German) vehicles including an 'H' van.

Further on we realise that Montignac was a stop on a previous tour and we head with anticipation to the Bar le Donjon. See PunchBuggy Passim. After a few beers some 400 classic cars are passing our table. There is traffic chaos and the boys join the action, directing the cars in their high-viz jackets.

On the return leg I'm struggling up the hill past La Templerie, at Champniers, necessitating a water stop. Supper at La Boucherie, a meaty restaurant next to our hotel.
On Sunday we take a taxi into Angoulême, where we have lost the teashop at Les Halles and the Tribune du théâtre, the grandstand on the short chute past the startline. Sitting in the grandstand opposite there is discontent as folk stand to watch the racing. We move on, watching the racing from many different vantage points, and ducking into town during the frequent showers. The racing is splendid, watching folk wrestling their aging machinery round the tricky street circuit.

The track looks somewhat neglected with hedges uncut and plants unpruned on the ramparts. We grab a cab to an Italian restaurant close to our digs. Monday morning we roar into town and take tea opposite the station, buying baguettes for the train journey north. The weekend is over all too soon.
Pics by Richard Banks and RLT.

What's in your shed?

2011-09-05T15:50:00.001-04:00

Apparently there are 13 million bicycles lying unused in the UK. See BikeRadar. Truly a wasting asset. I shudder to think what the total is in North America. Getting these machines out of the shed and back on the road would save gas and improve fitness across the board.
My small contribution came with the acquisition of the Kent Auto-Mini for $10 at a yard sale. Described by my local bike store as a "cold war bicycle" this Austrian-built beauty is now back on the road. I met a man locally riding a vintage Moulton bike who, on seeing the Auto-Mini, said: "There is no such thing as a bad bicycle." I guess he was right. See PunchBuggy Passim.
Pic by RLT.

Steam Era

2011-09-05T07:44:00.002-04:00

We went to Steam Era at Milton on Saturday, the 51st bash out west of Toronto - an old time farm event with traction engines and classic cars. This pink Model A Ford caught the spirit of the event. It was damn hot as we listened to Marion's Country Band, in "can't bust 'ems," playing fifties style. They were interrupted by the local pols and bigwigs, in the official opening ceremony, one of whom assured us that we had the future to look forward to.
Pic by RLT.

Nailed

2011-08-27T17:30:00.004-04:00

I drove the smart car to the east end of Toronto for service on Friday. On arrival I unpacked the Brompton folding bicycle and set off for Queen's Quay to meet my pal Ron for coffee at Tim Horton's. I hadn't gone half a mile down River Street when the back tyre exploded. I had met the item illustrated above.
I walked to Queen's Quay and, after coffee, took a $20 cab ride to Curbside Cycle on Bloor. Another Schwalbe inner tube and we were good to go, $23.94 fitted, riding home via Dupont. While out we fielded a call to hear that the smart car needs a new $50 dollar oil-filter housing, and would not be ready until monday. I'm $93.94 down on the morning - thanks to Ron for buying the coffee.

Cordatic forensic

2011-08-27T17:16:00.007-04:00

I wanted to illustrate Cordatic, a defunct brand of tyres from Hungary, here on PunchBuggy, so out came the corn starch and a small artist paintbrush, and here is the result. Watching all those crime investigation shows on TV had to be good for something.
These tyres are still rolling after more than forty years and long may they continue. They are survivors from an era when made in Eastern Europe was hardly a recommendation - remember all those Skoda jokes - but they must have been doing something right.
P.S. The tyres on my Auto-Mini bicycle have the (batch) number 9 _70/4. Presumably manufactured in April 1970. Now coated with Meguiar's Hot Shine Tire Spray - its says "keeps your tires looking blacker longer while preventing cracking, browning and premature aging."

Fascinating folder

2011-08-16T09:12:00.008-04:00

The Kent Auto-Mini Junior continues to fascinate, with its funky chrome logo, full of 1970s promise. The bike was sold in North America under different brand names. I found a Canadian Tire advertisement from 1973:
The Toronto Star, Thursday, August 23, 1973, Page C12-News
CANADIAN TIRE
Bike to School on a
SUPERCYCLE FOLDING
Made in Austria. Strong steel frame folds in
a flash. 3-speed trigger shift; front/rear
caliper brakes, Whiteframe,
red trim. Complete with
rear carrier and kickstand. 64.95
Folding Coaster Brake Vers-
ion of the above model 55.95
IT FOLDS IN A JIFFY
Folds parcel-size
for storage or
travel.
Yesterday I rode the Auto-Mini to Dundas West where there is a knot of second-hand cycle stores. These folding bikes change hands for better-than-new prices these days. I am still researching their Austrian origins - watch this space.

See PunchBuggy Passim.
Pic by RLT.

Brompton bytes

2011-08-11T18:06:00.007-04:00

Richard Banks reports from Shropshire: "I have acquired via eBay a Brompton, about two years' old, six gears, lower gear ratios, butterfly handlebars, factory lights and bottle-type dynamo, rack and fitted bungees, Schwalbe Marathon tyres, Brompton pump, all in seemingly good condition. I just need to get a front luggage block, front bag, and lock.
"T-bag and front luggage block supplied next day by Websters Cycles (special delivery for just 20p!), and block fitted. I have also resolved a problem with the front light. The quality of the Brompton engineering is superb, but the Basta lights are of poor quality. The problem lies in very poorly designed (non-robust) electrical connections, now addressed by what I believe is known in engineering circles as a kludge."
Meanwhile on my Brompton I've experienced tire/tyre inner-tube failures around the base of the rear valve stem. We went to Curbside Cycle here in Toronto for a fix on the latest episode.
If tube replacement is required I recommend Schwalbe inner-tubes with the metal threaded valve stem, and locking nut. Looking around the bike store it would appear that the cheaper bikes lack this feature. I also recommend careful attention to wheel rims in this area with proper tape and possible sharpness around the valve-stem hole. Nothing alarmist here just some hard-earned experience on what to avoid. By the way I also had fitted a new Sturmey Archer SLS50 T5 shifter, suitable on my year 2000 5-speed.
On a test ride in downtown Toronto we spotted the Google Maps Street View car and pursued it, lost it and finally tracked it down here:

Pics by Richard Banks and RLT.

Heart of glass

2011-08-08T10:59:00.006-04:00

We went to Corning, New York as part of our summer tour to visit the glass museum. We approached via Ithaca but couldn't park there as we lacked US coins - their loss.
We stayed at the Radisson in Corning which proved to be convivial and ideally situated at the end of Market Street. So many US towns have lost their downtown hotels but not Corning. A short walk and you are in the shops. We liked Holmes Plate Restaurant, Market Street Coffee & Tea, Jim's Texas Hot (for hot dogs), and Donna's Restaurant (good breakfast and interesting Pyrex collection). We also sampled Yuengling beer, from Pottsvile, Pennsylvania, at the hotel bar.
We watched the local fire department stringing a banner for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips race at nearby Watkins Glen on the weekend of August 11-14.
The glass museum turned out to be a splendid facility that would stand a second visit. CAA/AAA discount available. A short walk from town we returned on the free shuttle bus in the rain. Overall recommended.
Pic by Isobel Kellett.

Brit backhoe made in the USA

2011-08-04T08:59:00.003-04:00

This JCB 3CX backhoe turned up in High Park, Toronto, with a "Made in the USA" sign on the side. JCB operate a manufacturing plant near Savannah, Georgia.
Pic by RLT.

Sprite surprises cyclists

2011-07-23T15:14:00.007-04:00

This Austin Healey Sprite showed up on Friday night on Beaconsfield Avenue, by the Drake Hotel, off Queen Street West. The cyclists were gigging at the Drake, lead by the Deadly Nightshades, before touring local shops and design outlets. These girls favour urban cycling and used gladrags, hard for an old geezer to comprehend. I rode the forty-one-year-old Kent Auto-Mini which meant we had something in common - see PunchBuggy Passim. The original Cordatic tyres held up against the odds.
Pic by RLT.

Vortx at Le Val

2011-07-21T19:41:00.004-04:00

This MNR Vortx looks good in the paddock at Le Val des Terres hillclimb, by the sea in St Peter Port, Guernsey. The #34 is the car of Marc Maubec.
Pic by RLT.

Darryl Danko dominates at Giants Despair

2011-07-19T12:37:00.003-04:00

Multiple-winner Darryl Danko clocked up his sixth outright FTD at the Giants Despair Hillclimb, held near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on July 9/10, 2011. Driving a Gurney Eagle he climbed the mile course in 42.187 seconds.
Pic supplied by Ron Mann, PHA.

Wet day at the races

2011-07-16T14:10:00.013-04:00

To Le Val des Terres hillclimb on a wet day. The folks are friendly and the motors mixed. We talk to Tim le Pelley, driving the KAD 16-valve mini, who marks our cards about hillclimbing in the Channel Islands, notably the Petit Bot Hill Climb on Guernsey and events in Alderney.

The startline is in St Peter Port and traction is minimal up the hill. After a walk in the woods checking out the course we dive into the Half Moon Cafe Restaurant (Havelet Bay, tel: 730770) just before the hillclimb crowd arrive for lunch. The atmosphere compares to the best in racing anywhere.

Scott Moran is leading the British Hill Climb Championship and he wins the first top-12 runoff in a damp 35.86 sec. Here Roger Moran drives while son Scott looks on in blue cap.

The Channel Islands are known for sand racing and the cars have crossed over into hillclimbing. They look oversized and agricultural compared to the high-tech carbonfibre cars but are an intriguing local phenomenon. For price/performance they are unbeatable.

P.S. Le Val des Terres hillclimb admission: No charge. Programme: No charge. Remarkable.
Pics by RLT.

Great Day at Bouley Bay

2011-07-15T01:47:00.010-04:00

We took the #4 bus to Bouley Bay Hill Climb, Jersey. £4 admission charge. After watching at Radio Corner we walked down the steep path through the woods to the startline by the sea. What fun on a sunny day!

Geoff Guille from Guernsey has been competing in hillclimbs for 43 years. He set fastest-time-of-the-day at the Liberation Day Hill Climb held at Bouley Bay on May 9 this year in a personal best time of 41.03 secs. He is currently driving an OMS-CF4-Vauxhall 2-litre which puts out approaching 300 b.h.p. on methanol.

Another Guernseyman Scott Rayson appeared with his self-built Chevrolet-engined hillclimb special, which was originally built for sand racing. He set a personal best time of 43.08 secs running on pump petrol. The car features a Jaguar gearbox and drivetrain.

We had a picnic lunch on the beach and were kindly given a lift back to town in the back of a diesel Land Rover. We topped off our Jersey tour with supper at Hector's Restaurant & Take Away, first-class fish and chips at 1 Dumaresq Street, St Helier. Paul Spears, mine host, could launch a second career in stand-up, as he jollies the customers along. Highly recommended.

Pics by RLT.

Yachtsmen favour folders

2011-07-13T12:31:00.007-04:00

We have encountered both Brompton and Bickerton bicycles in the Channel Islands. The first being three Brompton folding bikes in Victoria Street in St Anne, Alderney, which arrived by yacht.

We then met a couple while riding from St Helier to St Aubin, on Jersey, on their two vintage Bickerton folding bikes. These bikes had spent much of their lives on a canal boat, but now fitted with new tyres and arriving on a yacht. The Bickerton is notable for having different sized wheels.

Pics by Annette and RLT.

Island round-up

2011-07-09T15:21:00.013-04:00

We arrived at London Gatwick airport early morning and were delayed in the aftermath of the UK border workers strike - Aurigny would not honour our ticket as we missed the connecting flight. They told me I couldn't get to Alderney that day but I bought two new tickets to Guernsey and talked my way onto the connecting flight and we got there on schedule. I was rather cross.

The arrival in Alderney calmed us down as we sat on a bench at the airport and waited for the car from the hotel to pick us up. Holly arrived in the Subaru and we were whisked into St Anne. We were in Alderney for six nights - staying on Victoria St in the centre of town at the Georgian House (good value at £70 per night for two incl breakfast). Alderney is generally quieter than I remember - air fares are a deterrent.
We went on the Alderney railway twice, on the Saturday and Sunday. We found the Harbour Lights of yore, now completely rebuilt, and I sampled the Breda lager. We did plenty of walking - a cycling tour went wrong as we got separated and it rather spoilt the day.
We sampled the restaurants - Jack's, the Mai Thai, the Pizzeria, Little Rock Cafe (a wagon run by Krys from Florida at Braye harbour, she put us in charge as she went to the store, recommended), Gloria's Food, and the Braye Chippy. The Chippy was a joy at £20 for two including tip, good food, good service (but bring your own alcohol).
The weather was mostly delightful in Alderney. We went to Cherbourg on a rather rough crossing on a charter day boat, The Lady Maris II, with six passengers. Annette barfed on the outward leg but managed to hold it together on the rougher return. Got her sea legs now. You can't beat a trip to France - we returned with a view of the wonderful old railway station in Cherbourg and the roadstead where the Titanic anchored on her maiden voyage.
We hopped over to Guernsey on the Aurigny Trislander. Staying at the Le Chêne Hotel, near the airport, we walked from arrivals with our (light) luggage. There is a free bus pass provided by the hotel - we went right round the island, a 90-minute tour clockwise. Some locals don't approve of the grockles filling up the buses but they can suck it up!
Trips to St Peter Port take us to the old market, Italian lunches at Bella Delicatessen (42-44 Fountain St., recommended), the Guernsey Tapestry, the Condor Ferries booking office, Fort Cornet, the archives and The Priaulx Library. We went to the startline at Le Val de Terres to check out the hillclimb course. The whole place seems very busy after Alderney.

To Fort Saumarez and Fort Grey (shipwreck museum) today. The Occupation Museum is unmissable at £5 per head. The Germans installed a 90cm narrow-gauge railway on Guernsey, but sadly it was ripped out in the 1940s - we are told nothing remains of the railway. We are leaving for Jersey on Monday.
Pics by RLT.

Bespoked

2011-06-27T17:25:00.027-04:00

The cycling equivalent of bewitched. I spotted this Auto-Mini folding bicycle at a yard sale and I had to have it at $10. Of course it doesn't stop there. $124.30 including tax at Curbside Cycle for new gear and brake cables, brake blocks and general checkover. Rode it home in the rain. Thorough clean from stem to stern taking some hours. $4.55 for batteries for the front light and bell. On ride to Queen's Quay Ron spots that two new cables are fouling on the chain. We duck into Wheel Excitement where a helpful guy provides two cable ties gratis and shows us another Auto-Mini in for restoration. He also has a CCM MUSTANG Banana bike hanging in the rafters. Recommended.
Technical description: Kent Auto-Mini Junior folding bicycle, made in Austria circa 1970, chromoly steel frame brazed at joints, 44-tooth chainwheel, 18-tooth sprocket, Union diamond-block pedals (made in Germany), 3-speed Sturmey-Archer AW hub gears (made in England), 20" chromed-steel wheel rims with 28 spokes, Cordatic tyres from Hungary (?) inflated to 40 psi, size 20 X 1,75 X 2 (approximate outer diameter X tyre height X tyre width in inches), Weinmann 1020-type side-pull front brake caliper, San Marco saddle (Italy) and matching saddlebag (not shown), Pletscher rat-trap type rack (made in Switzerland) and stand.

Photos by RLT and Ron Stockey (click on them).

The Adventure Begins Again... Bonneville 2011

2011-06-25T06:45:00.007-04:00

Rick Pearson reports:
The Flower of Scotland in the truck heading for the port for Bonneville 2011... new steering mechanisms/ rebuilt front end from last year to give me a little more directional control.
Three engines are on their way from Texas and the crew of volunteers are all ready to go.
Sponsors being very slow to actually hand over cash so opportunities still exist if anyone knows anyone ;-)

Brit truck cleans up in France

2011-06-24T07:21:00.006-04:00

Ever alert for evidence of UK manufacturing, and better yet exporting, I spotted this Scarab roadsweeper in Allones, France. See: http://www.scarab-sweepers.com/

Photo by RLT.

The things they carried...

2011-06-22T08:42:00.010-04:00

One of the pressing questions on the Le Mans tour by Brompton bicycle was what luggage to take and particularly what bike spares and tools. We settled on one spare tyre, two inner tubes and a multi-tool. We experienced little difficulty. We pumped up the tyres prior to departure and left well enough alone, not wishing to provoke an inner-tube failure around the valve, not unknown to Brompton riders. My older machine required the rubber block suspension to be tightened en route, the handlebar gear-lever to be adjusted and the front luggage attachment to be tightened also. Hence the two machines covered 500 road miles (250 each) without any real trouble. Outstanding.

By Brompton to Le Mans 2011

2011-06-20T06:45:00.023-04:00

The Le Mans tour 2011 started with a dress rehearsal at Gurston Down Hill Climb the Sunday before departure. £10 per adult for a pleasant afternoon of motor sport in the Wiltshire countryside. Don't let the farmyard location fool you into thinking this is not serious racing.

So after watching the gifted amateurs it was time to set sail for Le Mans to see the pros. Thursday June 3 we caught the 09:30 Newhaven-Dieppe ferry with our fully-loaded Brompton bicycles. I was sporting a new front carrier bag, lightweight sweater (borrowed) and high-viz waterproof. Jack is riding the long-wheelbase orange Brompton with custom built handlebars.

We cheated by taking the train from Lewes to Newhaven deeming the road routes too hazardous (I tackled the west bank in 2008. See PunchBuggy Passim.)
The ferry bar was soon out of baked goods to go with our coffee and Dieppe was reached after a light gargle. We were first off the car deck having followed an old hand to the correct ramp away from the trucks. We set off into Dieppe in the hot sun busking our way westward out of town. After a long descent and climb we diverted to Offranville in search of a bank and to escape the onshore wind. We were soon broiling in the afternoon sun and glad to reach Bénesville, after a pitstop in St Laurent-en-Caux. Orangina never tasted so good. We couldn't find our digs and I suffered two bouts of cramp in my thighs shortly before arrival - an occurence new to me - now I know why those guys are hopping about on the Tour de France. After twenty miles we found the delightful chateau for our night stop, madame serving Kir Normande as I flopped on a recliner on the lawn. A four course dinner followed: fish pâté, Coquille St. Jacques, cheeseboard and fresh fruit washed down with white wine followed by red and a shot of vintage Calvados and we were all set for an early night. Next morning after a splendid breakfast madame insisted we take bananas and bottled water for the route. Excellent value and highly recommended. Propriétaire: BEATRICE MAZURIER, Téléphone: 0663061805.
After a baptism of fire the first day the weather moderated and we took the routes du boeuf to Caudebec-en-Caux on the Seine, pausing for coffee and trail food en route. The descent into Caudebec turned hairy as I got onto the marbles at speed, letting a van pass, but gathered it up by not over-reacting. We arrived by 13:00 stopping for lager before checking in at the Normotel by the Seine. A frosty receptionist made us doubt the wisdom of staying in hotels when France is peppered with friendly Chambre D'Hotes. We did what sightseeing you can do in Caudebec, the day culminating in a pasta supper al fresco at a windy cafe.
Next morning it was across the Pont de Brotonne (no longer a toll bridge) and sharp right following the Seine downstream. An ominous chevron on the map told of a 300-foot climb to Bourneville. Jack won the Index of Performance by climbing the whole way while a push was rewarding for me, seeing two deer in the woods. Jack was already buying bananas when I reached Bourneville, but a pot of tea soon revived us. We took the country roads to reach the valley of the Risle at Montfort where we lunched in a bus shelter. The simple task of reaching Brionne was complicated by taking the voies vertes on an old rail line at Le Bec Hellouin and overshooting in the woods due to a lack of signposts. A moutainous diversion via Calleville added at least five miles to the day. We found a bar in Brionne, known to us, before reaching our digs at the Coeur de Lion. A snooze before dinner concluded the longest day of the tour at about 35 miles. See here for B&B.
The weather was wet on departure next morning but the rural route was clearly signposted all the way to Rugles, a timesaver as we did not have frequent stops to check the map. A pot of tea at Beaumont-le-Roger was most welcome - no milk for me as the hot milk served is unappetising and black tea proved the perfect antidote to dyspepsia. Unaccustomed to cycling hard right after breakfast my stomach was grumbling. But I was beginning to hit my stride, side drafting the Kellett Express in our own version of the flying wedge. Charitable Frenchmen yell "Bon regard" and "Chapeau" when they hear we are going long distance. On arrival at Rugles the town was closed, as on every Monday, and we were shown the door in the bar after a short stay. Madame at the digs slipped us a bottle of cider to compensate - no charge.
The fifth day felt like the moment of truth. It is one thing to go cycling and quite another to keep going day after day. We set off down the main road right after breakfast and it was taking me an hour or so to hit my stride. An early stop at L'Aigle was suitable for tea and market shopping. I took a photograph of Jack posing with a plaster Maitre D outside our café. Then on quieter roads to Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe, taking a rural set lunch en route. Arriving mid-afternoon we lodged the bikes in an outhouse at the Hotel de la Poste before doing the bars and a creperie. Appetites multiply on a bike tour. Again the hotel seemed something of a letdown after the more attentive alternatives. Wifi was most welcome.

Next morning I sat on the wall outside the hotel in the sunshine guarding the luggage while Jack rushed about fetching the bikes and settling the bill. On to St Mars Sous Ballon via Mamers, where we take tea. Brother Julian is texting us for news. We have left Normandy behind and are heading for Le Mans. After boozing in the hilltop town of Ballon we spend an evening in a rural restaurant, gazing out at a trout pond. We are the only customers. Delightful. Restaurant: Les Nymphéas Creperie Saladerie Grill, L'Auberderie, 72290 Saint-Mars-sous-Ballon. Téléphone: 02.43.25.21.15. Accomodation: Jean-François LEMAIRE, Les chambres du Verger, Le Verger, 72290 Saint-Mars-sous-Ballon. Mobile: 0671040513.

An early start next morning (Day 7) and we are shortly in the suburbs of Le Mans at Coulaines. Then we burst onto the quai in the centre past the cathedral by the Sarthe, wrong slotting on the exit of the city and taking a hair-raising ride on the périphérique to recover our way. An early paella lunch at Casino in Allones and Jack races ahead to get the keys to the cabin at Camping du Houssay in Spay at 12:30. We have ridden some 185 miles so far, and there is more to come.

We stock up the cabin with food and drink before heading to Guécelard along the back roads to see Pete Webber, taking a bow for our exertions. There is a noticeable lack of punters in the bars and restaurants compared to previous years. The bars in Spay are empty/shut on race weekend and the strip in Arnage is a shadow of its former self on Saturday morning. The £5 pint of lager and some gouging on food is driving folk away. The ACO have added insult to injury by hiking the general admission price for the 24 Hours from 57 to 67 euros - not the year for a near 20% increase. (I scored a discounted ticket at 50 euros.)
Dave Roadway appears mid-evening Thursday and we head off by car to Mouliherbe and Saumur on Friday, with bike rides in both places on our folders. Dave is aboard the Dahon 16spd with 26" wheels. A visit to the Loire valley is an unexpected bonus and I get my washing done to boot.
Friday James and Ian show up from the UK, with an intriguing gearless folding bike made in China. Jack and I watch the start of the race at Arnage which is fairly full but not unpleasantly so - the big screen shows the battle between McNish and Bourdais - a classic which was cut short by a massive shunt by the Audi driver which left the car wrecked and some brilliant photos for the Sunday papers. Mike Rockenfeller later bit the armco quite viciously and Audi were down to one contender. But the car of Treluyer, Fassler and Lotterer soldiered on to win. Peugeot did just about everything right and came up 13.8 seconds short.
No rushing off before the finish this year as we go the distance at Mulsanne. A wet visit to Guécelard on Sunday night to watch the Canadian GP is unrewarding as we head home in the red flag period and miss the outstanding drive of Jenson Button. The generous hospitality at Club Motorsport is considerable compensation.
By early Monday we are down to two at the cabin and we head for La Suze sur Sarthe, reaching there in a shower. We stop at Roézé-sur-Sarthe on the way, for tea, and you half expect Steve McQueen to be heading up the road in a Porsche 911. Jack points out the many French classic bicycles, including Motobecane, which are unloved and now overwhelmed by a flood of cheap imports.
The trip ends with a ride into Le Mans on the Tuesday, TGV to Paris, a ride across Paris to the Gare du Nord and home by Eurostar via Ashford. We have ridden 250 miles (400km) in all.

Plus Points: Long distance cycling, reliable Brompton bikes, Chambre D'Hotes, SNCF.

Downsides: French hotels, Le Mans ticket prices, closed bars and cafes, Radio Le Mans (dull as usual), no wifi on SNCF.

Overall: Well organised, good company, health benefits, superb race, roll on 2012.

Canada: Meet your new lying, cheating, double-dealing NDP

2011-05-05T18:03:00.009-04:00

After Jack Layton and the prostitute we now have a successful Dipper (NDP) candidate with falsified nomination papers, prior to her departure for Las Vegas during the campaign. The Globe and Mail has the story. By the way we are assured she is going to learn French to represent her Québec constituency. You couldn't make this stuff up.

Update: Liberal legal challenge here.

Update: Fraudulent CV here.

Layton cover-up cuts no ice in Blighty

2011-05-01T16:10:00.011-04:00

For the full sleazy story in the Daily Mail go here. Back story here.
Some reaction here in Canada is how could the British press be so beastly - in my experience the Brit presspack can spot a liar at a 1000 yards. Risible denials don't wash in Fleet Street. It is not the offence that gets 'em, it is the cover up, stupid.
Ask yourself why Layton won't be suing the Daily Mail?

Windy City windup

2011-03-20T10:14:00.003-04:00

What are we to make of Chicago - a city comparable in size to Toronto (although Chicagoland dwarfs the GTA).
They connected the airports to the rail network in 1963, something yet to be achieved in Toronto. You can ride downtown from Midway Airport for $2.25, on an uncrowded train. They have good budget hotels - we stayed at the Essex Inn at 800 South Michigan Ave for $443.75 for five nights. Well under half the cost of staying in Manhattan. This includes over $10 per night of State and Local Taxes which takes the shine off the subsidised fares. You are paying for transit whether you use it or not. The city is easy to get around - we used the loop, underground and took a bus ride.
Present day Chicago scores low on the crane index - there is little evidence of construction. The downtown has many empty lots and car parks - evidence that the economy is sluggish. You don't have to stray far off the beaten track to find poverty and dereliction, although many visitors would simply avoid these areas, which are all too visible from the train. The decline of manufacturing has cost Chicago dearly. While they were squabbling Asia stole their lunch.
The lakeshore knocks Toronto out of the ball park with green spaces and a top class art museum. There is also a pleasant lack of commercialism, billboards etc. The magnificent mile shopping street stands comparison with anything anywhere (if shopping in expensive stores is your thing).
The Chicago History Museum, in the north end, at $14 dollars was well worth a visit. Many of the displays have succumbed to political correctness and I was disappointed to find no mention of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency or the Checker taxi, both of which played an interesting part in the history of Chicago. I bought a six-inch ruler, made in USA, for $1.09 cents including tax, in the souvenir store.
Would I recommend a trip? Yes. We avoided Pearson Airport in Toronto, always a bind at holiday times, by travelling on Porter Airlines from the Billy Bishop City Centre Airport. Our landing fees landed in Toronto, and delays were minimal, unlike at Pearson which was in chaos with delays of up to three hours on arrival.

Made in America

2011-03-17T21:36:00.005-04:00

First stop this morning is Union Station, recently named by Trains magazine as one of the top ten surviving railway stations in the USA. We then went for breakfast at Lou Mitchell's which is near the startline of Route 66, which they promote. The full diner experience, they open at 05:30 in the morning, handy for an early start.
We leave the CBD heading for a Salvation Army thrift store, definitely on the wrong side of the tracks, where Annette scores a Pyrex Crazy Daisy creamer, 32 cents including tax. We then head for the Magnificent Mile on the north side, one of the smartest shopping districts anywhere. We check out the old Water Tower, a survivor of pre-fire Chicago from 1869.
Mayor Daley is off to China to try and persuade them to bankroll a high-speed train to O'Hare airport. We rode home in a taxi made in South Korea, in the city that once produced the Checker cab. More evidence of decline. There will be no recovery until America learns to make things again.
Picture shows detail of Oliver Typewriter Company building on Dearborn Street. According to a plaque at the site the company went out of business in 1940.

Home in time for tea

2011-03-16T18:04:00.002-04:00

Catch the #22 bus from Dearborn Station. Breakfast at Elly's Pancake House, 101 West North Ave, Chicago. Then Chicago History Museum ($14 per head) for tour and, after North & Clark Cafe, we have a quick search for Sam Gebo in the archives. Pit stop at Jewel supermarket for banana cake and ride back to hotel on the red line subway, in the rush hour, in time for tea.

Wandering in the Windy City

2011-03-16T08:25:00.002-04:00

Walked uptown yesterday. To the Chicago city model in the Santa Fe building, the Palmer House Hilton (Chicago's most opulent hotel), Atlas stationers on the Loop, Heaven on Seven Cajun brunch (fried shrimp and cheese grits), Chicago Institute of Art on Michigan Ave (why do cities have fabulous art collections and decaying infrastructure), back via Fine Arts Building with hair-raising ride to tenth floor in ancient lift. To Lou Malnati's on State St., for deep dish pizza last night - the place was packed while local chain restaurants were deserted. Chicago has been cold and windy but warmer weather is on the way for St. Patrick's Day - about time.

Self-styled world's greatest architect

2011-03-15T09:32:00.008-04:00

To Oak Park, Illinois on the trail of Frank Lloyd Wright. Took the Green Line train out via Cicero through the suburban wasteland. Breakfast at Delia's Kitchen on Lake Street before taking the FLW walking tour, with headset, to neighbourhood properties, followed by tour of the FLW house, ably conducted by Audrey the docent. We finished at the FLW Unity Church where the amiable folks talked us into taking another tour. There was a magnificent art deco Post Office across the street - comparable to one in Nashville, Tennessee. Photographed the Lake Cinema (not FLW). Back to the Windy City where we detrained at Wabash & Adams, with the start of Route 66 close by. Stocked up on supper at Au Bon Pain on Adams and crashed out back at the hotel.

Make no little plans

2011-03-14T07:56:00.004-04:00

Took the Porter flight from Toronto City Centre Airport to Midway, Chicago. Rode the Orange Line train to Roosevelt on the loop and walked to our hotel. Tickets $2.25 each. Walked to State Street and scored a history book about Butte, Montana for 25 cents, in the discarded section of Chicago Public Library. Early supper at the Artist's Snack Shop at the Fine Arts Building on South Michigan Avenue. Formerly Studebaker carriage showroom and workshops. Tea and carrot cake while watching the Gatornationals drag racing from Florida on TV. Pic by ALT.

Chevy oddball with a mountain to climb

2011-03-06T17:33:00.010-05:00

Marvelous movie of Chevrolet Corvair on Pikes Peak, when Corporate America wasn't afraid of trying something new and different. Let us hope the Volt doesn't meet the same fate.

Miller's "World Class City" waste

2011-02-10T08:00:00.006-05:00

"He took us to the cleaners and other misdemeanors." - after Ian Dury

Former "large imperfect" Mayor Miller has received a lifetime achievement award for waste, due to his record of soaking Toronto taxpayers - see PunchBuggy Passim. It reminds me of some of his other achievements:

* Failure to tell Police Chief Blair to stop running amok at the G20.

* Provoking a five-week garbage strike, and losing.

* Remaining absent after the Sunrise propane explosion.

* Paying $35 million not to build the bridge to the island airport.

* Failing to spot a $47m liability for the Pan-Am games.

* Presiding over a disgraceful regime at Municipal Licensing Services to the detriment of small business.

* Turning a blind eye when Adam Giambrone was caught with his hand in the till.

* Spending much of his time on foreign "jollies" while the city stagnated.

Ex-Mayor Miller: Lifetime Award for Waste

2011-02-09T09:16:00.006-05:00

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is celebrating the best of the worst money misuses in government. The ‘Teddies Waste Awards’ were handed out recently and federal director Kevin Gaudet says this year’s lifetime achievement award was given to past Toronto mayor David Miller, and noted all the taxes imposed on Torontonians under his watch. That includes the plastic bag tax, the land transfer tax, billboard tax and garbage tax.
The federal award recognized the $1-billion price-tag for the G8 and G20 summits, including $227,000 in gift bags and promotional items. The top provincial waster, named by the taxpayers, was the PST tax collectors, who were laid off in order to become GST collectors, only to receive a severance package of roughly $45,000 each.

See: Durham Radio News.com

Steelyard Blues

2011-02-08T09:35:00.004-05:00

These two Studebaker Lark compact cars were lurking in a backlot in Ely, Nevada, when were spotted them there last summer.

Note the Mercedes-style grille on the second car.

NASCAR's sputnik moment

2011-01-26T22:58:00.004-05:00

NASCAR's pre-season isn't going according to plan. After the Tony Stewart affair down under, about which the homeboys are saying nothing, we moved on to the Presidential State of the Nation Speech by Brian France, live from Charlotte on Speed Channel. The craven hacks applauded as he took to the stage, after all he is their meal ticket. France then portentiously announced some tinkering with the Sprint Cup points system.
The big build up on Speed Channel fell flat when the sound system, which was only suitable for a village fete, glitched and the President sounded like he was speaking from inside a fish tank. He also had to contend with a voice off air. It reminded me of the fall of Ceausescu.
The Speed Channel cheering section said that the new points system was undoubtedly a good thing as the previous system had been incomprehensible. Now that drivers received points from 43 for a win down to one for last place it would be much easier to follow. Jeff Hammond helpfully suggested that if a driver finished twentieth for example it would be easy to work out how many points he would receive, er, 23 presumably. Drivers would also get points for not finishing races? There would also be points for having shiny shoes and not bopping the race promoter.
Driver reaction seemed to be that nobody cared what the points system was and that they were going to win whatever cockamamie scheme was dreamt up by NASCAR market research and their fan clinics. Junior to have a head start please. What they meant to say was that Jimmie Johnson would win it whatever the points system.
Despite the obvious advantages of brand identification the cars would remain identical. Surely the gormless fans could tell it was a Toyota if it had the word
Camry written on the front. We could stand by for Hyundai and Volkswagen clones in what was without question the greatest racing series on the planet. Aside to sound man: "You're fired!"

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T08:33:00.003-05:00

Good trip to NYC before Xmas. We missed the blizzard with four nights before the storm. Manhattan is great for walking if you avoid the midtown crowds. Broadway, 42nd Street, Central Park, Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge, The Battery. Flew on Porter Airlines from Toronto City Centre Airport to Newark, New Jersey - flying as it should be. Pic by RLT.

Kiss me quick and cognac

2010-10-07T09:38:00.006-04:00

My September tour took in the Brighton Speed Trials and the Circuit des Remparts at Angoulême.

Here is "The Old Fella" Allard of Jim and Sheila Tiller, winner of the Brighton Speed Trials in 2004 and 2006.

A jolly time was had at the vintage racing in cognac country. A pot of tea in Les Halles at Angoulême was a highlight. We returned via Rouen-Les-Essarts and the splendid bar-brasserie Le Nouveau Monde.

Bonneville reprise

2010-09-03T11:30:00.006-04:00

Still buzzing after Bonneville Speed Week - the smart car performed flawlessly through more than eight thousand miles on tour and zoomed across the salt flats with the best of them.

You can see our smart car parked centre right.

We wish Rick Pearson and the Flower of Scotland team better luck in 2011. Pics by ALT.

Day 38: South Bend, Indiana to Toronto, Ontario

2010-08-22T19:46:00.009-04:00

Last night we stop in New Carlisle to buy some grits at Groceries By Joe - these have been on sale for most of the tour but we are now fearful of going home without. We roll into South Bend and stay out near the airport. You can tell this is a high crime area as the ATM at the Key Bank does not operate 20:00-05:00 and there are cop cars everywhere.
We are back on Eastern Time and up early rolling in the dark via Hwy 20 for Toledo, avoiding the toll road. We are desperate for money and gas but a stop in Middlebury sorts it. We see over twenty Amish buggies on the road. We get the hammer down some 165 miles to the outskirts of Toledo where we spot a Tim Horton's for a second breakfast.
We find the Libbey glass factory outlet which has literally tons of budget glassware on sale - Toledo being a great centre of glassware production. A quick look in the antique mall next door confirms there is nothing there which must come home with us. We notice streets named for Jeep and Willys and conclude the company must have some association with Toledo.
We are now back at the Great Lakes and turn north for Detroit, some 65 miles. As we approach the city the only well maintained building is the fire house, the others being burnt out. The GPS takes us on a fascinating route through the dereliction and we stop at a level crossing where I photograph a passing CSX yard engine.

We reach the border at the Ambassador Bridge, toll $4, and are cleared to go at 12:35. We pass London soon enough but then there is a blockage on the 401 and we struggle to reach home in a downpour around 18:30.
The Crazy Daisy Tour lasted 38 days, visited 16 states and covered 8,013 miles. What a blast!

Day 37: Knoxville, Iowa to South Bend, Indiana

2010-08-21T19:03:00.006-04:00

We depart the Red Carpet Motel in Knoxville at 06:30 rolling east on Hwy 92. We take breakfast at the Copper Lantern in Sigourney (pictured) and fill up at BP with the cheapest gas so far - $2.78.9 - I tell the lady there that BP have had a bum rap. We move onto Washington, where a stop at the Goodwill store turns up some good pickings.
We cross the Mississippi at Murcatine and reach Rock Island. We follow signs for Rock Island Visitor Centre where a security guard assures us it is off limits to non-U.S. passport holders. Strange. We try to find a visitor office at Geneseo, signposted off the highway. A lady at the local library does not know where the office is to be found. Back on the highway we stop at a rest area and find the map the tourist information folk would not mail to non-U.S. residents when requested. We decide we can do without Illinois, pausing to get more gas at Joliet BP for $2.99 per gallon, and get the hammer down to the Indiana border, where the folk at their tourist office in Hammond are falling over backwards to help us. We take Hwy 20 to South Bend and check-in at the Quality Inn. Over 400 miles today and we may reach home tomorrow.

Day 36: Columbus, Nebraska to Knoxville, Iowa

2010-08-20T19:21:00.006-04:00

Rolling at 08:08 we head into Fremont for a quick look at the tourist railroad, which only operates at weekends. We stop by a couple of yard sales which are a bust. We carry on to Elkhorn via the brick pavement of the old Lincoln Highway.
We stop by the smart dealer at LaVista, annexed to a Chrysler dealer, to see if we can get an oil change and a headlamp bulb. The sour-faced service receptionist says: "All the mechanics are going to lunch." This dealership proves a waste of time.
We cross over the Missouri River into the rolling hills of Iowa and take Hwy 92 to Griswold where we lunch at Our Daily Bread, a family-run cafe. The weather turns wet. We have to detour back to I-80 due to roadworks. We stop at a site near Adair where the James Gang staged the first train robbery in 1873. We then cut south to Winterset, to see the birthplace of John Wayne.
We are spending the night at the Red Carpet Motel in Knoxville, just down the street from the sprint car stadium which is the home of the Knoxville Nationals.

Flower of Scotland wilts at the last

2010-08-20T19:02:00.003-04:00

In the last of his reports Rick Pearson tells a tale of woe from Bonneville:
There was to be no fairytale ending for us here on the Salt.
We knew we had just one last chance to set the record so we turned up the boost and geared her for 325mph, knowing if we could get right down the Salt we would have the fastest 1 litre car in history.
We were on the Salt as early as possible, prepped the car with fuel and ice and joined the line for our run... I’d spent 3 days preparing myself mentally for what I knew was going to be a Hail Mary pass and I was ready. The Americans who were helping us out insisted on holding a short prayer for my safety before I got in the car (which wasn’t particularly reassuring!) and despite the wind conditions being marginal I decided with Derek Sr that we were ready to go.
The push start went well, the car came up on the boost nicely and I got a super smooth shift into 2nd gear where the Flower of Scotland REALLY starts to boogie... a blink of an eye and we’re knocking on 200mph and it’s time for 3rd gear, when there is a small pop from the engine as a valve dropped and the power dropped away. With just 1 hour left in Speed Week our dream was over for this year and the crew are all shattered and pretty dejected, sitting here in the airport in silence.
Thanks for all the support over the past week. It’s been really appreciated out on the Salt.

Bonneville: last roll of the dice

2010-08-20T08:25:00.004-04:00

Rick Pearson reports:
The Salt can be a tough mistress, but to be honest she’s virtually killing us here.
Another tough day. We had the engine back together for 7.30am after working all night once Joe Amo (fastest guy ever on a sit-on motorbike at 272mph!) arrived with the parts we were missing. One shift of mechanics went to bed, and another woke to put the engine in the car. This was completed around 11.30 and we were confident of being on the Salt for early afternoon. However on firing the engine up, we realised she was running badly and needed some pretty major open heart surgery. Including more parts we didn’t have!
Once again it looked like it was all over, and once again the Salt community managed to source us what we needed and the engine was finished by 5pm. Panels back on and we whipped the car down to the Salt from the Casino car park HQ we’ve been using. Unfortunately the wind was pretty marginal for safety but we decided to make a pass anyway in a lull. The Flower of Scotland went off the line well, but lost power within the first mile. A quick investigation threw up another small failure in the transmission, clearly the destruction of the two engines so far this week had shaken stuff up more than we thought... but this time fortunately it was a quick fix... but not quickly enough to turn the car around for another run at the Salt tonight.
So we have one last chance in the morning, the car has been geared so that if it makes it the 5 miles down the Salt and I can keep my foot to the boards, we SHOULD run the record. We’ll be on the Salt for sun up, and fingers crossed our luck will finally come good. It certainly feels like we’ve paid our dues......

Day 35: Ogallala, Nebraska to Columbus, Nebraska

2010-08-19T21:18:00.007-04:00

Depart Ogallala on Hwy 30. We detour onto Interstate 80 due to roadworks and regain Hwy 30 at Sutherland, where we wash more salt off the car in a no-touch car wash. We ride on to North Platte and the Golden Spike Tower. This is allegedly the world's largest rail yard which can be viewed from the eighth floor. Trains are constantly coming and going. $7 for Annette, $6 for me. Only open two years the tower has already attracted 75,000 visitors.
We take a picnic lunch at Gothenberg where we see another Pony Express station and museum, where the ladies tell us about WW2 rationing and current economic troubles - more angst in the heartland. We ride into Overton and a large antique store has a sign "Open on Saturdays" but I notice the door is open so we circle round and in we go. This is Pyrex heaven. I ask the guy if he has any old coffee pot parts and he says come with me - I pick out the spare parts I need from a large box and also score a mint complete percolator for $15.
We press on via Kearney, but no ATM will give me cash. We ride into Columbus and are almost ready to quit town when we spot a Holiday Inn Express - we negotiate the rate down from $119 to $75 plus tax. Free beer and snacks before crashing out.

The fight goes on at Bonneville

2010-08-18T22:56:00.003-04:00

Rick Pearson reports:
Well folks, you can imagine how fresh I feel after less than 3 hours sleep in a Santa Ana hotel last night and while I returned with all the parts we thought we needed, stripping down the remains of the original 2 engines showed that actually the damage was much more severe than we thought.
The crankshafts and bearings on both engines had been destroyed in the brief seconds after the cases exploded in the gearboxes and the oil pressure dropped. SO we simply don't have enough parts to build one good engine.
However, the Speed racing community have rallied around us, and legendary Salt Bike racer, Joe Amo has offered to get on a plane from his South Dakota workshop and fly up tonight with what we need... So the Speed Scotland team have decamped from the Salt (where you aren't allowed to work beyond 8pm) to the car park of a Casino in nearby Wendover and we've prepped the car and engine parts we have to pull an "all-nighter" once Joe gets here at midnight to be back out on the Salt early tomorrow!
As driver of course, I need to be on fine form tomorrow so I’ll be getting a good night’s sleep, (although I think the team are insisting on that more so that I don’t get in the way with my legendary spanner wielding talents!), so I’ll just need to make the team’s efforts worthwhile with the runs tomorrow.The fight goes on.... fingers crossed for us folks, and thanks for all the kind words of support, much appreciated!

Day 34: Rawlins, Wyoming to Ogallala, Nebraska

2010-08-18T20:19:00.002-04:00

Depart Rawlins at 06:10 eastbound on I-80. We struggle in the sunrise negotiating lengthy roadworks. We stop at the Wagonhound rest area in the Medicine Bow Mountains. We reach Laramie and take coffee at The Grounds, a newly-opened shop downtown, free wi-fi. Back on the highway we climb to Sherman Hill Summit at an elevation of 8,640 feet, the highest point on the Interstate system.
In Cheyenne we shop at three thrift stores before crossing the border into Nebraska. We reach Kimball for lunch at Greg's Grub and I choose Chicken Hobo Pocket, chicken and veggies cooked in foil with salad, which turns out to be the best meal of the tour at $6. We take Hwy 30, the old Lincoln Highway, a two-lane road that runs through the small towns alongside the Union Pacific railroad. We check out the antique store at Potter, and other shops along the highway at Lodgepole and Chappell.
We reach Ogallala and shop for grocery at Sunmart at 17:15. We check in at the Best Western Stagecoach off I-80.

Bonneville bitsa in chain reaction

2010-08-18T06:29:00.009-04:00

Rick Pearson reports:
Disaster struck the Speed Scotland team today as a chain snapped and damaged our last good engine/gearbox. Smashing the casing. Given we have no further spares with us, it looked like the dream of a record for Scotland was over for 2010... but the team were not prepared to give it up that easily.
So we tracked down a guy with the right engine casings that we needed, and a machine shop so he could adapt them to our requirements and he agreed to work all night until they were done. I’ve hopped on a plane from Salt Lake City out to the West Coast to collect the parts and am now sat in a hotel waiting for the flight back the other way with half an engine in my “hand” luggage. There are gearbox parts coming in with UPS from Texas which should arrive as I land back tomorrow morning and the crew are currently tearing the car and the old engines apart to gather enough parts to put one good engine back together and in the car in time for a full-bore pass sometime on Thursday. We will not now be able to afford the luxury of stepping up the speed gradually, so I’ll be getting in the car with the turbo turned up high and giving it one big run down the Salt and see if we can crack the magic 300 and perhaps even threaten that 313mph record...
Never surrender! Fingers crossed for us please.

Day 33: Salt Lake City, Utah to Rawlins, Wyoming

2010-08-17T21:44:00.004-04:00

We head out to the State Capitol in Salt Lake City, following a tip from Jo Martin in New Zealand, to see the Mormon Meteor record breaking car of Ab Jenkins. Unfortunately the car is no longer there but we see a bust of Jenkins on the fourth floor. We discover that the car was sold by the Jenkins family to local businessman John Price, who planned to open a Museum of Speed in Salt Lake City, a project that is shelved in the downturn.
They are setting up a tent outside the Capitol at the startline of the Tour of Utah. Racing cyclists are warming up on local roads, learning the course for the prologue.
We head north out of the city then following the UP railroad east and joining up with I-80. We lunch at Evanston across the stateline, finding a Pyrex cup in a local thrift store at 10 cents. We detour through Fort Bridger, traverse the badlands, and reach Rock Springs, finding two Corelle Burgundy flared mugs at 25 cents the pair.
Tonight at Rawlins, Wyoming, in the oilpatch. To the City Market for grocery and crashing out after charging for the last couple of hours at 70 mph on the interstate. Nebraska beckons.

Rick turns up the wick at Bonneville

2010-08-17T01:00:00.004-04:00

Rick Pearson reports:

Monday August 16 update - the engine change we had to do took a long while, and it was 5pm before the Flower of Scotland was ready to run. We needed to make a pass between 175mph and 200mph for the next licence level. The rules being that we must run within each speed band as we increase. So I passed the 2 1/4 mile speedtrap at a 200.213mph and had to pull the chutes before reaching 3 miles as the car was still accelerating hard (peak speed was 214mph) and I didn’t want to exceed the limit we’d been set!

The crew tried hard to turn the car around before the 7pm curfew on the Salt, but with checking the new engine fully we ran slightly out of time. So we’re ready to go, first thing in the morning tomorrow, we’ve been asked to make a pass between 200 and 250mph as the next stage, we’ll then be allowed to run in the next band, 250-300mph which we hope to do around lunchtime, then all being well, we’ll turn up the boost and make a pass at the record of 313mph towards the end of the day tomorrow!

Day 32: Elko, Nevada via Bonneville to Salt Lake City, Utah

2010-08-16T21:28:00.003-04:00

Up early at Elko and we score a second night at the Travelodge for $25 due to a double-booking snafu. We ride east to Wendover and shop at Smith's for food and gas. Looking for Starbucks we meet some long time rodders and agree to get in touch. Out on the salt we marvel at being able to park close to the startline and watch from our car. Bonneville charge $15 per day for a ticket, $40 for the week.

At 16:15 we head for Salt Lake City in 95f heat, checking-in at the Comfort Inn downtown. We take supper at Romano's Macaroni Grill - poor service for a dinner for two costing $47.02 incl tip.

Day 31: Bonneville

2010-08-16T00:06:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we really knocked ourselves out in the heat at Bonneville and needed to regroup for a second day on the salt. Staying some 120 miles away in Elko we cruise into Wendover and shop for lunch and a T shirt at Smith's supermarket, avoiding Speedway prices. We have learned that too long in the sun and walking about in the thin air at altitude is a short cut to exhaustion.
We park by the staging lanes and watch the cars assembling for a run on the salt. The informal atmosphere is infectious as you can stroll around the startline area and take pictures to your hearts content - even from the shelter of the smart car.

Dwight Yoakam plays at Peppermill Wendover Casino - Concert Hall, Wendover, Nevada, on October 1st.

Flower of Scotland team gets "salt fever"

2010-08-15T23:06:00.011-04:00

Bonneville is proving to be a strict mistress for the Flower of Scotland team. When you are hooked on setting a record, also known as salt fever, the rules are exacting. The rookie acclimatisation requires three qualification runs at set speeds:

"D" license at 125 mph to 149 mph
"C" 150 mph to 174 mph
"B" 175 mph to 199 mph

Ideally these runs should be set in sequence but in a streamliner with the potential to exceed 300 mph it is not that simple. As of Sunday afternoon driver Rick Pearson had earned his "D" and "C" licenses and came to the startline in pursuit of a "B" license - the car was pushed off by the pickup but the motor died shortly into the run and he pulled off the course. Another attempt was planned for later in the day to secure the opportunity to run for the record.

Rick Pearson too fast at Bonneville

2010-08-14T21:10:00.011-04:00

Rookie Rick Pearson was set to complete his very first shakedown run on the Bonneville Salt Flats today at the annual Bonneville Speed Week. A little shaky off the start he shed the push truck rather early, and then experienced blurred vision due to lack of padding for his helmet and methanol fumes from the engine. He was instructed to run no faster than 150 mph but his right foot got the better of him as he went through Mile 4 at 170.865 mph. A mild admonishment from the SCTA saw him cleared to prepare for his second shakedown run at 175 mph. A successful run at 200 mph will see him cleared to go for the class record.

The 1-litre Flower of Scotland streamliner has plenty left in the tank. Pearson plans to attack the Blown Fuel Streamliner record in class I - that is for one litre cars - later in the week. The record is currently held by the Castella/Yacoucci streamliner at 313.984 mph set in 2003.

The team report that they are pleased with the media reaction in Scotland and in the UK in general to their efforts and are confident the car can set a record and put Rick Pearson in the 300 mph club.

Day 30: Ely, Nevada to Elko, Nevada

2010-08-14T21:01:00.004-04:00

We hit the road before eight o'clock and take Hwy 93 towards Whitehorse Pass. We get our first view of Bonneville Salt Flats - like a wonder of the world. Into Wendover we stop for gas and coffee at Pilot Casino. Out to the salt flats where we park close to the staging lanes - we blunder about mesmerised by the variety of vehicles. I chat to the Moon team about Dante Duce and what we can do to find out more about him.

We hook up with Rick Pearson and his car Flower of Scotland and ride down the course in the trailer truck as he faces the salt for the first time.
Mid-afternoon we head for Elko on I-80 - now at the Travelodge for two nights before heading back east.

Day 29: Ely, Nevada

2010-08-13T18:19:00.006-04:00

To Cave Lake in the hills off Hwy 50. We watch a family of Coots feeding among the reeds. Back to town where we photograph some hot rods headed for Bonneville. We do laundry at Soak n Suds, then visit The Zoo thrift shop.

The Big Apple family restaurant for lunch then downtown to the White Pine Rodders 17th Annual Car Show. We meet Tony from Chicago with his '53 Chevy custom. He insists that Annette be pictured behind the wheel but declines to be photographed himself.

Willie Nelson plays Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City, Utah on September 10th.

Day 28: Ely, Nevada

2010-08-12T17:57:00.005-04:00

To the Nevada Northern Railway where the Turkey Vultures, otherwise known as Buzzards, are circling high above. The picture shows the coal chutes and the water tower. We take the diesel train to the mine at Ruth. We ride alongside Hwy 50, the loneliest road in America. On return we tour the engine sheds.
We drive out to McGill to see the old railroad depot at the Kennecott smelter, now closed. A kindly Vietnam-vet shows us the way in his pickup truck - he speaks of hard times in America. We shake hands.

Day 27: Tonopah, Nevada to Ely, Nevada

2010-08-11T17:26:00.008-04:00

At the motel we spot a 1946 Renault 4CV on a round-the-world tour, following the route of the 1908 New York-Paris race. Also these International Scout survivors. To the Tonopah Historic Mining Park - over a hundred acres of the original mines which you can wander about on designated paths. Some 500 foot drops in the stopes give you pause for thought.

We take Hwy 6 for three hours across the desert to Ely. With very few cars on the road we marvel at Railroad Valley and cross an oilpatch to the ghost town of Currant. We hypermile for some 160 miles between gas stations. Check-in at the Ramada and run into town for more thrifts, which are a bust, and grocery. We spot an orange Bonneville lakester heading for Utah.

Day 26: Tonopah, Nevada & Goldfield, Nevada

2010-08-10T18:15:00.013-04:00

Up early at 06:00 and walk down to the gas bar and get some milk - Tonopah is everything you ever wanted in the Wild West - two empty hotels, pawn shop, gunshop etc. The Mizpah Hotel next door is shut up and closed for a decade - our receptionist tells us the whole town is waiting for it to reopen as a symbol of wellbeing.

We call in at the office of the Tonopah Times-Bonanza and Goldfield News for a chat and score two free newspapers. We head up to the Central Nevada Museum where we find information on Henry Frank, Walton E. Dowlen, Edouard Riondel and the Nevada Goldfield Reduction Company. No charge for admission. Quick stops at the Senior Thrift Shop and the Ramada Station for grocery.
We head out to Goldfield for a second visit - see PunchBuggy passim - and make a better job of finding the site of the reduction works. The pictures show a ten-stamp mill for crushing ore, at the museum in Tonopah, and below the best picture I could take of the site of the old reduction works at Goldfield, situated about a mile north of town in what used to be the town of Columbia.

Day 25: Carson City, Nevada to Tonopah, Nevada

2010-08-09T20:34:00.007-04:00

Depart 07:15 with a plan to get breakfast on the road. After some sixty miles through treeless desert we reach Yerington where we take $7 of diesel at Texaco. We ask where the best breakfast in town is to be had and are directed to Dini's Casino, Restaurant & Steak House. This has to be right as we order giant veggie omelletes, $22 for two including bottomless coffee and tip. We roll on to Hawthorne where we splurge $5 on a Pyrex mug.

Listening to Del Shannon Runaway, Gary Lewis & The Playboys This Diamond Ring and Dave Clark Five Over and Over (their only US No. 1) - the latter two being heavily influenced by session musicians (which is putting it politely).

We reach Tonopah early afternoon and after a quick 360 we get takeaway pizza at Cisco's at 720 North Main. Watching Pawn Stars and American Pickers on TV at the Jim Butler Inn.

Day 24: Carson City, Nevada

2010-08-08T18:22:00.007-04:00

To the Nevada State Railroad Museum to ride this Edwards railcar from 1926 made in Sanford, North Carolina.
We head out to Genoa by car, which has an excellent town museum in an old court house, situated at a stop on the old Pony Express. A mule deer is crossing the road as we head into town. How pleasant to park the car without being harassed. We stop for a hotdog at a fundraiser and chat to folk about the smart car. We spot some Wood Storks and a Great Blue Heron on a pond outside of town. We are at the base of the Sierra Nevada and explore the Luther Pass before heading back to Carson City.

Day 23: Carson City, Nevada

2010-08-07T18:43:00.010-04:00

To Incline, Nevada to find the old Bonanza theme park which traded off the TV series until 2004. The locality was used for some scenes in the original TV show. The site is shuttered and there is little visible from the road.
We drive past Lake Tahoe to Truckee, California. We see the Amtrak California Zephyr heading westbound. We drive through the Donner Pass and return via Interstate 80 at 7,240 feet.
We head into Reno and check out the car auction and swap meet. This Hilborn-injected nailhead Buick-powered Model T hot rod reportedly has the motor from Tony Nancy's 22Jr.

The swap meet has more sellers than buyers and many stalls are packing to go. I buy a copy of Hot Rod Magazine from January 1965.

Tower of Power play Boomtown Casino and Resort, Reno, NV, August 21, 2010. Bob Dylan plays Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena, Stateline, NV, August 22, 2010.

Day 22: Carson City, Nevada

2010-08-06T18:13:00.009-04:00

We stop by Starbucks waiting for the Nevada State Railroad Museum to open. We get free coffee as it is not ready on arrival. We chat to two guys who are cycling cross country from San Francisco to Virginia Beach. Another guy on a motorcycle wants to know all about the smart car.
The museum is a top notch facility staffed by the most enthusiastic folk. We are shown round by Ralph Elligott, a Vietnam vet, who arranges a ride on a handcar. Unlike in the movies everybody faces the front. The counterweighted mechanism is surprisingly smooth.

We head out to Virginia City via Silver City and Gold Hill. I tell the postmistress at Silver City on no account should she take a vacation in Seattle, as I mail a scam parking ticket to authorities in that city.
We ride the short excursion steam train to Gold Hill on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. A hokey holdup is staged and collects money for the Shriners. We take pictures of posters by the side of the road - the US is out of sorts with the government - unemployment, taxation and Obamacare have many riled up in election season.

Day 21: Klamath Falls, Oregon to Carson City, Nevada

2010-08-05T19:27:00.004-04:00

Exit Klamath Falls southbound for California and Nevada. We are spotting vintage tin by the side of the road, also vintage cars and rods on the highway. We cross the stateline and detour into Tulelake, California, which is much boarded up. We stop for diesel at Adin after going through the pass. They have no on-road diesel so we face 60 miles hypermiling to Susanville on deserted roads at 5,000 feet. We heave a sigh of relief as we reach town and stop for $3.15 diesel, then at the Sage Hen for lunch. We book ahead by payphone four nights at the Quality Inn in Carson City which turns out to be cheap and cheerful.
On to Hot August Nights at Reno, a car show that is all over town. Free parking. Reno is evidently feeling the pinch as many motels are closed on the strip - wonderful vintage signs.

Day 20: Bend, Oregon to Klamath Falls, Oregon

2010-08-04T18:09:00.010-04:00

The picture shows the view northward from the rim of Crater Lake. We take a hair-raising ride round the rim with unprotected drops in the anticlockwise lane. We are held some while for single-line working while looking down. I age several years in half an hour.

We ride past Upper Klamath Lake which has white pelicans. We photograph the First National Bank building, downtown Klamath Falls, Oregon. An early finish here after checking out the thrift and antique stores. We get the car cleaned by a bunch of schoolgirls who are fundraising for a school basketball trip to Medford, Oregon.

Day 19: St. Helens, Oregon to Bend, Oregon

2010-08-03T21:18:00.004-04:00

Riding by the Willamette River into Portland, Oregon where we see the streetcars. On to Salem checking out the thrift stores en route. We find an unusual Bodum cup and saucer of a type not previously seen - 99 cents. A Goodwill store sells goods by weight and is heaving. We take diesel at Aurora at $2.99 - glad to find a gallon less than three bucks. We drive through the western Cascades to Detroit, then Sisters - folk are evacuated due to a forest fire so there are no hotel rooms. We carry on to Bend, to the Best Western Inn and Suites. We now have Nevada in our sights.

Day 18: Seattle, Washington to St. Helens, Oregon

2010-08-02T10:43:00.004-04:00

To smart centre, Tukwila, Washington. Then Starbucks to catch up with wi-fi. We work our way south on the backroads to Chehalis where we take lunch at Market Street Bakery and Cafe in town, two-hour free angle parking in a living town centre. We drop in at the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad.

We cross the Columbia River into Oregon and take Hwy 30 to St. Helens. We stop at the Best Western Oak Meadows Inn - $103 incl tax.

Day 16, 17: Seattle, Washington

2010-08-01T19:45:00.013-04:00

We start the day at Starbucks in-store at Safeway - we ask if they have wi-fi: "No, we took it out because it wasn't working properly!"
To Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park on the trail of Sam Gebo. We are greatly assisted by Marti Lutz, who sheds new light on the case.

I hadn't been downtown Seattle more than 25 minutes when I was fined $39 for incorrectly displaying my parking ticket - in front window, not side. We were in the Pike Place market area. Frankly this is an overrated destination not really suitable for visitors, tourists, families or men of goodwill. The parking meter picture gives you the idea - yes, that is the 'F' word on the front. The parking scam is the limit and downtown Seattle best avoided. We have travelled across the US all the way from Michigan and have not been treated so badly anywhere but here.
Next day we head south towards Mount Rainier. We breakfast at The Lee diner in Enumclaw, the hometown of NASCAR star Kasey Kahne. Apparently he hangs out at The Mint bar when in town.

The #91 Heisler locomotive at the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad, Elbe, Washington. The one and a half hour train ride to Mineral Lake and back is a joy. We chat to some Aussie railfans prior to departure.
Squeeze play the Showbox at The Market, 1426 First Ave., Seattle, Tuesday, 2nd August. Rush play White River Amphitheatre, Seattle, WA, August 7.

Day 15: Wenatchee, Washington to Seattle, Washington

2010-08-01T19:44:00.006-04:00

Heading out from Wenatchee we come acroos the 'Bavarian' town of Leavenworth, Washington. The whole town is done up with an Alpine theme which since 1960 has turned the place from a near ghost to one enjoying 2 million visitors a year.
We continue on through Stevens Pass at 4,061 feet.

Day 14: Tonasket, Washington to Wenatchee, Washington

2010-07-29T21:48:00.006-04:00

We head into Omak early where diesel is pricey at $3.22 per gallon. Downtown for breakfast at Magoo's - the main street is clinging on after the opening of a Wal-Mart. In Brewster we encounter shops with Spanish signs in the Mexican quarter. We are in apple country which employs Mexican workers. "Are they living on refried dreams?" enquires Annette. We stop at Trader John's on the highway to purchase fruit, including dried mango which we got hooked on earlier. Dried fruit has become a favoured car snack.
The scenery here is splendid and an unexpected delight. There are clearing up a mudslide near Chelan after overnight rain. We reach Wenatchee at midday and check in at the Best Western Chieftain Inn, which is a deal at $71 per night. Tomorrow we reach the Pacific Ocean at Seattle.

Day 13: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to Tonasket, Washington

2010-07-28T22:53:00.008-04:00

Another early start rolling into Spokane in search of the Patsy Clark house, which dates back to 1898. It is still in a smart neighbourhood, the house being opposite a park. We head into town to see the falls, avoiding fierce parking charges by taking a short walk. Spokane is pleasantly devoid of graffiti - we wonder how they have managed this. We take coffee at Atticus, a trendy coffee shop cum boutique, which is a study in retailing. We tour the thrift stores of which there are many. We track north west, taking lunch at Chewalah and visiting the excellent Mistequa International Car Museum, the project of Glen Hafer, 81, who shows us around. We reach Republic, but cannot stay as the bikers have got there before us. We continue on to Tonasket, where we stop at the Red Apple Inn, $58 a night plus tax. We have a fish and chip supper at Whistler's and are glad to have a bed for the night.
There is a groundswell of opinion in the US that big government has run amok. This has been expressed to us in many ways along the route. The mainstream media - Fox News versus CNN - are banging the drum ahead of the mid-term elections. The bias in the media, the bashing of BP for example, is sickening. America is completely reliant on oil yet loves to bash the (foreign) oil companies. If they put BP out of business who will pay the compensation? You can't have oil without spills now and again. Suck it up!

Day 12: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

2010-07-27T23:31:00.007-04:00

Rolling at 07:00 to avoid the crowds at breakfast and make the most of the cool part of the day, although it turns out to be nowhere near as hot as yesterday. We roll north 40 miles to Sandpoint, taking diesel at Westmond at $2.96 a gallon. We cross a large expanse of water on arrival with a freight train on a parallel bridge making a fine sight heading south. We arrive at Evans Brothers Neighbourhood Espresso Bar, where we park the smart car at this old mill site and chat to the gawkers. We check out the antique stores and thrift shops. I spot this Oldsmobile Toronado for sale, (everything is for sale in the US) , a GM curiosity with massive cubic inches and front-wheel-drive. Must chew through front tires like an alligator. What were they thinking?

We cruise out to the beach on Lake Pend Oreille and then turn west and across the stateline to lunch at Owen's Grocery, Deli and Soda Fountain, at Newport, Washington. This is an old time store not to be missed with large custom-built sandwiches at $3.50. We return to Coeur d'Alene via Rathdrum, Idaho with its large rail yard.

Day 11: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

2010-07-26T23:05:00.008-04:00

We are spending three nights in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Today we are up early and taking the scenic byway round Coeur d'Alene lake, looping round to Mission Landing at Cataldo. We visit the Jesuit Mission, said to be the oldest building in Idaho. This picture reminded me of the old joke: "You know you are a redneck when you mow the lawn and find a car!"

On to Kellogg and Wardner, scene of the dynamiting of the mine concentrator in 1899. We take coffee at Josie's Full of Beans and visit the mining museum in Kellogg - wonderful old photographs. Back to town via Smelterville.

Day 10: Missoula, Montana to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

2010-07-26T08:32:00.004-04:00

Hot day on road from Missoula. We make an early stop at Alberton to check out a bookstore - the Montana Valley Book Store - where we chat to the lady owner about cats, cycling in Europe, the price of mops in Wal-Mart and the state of the universe. We stop on the highway and chat to a couple in a caravan who are fundraisng for Habitat for Humanity - they are intrigued by the smart car and also tell us how the "Silver Valley" is adapting to mine closures - "We are in the tourist business now." We proceed to St Regis and mooch in the antique stores where you can buy a vintage plow or a depression-era glass jug. Similar stores in Wallace, which has an intact old town centre but the effect is rather spoiled by an interstate flyover. I have read much about the labour wars in the Coeur d'Alene and look forward to exploring this old mining region.
More thrift store bargains on arrival at Coeur d'Alene - we are now on Pacific time and lose an hour while we wait for our motel room to be ready.

Day 9: Great Falls, Montana to Missoula, Montana

2010-07-24T21:09:00.003-04:00

Up early at the Quality Inn, downtown Great Falls, and off in search of diesel. Take the highway for Helena, we stop for breakfast with the good ol' boys at Crystal, a hunting, shooting and fishing sort of place. A guy at the next table sounds just like John Wayne. Detouring off the road to see the pelicans on the upper Missouri in a canyon. We make Helena mid-morning. Thrift stores and yard sales - muffins and brownies 25 cents each. Annette finds a Bodum mug - an unexpected bonus. This jeep was parked at a yard sale in a parking lot. Shopping at Wal-Mart for shorts and a new washing bag. We find the grave of Archibald Spriggs in the suburbs after waiting at a crossing for two freight trains to pass.
We take the highway for Missoula, the road climbing for miles to the top of the MacDonald Pass, at over 6,000 feet, where we stop to take on water. There are plenty of recreational cyclists in Montana who must get the prize for masochism. We take the scenic route off the interstate to reach Missoula, stopping for diesel at Ovando off Highway 200 en route. Splurge on a suite at the Best Western after shopping in town - four mint Duralex glasses for $1. Pizza for supper while watching Kyle Busch winning the Nationwide race at ORP.