What's Been Going On........
Pete and everyone I thank you again for your interest in our corner of the world. I'm constantly amazed at how busy I seem to be in retirement! As Chris mentioned, since it's been such excellent summer/fall weather I've been working outside as much as I can.......and
not posting in here as I should!
Here's a bit of a recap of just some of the activities over the last few months. I'll give more detail later.
Pete I know you're most interested in the TR4 and how it came to be here (still haven't got that story posted have I?!). The TR4 no longer lives here, it left this summer...
...with a new owner. He tells us he's going to do minimal cosmetic work and just clean, polish and make it mechanically reliable.... well as reliable as one can make a TR4. The new owner is fairly local so we'll keep tabs on his progress.
Speaking of cars, a new Corvette, our third...
...now graces the property. I've been asked to do a separate post detailing my impressions of the C7 cars...
...vrs the older '60's Corvettes. Will do, but for now I can say,
Wow from an engineering standpoint it's a remarkably capable vehicle. I had no idea it was this good!
Gus, our beloved 1948 Jeep shop truck has not been forgotten.
Starting yesterday and continuing today he is being used in a feature motion picture that is being shot here in the Mid-west, staring veteran actor Ed Asner. Shooting continued till 3AM this morning and they expect more of the same today and tonight. The producer needed vehicles older than 1953 for the movie and Gus answered the call!
Besides helping set a brief record with Jake's Bike at Bonneville in August, Lou and I were on the starting line...
...when Danny Thompson set a new record with his Dad's 50 year old car, running 450+ mph. What a story it was. Stay tuned for that.
Lou and I were granted press credentials to better cover Bonneville this year. Here Lou is sporting his new press vest and below...
...I'm getting up close and personal with Speed Demon prior to it running over 440+ mph. I've got a bunch of Bonneville material if you'll just bear with me a bit longer.
Earlier this year I fabricated...
...a new railing for the old shop.
I'll get more detail on that too and yes it was powder coated!
The opportunity to fly a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor came this summer. Lou said he's only flown a handful of times in his life but if I was in the cockpit...
...he said he'd ride along so...
...off we went on a little adventure. Personally that was a very special time for me to see Lou enjoying himself back there while I...
...was up here. Quick impressions were; visibility while taxing on the ground was not great which is to be expected with a tail wheel aircraft, but the visibility in flight was pretty good. Very, very heavy flight control feel. I found it to be a 2-hand aircraft even well trimmed up. Cruise is about 90 mph and flying with the side window open it was very serene. I liked it immensely. Quite a contrast from the 767!
I did some other flying this summer as well, getting an updated shot of Timber Haven as we call the property with the new house done and the old family home gone.
From ground level...
...all the odd left-over construction material and piles of dirt have now been cleared away...
... and most everything is back filled and seeded on the property. I have a small bit more grade work and grass seed to plant next spring...
...but outside it's getting to the point I can now sit back and enjoy our little slice of heaven and put that fireplace to work this winter.
I've left out a bunch of other material that I'll get back to, but rest assured all is well here in the Center Of The Universe. Thanks everyone.
Busy but happy, Thomas
Teasing isn't nice!!
