Ramping up

I was afraid that shooting a video of loading my motorcycle using my new, tri-fold ramp would guarantee an epic fail. I should have shot it, but it would have been a long, boring feature of me sitting on the bike, in the back of the truck, slowly easing it backward, trying not to end up running over myself on the way down. I was surprised to find it amazingly easy. A wide ramp is the key. I bought mine used, but it's made by DeeZee.

Also, my boys are now expertly trained in the arts of changing the oil and installing seat belts in a 1961 Ford pickup. It was a good Saturday.
 

Norman Rockwell Busted My Clutch Cable

I discovered that in an emergency, you can shift a Royal Enfield without using the clutch... if you can avoid coming to a complete stop.

This weekend was the last day for the Norman Rockwell Exhibit at the local museum of art. As an artist myself, I've admired Rockwell's idyllic take on happy childhoods and commonplace adult life. I got a little emotional feeling a reverence for seeing these treasures in person. In a sea of cardigan sweaters and polyester slacks, the only guy in a leather jacket, rigid Levis and engineer boots quickly composed himself and moved on.

I rode the 45 minutes to the museum in sunny, Rockwellian weather (60 degrees is nice for January), but on the way home my clutch cable snapped. I guess after 6000 miles of commuting it was time. Turns out, if I could keep rolling I could shift up and down without the clutch. Just goose the gas to shift up, hold on when shifting down, pray for no intersecting traffic, and be prepared to roll through stop signs and lane-split. On Enfields, a clutch cable is a cheap and easy fix.

Rockwell once said, 

"When I go to farms or little towns, I am always surprised at the discontent I find. And New York, too often, has looked across the sea toward Europe. And all of us who turn our eyes away from what we have are missing life."

"Going and Coming" by Norman Rockwell

This was my family's 2010 Christmas card, which features our 1961 Ford pickup. You could say the card was inspired by the above Rockwell painting titled "Going and Coming."

Downshift Studios Car & Bike Show

This weekend I took the boys down to the 1st annual Downshift Studios Car and Bike Show. Once the boys realized that the meaning of daddy's term "hot rod show" did not include flying '52 Chevys jumping school buses while on fire and more accurately defined a parking lot full of cars just standing still ...not on fire.... smiles quickly turned to scowls.

We left about nap time and I returned on my bike to hang out with Chad and the guys from TonUpNC.

Black '52 Chevy + 4 yr old scowl = awesome.

Look at that BSA badge. It's like candy.

1965? BSA

1952 Chevy

Man cave.

Microphone shifter

"This show sucks fingers, Dad."

Bike Hauler Update

Well, the battery died on the Enfield so I've been driving the truck. My 1961 F100 is a 1/2 ton of fun, both to tinker on and to drive. The beauty of these older vehicles is that there are only about 8 things under the hood and you can reach them all with room to spare.

Now, I'm no mechanical genius, but I do own a Royal Enfield so at least I can say I've graduated from mechanic elementary school and moved onto jr. high. On the Ford, I replaced the starter solenoid, fuel filter, added red seat belts and replaced the shifter boot (the old one was torn so I could see straight through the floor to the asphalt). Oh, and I painted two of the rims using the index card and rattle can method.

It turns out the truck has 3 different rims and only one big tire. The other three are smaller, car tires. Nice. This might explain its endearing, jalopy-like, stance.

New HMT Transport Vehicle

As our readers know, Her Majesty's Thunder looked for many months for a chunky utility vehicle to carry our bike and gear to British motorcycle enthusiasts whenever we can. I rescued this magnificent specimen from captivity in the Bull City, Durham, NC. It's a 1961 Ford F100 shortbed, a time machine in nearly original condition. This little bucket runs and sounds great. And that rumbling, dual exhaust helps. I'm going to go sit in it and smell 49 years of awesome. See you at the shows!

Ugly Truck Wanted

Thanks again for reading the HMT blog. I have a fairly outrageous request. Her Majesty's Thunder has need for an old 1948-1965 Chevy, GMC or Ford truck to haul our gear. I know, who wouldn't? Well maybe you wouldn't.

Do you, or your father-in-law, or your half-uncle have a hideous, old Apache? A disgusting F100? I don't care how bad it looks or smells. I need one to haul my bike and Her Majesty's Thunder gear to the events that appear on this blog. I'm looking for one that's running, even if it's as ugly as a Pixar character.

Free and ugly would be fantastic, but we could trade for part cash, part advertising space, event sponsorships, custom design or artwork, HMT tshirts, a visit from a well-known Star Wars character, or any combination. You can reach me at
chris@HerMajestysThunder.com Thanks!

Again, she can be ugly. Like Queen Mary zombie ugly.
Here's an idea of what I'm looking for. (Although these are beauties.)

1948-54 Chevy or GMC


1954-56 Ford



1958-59 Chevy Apache



1960 Ford


1960-61 Chevy



1962 Ford


1965 Chevy