SOCAL Tech Day

[pegscraper]

Ed you got some of your names all ****** up........

The guy bleeding his brakes was Jim, CibrdOwn is Jeremy......

The 3 guys in the picture are Johnny80's, McRide, and Slappy AKA Johnny, Roy and Jerry........

R

I stand corrected. It was late when I was posting last night when at the same time being reminded to come to bed. Distractions you know.

 

[Santa Fe Dreamin']

Just got home, Made a pit stop in Oceanside, Thanks Neil for the hospitality! DR

P.S. HERES MY GARAGE PIC!

Richard looks pregnant... AGAIN!!!!!!!!

 

[Santa Fe Dreamin']

U got lucky Richard. About 6:30am in OC it was pouring.

Everybody ok down in SD?

We're fine ****-head. Where were you? Probable home playin' with yourself again. Guess that's what you do when no one else will.

 

[Santa Fe Dreamin']

Thanks to all that showed up! That was a fun get-together.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!! And for the DECALF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Santa Fe Dreamin']

A BIG shout out to Neil for hosting a great Tech Day and a big thanks to Janet for making their home ours. They had all the tools, supples and refreshments waiting our arrival. Photos to follow.

Janet, Johnny80s, jacquie (brownies provider) and Shawn

Good picture of all four ladies.

 

[pegscraper]

I maxed out after uploading some the large photos to my Picture Trail account so I am resorting to my flickr account.

Janet, Shawn and Jacquie being taken for a walk by Tuscan.



Tech Day @ Neil_037 by Images by Ed Kadlec, on Flickr

One last departing shot of the remaining folks before packing it in after a very productive Tech Day at Neil & Janet's abode.



Tech Day @ Neil_046 by Images by Ed Kadlec, on Flickr

 

[FJRBluesman]

U got lucky Richard. About 6:30am in OC it was pouring.

Everybody ok down in SD?

We're fine ****-head. Where were you? Probable home playin' with yourself again. Guess that's what you do when no one else will.

<Snip Yep John still is the biggest jerk on the forum... Snip>

I notice Lanny looking busy, but Brodie working on his bike... nothing new here...

Correction, Lanny is tied with Johnny80s.... <_<
And Lanny just poses for the pic while Brodie does the work, ya POSER!

 

[dcarver]

Very cool - looks like everyone had a great time and got some stuff done too!

 

[Brodie]

Very cool - looks like everyone had a great time and got some stuff done too!

Fixed it for ya Don

Just got home abut an hour ago from a memorable weekend which included the SoCal FJR Tech. Day. Many thanks to Neal and his better half Janet for hosting this event.

It seems that I was the one who traveled the longest distance - Milpitas/San Jose. I may live in NorCal at the moment, but I am a SoCal guy at heart having been born and raised in Torrance. My sister and family lives near by so I had a place to stay. Good thing because I had left home around 5 the previous evening and got into town around 1:45 in the morning. I fought the rain a good portion of the trip, but was blessed with a dry trip through the mountains north of Los Angeles. I must say heated gear is worth the cost when you ride in these less than tropical weather conditions.

After about 5 hours sleep, and a very rude alarm awakening from my iPhone, I made my way over to Neal's house where 2 other riders were there to greet me. It was fun to see the crew report in, sometimes one by one, sometimes in groups. It was a treat to my eyes when the 2 passengers( Jacquie and Shawn ) removed their helmets to reveal their drop dead gorgeous looks and a beautiful smiles. Guys, consider it a privilege to have your very best friend take such an interest in your hobby that they look forward to riding with you. Not all of us have that pleasure.

This was my first time at one of these gatherings to "work" on our bikes, While I had a good time and made lots of new friends, something kept nagging at me...

it seems like there were plenty of "Supervisors" on hand but precious few guys actually working on a bike.

That said, I enjoyed everybody's company.


Here are a couple of the other working stiffs...

All and all, I'm glad I made the trip. You are all a bunch of great guys. Thanks for welcoming me into the fold.

As I said, I have family in this neck of the woods, My father also lives close by in an Assisted Living home. Unfortunately he is a stroke victim and is wheelchair bound. At 84 years, he's live a good long life, Engineer/Draftsman, motorcyclist from way back, taught me how to ride at our cabin in Lake Elsinore when I was growing up.

I took the time this morning to visit him before leaving for home. Its sad to see him sitting asleep in his chair passing the time away. I quietly walked up to him, set my helmet and jacket on the table close by and kneeled down facing him. When he woke up, needless to say, he was excited to see me. He had no idea I was coming.We spent about an hour and a half together, in conversation (mostly one way), I showed him some pictures on my iPhone of my work, had a short video of my CNC vertical lathe in action on a 43 inch stainless steel chamber. Had a few recent pictures of my grown up kids (Philip 24, and Marie - soon to be 22). Had an old picture of my mother in her early '20s in a beautiful shoulderless evening gown - a real eye catcher.

When it was near time for me to go, lunch time, I took him out to the bike in the parking lot and showed him a couple of new farkles on the bike. He watched me get suited up, I was expecting heavy rains going over the Grapevine (interstate 5 northbound out of LA). I then took him back in and into the dining room and said my good byes.

What a ride home! I decided to take the most direct route home, straight up 5 through Los Angeles. I don't know if it was a mistake or not, I was expecting traffic any route I took on a sunday afternoon. I was dry up through Santa Ana when I decided to stop off at a hardware store to get an O-ring and a different knob for my light control. On the trip down I made a gas stop in Glendale and noticed the new Clearwater lights began to flicker bright. After futzing a little bit I figured it was the dimmer pot I mounted upright on my dash panel. I pulled the fuse so I could finish the last hour or so ride to my sister's house friday night/ saturday morning. It had dried out while in town and was working fine, I wanted to keep it that way. I also have 3 HeatTroller knobs mounted in the same area. They have the same pot controller but different knobs. An O-ring is also provided to add tension to the twisting action so it would stay put and not loose its setting due to vibration. This knob also attaches with a side screw. The one by Clearwater only stays in place by the tight fit.

I was able to find a Lowes and a Radio Shack to get the components and put them in place before the rains came. I'm glad I did, we had a real frog strangler heading over the Grapevine. not only were the roads saturated, I fought heavy traffic nearly all the way. There were times the spray and mist was so heavy it was a near white out condition. It wasn't until 30 miles north of the mountains, in the California central valley (Buttonwillow) that the rains let up. I gassed up the bike and headed toward the nearest Dennys - hey, they're always open. I spent a good hour having my breakfast @ 4:30. It took me 4 1/2 hours to go 200 miles in traffic. Good thing 5 opened up and dried up after that. My stitch is old and no longer repels the water, the whole front of it was saturated. My First Gear Nylon rain pants, I discovered, had a leaky crotch, and the Gerbing heated gloves I bought for the trip on the way down never had a chance to get any water repelling treatment. I was soaked in front. Good thing I had the heated gear, at least it was a warm soaking. For those that are keeping track on the electronics, My Clearwater Lights 4 Glendas and 2 Kristas draw down my Datel .4 volts, My 90 watt warm & safe heated jacket liner and gloves and heated grips drew it down another .3 volts. Most of the trip was at around 13.2 volts. I am satisfied at the moment with my set up.

It's getting late, I just wanted to check in and say once again, Thanks Neal for inviting me down for a visit.

I think I'l take my HOT shower now.

Brodie

 

[johnny80s]

It was a good time.

 

[CATCH ME IF UCAN]

Brodie, Wow What a ride. You can call me Whippy. I bailed on the thought of riding in rain. whish I had gone away. It looked like it was all worth it

 

[cometman]

It was a good time.

I second that and add "It was a great time" .....very nice to meet you Brodie and great conversation....I was the one asking you all the questions while you were helping Lanny sort out his ride.

Mark

 

[Santa Fe Dreamin']

Brody:

 

It was great meeting and working with you. Glad you got home safe - wet, but safe.

 

Don't be a stranger!

 

[Fairlaner]

I think it is time for another one......watch this space....

R

 

[johnny80s]

I think it is time for another one......watch this space....

R

That doesn't sound good.

 

[Santa Fe Dreamin']

I think it is time for another one......watch this space....

R

Hope it don't hurt as much the second time!!!!!