"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

Went to a nice fireworks show about 30 miles north of us tonight to celebrate. Usually we watch fireworks from our upstairs window, which lets us watch about half a dozen shows at various distances, but my daughter was at the control board for this one. So this was the one to see this year. They put on a good show.
 
knarfeng said:
Went to a nice fireworks show about 30 miles north of us tonight to celebrate. Usually we watch fireworks from our upstairs window, which lets us watch about half a dozen shows at various distances, but my daughter was at the control board for this one. So this was the one to see this year. They put on a good show.
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We stayed home on the 4th this year. From our location, I counted 9 fireworks displays across the valley and hills.
My youngest son and family watched their local village display. He got this pic, which I like.
Y6Pdyyq.jpeg
 
From July 3rd to 6th I participated in the gathering of vintage cars of the 24 Hours of Le Mans classics. For this occasion my son finished the restoration of a 1964 Austin Cooper and I had the exceptional opportunity to drive this car on 2 laps of the Le Mans circuit. The Austin Cooper is a car designed for road racing but my son made significant modifications to the chassis, steering, engine and gearbox. The result was very surprising and very fun to drive on the circuit . If the small engine cannot compete with the usual V8 in top speed on the straights, in the tight curves of some corners it was another story.
Unforgettable experience. _20250708_053657.JPGIMG-20250707-WA0058.jpg

Dan.
 
dantzk8 said:
From July 3rd to 6th I participated in the gathering of vintage cars of the 24 Hours of Le Mans classics. For this occasion my son finished the restoration of a 1964 Austin Cooper and I had the exceptional opportunity to drive this car on 2 laps of the Le Mans circuit. The Austin Cooper is a car designed for road racing but my son made significant modifications to the chassis, steering, engine and gearbox. The result was very surprising and very fun to drive on the circuit . If the small engine cannot compete with the usual V8 in top speed on the straights, in the tight curves of some corners it was another story.
Unforgettable experience. View attachment 2920484View attachment 2920485

Dan.
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I'm officially jealous :D
 
DRat! Power (and so Internet) is down from 07:08 (about 1 minute after I got in the shower) until at least 09:30. 🤬👎☹️🥺😭
Since I no longer have unlimited data on "smart" phone, I R going to have to be scarce today. ☹️
(you're welcome.😁)
Edit: Power & Internet returned just after 09:00.
sorry about that. ☹️
 
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JB in SC said:
Nice Austin, my late father in law had an XK120 Jaguar and my wife had an XK150 coupe. Got to be a mechanic to own a vintage British car.
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My son is a good mechanic who knows this type of car well. As for me, I spent too many weekends repairing wrecks to be able to go to work on Mondays when I was young. Car mechanics scares me.

Dan.
 
Went extreme on whittler Wednesday yesterday, had multiple repairs on hand. Great surgeon but he would not use the Cripple Creek whittler I offered him. This getting old is not for sissies. Got to get used to the 5 lb weight at the end of my arm, already smacked myself in the face twice.


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Augie said:
Went extreme on whittler Wednesday yesterday, had multiple repairs on hand. Great surgeon but he would not use the Cripple Creek whittler I offered him. This getting old is not for sissies. Got to get used to the 5 lb weight at the end of my arm, already smacked myself in the face twice.


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Sorry about your hand John , but I really like your Cripple Creek . Not many of those out there .

Harry
 
Augie said:
Went extreme on whittler Wednesday yesterday, had multiple repairs on hand. Great surgeon but he would not use the Cripple Creek whittler I offered him. This getting old is not for sissies*. Got to get used to the 5 lb weight at the end of my arm, already smacked myself in the face twice.


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What did you do, young man?? :oops: Heal well!!🤔:rolleyes:

*("getting old is not for sissies!") Quote the Old Dog (RIP)!!
 
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JB in SC said:
Got to be a mechanic to own a vintage British car.
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Judging by the 1965 Triumph T100C (500 cc) I had back in 1982/19 and 83, and the 1969(?) Norton 850 Commando my best friend had ... it helps to be a mechanic to own a vintage British motorcycle ... (or in his case have deep enough pockets for a full restoration. I've not seen or talked to him since 1985. No idea if he still has that bike. I hope so, it was beautiful.) Come to think of it, back in the mid '70's an acquaintance in San Bernardino/Highland, CA. had a Norton 750 TT/Rally Race bike (I forget what year his bike was) he made street legal ... he did all his own mechanical work.
I don't think I ever knew anyone who owned a BSA. (BTW, I was told "BSA" is an acronym for "Bee Itch Stopped AGAIN" by the shop in Davenport, IA, that specialized in British bikes.)
 
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Old Engineer said:
Sorry about your hand John , but I really like your Cripple Creek . Not many of those out there .

Harry
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waynorth said:
What did you do, young man?? :oops: Heal well!!🤔:rolleyes:

*("getting old is not for sissies!") Quote the Old Dog (RIP)!!
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Thank you Harry, felt Cripple Creek was an appropriate choice.

Thanks Charlie, just years of doing hard physical work with my hands, thumb joint was really worn and had severe trigger finger with a cyst in my ring finger.
 
afishhunter said:
Judging by the 1965 Triumph T100C (500 cc) I had back in 1982/19 and 83, and the 1969(?) Norton 850 Commando my best friend had ... it helps to be a mechanic to own a vintage British motorcycle ... (or in his case have deep enough pockets for a full restoration. I've not seen or talked to him since 1985. No idea if he still has that bike. I hope so, it was beautiful.) Come to think of it, back in the mid '70's an acquaintance in San Bernardino/Highland, CA. had a Norton 750 TT/Rally Race bike (I forget what year his bike was) he made street legal ... he did all his own mechanical work.
I don't think I ever knew anyone who owned a BSA. (BTW, I was told "BSA" is an acronym for "Bee Itch Stopped AGAIN" by the shop in Davenport, IA, that specialized in British bikes.)
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My college roommate had a Triumph T120, it left a puddle wherever he parked. I remember following him back to Atlanta several times so he wouldn’t get stranded. I worked on it most of the time, he couldn’t afford a real mechanic.
 
waynorth said:
I owned a BSA Super Rocket, from 1964 to 1966, when I bought a Triumph Bonneville (my only new bike!) in 1966! Both bikes were trouble free!! The Triumph started first kick, even in winter!!
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My T100C started first or second kick. After 0.5 miles (on a good day) one of the two cylinders stopped firing. Single carburator, so that eliminated a carburation issue.
Itt also enjoyed pulling the clutch end of the clutch cable off ... after 3 to 7 shifts.
It was a very reliable bike! I could rely on pushing it home after a mile or so. 🤨

I traded it for a 1973 Dodge Polara 4 door sedan, at the start of the first fall/winter after I bought it. (the dodge had the "bullet proof" 318 V-8, 727 automatic, and a working heater. 😁👍 (I don't know - or care - if the A/C worked. In the 3 years I had that car I only used the "2/4-60 A/C". (2 or 4 windows down & 60 mph.)
 
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Augie said:
Went extreme on whittler Wednesday yesterday, had multiple repairs on hand. Great surgeon but he would not use the Cripple Creek whittler I offered him. This getting old is not for sissies. Got to get used to the 5 lb weight at the end of my arm, already smacked myself in the face twice.


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Hope you heal fast buddy :thumbsup:
 
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