Venturous Randy

We hade a good trip home and got everything separated and washing clothes. I mowed some on the yard since it was relatively dry and should have been mowed before we left Wednesday. I have pulled a muscle in the right side of my back in the last few days and doing anything just about takes my breath away. But, with not participating in last nights festivities, at least I don't have a hangover. I had a good time and it was great to spend time with some old friends. Randy

Except for some clothes, we are packed, I will try to get Linda out of here before lunch and hope to be there by 2PM on Wednesday. As for now, the rain has been moved up until Friday in Asheville, but it is supposed to be hot Thursday, but cooler after. We will probably get some lunch on the way down. Randy

Isn't fishing supposed to be better when it is raining? Randy

This was in India. Randy https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/downtime/close-call-motorcyclist-avoids-landslide-by-inches/vi-BBLNBH7?ocid=spartandhp

GM did the same thing with the Chevelle and Nova. This is the Chevelle version. This is the Beaumont. Randy

Yes, lots of memories. I have always been a car guy, even as a kid. Got a go cart when I was 7 and a motorcycle when I was 13. First car was a 59 English Ford Anglia 4 speed, as my mom had a 58 that I learned to drive with. My first real car was a 64 327 4 speed Chevelle when I was still 17. I almost bought a 58 Corvette that was a complete driver for $700. The Chevelle got me thru high school and 4 years in the USAF and then I found a perfect 65 Chevelle body with a 4:10 posi 12 bolt, one of the short rearends that are very rare. I had already updated the engine in the 64 with a later model 327 that I had put 11.5 pistons, an L-79 cam, early Z-28 intake and headers. In the 65 with the 4:10 gears, that car was quick. I bought a 72 240Z while in college and in 79 put in a 350 Chevy with 350 Turbo and with that engine and later with the 327 refreshed, I put a total of 156,000 miles on with a V-8. Fun, well known car. Yep, it had a reputation. When I had the 65, I ran across a Z-16 Chevelle a guy had sitting in a field for $800. A guy bought it and resold it for $3,000. That guy replaced the clutch and cleaned it up and a couple years later sold it for $54,000. One went across BJ about a month ago for $255,000. There were only 201 Z-16 Chevelles built in 65 and all with the 375 hp 396 engines as a promo for the new 66 396 Chevelles. Also, one was a convertible, but no one knows where it went. That car would be worth a fortune. And, to relive my childhood, I picked up a 64 Chevelle SS car that a guy had put a 65 front end on it. It came with a new floorboard more 65 fenders and rear quarters. It is still sitting beside the garage and I have not touched it. My son has a 65 Chevelle 300 he bought when he was 16 that now has a 4 speed and the old 327 I had in the 240 Z, refreshed again. Randy

Looking forward to it. We have yet to get the little camper out and check everything. We normally bring the Miata and the Infiniti as Linda likes to take some ladies thrifting and antiquing while the rest us are riding, but with so few women there that we know are coming, we may just bring two Miatias. In the past there were always women that were just tired of riding and this worked out good. I don't have much idea who all are coming. At this time we have reservations for Thursday to Sunday, but we may come earlier. We will just have to see how things are going on here. Randy

We came down 276 into Brevard today and ate at the Red Dragon Chinese restaurant. We were close by to you. Hope to see you at the Asheville Rally. Randy

Took a ride across the mountain into NC and on the way back we crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway on highway 215 and pulled over in the shade and took a nap. My thermometer was reading 67 degrees. Beautifully partly cloudy day with great visibility. Randy

I use Rottella T in everything, cars, lawnmower, Bikes, 4 stroke weedeater and leaf blower. Does not appear to sludge up to me. Randy

I spent time in Texas, Eastern NC, Ill, IN and Thailand. Of all the places I have been, north eastern Tennessee fits me the best. There are green mountains all around with wonderful views, waterfalls and rivers and lakes. I am about 45 minutes from 6,000+ elevation and an hour from the Blue Ridge Parkway. If it gets hot down here in the valleys and I want to cool off, I take a ride and now it is top down with the Miata. I really can not imagine what is like for you guys that live on flat land and don't have lush green mountains and especially where summer is about unbearable. When I got out of the USAF, my now ex wanted to move the Birmingham, AL where her parents retired and I told her no, I am going back home to the mountains. I have also had some good job offers over the years that were in some miserable hot places and to me, it was just not worth it. Randy

It is 71 degrees right now here in NE TN and I don't think it got out of the 70's today. It is to be about 66 tonight. I don't do good with hot weather as I have gotten older. Randy

The most popular swap in a Miata is probably the LS versions of the GM V-8. You can get a LS3 crate motor with 525 horsepower and with a 5 or 6 speed it actually weighs less than the Miata four cylinder. There are a lot of V-6 swaps done also. Randy

It has been three years since I have been on my 83 and it is sitting on the carport covered up. I also have an 85 and my son has an 86 and my grandson has an 83. We need to get rid of all of them. It has been a good ride for me as I have put 150,000 miles on my 83 and it was a big part of my life. There was a time I could not imagine getting off my Venture, but with Linda telling me she was just not as comfortable as she wanted to be with the traffic and everything and me getting her a Miata, it all changed. I considered building a trike with the Goldwing I have, but for what it would cost, I could buy a really nice Miata. So, instead of going with three wheels in the wind, I went with four and enjoy it every time I get in it. I loved riding my Venture and have really enjoyed being with this group for so long and still plan on hanging around longer. I would love to have a smaller bike and it looks like with what you have that you will still enjoy playing around with one, but making the decision to get off the big bike can be a difficult, but wise choice. Randy

This is true. Randy

A couple years ago I did the permit class and took a 9mm I had never shot before, which was actually the first time I had shot a pistol in probably 30+ years or more. I scored 99 and the one shot I missed slightly was my second shot and I pulled the trigger before I was completely ready. I was concerned about only having vision in my left eye, but since I was shooting two handed, it did not seem to bother me too much. Loosing the vision in my right eye, which was due to long term diabetes and picking up an 800 motorcycle in the middle of nowhere, was pretty traumatic. It started with a vitreous hemorrhage that led into a detached retina and then more vessel problems. This is one of the reasons that I got off Ventures and got a couple of Miatas. Randy

You can leave the lowers off and the bike still look good. Randy

Yep, now, let's fill it up. Randy

Yeah, now the three young ones are as big or bigger than their parents. These have been good parents and have kept them well fed. They will fly off for a while, but come back to the nest to rest and be fed. It is amazing how they have beat the nest down this year compared to previous years. If this nest is to be used next year, there will need to be a lot of rebuilding. It has been fun watching them, especially when they were first learning to fly and trying to land, or I should say crash landing. They could usually hit the nest, but not necessarily be able to stay on the nest, falling off. Randy

I finally made reservations and am on G-25. I hope it starts picking up a bit and we get more interest. Two years ago I was about to give up and it turned out to be a great time with a lot of folks showing up Randy

I have swapped out many front and rear tires on my 1st gen and except for a couple times, I have mounted them myself and have balanced them. I use the old axle thru the wheel bridged on jack stands method and have never had a problem. I have also found that the tires seem to be more perfect than the wheels as the weights always seem to end up in the same place. I have also had wheels/tires machine balanced and not be satisfied with the results and rebalanced them myself. Randy

Being inseam challenged and having put 150,000 miles on my 83, the best thing that I did was pick up a Corbin seat that had a tear for cheap. I then scooped out a lot of foam and had it reupholstered. Not only was it lower, but much more comfortable on the hiway, especially with some hiway pegs. Randy

Hey puc, I was wondering why you were looking so much better and then realized it was because you were so out of focus. Love ya brother. Randy

I just about quit going on the Maxima/Infiniti forum as it is a bit vile. The Miata forum is much better as it is moderated pretty heavy. There are none I have been on that is like this one. This one is like family, but get along better than many families. Randy

Linda and I just made it home a few minutes ago. We put about 600 miles on the Miata and only about 30 miles was interstate. We even ended up on a gravel road. A lot of riding in the boonies. We saw a lot of variation in gas prices for regular gas with a high of $2.97 in WV to a low of $2.44 close to home. It was a good weekend and I am so glad that we went and am really going to miss Dan also. It just doesn't seem real. Randy