31 August 2009

A Non-Hobbyists's View of Cars

Muzzle velocity, ballistic co-efficient, terminal velocity, interior ballistics, exterior ballistics, sectional density, magazine, chamber, bolt face, crane, forcing cone, rolling block, falling block, standing block, cast-off, lock, stock, barrel, boat-tail, meplat, hard cast, jacketed, FMJ, HP, FP, Ballistic Tip, Silver Tip, Model 70, Model 700, Model 77, Model 94, Model 95, Mauser, Mannlicher, Steyr, Czeska-Zbrojovka, Pietro Beretta, Eliphalet Remington, Oliver Winchester, Sam Colt, Savage 110, head space, John Moses Browning, Enfield, Springfield, .45-70 Government, .30'06, .270, 6.5 x 55, 7.62x54R, 7.65 x 53, 7 x 57, 8 x 57, belted magnum, .17 HMR, .22 LR, .22 WMR, shotshell, rimmed, rimless, rebated rim, and gas operated.

There! That ought to hold you. I know that you'll miss dreadfully all the usual firearms gibberish in this post, so I provided some for you right up front.

Since I know as little about cars as anyone, and since the First Amendment has not (yet) been repealed, I thought I would lay a little car talk on you. They really aren't that much different, you know, cars and guns. Both were major strides forward in world technology, both have been used to destroy countless human beings and animals, both have changed the face of warfare, and both are constantly indispensable in civilized society. Both lend an unmistakable air of freedom and independence to their owners. Both can be status symbols, depending on their age, their capabilities, the quality of their construction, or the name which is stamped on them.

My first car was a 1968 Volvo 1800S. I can't immediately locate a picture of it, but some of you recall it from when Jacob called it "the baby car." That was at about the time of Shayne's advent to the family. I bought it, because the Air Force Credit Union turned me down for a loan on a fully restored and gorgeous little Austin-Healy "Bug-eye" Sprite. It was too old, they said, having been made in England in 1960 (when I was nine.) The Volvo Sport Coupe, however, although it was in fairly good working condition, was only a 1968, so the AFCU decided they could take a chance on that one.

I spent lots of money repairing and maintaining it, not because it was a poorly made car, far from it, but because I was giving it a year's worth of use every couple of months. The fact that I had been transferred from the Presidio of Monterey (about 20 minutes from Shayne's house) to George Air Force Base (7 1/2 hours from Shayne's house) meant very little to me. She had to be visited at least every other weekend. I was certain of that. And so, the little Volvo had many, many miles put on it on freeways like I-5 and the 101. It also spent lots of time on two-lane highways like California 198 and Palmdale Road. When Shayne and I were in it, the Volvo logged lots of time in Monterey, Salinas, Castroville, and Moss Landing. It drove down Cannery Row innumerable times, and was parked as close as we could get it to the beach at Carmel-by-the-Sea. Naturally, we were more careful about that after Clint Eastwood became mayor there.

I once had a close friend who shared my love of various things such as firearms, airplanes, formula one racing cars, sports cars, history, and the LDS Church. His name was Rusty Black. Rusty was good to us in many ways, one of which truly touched our hearts. The second time we lived in Moscow, Joseph became briefly airborne while swinging with the Jimenez kids. The flight was OK, but the landing left much to be desired. During our boy's six weeks in traction, Rusty came up to the hospital many times with bags full of books to distract Joseph from the immobility which was driving him to distraction. I thought that Rusty knew more about cars than anyone I ever knew. And he did, at least until I met his little brother after Rusty's death from cancer. Kevin Black is a walking research engine (We used to say encyclopaedia there, but this seems more appropriate now, don't you think?) on the history, lore, and racing of cars. Oddly enough, he is now married to the same Sister Jimenez who so generously helped us with just about everything during both our tours in Moscow.

If I were anything like Kevin Black, I could tell you all the good and bad points about every car ever produced. As it is, I can only have a conversation with him if he patiently pulls me along, describing the history and technical philosophy of every car and car maker that has ever existed. When I offer a humble comment, after much thought and trepidation, he is always very kind in the way he corrects me, and he must almost always correct me on something. Only on guns can I keep up with him.

My ignorance of the subject notwithstanding, I still like cars and even love some of them. As the old expression goes, "I may not know art, but I know what I like." That's how I feel about cars. Here are a few I've photographed in the last couple of years.

I was particularly pleased with the results of this photograph since I'd taken it and several of these first ones with my phone.













Guess what name the Chrysler Corp. came up with for this color!


This poor little thing was the first car imported to America

by BMW after WW II.





Perhaps someone would be good enough to write in and tell me what the heck that thing is above the passenger side window.

The Chrysler Imperial had much in common with World War II Aircraft carriers.



You've probably noticed my weakness for cool "kit cars."




The DeSoto. Quite a story there, I understand.


In my teens, many cars were shaped generally like this. Today I find them terribly nostalgic.


Just plain cool. But not plain.

In my twenties, I knew a lot about cars like this.


I think this was the very first model of Corvette.



When I was in grade school, new cars looked generally like this.
That's all for now. I might find more pictures later.

















28 August 2009

Two Old Guys Roll Through the Hills at Breakneck Speed































I had never ridden one of these little beasts before, but I'd often thought it would be fun. Actually, I did ride one on one occasion back in 1991. In October of that year I got a 6x6 bull elk. Several friends helped me dress him out, but they wanted to go back to hunting then, and it was close to a mile to our camp. A fellow on a four-wheeler came along. I hailed and halted him and offered him $20 to take me and the elk (all parts) back to camp. Best $20 I ever spent.


Yesterday's riding was done with Dave Wilkins' whom I may have mentioned before here. He was in combat almost constantly for 3 months of 1969 in the Ashau Valley of Vietnam. He was one of 13 guys who went over there together. Two came home. He can tell you stories, as they say. Their collective effect is to render you uncertain whether to cheer for all such young men or to cry for a long time.

Dave kept up a pretty good pace on his little red machine. I had no trouble keeping up on his dark green Yamaha. I hit one puddle at 35 mph and got liberally doused with muddy water, but it only made me laugh. It also made my face dirty which is visible in a couple of the photos.

Then we stopped to shoot. This was very pretty country above the tiny burg of Inkom. I'll throw in a few shots of the scenery. Dave had brought along his Rossi (Brazilian) stainless steel five-shot revolver in .44 Special. Last year I gave him a few boxes of loads. We used two of those. One box was a snake load I'd made about 22 years ago with #7 1/2 bird shot. The load that kicked a little was the 240 grain Lead semi-wadcutter bullet in front of 6.8 grains of AA#5. The little revolver with its 3 inch barrel would jump upward fairly well under the recoil of this load. One photo shows that. The little Brazilian handgun shows impressive accuracy for something with such a short sight radius and fixed sights.

Would I want to own one of these 4WD vehicles? Only if all my other desires of a worldly nature had already been met. But they sure are fun!

22 August 2009

A Family Picnic at Alameda Park













The food was about average, which means pretty darned good. There were some rarely seen members of the clan there, hovering uncomfortably around the edges, grubbily or less than morally dressed and smoking cigarettes, but still very pleasant when spoken to. There are lots of very good people in this clan into which I married seven years ago. This small reunion was held last Sunday.

We stopped at a car lot to look around as we drove home. Sales personnel don't hassle you on Sundays.




Sheryl's brother Dennis married into this beauty of a step-daughter, a Junior this year where her mom, Vickie, teaches at Highland High.


Noreen Wilde, wife of Darrell and grandmother to Philip.



Uncle "Babe's" lovely grandchild.



Mellissa Bosen, eldest of Teresa's children. She teaches grade school in Utah and may actually have broken more hearts than Autumn!




Sheryl's brother Darrell's first grandchild, Philip Barela.


Natalie Bybee, daughter of Sheryl's brother Darrell.




Sheryl's sister, Teresa, right, and cousin Donna, daughter of Uncle "Babe."



An extra large family member who brought some cousins along.












09 August 2009

The 2009 Fort Hall Invitational Pow Wow

They say that the invitational Pow Wow down in Albuquerque is about 4 times the size of this one. That's hard to believe. There were thousands here and only a few were curious whites. I saw enough Lamanites last night to give Gen'l. Custer permanent incontinence. And, to wax scriptural about them, remember the promises in the Book of Mormon about them becoming a "delightsome people?" What could be more delightsome than this young lady, a friend of Zannita Armell?





Zannita's gorgeous niece holds her baby brother.




I was given the honor of marching with these guys.




Personally, I'm glad we don't have to fight anybody who looks like this any more.




With all those stripes, I couldn't tell whether he was a retired Marine NCO or a zebra.






A lovely target of opportunity strolls through the grounds.


Zannita's cousin, Sammy, clowns around as the Crazy Horse Monument.






Akira on my lap, Arica with her arm around my shoulders, and their cousins.



Since it was an invitational Pow Wow, this family could be from anywhere in the US or Canada.


One dance competitor helps another prepare.









Zannita with baby Akira (who is 2 now!)



I took some of these pictures with the Armell's camera. This was one of many that I enjoyed editing.



This 74 year old veteran of two wars was a delightful companion.


Zannita's cousin, Sammy.


Another very pleasant aging veteran.








































My Favorite Books & Authors

  • Dale Brown
  • Mark Twain
  • Charles Dickens
  • Speeches both Historical and Hysterical
  • Damon Runyon
  • Jan Karon Mitford Novels
  • Clive Cussler
  • Tom Clancy Novels
  • Harry Potter
  • The Works of Ernest Thompson Seton