I just retired in 2005 from 24 years with the State of New Mexico Radio
Communications Bureau.
My hobbies include ham radio and restoring old motorcycles.
Here is my "ham station" at home. My Extra class ham call is N5BGC.
At left is a view of Santa Fe Lake just below Tesuque Peak.
It is very nice at 12,040 feet above sea level in the summer.
The Santa Fe Amateur Radio Club maintains a repeater system there.
If anyone is interested in Amateur radio, please look at the web site for the "ARRL". The FCC has made
getting a license much easier now. The code requirement has been eliminated
so the major stumbling block for most has been eliminated. There are
several clubs that offer classes of study to prepare you for the written
exam still required for the license. The ARRL web site should be of help.
I also have been experimenting with APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System). This allows mobile stations to broascast their location
via radio and have it displayed on maps. It has been used in search and
rescue and commercially in vehicle tracking. The state of New Mexico has
a very extensive network of stations that provide relay of the signals.
The system uses GPS receivers, a TNC and a radio to utilize the system.
You can have a look at their web site. I am finding it very interesting.
Another ham friend and I have a business that is directly related to radio.
We own and operate "Santa Fe Two Way". We sell radio equipment and rent air
time on a repeater system near Santa Fe. Here we are at "work".
I found a bicycle - a Sears (not a JC Higgins). It is a womens model.
The paint is starting to peel but the chrome cleaned up very well. I am trying
to settle on a date for it also. I would guess the 1960's. It is brown
with yellow pinstripping. If anyone has a guess, please let me know.
At the 2007 national Cushman meet, I picked up another bicycle. It is a
Western Flyer made for Western Auto stores. The small city license tag
on it is dated 1952 so the bike is late 1940's or early 1950's. It is in
excellent shape with nothing bent or broken. It has the headlight and taillight
that use a C-cell battery. These need work because they are corroded
but some work should restore them. The whole bike is not rusted but has
a fine patina that makes it look great. I put new wide white wall tires
on it because you could see right through the tires. The tires and tubes
were actually the Western Auto brand. The tubes only had a couple of
patches.
I am trying to leave it as origional as possible except for the tires.
In May 2007 I traded a Honda Silverwing for a BMW F650GS. This is a street and trail
capable machine. I had never owned a BMW before so this is a new experience
for me.
The first two tanks of gas I got about 65-75 miles per gallon on the open road.
More on this machine as I own it longer. The BMW web site has great photos.
Being a BMW rider, I have had the opportunity to do some of their training
done by a great organization. RawHyde Adventures provides BMW riders with
BMW sponsored training. They have a facility in California and also hold
rallys in several parts of the U.S. Jim Hyde puts on a great school and does
great ride rallys. In 2009 I was fortunate enough to attend some offroad
training in Colorado Spring, CO. He took us through many skill sets then
turned us loose on the dirt roads of the forest in Colorado. I rode the
Rampart Range Road at speeds on the dirt that I would have never thought
possible!
In August 2010 we returned to Colorado and ride to the top of
Pikes Peak. Check out Jim's web site to see details and see videos of some
of the unbelievable places that a BMW GS machine can go to. "Off Road Academy"
In 2011 we were in Moab, Utah. That was a great trip. The
scenery in that area is great. I will post pictures soon.
I traded a computer for a "1984 Honda 110." It has the two speed transmission so
it can really do some off-road work. (Well, as much as a 110 can do.) It is the
perfect size for my wife, Maggie. We are looking forward to the summers.
I found a real good buy on a "1956 Cushman Eagle." I had a 1956 in my youth so it is great to have another one. It is the 8-horse model with a Mikuni carb. That carb makes a very good improvement on starting and running of a flat head Cushman.
It also does not leak like the original carb does.
I found two basket case Cushmans in October 2010. They are somewhat
complete and waiting restoration. One has already been painted orange
and black. Sort of looks like a 1950's Harley paint job.
The other one needs blasting and painting.
I have been wanting a 1970's Honda Mini Trail 50 (Monkey Bike) for some time.
I did find three CT70 Hondas. I have begun restoration and have one
complete. I kept it origional. The one on the bench now has been painted
a non-standard blue, but I like the color. I ran into a wiring problem
and cold weather in the garage, so it will be a while.
I have been thinking about making a pit bike out of the third one. It will
be made up like a race bike. It may be more of a challenge since it will be
non-stock. I may have to fabricate parts for it. More on these later
In March 2011 I finally picked up a "Honda Mini Trail 50." I have been looking for one
of these for years. The ones I have found are either too much of a project
to complete or too expensive. Craig's List finally yielded one. I know it will take
a bucket of parts and money, but I am ready.
Since I retired and turned 60 years ago in the summer of 2005, I decided it was
time that I did something I have always wanted to do. I took up motorcycle racing!
The local track in Albuquerque, "Sandia Motorcycle Racing," has a great track day
and racing program. The venue I choose was Supermoto racing. It combines dirt,
and street racing with some motocross on slick tires. If you dont think racing
on slick tires in the dirt is fun try it!!! I bought a "2004 KTM 450SX" to use.
I wonder sometime if I should have started on a 50 instead of a 450. But, I learned. I have the x-rays to prove it. Somewhere I saw a bumper sticker that said
Dirt Hurts. I believe it now. Here is some of the "dirt section."
In May 2009 I decided to try a different type of racing. Friends at the SMRI track talked
me into doing Vintage Racing. I bought a "1971 Honda CB450" that was already converted
to a racing machine. It had all the unnedded parts removed. It has racing handle bars
and rearset foot pegs and controls. So far I like it. You can keep up by accessing the
SMRI web page above. I will be listed under number 765 in the Lightweight Vintage class.
I have picked up a couple of small Honda motorcycles to convert to vintage racing.
I found a CL200 and a CB175. I have the 200 torn down and need to get the motor unstuck.
The 175 is mostly complete and hopefully can be put back in shape easily.
More on these as I progress. They will probably be winter projects (some winter).
Here is a video of 3 laps around Inde Motorsports Ranch near Willcox, AZ.
The video is 9 minutes long and the three laps are about the same. "Inde Video"
While just window shopping at a local motorcycle shop, I found a beautiful "Kawasaki
KLR-250." It is an on and off road machine. We used to call them enduros in the
1950s and 1960s. I have used it just on the pavement in town and the last tank
of gas yielded 58 MPG. Not bad for this priced gas. My wife and I took
it to a local campground and tried out some dirt roads. I am learning in the dirt
but I was impressed. Practice with RawHyde Adventures sure helps with
technique and conficence.
In February of 2008, I found a "1966 Solex" that is very complete and running. The fact that is runs is foreign to me since I restore so many pieces of "junque". This machine is about 90 per cent there but lacks some of the fine parts that make it complete. There is a dealer in Utah that can supply parts. It is pretty far down the restoration list.
