Airstreams - Corvettes - Harley Davidson

[STstudios]

Awesome photos everyone!
Here's my '86 345 Classic with a '93 Harley Softail Springer - on our way to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this past year.

[PaulnGina]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

JimGolden... that's the spirit we need.......

Kindred spirits, I guess......

I never had the cash to buy a Harley, but a lot of years ago when I started riding motorcycles, I looked at Suzuki Intruders because I love the V-twin sound. Well, the dealer told me there was an 800cc model and a 1400cc model. Processed that one for about a nanosecond, and said, "Duh, gimme the 1400!!" Loved that bike..... sounded awesome with drag pipes on it!

Later, traded it on a Honda Valkyrie Interstate..... 1500cc BIG retro cruiser. Loved that one, too!

Now, the Avion..... I imagine if there was a 36-footer, I'd have that one. (Well..... maybe not...... I like the 34-footer we have.... can't imagine a longer one.)

[911Patriot]

Originally Posted by STstudios

Awesome photos everyone!
Here's my '86 345 Classic with a '93 Harley Softail Springer - on our way to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this past year.

Gorgeous!

[switz]

Cessna airplanes - yup
european sports cars - yup
1957 Thunderbird - yup
Harley motorcycles - yup
BMW motorcycles - yup
Airstream trailers - yup

All were fun, only the Airstreams are left. Life is so much simpler.....

[JimGolden]

I guess I should come clean and admit: I am a Gen X age. Just always worked hard and enjoy what toys I can get.

Paul and Gina, if you measure your Avion 34 from bumper to ball, you'll find it's actually 35'-11". So, you do have a 36 footer

On bikes, I'm not brand specific. I like them all. I've had a Honda, three Kawi's, and now the V-Rod, which is hated by many Harley guys. I like it though, so that's all that matters to me. I'd kind of like to have a Ducati, just because I like them. Cost a lot though.... I'm like Jay Leno without the money....I like them all...wish I had a garage like his

The C7 Corvette is pretty sweet. And I toured their plant one time and was very impressed with their QA/QC methods. Each line had a little jingle. If an issue occurred, they'd play this specific song over the factory wide PA system. If the supervisor was at lunch or something, he'd hear his line's "trouble song" and come running. They had lots of neat ideas like that.

If it's got wheels, wings, or floats, it's good!

[gdanderson]

My passion is classic boats. Do about two a year. Find them, rebuild them then sell them a loss. How about that for a hobby?

Greg Anderson
Wisconsin

[streaminwild]

Originally Posted by tevake

Streaminwild, that's an impressive collection of vettes there in your pic.
Would you share a little about your passion, and how these all came to live with you.
I really enjoy going to car shows and have come to the conclusion that the back stories are often as interesting as the the cars themselves.

Cheers Richard

A true barn find Richard. Bought from a retired airline pilot living in Las Vegas and storing the cars in New Jersey, where he used to live. They hadn't moved in 20yrs and was selling them only as a package deal. He had the ''earliest black'' according to author Noland Adams, 1958 corvette with the base 283 engine. Before black they were charcoal. A rare radio delete optioned, 1966 yellow corvette with a 300hp 327. And a 1966 maroon corvette survivor with a 350hp 327. Survivor means that it's all original, even the paint. All three were convertibles, and all had hard tops. I gathered a couple of National Corvette Restores Society or N.C.R.S. judges and drove up to see them on October 22 2000... my 40th birthday. After several hours of checking numbers and date codes, they pulled me aside and told me to ''buy them now''. My dad flew in from Timberon New Mexico, and we picked them up on Thanksgiving weekend. Each day we drove from Leesburg Va, to New Jersey 3 hours one way. Shoveled dirt, to open the barn doors all the way. Filled all the tires with air, and loaded the trailer. The next weekend I made one more trek up to collect all the corvette parts he had, not knowing that he would buy all the new old stock or N.O.S. parts from dealers going out of business. He had a rare set of Kelsey Hays knock off rims, that I mounted on the yellow vette. With a lot of elbow grease and T.L.C., I had them all cleaned up and running by spring. And yes, I did pinch myself to make sure this wasn't a dream The white 1966 390hp 427 was purchased site unseen in San Francisco a few years later. I didn't have any kids, so I worked 340 days a year. The cars was my 401k plan. I would trade them all in, for a hug from a child waiting for me to come home and yelling...daddy. Cars 150k...a hug from a child ...priceless. Now I want to see the U.S. and find a small town to retire in. Maybe find out what really ''true love'' is, before I get too old. Finding true love would also be....priceless. If I find the ''right one'' with kids...I would be pinching myself again.

[911Patriot]

Originally Posted by gdanderson

My passion is classic boats. Do about two a year. Find them, rebuild them then sell them a loss. How about that for a hobby?

Greg Anderson
Wisconsin

Oh my gosh those are spectacular boats! You are truly preserving a bygone era on the water.

[Denis4x4]

After paying for the Airstream, I had to make my own car with 85 year old parts.

[tevake]

Oh boy, the cork is really out of the bottle now!

Pics of grandma in the one family 53 crown Vic.

The all original corvette barn find collection.

The winged plastic classic boats complete with period motors.

That beautiful V tailed aluminum chariot of the skies.

Homemade roadsters with vintage parts.

All interwoven with Rays incomparable commentary on inter generational relations and values. Too funny!, you are in rare come Ray!

And don't get me started on boats.

Tevake ( below )was my faithful steed for many pacific cruising adventures!

Lovin this thread!

[tevake]

Oh yeah there is that beautiful polished classic 345 with bike in tow.

If it wasn't for my inherent laziness and fear of setting self combusting fires wherever I go, I be SO INSPIRED!

Really fine image!

Cheers Richard

[Ray Eklund]

We have such a diversified group of Airstream owners and potential owners on this Forum.

We are each born under different environments and even cultural preferences if we are brought up in a rural or urban environment. All, have no doubt been 'hazed' by their older and younger siblings. It builds character among one another. The elder and the youngest with those in the middle finding their own space.

I was the 'collector' in our family. Still am. It is the hunter and gatherer instinct that make the best collectors. When streaminwild mentioned the convertable covettes and having the removable hardtops for each... I KNOW how rare that is. It is the thrill of the hunt and then the finding something unexpected and now own a fleet of boats.

Over time our interests focus on what matters most. It is at times difficult to let go of those things we spent so much pleasure, some times a bit frustrating, time to bring back something from a potential scrap yard. Or from someone who did the hunt, gathered and restored only to lose interest and move on to the next cycle.

We poke fun at one another over these differences of tastes and how interests can be purely accidental at first, developing into a passion later. It is harmless entertainment and sharpens our interests and finding new friends in the process.

This has been very enjoyable to see the passion among those who keep themselves busy and how we find new interests as old interests lack the challenges of discovery.

I still miss my 1957 Ford pickup truck I owned in 1970. If it were not for that nice cherry red 1964 Corvette convertible on the corner for sale... I may still own that pickup today.

[PKI]

Originally Posted by gdanderson

My passion is classic boats. Do about two a year. Find them, rebuild them then sell them a loss. How about that for a hobby?

Greg Anderson
Wisconsin

Greg - you are to be highly commended for your superb efforts. Restoring boats is a noble hobby. If by chance you happen to bring wooden boats back to life, then you advance from nobility to the monarchy. And if, by chance, said same craft is a sailing yacht, you will be joyfully advanced to god status.

Thanks for sharing your passion. Pat

[1965 mustang]

Yup, it's contagious!


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[rmkrum]

Sigh. My dad made his living as a boat captain. He always claimed a boat was a hole in the water lined with wood, metal or fiberglass int which you pour money.

Kinda like an Airstream, but they are not quite as wet all the time. A lot of what I learned from him applies to working on AS systems and leak proofing. You just never know. I learned a lot about woodworking from him as well.

And yes, restoring wooden boats is truly honorable work. Dad was an expert at wood decks, varnish and bright work, and a commensurate boat handler. I still miss him. He was never happier than when he was at the wheel of a wooden sailboat....with the sails set and a good breeze to take him where he wanted to go, in style.


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[Moflash]

It's an addiction.Too many cars and too little time.


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[amaier7771]

Ray, Thanks for starting this thread!! I really am enjoying reading all the posts and the photos!! I will share my Airstream, Harley, Bird, Harley journey It been a ride.

Started with a Harley Davidson 45 WLA with the Suicide Clutch and Jockey shifter, (which I had a photo of it, but a camera was not in the game yet). Then there was the 59 Thunderbird ragtop, ( yep have an old faded photo), top down, carton of Winston, case of beer and non-stop from Chicago to the Ranch in western North Dakota!! The 77 Vette was successful in snagging my wonderful wife, and it was a ride... A few other things in between, and now the Duramax/RZR and Airstream. After, stoping by Ray's neck of the woods for a Growler of Rock Yard Red Hawk, packing a a bit of Cast Iron, some food, and the other dry camping stuff, we head to the Colorado Mountains, or if there is that white stuff around, we head to NM/AZ find a place and enjoy.

[Redleger]

We love our 2006 Corvette. I've taken it to KY 3 times in the last 6 years and she drove like a dream. It gets great gas mileage on the open highway - I actually averaged 27.8 on our last trip. (Ours is the convertible on the right, we were visiting the Tucson Air Museum with a Phoenix club)

We also love our 69 Overlander. It on the other hand hasn't been so cost effective. Although we haven't had many bad experiences on the road, she sat for 16+ years before we got her and that has taken a toll on most of the mechanical and electrical items. I think with time this too will become a very enjoyable addition

[tevake]

Ahoy Moflash

I can easily fit Springfield into upcoming trip plans if you would like help in getting your machinery well exercised. Always like to be helpful!

Cheers Richard

[KJRitchie]

Might as well list my largest money pits. Lets see for me it was BMW 2002, 2002tii back in the late 70s, then home theater set ups, then RC model airplanes now its the Airstream and tow vehicle. Of course all the homes I lived in have to be included as money pits and throw in all the transportation cars I've owned besides the BMWs. My future and last money pit is going to be a nursing home.

Kelvin