My apologies for the lack of updates on the recent Puchavus upgrades. Much has been done, and although not yet GPSed, its currently somewhere around 50 mph. Look for more updates when I have internet access this fall. I am now the pround owner of a '78 Honda Hobbit... And so I join the ranks of the variated... Reliably!

So...

I started work at Motion Left this Monday, and I don't think I ever want to see a spoked wheel again. They sure can be shiny though! My 74cc Metrakit didn't come in the mail today. I was sad. Tomorrow?
I just put another couple of hours into Puchavus's gas tank. Polishing and polishing away. Tomorrow we take it to the powder coaters along with a lot of other stuff to see what clear powder will look like over a brushed tank... That way we'll know if we can do it for the Magnum build, which is going to be HOT!!!! Updates soon...

Done, and Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just finished my last final!!! Bring on the summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Motion Wet!!!

Our rally was a success even though it rained! Well, at least we finally built a successful human pyramid!!! Friday on the ride out to the shop I soft seized my engine, spent the afternoon cleaning up the cylinder and putting it all back together. Then it died in the rain on the night ride and wouldn't start the next day for the long ride. So I borrowed Amy's swinger which proceeded to be its own record as the slowest Puch ever made. So then I borrrow a Sachs that gets me up to the campsite fine but dies half the way back. I ride in the chase van. Back at the shop I get the Puchavus running again and sieze the engine again 10 minutes into the ride to dinner. So I get towed with my belt behind Nate's Hobbit and set the latest speed record on the Puchavus: 42 mph... That's when the clutch engaged.... I thought my arm was going to fall off. So now the Puchavus has a siezed engine, no drive chain, and a clutch that's got something seriously wrong with it... WOOOOOOOOOO!!! But really, I wasn't being sarcastic about how great our rally was. i think everyone had a blast. And hey, I'm rebuilding the ZA-50 anyway! and that cylinder needed to get out of the way of my new 74 Metra!!! Katching!!!

Sadly, we all had to say goodby to Responsible Jon who is moving to Seattle... I'm gonna miss ya! Blood Drive IV here we come!!!!!!!

Rain and petcocks...

So Puchavus has been running fine since Whiskey Business. She doens't really like the rain at all, but some different kind of carb filter might help... Alao the rear brake is barely working so I guess I need to either take it apart and see whats wrong or just salvage one off a batavus in the back of the shop. Also there is some curious metalic dust gathering on the chain... I can't see in places where it's rubbing though.

I started her up tonight to ride to the studio and spent a good 15 minutes trying to figure out if I was grounding out somewhere, then checked my fuel switch- it was off... I love and hate that feeling.

The velocity stack (bicycle horn) should be in by now so I can rig that up Sunday as we prepare for our rally, cleaning the shop, getting the firepit ready, marking the road for the quarter mile races, reviewing the ride, etc.

My targeted 42mph was a bit of a stretch on this stock cylinder, although I really can't complain (35ish maybe a little more isn't bad), but plans are now to throw on a 74cc Metra kit whenever Benji gets some back in stock... Rippin'!!!! I figure a Metra kit is my best bet as I want a kit with a bit more endurance than a sprint kit like a Polini since I'll be riding 12 miles to work at the shop over the summer. Mid 50's would be awsome, but I don't know how realiable it would be if I did a lot of porting. Heck, I'll probably do it anyway...
So that means a new carb (21mm?). And even more importantly, a SEAT. That piece of metal is about as comfortable as it looks: not at all, but then Burt Munro would be proud.

On the downside I definitely won't have her kitted by Motion What?, but she's plenty fast for a midwest rally.

Here's Something From My Current Project

Une Hotel en Paris...



This is an alternate version for the portico based on a chimney out of Vitruvius Brittanicus

On a Differnet Note

Oh the joys of website translators... I found this juicy tidbit on a Spanish site - Los Secretos del Inmortal Nicolas Flamel about a book called The Magician.

This is drama:

"Californian Its. In the hands of Dr. John Dee and the Dark Elders, the book of Abraham the Mage could pisses the destruction of the world ace we know it. The most powerful book of all Time, it holds the secret to eternal life. To secret one dwells dangerous than any man should to ever hold. And Dee is two pages away from the knowledge that would bring the Dark Elders into ultimate to power. His only obstacle? Josh and Sophie Newman - who plows 8.000 thousands away. Its Paris. After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerges in Paris. The City of Lights. For Home Nicholas Flamel. Only this homecoming is anything but sweet. Perenell is still locked up back in Gannet and Paris is burning - with it, the last hopes for the human race. Nicollo Machiavelli, collector author immortal and celebrated art, is working for Dee. He's to after them, and Time is running out for Nicholas and Perenell.Every day spent without the book they age one to year - to their magic becomes to weaker and to their bodies, dwells frail. For Flamel the Prophesy is becoming dwells and dwells to clear. It's for Time elementary Sophie to learn the second magic. Fire Magic. And there's only one man who dog teach it to to her. Flamel's old student The Comte of Saint Germain - alchemist, magician, and rock to star. Josh and Sophie Newman plows the world's only hope. If they don't turn on each to other first."

Ok we laugh, that was funny. Somehow they translated mean as pisses!

But this is what it would read if it were really translated:

"Its California. In the hands of Dr. John Dee and the Dark Elders, the book of Abraham the Mage could mean the destruction of the world as we know it. The most powerful book of all time, it holds the secret to eternal life. A secret more dangerous than any one man should ever hold. And Dee is two pages away from the knowledge that would bring the Dark Elders into ultimate power. His only obstacle? Josh and Sophie Newman - who are 8,000 miles away. Its Paris. After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris. The City of Lights. Home for Nicholas Flamel. Only this homecoming is anything but sweet. Perenell is still locked up back in Alcatraz and Paris is burning - with it, the last hopes for the human race. Nicollo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, is working for Dee. He's after them, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenell.Every day spent without the book they age one year - their magic becomes weaker and their bodies, more frail. For Flamel the Prophesy is becoming more and more clear. It's time for Sophie to learn the second elemental magic. Fire Magic. And there's only one man who can teach it to her.
Flamel's old student The Comte de Saint Germain - alchemist, magician, and rock star. Josh and Sophie Newman are the world's only hope. If they don't turn on each other first."

I think I actually laughed harder! Rock star? Machiavelli?

I want to read this book and I don't care if a computer translates it. I'm sure it will be equally funny either way.