Went to store during storm to grab eggs etc. Only customer in the place. ( large grocery store )
I was returning from a buddy's house 40+ miles away and passed everyone on the freeway at a screaming 50mph. ( less while passing ) Got passed by one tanker semi doing 65+.
I'm in a Caravan....... with studded snows. Only other car I saw in Dansville was a pickup going sideways.
Almost got stuck pulling in my driveway. Will wait till spring to go anywhere.
I put snow fence up today. Cleared the driveway last night...was drifted back over this morning. Knew it would be, freaking WINDY (45+ MPH). Part of my yard - bare. Drifts upwind of the house, across the driveway? 26".
Plus side? My fitbit said I had 13,000 steps by 10am today
Heck, I've always been a Van guy. I still miss the '76 Dodge shorty with the slant six & three on the tree.
Every guy in knew in high school with a Camaro, Mustang or Road Runner walked for a season after losing their license. I know, I gave them all rides in my van. Haul darn near anything, and in a dry box too. Engines, motorcycles, entire mountain bike expeditions, furniture, machine tools, ultralight airplanes, you name it.
I've moved most of my friends.
I Love being able to sleep for a bit on cross country trips, comfortably. The platform queen sized bed in back ( removable ) has other attractions. Camping for example. Why set up a tent and live with bugs when I can sleep on a posturepedic?
When I had a 110 mile round trip commute I switched from full sized vans to Caravans, and while the mileage didn't go up as much as I'd like the functionality wasn't really impaired. I can still load 2 folk's camping supplies, Medieval pavilions, full suit of armor and such.
Half face cord of wood is no issue, I keep a tarp in the back.
Won't carry a motorcycle easily, but a full sized Ford or Chevy won't haul mine, either, upright, since I've got a S3 fairing.
I admit it's not the fun involved drive a hot hatch can be. less road feel.
OTOH, hard to beat a better long distance cruiser, works surprisingly well in the snow down the road, ( although I can get pretty stuck in my own driveway. Like last night in 20+ inches ) and the high seating position is safer with hedges and snow banks.
Also, to be fair, I've always been a rebel, so the notion of "buying a minivan is giving up" is hilarious to me. It's just my box to haul my fun around in.
But by all means, mock minivans. I love the stealth aspect. No one expects a geezer in a minivan to have an orgy going in the back, ( hey, long trips can be boring ) Or to pull out a powered paraglider and fly out of the parking lot like James Bond.
That was all I ever owned were vans, one could get laid whenever, take a knap whenever, didn't have to worry about rain if you were camping, fit a 1970 Bonneville in the back, move stuff whenever. Though I do have to say, I've never owned a mini van. I had one Ford Econoline, and a real nice Chevy Beauville, with a worked 350 cube 4 bolt main, Holly double pumper, side pipes, headers, 10.5 compression pistons, 400 worked tranny, posi rear, finished interior, and the writing on the back that said, if it's a rocken, don't come a knocken ! All built by me.
I to have had several vans. Even bought one of those Chevy APV vans new in1991. It had seats for the whole family and was a size the wife would drive.
My favorite was a Chevy G20. I put my stock sb400 in it. Then when my elder son hit 17 he and all of his buds thought a Nissan pickup lowered with a coffe can exhaust was a motorhead machine, that or a Mustang 302. So the van goes in the garage and comes out with a Holly780 on a Torker Crane cam with roller rockers, headers and 4" chrome side pipes. It ran even with a new 1991 Mustang trough 1/8 mile. It smoked a slightly modified '71 Chevelle.
After it beat the Chevelle we had a wait before the next pass for a trans spill. The owner came over to my van to ask what I had in it. I opened the side door to show him my top chest tool box, full size floor jack, lawn chairs, fishing gear, and golf clubs. I loved that old van!
I to have had several vans. Even bought one of those Chevy APV vans new in1991. It had seats for the whole family and was a size the wife would drive.
My favorite was a Chevy G20. I put my stock sb400 in it. Then when my elder son hit 17 he and all of his buds thought a Nissan pickup lowered with a coffe can exhaust was a motorhead machine, that or a Mustang 302. So the van goes in the garage and comes out with a Holly780 on a Torker Crane cam with roller rockers, headers and 4" chrome side pipes. It ran even with a new 1991 Mustang trough 1/8 mile. It smoked a slightly modified '71 Chevelle.
After it beat the Chevelle we had a wait before the next pass for a trans spill. The owner came over to my van to ask what I had in it. I opened the side door to show him my top chest tool box, full size floor jack, lawn chairs, fishing gear, and golf clubs. I loved that old van!
Every once in a while I look on Ebay for the early 4 cyl turbo Dodge Caravan. They were a hoot to drag race.
Mostly Dodges in my life, one Ford, and drove Chevy vans at work.
360 with low rise Edelbrock & 750 Holley, port matched, in one van, 318s in two, and a 360 with a 2 barrel in a Maxivan, the loaf of bread. Ported carb & intake, so I got 20+ highway with 2.71 rear axle.
Then a series of Gen 1,2,3 & now 5th gen minivans.
Which, while competent in the snow in a straight line, are not so good accelerating or doing corners. And 2 feet of snow will slow them right down. Mine's parked from last night till tomorrow. I didn't have to go out so I hibernated.
My neighbors lack the common sense that the lucky folks who have spent time riding motorcycles have . . . . in my business I seek to identify, minimize and manage risk. As motorcyclists we, collectively, have learned a great deal about "thinking ahead, extrapolating and doing a mental "what if" " to avoid stupid scenarios that, to a person with some common sense . . . well, would appear obvious.
My neighbors . . . . disproportionately snowflakes themselves . . . are learning.
Friend of mine when I was growing up had a dad in the SAS. Favorite saying: "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad equipment".
Guess I'll have to brag on my van again...
1990 Voyager, factory 2.5 turbo engine, automatic trans. Side exit 2.5" exhaust, manual boost control, HKS blowoff valve, Spearco intercooler. Currently stock boost...until I can build a bulletproof trans (or find parts for a 5 speed swap). Guy before me restored it (!), added front and rear Shelby swaybars, 17" Caliber R/T wheels, new brakes, struts, bushings, springs, shocks, paint, interior is perfect, even replaced the fogged headlights and faded rear view mirrors! It's so...silly. I love it. Not the powerhouse my cummins is, but...cavernous cargo area (I have the seat out and cut some old house carpet for a load floor), decent mpg, and it's just fun to drive. The looks I get...I love it
I changed the muffler when I got it - the Magnaflow on it droned a bit much for my tastes so I put on an old SLP that I had laying around. More crackle, less drone. While I was under there, I was in shock - SPOTLESS. I mean...it looks factory fresh under there. Was a Cali truck until about 3 years ago. My plan is to undercoat it - being in Maryland, we use a lot of salt on the roads. I don't drive it in winter, but in case it gets out there and gets salted a bit...but it's so clean, it would almost be a shame to spray undercoat on it. It's ridiculous. 114k miles, 27 years old...looks like new, top and bottom.
I keep doing goofy shit like this...no wonder I'm single...
When we have snow storms here at Transit, they get the clean up crews out to the station platforms to clean up the snow and ice. So some of the brain surgeons decide to take the easy way out and put the snow on the rail (totally against the safety rules ). I'm coming in with the train and one of the brain surgeons wants to see the train hit the mound of snow. So he's figuring, the next train is stopping !, So he stands just passed the direction I'm traveling in, I lay on the horn but, too late ! They had to peal him off the ground about 20-30 feet from where he was standing, duh, we were an express !
>>>>>I keep doing goofy shit like this...no wonder I'm single...
Hahahahaha . . . we should start a club. I am sitting here . . . single . . . in this gorgeous farm house decorated with about 25 guitars and motorcycles parked in the living room.
That sounds like a real nice farm house ! The only thing that would make it a little nicer would be that you have a 59 Les Paul laying around maybe plugged into some Marshalls ?
No, no it doesnt... winter is a great thing! I could love it all year long! These are from my 6 day western Colorado trip a couple weeks ago, which then lead directly into a couple days at the Vail and Arapaho Basin ski resorts doing some mildly controlled falling for another couple days, on my way home from the sled trip. I'd gladly chase snow year round!
Thanks, We luckily did not have any avalanches. Although not far a way a couple guys died while we were there this year... the chances we take for fun.
These sleds do have one hell of a suspension under them. The 2016 M8000 Limited's like this one, came with Fox Float Evol 3's all the way around. Full air with remote reservoir as well. VERY adjustable. As well as getting the upgraded 3" paddle track.
Here is one of my other pride and joy winter toys!
My first new sled ever. 2013 F800 SnoPro RR. This is my everything else sled, since the M8000 is a full mountain only sled. I hunted down a hold over of this sled on purpose. This is the only year they stuck the full factory race skid/suspension under the production sleds. It is ment to be able to run full tilt through 2-3' deep whoopdis at full tilt and eat them up. It most definitely does! But it was only a one year run because people bought a race suspensioned sled (the RR) and then most all complained about how stiff the ride was when your just cruising... we all know people are dumb...
here is stock vs shortly after that when i tore it down and made a tone of mods!
It also got a full exhaust from the manifold to the silencer. Fully adjustable clutches, new reeds, and a tuner/tuning. It really woke it up! Still think im going to gear it a little lower. I didnt buy this for lake racing, i bought it for full tilt trail and ditch riding. i want out of the corner pull and corner to corner quickness more then top speed.
Some of my other sleds. The woman rides the 03 ZR900. that things a beast!
Eventually I'll build myself a snowbike im sure... I still have my Husqvarna SM610 sitting around...
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