| Author | Message | ||
     Barker |
Today at the ranch, we were shooting tanks. It you gives a new appreciation for life when a 60 ton tank goes airborne at 60 mph + and then slams on the brakes right in front of you. I was on a back of a truck shooting the tank. I was using a steadicam ($30k). It's basically a 40 lbs HD camera ($70k) strapped to a springy arm that is strapped to a metal vest I wear. After shooting the tank going crazy (think dukes of hazard) and we were finished with all of our shots, the tank driver suggested we get one more shot from me & the steadicam on the turret as he drives down "his" trail. We all thought, "great idea". I sit in and strap in. Soldiers hold me in. Tank is turned off. We tell the driver we are ready. He sits in the driver seat yells "now we can pick up the pace a little." Then he slams the hatch. The tank fires up, and it's really loud. I need to adjust the camera, I yell "wait a minute" The solder beside me in the turret tightens his helmet and starts grinning ear to ear. At this point, I know I am in trouble. We take off and all the solders around me duck into the turret and hold me in. The tank does a 180 and launches forward. We enter "his" trail, and there it is. I can see it a big tree limb. I lose count after 4 limbs. Camera is smashed and parts were ripped off the steadicam. I'm ok. But that has got to the scariest ride of my life. If I get clearance, I will upload the video on youtube. After pulling myself together and pulling all the leaves out of my rig, I was sent home to rest for tomorrow's shoot. After the long day that started at 4 a.m., I was beat in more ways than one. Sore, tired, and stressed out. Then I got on my uly and instantly I was a spring chicken. I forgot all about my worries and my soreness. After a really hard day at work, I really enjoy riding one of my buells home. Love these bikes.  | ||
| Rotzaruck |
There's no better therapy I have found. You probably need to try and talk that driver into letting you give HIM a little ride. Then call him chicken. Nothing like getting almost even. Rozaruck! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Once you're a done filming, ask them to let you drive the tank. If they have any sack, they will let ya do it | ||
| Oldog |
I heard that the controls are a lot like a motor cycles drive hell you want ordinance too! gota BFG there you want to use it! | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The reason I commute to work on the bike, is the LONG ride home. I only live 12 miles from work... sometimes it takes two full tanks to get home. | ||
| Kyrocket |
You need to check that! Your gas mileage must suck.  | ||
| Etennuly |
What is really cool is when the wife calls from her work and says "is there anything you need from town, I can stop on my way.....but remember, I'm on my bike!" Some Grandma's are just neat that way!  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
That is the problem with remote riding, you have to short stop for gas, unless you carry it. Trail head is 56 miles away. gas, hit the woods & trails for an hour-two hours, gas at trail head, head home. Get off work at 7, home at 1030  Or sunday breakfast, get up at 600, ride 100 miles, have breakfast , ride into work to start at nine... (sometimes I have to push it to make it to work on time) If I didnt commute like that, I would never get any miles on the damn bike. | ||
| Jon |
After a hard days work I look forward to laying on the floor and doing nothing | ||
| Krassh |
I am fortunate my off-ride riding begins anywhere about 1 mile from my house. There are extensive trail systems that can carry me clear on the other side of the mountain. | ||
| Thumper74 |
No matter how crappy my day is, Mr. Buell has found a way to make it suck less. My commute was 35 miles of interstate. Now it's 23 miles of interstate to work and 30 miles of twisty country roads home. | ||
| Rick_a |
Reminds me of the 35mph "Turret Qual." I got in a HMMWV into a ditch. Riding to and from work on the S1 were always the highlights of my day. (Message edited by Rick_A on July 26, 2008) | ||
| Barker |
me and the bradley crew are cool. working on post the vid to utube | ||
| Barker |
Tank vs. Steadicam | ||
| Brinnutz |
LOL | ||
| New12r |
NICE!! | ||
| Hooper |
I almost barfed a little. I'm out of work in about 2 hours, and even though it's 90 degrees out and DC traffic is heavy, the humidity is low and I know the back roads back home...gets me through the day! (Message edited by hooper on August 01, 2008) | ||
| Doon |
that vid is cool. Yea I've taken the long way home for work a bunch of times. I used to live 50 miles of country roads from the office. my longest way home took me 400+ miles from the time I left the office till I crawled into bed. | ||
| Rotzaruck |
Somebody needs to get some ducking lessons! What kind of ATGATT do you use for your tank riding? | ||
| Nevrenuf |
damn, the cam never had a chance. cool video though and that's gotta be a fun job. | ||
| Etennuly |
I had a similar VHS from my Jeep'n days in Florida. Really is hard on the camera. Once I was holding it above the windshield frame while I was driving. The limb that hit it ejected the tape and pulled it out unwinding the tape. A big awwshit moment. Three days of Jeep'n and campin' lost to multitasking.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Apparently the Mud Smiley face in the vacant lot next to the dealership was not as appreciated by some even though it caused me much joy to create it. Some people just have no art coulture Last nites ride home in the rain included an hour of donuts and broadies and rooster tails in that lot. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
So who gets to pick up the tab for the broken equipment? |
