| Author | Message | ||
     Slaughter |
Jim, Yeah, don't like wiggling machinery and don't like severe bumps either. I have done rotors. We used to do Thanksgiving weekend out of Bishop. Towed a fleet of gliders up from El Mirage and hop rides all weekend and then tow back South Sunday afternoon. Fun weekend for a kid in late teens, early 20's We were on a double tow - I was on the short rope in high tow, the other pilot in the other glider on the long rope in low tow and we were getting the snot kicked out of us. All I could think of was not getting wound up in the ropes (not being able to see the other glider behind and below). Had enough slack that at times the rope was coming back and slapping the canopy and the poor guy in low tow was watching all this happening over his head and trying to stay below all that - meaning he had to go even lower. All this translated to LOADS of drag on the towplane. Got hit so hard that my hands flew off of the stick into the canopy, feet came off the rudder pedals, knees hit the instrument panel and even with tight seatbelt and shoulder harness was lifted up enough and slammed back hard enough that I broke a seat bracket and tore the seat fabric/slings loose. Released the rope and landed at Lonepine, hooked up and off we went again right into the sh!t. After another 10-ish miles, getting the crap pounded out of us, I had to let go and soared the rest of the way from there to Mojave where I finally landed. Once I got into the wave part of the lift, I started to relax a bit and think again. Took almost 3 hours to get to Mojave (think in terms of a 45 or more degree wind correction angle - flying sideways down the Owens Valley with winds aloft more than 45-50) Because the guy in low tow knew I let go during really bad turbulence, and didn't know that I had found the lift, reported my last position as just south of Lonepine and they were really worried when I didn't call in til almost 4 hours later. Don't ever want to do that again. I guess I bypassed all the drugs of the '70s and got hooked on stupidity. Don't ask me about volcanoes. This year is Montserrat and a return trip to Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. ...and in answer to the obvious questions...no, no kids and (2) ex-wives don't cost anything so it's time to be spending the college funds for the kids I never had. | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Another time leaving Mammoth I flew into an unforecast mountain wave. Climbing through about 9000msl the Bonanza took off. Pegged the VSI upward (pegs at 2500fpm). Perfectly smooth air. Severe clear. Altimeter was winding up like a clock in The Time Machine... Going through 15000msl I started to think I'd never stop climbing. Gear down, full flaps, throttle back to near idle. Joshua Approach calls and says "state your in flight conditions". I replied "uncontrolled climb with power off and gear and flaps out". 60 seconds later they issued a Sigmet for ALL aircraft for unforecast mountain wave conditions over the Sierras. I guess somebody has to go first. Finally arrested the climb at 16700msl - still couldn't even begin a slow descent until Inyokern because the air mass was moving upward so strongly. Imagine that, normally aspirated Bonanza with 3 200lb. (or more) men, skis, gear, luggage, fuel, at idle power with gear and flaps down, at 16700 msl and I couldn't lose a foot of altitude. Amazing stuff. | ||
| Slaughter |
Jim, The energy aloft is truly amazing. When they started the Sierra Wave Project in the Owens Valley - early '50s, those folks were truly crazy - flying into that stuff in order to try to characterize it. Larry Edgar had his glider torn up around him. Suddenly he was outside, the glider having broken up around him - pulled the ripcord seeing as though he wasn't going to walk from where he was. A bunch of work was done with B-29's and possibly B57s heavily instrumented to measure what it was like being inside a vigorously shaken coffee can. Some days are better spent indoors. | ||
| Ferris |
guys, yer killin' me. i try to sound all bad and macho and studlike talking about hanging on to my bike at a hundred (like, B.F.D. Ferris!), and you guys come back with some TRULY harrowing tales of glory! i am SO not worthy  i WOULD, however, like to put a pair of those "mountain wave rotors" on the front of my Buell, as i'm betting it would cut down the 60-to-zero times appreciably... FB  | ||
| Ferris |
ps: i have, in the course of my job, driven back and forth thru the Owens Valley on Highway 395 between Ridgecrest and Mammoth something on the order of six or seven hundred times, and the variety of extreme weather conditions i've experienced, from heat to wind to rain to ice to snow, whether summer or winter or something in-between, is nothing short of amazing. i have a hard time imagining FLYING thru there... | ||
| Ferris |
That's IFR, Ferris. I Follow Rivers. shucks Jim, that's nuthin', i was in IFR conditions following Slaughter on Lake Hughes Road on Sunday: I Fear Rocks!  | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Ferris, I am sorry to say I just heard about your Sister. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Jim | ||
| Jim_Sb |
Steve, you're right. Some days are better on the ground. The guys that intentionally fly through hurricanes have huevos grande. Saw a Discovery Channel special documenting their work. Whew! Ferris, my rotor incident was not of my choosing. Sometimes stuff happens, then you get to find out if A) your aircraft is any good, B) if your training was any good and C) if your mind is any good under extreme duress. As near as I can tell I passed all three. Sounds like Steve has had a test or two of his own as well. The best I can say is that the vast bulk of my flying has been decidedly uneventful. That's the way I like it. Ferris, I've been flying the Owens Valley since 1985. No plans to stop. You just need to get the best weather info. you can and use caution and judgement. I like it when a blizzard comes in while we're up at Mammoth. My SO says "can we go home?". I say "nope". She says "what are you gonna do?". I say "go skiing". Ferris, you are so worthy. While I don't have stats to back this up I feel motorcycling is much more dangerous than flying. They both require the 'pilot' to be on his game, head on a swivel and fully engaged mentally. Both pastimes are incredibly intolerant of fools. | ||
| Slaughter |
Ferris, Just checked in here and see that Jim mentioned your Sister. Anything you can say? I apologize for any tone of insincerity here - sort of hard to convey concern in writing. Take care Steve | ||
| Ferris |
thank you Jim, your words and those from all the wonderful folks who've responded on the GDB have brought equal amounts of tears and comfort the past couple of days. Steve, my oldest sister died in tragic circumstances Tuesday afternoon. not sure if you've scanned the GDB -- there's a wee bit more info from me on there, plus a whole bunch of love and support from the BADWEB brother and sisterhood. this is tough, guys. FB | ||
| Slaughter |
Track Day this Monday on Streets of Willow. Just so happens there's going to be 7 of us Golden State BRAG Buellers there. http://www.hypercycle.com for info. As of end of day today, there were still slots available. Steve | ||
| Sarodude |
Somehow, James, Loli and I were under the impression that there was a GS BRAG ride yesterday. We made our own little mini-day of it. In the interests of avoiding the Slabs as much as possible, we rode Sepulveda down to Sunset, headed west to PCH, took PCH to Topanga, rode Old Topanga, then hit Mulholland to the Rock Store. We left kinda late so we hit all sorts of annoying traffic until Old Topanga. I've only ridden Old Topanga once and never really used to drive it - but it is a fun little road. Well, now we get to BRAG about lotsa stuff. * Loli and I are bragging about how stupid we looked telling the GS HOG people, "Naah, we're here for the BRAG ride!" * I can brag about timing our exit onto Sepulveda in such a way as to get us stuck behind a freakin' freeway sweeper that decided to take a coffee break. * James can now brag about surviving breakfast at the Rock Store. Until the REAL ride this'll have to do! -Saro | ||
| Sparky |
Anybody here read Motorcycle Consumer News? The April issue has a full page write-up on the Songdog Ranch, its history & current happenings. I've been posting notices for their Rallies and attending for years. The next Rally is the first weekend in May. What say we celebrate the Spring riding season that Saturday (& Sunday) by getting out of the city, camping out & going Buell riding on some really great roads? An idea! There're several (dozen) wineries not too far away that could provide the impetus for a loop ride to discover the area's best bottle of wine & bring it back to the campground for a little taste testing. Sparky | ||
| Slaughter |
Saro, It was MY FAULT! I got all screwed up - the ride is next weekend - Last Sunday of the month. Sorry about all that. Tim and Candice are putting together a mailing that will come out in email in next day or so. They are talking about the Rock Store but didn't get the route planned. Shoot. Sorry if I sent you round in circles 'cause I mis-spoke. Steve | ||
| Slaughter |
Sparky, I have looked at Songdog website after I saw it referred to on the Pashnit site. Really looks like a great spot for a rendezvous (or for my friends in Mojave: Ron Day Voo) I am all over that suggestion of yours for a Songdog get-together! Keep us posted. | ||
| Slaughter |
I was wondering if discussion of Track days merits a separate posting... We all like the canyons but now that the season is starting again, we all know they will be helicoptering a body a week out of the So CA canyons - when I was younger, I was immortal. just finished the day at Willow yesterday - new rearsets and new D208ZR tires. FINALLY I think I have the bike sorted out to my liking - almost. Maybe raise the forks just a teensy bit because I am still crowding the tank but MAN it feels good finally. Everything is getting familiar and predictable. Now if only I can keep up with the bike. I'd like to thank the troops at Glendale HD - Chris, Ernie, Mario for putting up with me - if any of you haven't done a track day with the Glendale boys providing shade and hospitality (not to mention the odd tool that I never ever have when I need it) - you just GOTTA - it is WAAAAY too much fun. Thanks to Hypercycle for making it a safe, fun day. http://www.hypercycle.com I have to say the way Hypercycle ran the track, they make it a great place for a non-racer like me to get out and play in a safe, controlled environment. If you have the strength for it, there are 5 20 minute sessions (all that braking is tougher on the arms than you'd think) And thank you Tim and Candice for talking me into doing track days! Gotta do it again next month! | ||
| Slaughter |
Golden State BRAG ride tomorrow - Sunday - (sorry again, Saro!) Those of us here in the High Desert will start at Tim and Candice's at about 8:00-8:30 and will ride up and over ACH to arrive at Glendale by 9:30 for the start of the group ride. I'll paste Tim and Candice's note here in case some of you locals are not on their list: ************** Hey Buellers, It is that time again to hit the pavement in search of a tasty ride. We will meet at Glendale Harley/Buell on Sunday March 30th at 9:30 to depart around 10:00. We will be heading up Mulholland, stopping at the Rock Store for a drink stop & maybe a Jay Leno sighting. We should be there for apx. 1/2 hr then heading to the Malibu Seafood restaurant on PCH for a lunch stop for about 1 1/2 hrs. We have some other nice roads planned so we hope to see everyone on Sunday. We will have maps for everyone. Any questions, you can always call us at (661)274-1096. See ya on Sunday Tim and Candice Hurley (Golden State Brag Club) | ||
| Matty |
Awright Steve that's four in a row! Sorry I missed out on the ride today, but how's about you post a Readers Digest expurgated version? | ||
| Sarodude |
Steve- It REALLY was no problem doing the Let's BRAG About Anything ride the previous weekend! We had a good time. You actually shouldn't have fessed up at all. Loli and I really had no clue as to why we thought it was the wrong weekend. It was good seeing you and the whole gang yesterday. Like Matty said, I gotta get me on a leaner, meaner machine (or at least back on my Blast) and not stick out like a loud, sore thumb. Soon - hopefully... -Saro | ||
| Sarodude |
Mid Week Distraction Every wednesday night at Topanga & Ventura there's a sportbike gathering. Mostly UJMs with the occasional Itallian tossed in for some spice. Last week I met Gus (tavs on badweb with the wicked M2 / X1 / R6 frankenbike). I know Bill (last name unkown - rides an 02 X1WL on its way to lookin' fine!) is a definite maybe. I just think it'd be kida cool to get a bunch of Buellers over there. Bikes start trickling in around 7:30 pm with critical mass happening sometime between 8:30 and whenever the insano ride happens to leave - and I've never ridden with those guys and gals. Foodwise, it's a shopping center. In the center is a Chipotle burrito joint (fairly yummy and bordering on healthy), a Jerry's (in)Famous Deli, a Subway, and maybe a Falafel joint and a Chinese MSG Factory. Lotsa other stuff in the vicinity. There's decent Persian food across the street (Shirin), a Japanese hibiachi place (Something's Fishy) - and some others I can't think of right now. If you're interested here's a MapBlast map if you're not familiar with Woodland Hills. Hopefully we'll see some of you there! -Saro PS - I can't believe I forgot to mention Starbuck's... |
