Biker Trapped Under Burning Car

Friday, September 16th, 2011

Hot Rod Orthodontic Office

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

from http://www.jalopyjournal.com

I have posted odds and ends of my new office here and there on the board, but I have had several requests to do a separate post on it once it was all done. So, for what it’s worth, here is our new hot rod orthodontic office.

Being the 50’s/60’s car nut I am, I also get a kick out of the architecture and just the whole look of the time as well. Not wanting to build your average taupe brick building, I wanted something that had more the look of a 50’s era diner/drive-in/gas station sorta thing. I talked with the architect about that and I think they jumped inside my head and knocked it out of the park.

The interior was a bit more of a giving birth process (or as I would interpret that having never been pregnant personally). I had the vision of the inside being a bit of a city inside with the outside of the rooms having facades of different 50’s buildings you would think of when you think 50’s….soda fountain, burger joint, gas station, etc. It took a fair amount of back and forth with the interior folks to get that sort of thing meshed with the stuff you gotta have for an orthodontic office. But, eventually, I think we got there.

Stepping in the front door, you are greeted with the woodie wagon front desk parked in front of a Big Boy (although I still have to finish the signage for that).

The front desk started as a rusty $100 47 Merc coupe. Yes, a Merc…with a 46 Ford grille. The Merc grille parts were not easily obtainable, where the Ford parts are. Getting that Ford grille to fit the Merc….not a bolt in job.  The front clip and rear fender are off the car while the “woodie” part is cabinetry made to look the part. The “roof” has the planked headliner look of the woodie and is complete with vinyl top and surfboard. You get funny looks pulling up to a surf shop with your wife and kids while on vacation and buy a board blank. To the surfer dude, you do not look like a guy who knows what on earth to do with a surf blank. But, I did and carved it down, glassed it and got it painted, then proceeded to cut holes in it to run the mounts through…..I couldn’t bring myself to do that to a vintage long board, so you build your own for the purpose.

Most everything here has a story and a fair amount of my childhood is in here. The Big Boy out front was my favorite restaurant my folks took us to when I was a kid. Next up is our new patient exam room with a soda fountain facade. Named Fairmont’s, it is the soda fountain my grandpa used to take me to. This pic was taken before the rest of the signage was put on the frosted windows and door, but you get the idea. Inside, we gotta have the spinning fountain chairs in red Zodiac vinyl. Also have the aluminum banded counter tops (all the counter tops in the whole office are banded and in cool formica).

Heading on back to the main treatment area, we have lots going on, so here is the big picture before we go around.

On the far side, we have the movie theater tooth brushing area. We put the kids names up on one side of the marquee when they come in for the first time welcoming them to the office. On the side facing the treatment area, we put up the kids names when they get their braces off as the “feature movie.” They get a kick out of it and often take pictures with their name in lights. I had someone stop me one day and ask me if I had a movie theater in my office. I told them I sorta did and they said they saw it on Facebook with someone getting their braces off. Guess the pics get around. LOL The lit movie poster marquee in the back ground has a 1950’s sci-fi, b-movie poster of giant plaque eating the quiet little tooth town that the awesomely creative graphic guys I use did for me.

What really started this whole design concept in the first place was the staff asking if the new office could have some seating areas in the treatment area for parents and friends that often come with the patients. Being a car guy, I couldn’t have just any seating area, I need couches made out of the back ends of cars, right? So, get me some parts cars, a tape measure and start cuttin’. All the car furniture you see was built by my dad and myself. Not really being able to come up with good information on how anyone else had done it, we just pretty much went on the fly and figured it out as we went. Even jumped in to figure out the upholstery myself. I figured I had read enough books and watched enough upholsterers over the years, how hard could it be? Fortunately, I have an aunt who is a professional upholsterer, so she was handy to have on the phone when kinks came up.

’56 Olds 98. That’s real tuck and roll there…you gotta have tuck and roll, ya know?

’59 Caddy. Yup, that’s real fur on cow hide. Cows ‘n Caddy’s just go, no?

Gotta have a gas station, right? Well, mine is Sinclair. When I was a kid, there was a Sinclair station near my grandparent’s house, so I knew I was almost to grandma’s when I saw that great big dinosaur. I have spent most of my life hunting one down and finally came across one of the smaller ones. This particular one is actually a fiberglass copy and has spent the last couple of years in my kid’s play area where they climbed all over it and played on it while the office was being built. They were most upset when the time came to move it to it’s new home, but I was blessed to find an aluminum original at the same time to take it’s place. Whew!

Down the side hall, we have what will probably be a 5 and 10, but you can see I still have to do some signage here.

My private office looks out onto the main treatment area and left a spot next to the Sinclair station that would make a perfect garage door space. Rather than make it a service bay, I thought doing it up as Larry Watson’s shop would be cool. My dad’s first in 57 was a mild custom 51 Merc, which certainly had a big influence on me. Another was getting the Grease Machines book for Christmas when I was in jr. high. That book, if you’ve never seen it, is loaded with Larry Watson paint jobs, as well as a spread on his Grapevine and panel painted ’59 Caddy. I’ve had this sickness bad ever since. So, in tribute to Larry (I finally got a Merc in tribute to my dad…fortunately he is still here to enjoy it with me), I built his shop and his Caddy for a desk looking out the shop bay. With the help of Rik Hoving, I got a picture of Larry’s shops (the blue diamonds are actually from a later shop) and projected them on the wall for templates then proceeded to paint and hand letter it all. I’m not going to take lettering up for a living!

The Caddy desk was finally reassembled last week and still has some details that need done….cabinet doors, paint some bare wood black, etc., but it’s pretty much there. I wish I had some better pics of it, but it’s mucho heavy and has to be assembled in place and can’t be moved back from the wall to take some good pictures all the way around. Also, the candy and pearl white looks great outside, but alas, it will never be outside. The sun shines though my office window and hits it in the mornings, though, so I get to see it “right” occasionally.

Well, there you go for anyone who is interested. I’m no Moriarity or Scary Larry…those guys got the spreads. But, it makes for a fun place to work. Now, if I can get my shop cleaned out from building all this mess, maybe one day I might actually finish a car. Wouldn’t that be something? LOL

Something like this does not come off with just one guy. I really got to thank some folks who without their help and input this would not have happened. First is my wife, certainly,. She has been very patient and indulgent and most helpful with ideas. My dad who is the reason I am a car nut and who helped figure this crazy furniture mess out. I had a great building crew who at first doubted a Dr really knew anything about building anything, much less something they hadn’t seen done before. They gave me a lot of rope. Toadfrog here on the HAMB is one of the bodyshop instructors at the local high school. He got the kids to help with bodywork when I got in a time crunch, spray some primer and he sprayed the color on the front desk and the paint on the Watson desk. I am a blessed man.

Click here for the forum on Jalopy Journal to read more about this office

Ron’s Hot Rod, by Jerry White (Hinson)

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Twenty years ago, Ron Karolick bought a 1936 Chevy frame and body project planning to turn it into the perfect street rod. Well, to paraphrase the poet Robert Burns; “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” And indeed they did for Ron; Life got in the way and the Chevy sat untouched for twenty years until kids were grown and out of school. Now however, his dream is finally coming to fruition.

Click here for full story

More on the NEW Morgan Three Wheeler

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Luddites rejoice! While some might call it the worst of both worlds, British carmaker, Morgan, is building a three-wheeler powered by a Harley.

That’s right; the iconic manufacturer recently announced that it will build “new” three-wheeled vehicles, and the powerplant of choice will be an 1800 cc  Harley-Davidson V-twin. “The time is right to re-launch this exceptional design,” says Morgan on its website, adding that the company will be expanding its range for 2011 and going back to its “roots”.

Morgan originally got its start by producing three-wheelers, of course, back in 1909, and manufactured them until 1953, selling some 30,000 over the years. In that time, they were propelled by everything from air-cooled motorcycle engines, to small displacement Ford four cylinders. In the 1930s, Morgan actually offered buyers a 990 cc water-cooled Matchless V-twin engine, so the choice of a Harley unit for the new trike isn’t that out of line.

Click here for full story

Click here for Flymall’s Three Wheeler page

Driving the Morgan Three Wheeler

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Isolated vs Scattered Storms

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

“What is the difference between isolated storms and scattered storms?”

Isolated and scattered both refer to areal coverage.  Isolated refers to hit and miss.  We don’t expect that many storms.  That might equate to a 20-30% chance for rain at any one location.

Scattered would indicate a better chance for storms.  Rain chances would be between 40-60%. 

The other category would be numerous.  When we forecast numerous thunderstorms, the radar should be pretty full.

You really shouldn’t say “there’s a 20% chance for isolated thunderstorms.”  It’s redundant.  You should either say “there’s a 20% chance for thunderstorms,” or “there are isolated thunderstorms in the forecast.”

182 Appraisal N33ZT

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

A search of the FAA database shows N33ZT registered as a 1977 182Q however by serial number it is considered a 1978.  This appraisal was complete using the computer program Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest (current edition).   The average retail sale price of a 1977 182Q is $63,000 USD and the wholesale or trade-in value is $50,000 USD.  The average retail price of a 1978 182Q is $67,000 USD and the wholesale or trade-in value is $54,000 USD. Based on this data and the appraisal below I would expect this aircraft to sell for somewhere in the mid $50,000 USD to low $60,000 USD range.        

I have included a snapshot of the current listings on the Controller for review and comparison.  Keep in mind that these are “asking prices” only, these are not actual “sale” values.  Bluebook numbers are based on actual sale numbers provided by banks, lending companies, dealers, brokers, etc.    

The appraiser also conducted a search of the NTSB online database which showed no records on file.

 Aircraft Appraisal:  1978  182Q II SKYLANE             

Avg Retail   Inventory                                                                

$67,000        $54,000       1978  182Q II SKYLANE                                    

2,412          1,944       Low Airframe hours: 2,900 hrs  (3.6% for low usage)      

-833           -833       For high engine time × 1 engine   [800 log hrs]          

25,613         25,613       40 percent of Avionics cost (your cost column)           

-12,000        -12,000       Paint job                                                

-15,000        -15,000       Portion of engine overhaul                               

$67,192        $53,724       Total value(s)                                           

 Appraisal notes:   The appraisal is based on good paint and interior (there was a deduction for paint), annual within 6 months, no damage history, all ADs complied with.  The appraiser added for 40 percent of the added avionics based on data provided by Dick at Wings N Things.  Avionics do not hold their value.  At 2 years avionics are worth 55 percent of new cost, 3 years 45 percent of new cost, 4 years 35 percent of new cost.  The appraiser based the avionics price on being between 3 and 4 years old.  The appraiser deducted $15,000 USD for a portion of the engine overhaul.  Based on the age of the engine overhaul most buyers will want to deduct a large portion of the average cost for an engine overhaul.  This number may increase or decrease based on the individual buyer.

A Rainbow of a Race

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

This year is starting out to be not your typical race.  The start date has been moved, the course changed, and the weather has been the cause.  But the weather has also produced some great pictures.  You can click on each picture to view a larger size.

The two Frederick based teams meet up in Alliance

We all know that the rainbow points to the winner!

The racers get a big welcome in Alliance

And a rainbow for each DC3 Racer

Race Update From Carol

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Tuesday AM – Off to Topeka.  Or to Salina, very strong headwinds, Gusts, WX. Plan to get to alliance tonight. 

Tuesday mid-day – Made it to Topeka.  We’re still in Kansas anymore!

Leavenworth prison

Flooding in Iowa

DC3 Racers in Iowa City

Saturday, June 18th, 2011

The DC3 Racers spend a few days in Iowa City completing handicap flights, sight seeing, and relaxing before the big race.  (Click on each picture for a large view)

Some interesting factoids

Here is the Iowa City Government Center

And it is back to the race details.  Here is N199CA at the inspection.

Debi has to go over the paperwork

The team after the handicap flight.

Carol juggling

Debi fits right in with her leather jacket

Carol crashes the sim at the kids aviation exhibit!

DC3 goes to the Early Arrivals party

Deb relaxes by shopping!

Lunch – 

All the famous politicos ate here ( Clinton, Reagan et al) and was the site of the Iowa coffee bean caucus in TV’s “West Wing” – and we did too!

DC3 checks out some interesting aircraft and some interesting pilots!

Find race plane #27 – go ahead, you’ll see.   They made us add 1/2″ to the number so it would be seen by the timers.  What a difference a half inch makes! (Click on the picture for a larger view).

Stay tuned for more…