Thanks it has been fun

[Bob Kelley]

Neil, you look like you know what riding is all about, club or no club ... getting out there and enjoying it.

There are many good people in the AMCA who will give you the shirt off their back, but just like you, I get turned off by the "art of the deal" mentality that sets the tone in a few circles ... competing to see who got the best deal on a rare bike or a part.

It speaks volumes that some of the shows are winding down by lunchtime on a Saturday. I've seen bikes getting trailered off the fairgrounds by the droves by 2 in the afternoon. What happens is the vendors arrive on Thursday and most of the real dealing has gone on before the public arrives on Friday. I believe the schedule is tailored to people who retired are who run shops. They want to head home early in the weekend. Where does this leave an average hobbyist who works Mon-Fri? Let's assume he has to drive a few hours to get to the show. By the time he gets there on a Saturday, many of the nice bikes have left (only a small minority are there for judging on Sunday).

Anyway, I enjoy the shows, seeing the nice restoration and catching up with people.

I ride by wife on the back of this 1966 XLH. We're reasonably comfortable, but I'm somewhat smaller than you, and we couldn't fit a little one aboard -- not even one as little as yours! You probably couldn't fit a piece of paper between us.

Second shot is my 1928 and 1929 101 Scouts. I ride all three bikes regularly.

Thanks for posting your cool Shovel and your lovely family.

[Ohio-Rider]

After seeing that photo, Anyone else want to call the man a quitter?

[Ohio-Rider]

Bob, Since day one of begining this hobby of old bikes, I have believed the same thing you just stated. Be it a national swap meet or a local corner swap meet, if your not inside the doors before the public is allowed in then your not going to find anything good. All that will be left is what all the vendors in the joint didn't want. It is what it is.

[sludge]

Can one of the quitters tell me why your first, last name, and member number is a threat to identity theft? And even that isn't accessible to the public. Do you think anyone cares that you are a member of the AMCA, hell most modern bikers don't know who we are let alone anyone else.

Lists ?? Ya, I'm sure I'm on a few but so what, come take my unregistered guns. Oh no I've said it now, they are on the way! Boy ain't we a little paranoid?

I put the little smily face with sunglasses up so no one can recognize me......

from what i last heard your info will be available to the general public unless they have since made changes. here's the scenario: AMCA schedule of meets which of course is public knowledge matched up with a members last name (from this alone ya can get an address) and it's a good bet that one of the meets will be attended by the member in question and that his property will be for the most part left at home and may be vulnerable to theft. isn't there a forum thread titled "The Hot Sheet" or something like that? don't be so smug next time ya post.

[sludge]

And Paps is likely on watch lists by now anyway, (you too Sludge!) so too little too late is once again the story.

now who would want to put an All American kid like me on a watch list?

[junkyarddog]

Bob, Since day one of begining this hobby of old bikes, I have believed the same thing you just stated. Be it a national swap meet or a local corner swap meet, if your not inside the doors before the public is allowed in then your not going to find anything good. All that will be left is what all the vendors in the joint didn't want. It is what it is.

Wrong!
The only thing left will be what other vendors can't steal.
I am a pretty good size vendor, and I don't unload very much on setup day.
Look me up at most meets East of the Missouri.
Jim

[Paps]

now who would want to put an All American kid like me on a watch list?

That's the problem Bro...."An All American Kid" makes their lists.

[Paps]

Neil....I tip my hat to you Sir. Paps

[c.o.]

from what i last heard your info will be available to the general public unless they have since made changes.

That got fixed... I posted above that I signed out to see and couldn't access my profile.... give it a try... just make sure you remember your password or you'll have to start all over...

[c.o.]

It was kinda funny the thing that poped in my head as I was going up the road was Katrin and Detier going across country at around that speed.

hows those sidecars doin?

Yup and those two smiled all the way across the U.S.!

The sidecars are awaiting my attention. I'll likely get the the "newer" model on the panhead in the spring. You'll know when I get started as I'll likely be hollerin' for help!

[c.o.]

So I took the advice given and went on a long ride, always seems to work.

Good to hear Neil!!! A good long ride always sorts stuff out!!! I also like the thrill of a new find and that first start-up after countless hours of wrenching...

[Neil74]

Thanks for the offer Pete, only 60 or 70 miles away and one of my favorite rides. Tied up with family for a bit, never enough time. I'll keep your name an look for you at one of the meets.Bob, Steve and Sludge thanks for the kind words, nice pair of Indians there bob and I've always been partial to Sportsters.As Steve stated it is what it is, swap meets have always been about first come first serve and I don't begrudge anyone for getting all they can from their investments. It would be nice if some was left for all to bid on but then it would be an auction I only meant that there are better and cheaper parts available at small meets and in small sales and thats a fact. The only thing I ever want out of life is to be treated with the same respect I give out, don't look down or talk down to me because I won't tolerate it. Respect is earned not handed out as a birth right. SloJoe I know what you mean about building what you can afford an working your way up, most of us followed that path to get where we're at today.As I said in my first post nothing against anyone it is what it is
Thanks Cory and Paps

[Paps]

Went to a local swapmeet yesterday. Could'nt get there when it opened and arrived two hours before it was to close. Picked up the wife from her diner and my youngest daughter and boyfriend followed us there. We arrived to find all of the inside vendors gone already. Had to piss like a race horse, so went on in. Told the front desk clerk the fee was to high fo no vendors. He said go in. I entered.......Looked around......nothing..........Yelled........what is up ?????????? the rich man arrives and there is no where to spend a dime !!! Vendors who were about all packed up laughed their asses off. I pee..........Leave the main floor back to the front desk clerk. Tell the front desk clerk....This is the longest trip I ever made just to take a piss. He laughs....I laugh.... I the wife, daughter and her boyfriend leave. There is one outside vendor left in the parking lot. I go over and browse his unpacked up wares. Nothin I want. Start to leave..... Bro asks me what I came for.... I say...anything nos or in mil spec packaging. He says....Ask that vendor you were just at. I do.... Vendor says he has a set of nos 45 mil spec cylinders in the trailer. I ask to see them. he shows them to me. I inquire a price. he says 250 for the pair. I say....SOLD !!!!! LOL Paps

[LouieMCman]

Neil, I'm sorry you had a bad day but all I ask for was a reason why people are quitting the forum. I use the word quitting because you said you have quit the AMCA three or four times before and are quitting again, to quit by definition means not to sign up again. I don't see the need to call me a ball less hair lip. I know you are a quitter by your own admission, but how do you know if I'm a ball less hair lip? I didn't rip you off on PayPal or hurt your back, I merely ask a question. Again I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings but mostly I fell sorry for you.

[Neil74]

Louie, You are right and I apologize, I have no way of knowing anything about you same as you have no way of knowing any thing about me. It seems most discussions on this site wind up heated and there always seems to be a Us against Them theme. I've never understood that and it was part of my reasoning about feeling unwelcome. You didn't rip me off on e-bay or have anything to do with my back, but you did confront me in public.That is how I react when on the spot, good or bad it is what it is.If you look back at my first post you'll see I thanked everyone for past help. I explained why I was leaving, maybe not fully or well enough. This is a good site, I don't attend many meets and if I did, I could find out about it here or elsewhere without being a member. The only benefits I get by being a member is a flyer, 15 minutes of good reading.And the privilege of seeing some photos, I can find them all over the net. My reasoning for not trusting the site with important information is exactly what happened on e-bay. I gave them the tools to screw me over, their bad my fault, no info and it would not have happened.As far as my quitting many times, its always the same reason. To me a plate of hot wings and a couple of beers would be money better spent, again it is what it is. No offense to anyone, I hope Louie I take it back, I don't know and shouldn't have assumed you are or were a ball less hairlip, my last post end of the line Later all Neil74