Modern Vespa

A Christmas Story:

Here in Cali - things have been a bit crazy.
Now I know what you're gonna say: but Charlieman! Things have ALWAYS been crazy in Cali.

And I hear ya.

After all - this is the state that has spawned Paris and Kim and Steven Segal FFS - and frankly - no one really knows why or how we can un-see it.

But before you pass judgement... that same terroir is where Paul Newman defined cool, Carol Shelby built the Cobra, and 1/3 of the nation's veggie's are grown
And who doesn't love Cool hand Luke, AC Cobra's, and Broccoli?!
Can I get an Amen?

Also - it will be 72° and sunny this weekend - which doesn't suck.

But Charlieman - you say: Fine. Whatever. Sniff.
But what's all this got to do with a Vintage Vespa With Sidecar.
"doooooooode" ?!

So many questions. So many questions.

Ok - so those gates.. (method to my madness boys, just stick with me here for a moment).
It's not like I had NEVER thought of making some gates...
But - you know - I had other priorities...
Like building a motor - and restoring a mill (to build a motor).

That is, until the housing market went bat shit crazy.
So, I decided to weld up some gates, bolt on some wood, buy a few fancy eye-talian sensors and openers - and... sold my house.

This being La La - the viewer list was a who's who of B lister and past stars.
First to come see it was... Macaulay Culkin.
Seriously - you can't make this stuff up.
He came back to back days - before settling on Keefer's house.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Followed by Hillary Duff, and a handful of other un notable Disney stars.
And before I knew it - it was gone.

The driveway I wrenched in, the Vespa parts stored in boxes on the side of the house, my precious garage, the spot next to the fireplace that I typed these shaggy dog posts from... everything.
The gates did their job.

Which (finally) brings us to what's next.
With the proceed's from the sale - I've done something I've always wanted to do.
Rented a commercial shop for my projects.
The move is complete - and I've started setting up the space.
It's doubling as storage - and we still have FAR too much stuff after a major declutter - but it will get there.


The good ole' days

The good new days to come!

Duuuuude!

And I was just going to ask you how the gates were working, and what was going on with the Orange Unicorn, and KITT of course...

Well, congratulations to you and yours! I'm excited to see where your new space is via rad videos of the fire breathing Orange Unicorn ripping up your new neighborhood, and making friends with all your neighbors in the process

Amen!

Congratulations on selling your house! We haven't seen you much around here lately, so i figured you were up to something that didn't involve a scooter. And now we all know why. Having a new dedicated place to wrench will be sweet!

Excuse me. Hillary Duff is no B lister.

What a space. Room for everything. So many projects to build. Who can anticipate what will be rolling out of that place.
Who's house did you buy? I'm imagining an upgrade.

Congrats, CM2! I'm excited to see what you come up with now that you're no longer a prisoner of The Gates and have (eventually) plenty of room to work!

It's just not the same around here without you here, so good to see you back!

I just discovered this topic

Awesome !!

Amen! Congrats on the house sale! Curious though - did you downsize on the next house/condo seeing how you have all that dedicated warehouse space?

That's awesome! Is that the NSM workshop that we all have to pilgrimage to now when out heading out that way?

All any one could ever want is a giant empty space to make a lot of noise and plenty of messes building shit in it. Cm22 living the dream!

Btw, I sure don't envy having to move all that industrial equipment you just put into the old house.

It's the Homer's Odyssey of Vespa threads!!!
(That may or may not be a Simpson's reference.) And a Hallelujah if that broccoli is covered in queso!

Dig the new Clubhouse. Mucho congrats muchacho. I cannot wait to start the watching the widebody project!!!

Crazy tale nearly selling your house to Macaulay Culkin.

You never know, he might end up back there. Kiefer's house looks insane… don't know what the up keep on that would be like… looks super high maintenance.

Good to have you back man…

Hahahaha. Tks.

And thanks to all for the well wishes!
House was a bit of good fortune.
Designed, contracted, and sweat equitied my way to the finish line for 17 years - building lots of it myself.
A weird reality of Cali real estate. Could never have afforded to buy it myself!
With kids (mostly) out of the house - now was the moment to cash in.

Plan is to build again - when I find the right project.
Meantime - Ive rented what I can only describe as an idyllic spot, a block from the beach, bought a handful of surf flannels, and let the beard fill in a little.
The 6 month run to prep home was a killer.

New work space is jammed with lots of stuff (too embarrassed to show that picture) - but I am sorting and consolidating to craft a storage vs workspace area.
I'll be left with about 1000 sq ft for my workshop - which will be awesome.
It's all three phase - so I have to re-wire for my machines.
I'll take advantage by using a transformer rather than a rotary converter - which will be MUCH quieter and nicer.

Speaking of transformers...
Upon sale - I hooked up with an old buddy from high school, grabbed the family dog, and drove x country. Mostly just for the f*&k of it.
Before leaving - found a used transformer for sale - in Chattanooga Tenn.
Me: is it still for sale?
Him: yeah - I got it - but they really don't ship very well. Too heavy.
Me: Ok - well - I'll take it. I'll just come pick it up.
Him: Great if your local. Where are you comin' from?
Me: Los Angeles.
Him: Silence

🙂


It was a bear - but I had experience. Hired some help - and we moved the entire garage in 2-3 runs.

Somewhere in Tennessee. Old friend keeping watch next to truck. Guy loading the unit. Everyone came out to see WTF drove across the country for a $500 transformer...

Block from the house. Neighbors are gonna love me. 🙂

This is a hell of a tale. I love it. Congrats! Enjoy the soothing sounds of the waves.

love it!

now you're going to have to start a new thread on the shop build out.

more space is never enough space. but 1K is about right before things start getting a little unruly.

two words: pallet racks.

That shop space looks large enough for a scooter gymkhana course made out of sk8 ramps and heavy gauge extension cords.

The only thing I don't like about the transformer story is the part where you didn't hit me up when you passed through Nashville!

Skate ramp!!!

Every big slacker shop needs a half pipe! Best I could do these days would be some grinds and stalls, but hey! ...If you build it they will come.

With your neck & back...I don't think so!

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

and so it goes...

Thanks. Feeling very lucky right now - even if its only temporary (will be hard to ever give up the shop...) Three boards and a One-Wheel are leaning on the wall - to get around the shop and over to the industrial park's deli. "Unrully"... indeed.
Will have to battle back the house storage and wife's craft stuff (more boxes than me!). Just be glad I didn't call an audible and ask you to go pick it up! Actually did blow through Nashville - but didn't even slow down - I was trying to make the closing time for the Transformer shop so I didnt have to stay in Chattanooga for the night...beat the clock by about an hour. You guys and your small wheels! I'm old school long board guy. Those little wheels = death by pebble. Some of just weren't born to rock 8's

That said - small ramp would kinda be cool.
🙂

Excited to get this place in working order. Think it will take a few weeks. Have an actual Vespa project in mind...


Dog days as I organize, light, and wire for power.

Two summers ago i was in my way back from a 1000 mile road trip to participate in a 4 day rally navigation ahem..."non-race" on my KTM dirtbike. On the way back home i stopped at a concrete sk8 park up in Spokane Washington (big bowls). After a 3 hour session i ended up slipping and falling directly on my tailbone while grinding the bowl's metal coping (which hurt till no end)...but then my butt bounced off the coping and booted me far enough away from it that i missed most of the transition on my way down...and fell directly on my tailbone again. Tears literally shot out of my eyeballs for about 10 seconds after that one (FYI, the bowl was about 10' deep). It literally took me 101% to roll over to my hands and knees and then semi-nonchalantly play it off like nothing happened. I then went over to the crew of sk8ers who i had been sessioning with (they didn't see me go down) and casually told them i was going to dip out and continue my road trip home. I was in some mass amount of pain at the time, so i just pretended i was winded from sk8ing. But then in mid sentence i passed out and took a head first fall on my temple into dirt bark dust mix...while not wearing a shirt (it was a hot day). Luckily i missed the concrete pad by about 6". It sucked laying face first in bark dust not being able to get back up, all the while trying to spit out inhaled dirt. It was painful to sit for the next 6+ months after that one. It's a semi-funny intro to the first part of that particular story looking back on it now...ok, well not too funny, but it is a great story So who wants to go skate at Ned's new indoor ramp park?

Dude...I'd totally have covered you on that one. You know that!

I've literally driven to Chattanooga and back just for a show (Bombpops+Dropkick Murphys). It's not that far.

Hey hey hey!
I'm still spry... I'm just also more brittle. Could skate all day (...as long as I don't wreck. )


Ned that is a magnificent hound in the window! We need name(s) and details of the fuzz friend.

Whodat - ouch! made my sphincter tighten.
Chandlerman - appreciate that!
BN - meet...


Charlie...

Sk8board story...

I've got a long board, a progressive long board, as it was called back in the day. Sector 9, The Big Stiffy. I put Randall II trucks and Road Rider 6s on it, and I'd ride the arroyos to work in Albuquerque. Let me explain...

I lived at the base of the Sandia mountain range and worked by the river - that being the Rio Grande. Over time, they poured these "Arroyos" to channel the water through the city. Cement bowls, then big Vs 20' tall before the river.

I'd dress up like the Michelin Man and start on side roads and carve to bleed off speed. Then jump into the first arroyo and ride it, carving up and down the bowl as I go to keep my speed down.

I'd have to change arroyos, which was a block away, to hit the one that goes under the freeway. It was a total blast. Then I'd take the bus back up the mountain after work.

So one day I pop out of the arroyo and I'm ready to drop into the next one and I see this cop watching me. It's illegal to be in the arroyos for obvious reasons, but mainly hooligans hanging out practicing their graffiti skills and smoking pot. But this is at seven in the morning.

I gave the cop a nod and dropped in, under the bridge, and carve off some speed on the bowl. He didn't give me a ticket

The next week there were two cop cars at the same spot and they were both standing in front of their cars. I headed to the arroyo and thought "Damnit", but I just went on with my "commute".

I nodded to both and to my surprise they were smiling and both waved back! After that numerous cops were around the arroyos and they always waved and smiled. It helps to smile and be friendly back of course.

Later in the year I was talking to a cop, who was a friend of my friend, and I casually asked him, "Hey man, have you seen that dude that rides the arroyo to work in the morning?" He got all excited and told me he has and that would be so fun to do, but way to dangerous for him personally. I told him "That's me!" and his job is way too dangerous for me!

Anyway, I still have "The Big Stiffy". It's in the rig, and I ride it around when we go somewhere and the roads are suitable....

Wonderful story, qascooter! Merry Christmas, btw..

Charlie man what tyre pressures do you run on your outfit?

I basically stick with the stated maximums on the tires.

I play around with the sidecar pressure to create a little more slide rather then grip - I want the scooter dominant.

I've used harder less sticky tires on the sidecar as well.

You might experiment to see what handles best for your set up.

Scott - awesome !

Thanks Charlieman, gives me a baseline to work from.

Shop progress...
Though I wanna get into projects - I am taking some time first to get the place nicely lit/insulated/& organized.

Lighting was a hodge-bodge of burned out and randomly placed fluorescents.
Bought a whack of 15,000 lumen 8' long LED in 5K - and some thin hanging wire and got to work.

Going has been slow - COVID bout at Tgiving had left me with no sense of smell, and a double dose of lactic acid feeling in all limbs. Finally waned and I am back to my old self.

Pics are a bit dull - but this is my opening foray into setting up the shop.
Welcome any creative input.
Planning on running air and power up the length of the walls with multiple outlets.
Perhaps shove my compressor far away and/or build a little foam board cabinet for it to keep it quiet.

Up next - radiant barrier improvements, airline system, and organization.


Before - random lights everywhere - many not working

New lights up - about 180K glorious lumens of bright daylight - photos don't really do it justice

of course...

haven't researched enough to know what's good and what's bad. off to watch some YouTube to see what I learn.

i'm interested to see what your thoughts are of the Maxline if you decide to go that route. I need to replumb my shop with airlines, and i'm waffling between Maxair, Pex (yes, Pex), or 3/4"~1" copper K or L. I'd like to run at LEAST 100' of line...maybe 150'?

As for noise compressor insulation, i have my 80 gallon Devilbiss housed inside a separate little unattached fully insulated shed. I can just barely hear the compressor kick on when i'm in my shop...but i'm lucky that i have the extra space to able to do that. Two different friends of mine have framed a little insulated wall that goes all around their compressors. You can still hear them kick on, but it definitely takes the edge off of the loud noise!

for some air and electrical inspiration:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/the-scooter-workshop.170180/

wiremold 4000 so the outlets can be moved around as needed. and airline run inside aluminum strut channel.

I'm running this along the back wall of my shop. I'll also run air overhead from back to front, either stainless or copper.

A friend of mine ran his air line in a large loop around the whole perimeter and then did drops from that.

Overhead retractable extension chords.

Best tool purchase of 2022 for me.


Your gonna need a bigger boat.

Have you checked the price of copper lately? It has really jumped this year. Another alternant: PVC pipe. Done right, it can stand up to a lot of pressure.

I love my retractable air hose and electrical cord. Not necessarily practical in that huge space.

I've seen a whole garage air done in PVC around the entire perimeter. It was badass. I thought about doing that here but the roll up works perfect for this space...

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.


Perfect for the space.

Thanks y'all!

I've read (repeatedly) not to use PVC - it will explode - or so they say on the inter webs.

Copper is too much of a pain and expense.

Pex Al Pex (with the aluminum liner) is supposed to be legit.

In my view, it's just air - so I want it convenient and drained, but don't feel like I need to reinvent the wheel.

The wire mold 4000 is very nice - but I think I'm gonna keep my electrical to traditional metal conduit mounted to wall - and perhaps even paint it.

Love & appreciate the suggestions.
Keep 'em rolling as I search.

Welding shop I use has 3 retractable extensions positioned in the 3 main work areas. (One of them on a cool 6' swing arm that rotated 180 and had a stops at 45* and 90*.) anyway… that's where I clocked the idea. Seemed to work well for them.

Last edited by Birdsnest on Fri, 30 Dec 2022 22:04:03 +0000; edited 2 times

I've been watching copper price for the past 4 years....nuff said

I can tell you from personal experience that 1.5" schedule 40 ABS pipe throws LOTS of shrapnel when it gives up the ghost. When my line exploded, my neighbor who lives over 1/2 mile away came rippin' up to my shop to see if i was OK. People shoot guns all the time in the area that i live, and the explosion was well louder than any pew pew that i've heard up here in the hills. I'll pass on plastic air lines and plastic scooters.