A 12 ft. FEATHERLITE conversion

[Prem]

It's obvious, ... the one for the Midget Racer ... drum roll ... rim shot

That stubby one in the background?

[Prem]

[professorkx]

professorkx,

Wow! You had it all in that van, but didn't you worry that if you ever got in a collision that all that weight in the rear would come flying forward and take out the driver's seat?

Yup, that was a concern, so everything was built with that concern in mind. This van was actually my third van (fifth van conversion, since both my sons had race vans as well). The bike is connected to the wall at the top on both sides, and the rear seat frame at the front wheel, so the bike wasn't going anywhere except in a very violent crash. My son actually went off the road in one accident in his van and the bike never came loose, just bounced around a lot.

Spare wheels were tied to the bike on the wall side, so they were locked in pretty good. Race gas was at the race site, so only fuel was in the bike. The nitrogen tank was mounted on it's side to the floor behind the rear seat using two standard cylinder mounts, so the tank wasn't going anywhere no matter how bad the crash. Microwave and tool box were bolted to a shelf which was bolted to the wall, but nothing else had much weight.

The final mitigate was that I traveled with the rear seat back in the up position (its down for these pictures), which would help stop most things flying forward in an accident. I felt like I was able to mitigate any concern of flying debris that would kill me in an accident, but thankfully, never test that theory. Longest drive without stopping was 35 hours, and 24 hours straight was pretty common, so I had a lot of practice driving without sleeping. In fact, I once drove from Idaho to North Carolina in about 50 hours by myself, and it was snowing through Colorado and Utah. I loved racing endurance events, so had to do whatever it took to get to the race site the day before each event. Still miss this part of my life after quitting at age 52, but found other outlets for my adrenalin fix...

[Prem]

Cool.

So what do you do now? Wingsuit flying?

[professorkx]

Three things:

1. Tactical pistol competition. Runs are over quickly, but still a short burst of adrenalin. Looking at adding 3 gun, but there is a lot more waiting in 3 gun, and I don't wait well, so the jury is still out.
2. Disappear for days in the woods and desert. I arrived home a day late from one trip this year, and my oldest son's new wife wanted to contact Sheriff to start a search. (no cell service where I was at the time) Both my son's just laughed and told her they won't even start looking for me until I am at least three days late, and search parties are at least a week out, as they've come to understand over the years with me in the scrub that I can survive anything that comes my way. I may need a doctor (stitches, broken bones, dislocations,etc), but I've never failed to return on my own.
3. At least 5 days a week at the gym on weights. Good for the body, good for the mind.

Nothing will ever replace the feeling of competing in National Off Road Racing, but sometimes life happens and a course correction is required. Lamenting the change would just be silly...

[lrrowe]

[Prem]

professorkx,

Marine survival school at Bridgeport, CA?

[lrrowe]

Three things:

1. Tactical pistol competition. Runs are over quickly, but still a short burst of adrenalin. Looking at adding 3 gun, but there is a lot more waiting in 3 gun, and I don't wait well, so the jury is still out.
2. Disappear for days in the woods and desert. I arrived home a day late from one trip this year, and my oldest son's new wife wanted to contact Sheriff to start a search. (no cell service where I was at the time) Both my son's just laughed and told her they won't even start looking for me until I am at least three days late, and search parties are at least a week out, as they've come to understand over the years with me in the scrub that I can survive anything that comes my way. I may need a doctor (stitches, broken bones, dislocations,etc), but I've never failed to return on my own.
3. At least 5 days a week at the gym on weights. Good for the body, good for the mind.

Nothing will ever replace the feeling of competing in National Off Road Racing, but sometimes life happens and a course correction is required. Lamenting the change would just be silly...

I am a NRA certified Range Safety Officer at a local 4H range. And members of our club have fun (means not too competitive) club shoots every other Monday. Just pistols, indoors, out to 25 yards.
My mentor wants me to try some of the events like you are describing at another outdoor range, but I have not been able to add one more activity or interest into my schedule. But shooting at the range is fun, and as an RSO, I get to see all types of pistols and shooting levels/styles.

[Prem]

Years ago, I had a friend who was a retired architect. He loved to build things, especially trailers. He built one like this, only longer and with an axle at the rear and a pivoting tongue axle in front. One side opened up to a complete woodworking station and the other side opened up to all his welding, cutting and grinding tools. He got jobs at commercial hot springs from Oregon to the southern California desert. He towed the trailer with a van he converted. I taught him how to hangglide and in exchange, he built a HD trailer hitch on the back of my bus conversion. He spent the last years of his life soaking in hot springs and making things for others. Pretty cool.

[professorkx]

My mentor wants me to try some of the events like you are describing at another outdoor range, but I have not been able to add one more activity or interest into my schedule. But shooting at the range is fun, and as an RSO, I get to see all types of pistols and shooting levels/styles.

Every once in a while, I video a run that looks like fun, and have provided one such short video below. It's really a ton of fun...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFa90UQwm18

[Prem]

Uh huh. Definitely THE best insulation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhhYqGh8l2k

[lrrowe]

My mentor wants me to try some of the events like you are describing at another outdoor range, but I have not been able to add one more activity or interest into my schedule. But shooting at the range is fun, and as an RSO, I get to see all types of pistols and shooting levels/styles.

Every once in a while, I video a run that looks like fun, and have provided one such short video below. It's really a ton of fun...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFa90UQwm18

Nice. I do not want to hijack Prem's topic. Let me send you a PM later.

[lrrowe]

Uh huh. Definitely THE best insulation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhhYqGh8l2k

I really regret not doing this. I now believe it would not cost me much more then using the pink stuff. I have about $350 in the walls and floor and I will probably spend another $250 for the ceiling. Wish I could take the cut up EPS 's pieces back.

[Prem]

Bob,

You and me both bro! I shoulda dun it right da first time.

[professorkx]

Uh huh. Definitely THE best insulation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhhYqGh8l2k

I really regret not doing this. I now believe it would not cost me much more then using the pink stuff. I have about $350 in the walls and floor and I will probably spend another $250 for the ceiling. Wish I could take the cut up EPS 's pieces back.

Dang, I wish my weight restrictions would allow me to insulate the floor, just not enough wiggle room....