Finished! Not with my
car, unfortunately, but with the garage I’m going to build it in, God willing (click on the photo to see it enlarged).
car, unfortunately, but with the garage I’m going to build it in, God willing (click on the photo to see it enlarged).
The last time I wrote, a couch was laying on my (fake) Lotus
7 car project; we’d moved to a new house with no storage and my garage was
filled with junk. I decided to build a playhouse and shed to rescue my working
space.
7 car project; we’d moved to a new house with no storage and my garage was
filled with junk. I decided to build a playhouse and shed to rescue my working
space.
When researching ideas for small buildings I stumbled upon
programmatic architecture; In the early 1900s enterprising business owners
created buildings shaped like dogs, hats, tea pots, Indian heads, fruit, etc.,
in an effort to attract the passing motorist. The dog shaped cafe in The
Rocketeer is an example. Here’s a link
to other Los Angeles’ offerings –
programmatic architecture; In the early 1900s enterprising business owners
created buildings shaped like dogs, hats, tea pots, Indian heads, fruit, etc.,
in an effort to attract the passing motorist. The dog shaped cafe in The
Rocketeer is an example. Here’s a link
to other Los Angeles’ offerings –
Here in Portland we had a great example at a dairy farm –
Photo property of PDXHistory and used with their approval – http://pdxhistory.com/html/steigerwald_dairy.html
Sadly the Steigerwald Dairy building has disappeared under
storefront revisions and billboards. Here’s a photo from the 70s:
storefront revisions and billboards. Here’s a photo from the 70s:
City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2011-006.5426.
I don’t understand why programmatic architecture has largely
disappeared, I think it would still draw customers. Too many building codes probably killed it.
Or, more likely, I don’t understand the modern consumer and their culture.
disappeared, I think it would still draw customers. Too many building codes probably killed it.
Or, more likely, I don’t understand the modern consumer and their culture.
Truth is, I don’t understand post-modern,
do-whatever-you-want, culture at all. I still believe there is a good God,
someday I’ll be accountable to him, and that day I’ll be overwhelmingly
thankful Jesus paid my sin debt.
do-whatever-you-want, culture at all. I still believe there is a good God,
someday I’ll be accountable to him, and that day I’ll be overwhelmingly
thankful Jesus paid my sin debt.
Looking at programmatic architecture re-ignited my interest
in vintage roadside signs. I found
myself in Portland’s city archives, paying for scans of photos in their
collections. Here are a few great photos
that might someday end up in a 2nd edition of my Signs of Portland
book (all six photos owned by, and used with the permission of, PARC):
in vintage roadside signs. I found
myself in Portland’s city archives, paying for scans of photos in their
collections. Here are a few great photos
that might someday end up in a 2nd edition of my Signs of Portland
book (all six photos owned by, and used with the permission of, PARC):
City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2004-002.1162.
City of Portland (OR) Archives, a1999-004-1049.
City of Portland (OR) Archives, a2009-009-2601.
City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2009-009.2033.
City of Portland (OR) Archives
City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2005-005-438-1.
This is a car blog, so I won’t bore you with details, but I
enjoyed creating the playhouse and shed.
enjoyed creating the playhouse and shed.
When I told people I was going to build a shed to free up room to work
on my car, it was funny how many people responded with comments like, “Well, I
know a guy who built his car on a dirt driveway, at night, inside a cave, under
a nesting bat colony”.
on my car, it was funny how many people responded with comments like, “Well, I
know a guy who built his car on a dirt driveway, at night, inside a cave, under
a nesting bat colony”.
While I applaud Mr. Guano’s efforts, it aint me. I’m glad I have a larger garage and I’m happy
to use it to build my car. I was constantly stumbling, tripping and losing
things in the crowded garage. With the shed finished and the junk moved out, it
was the proverbial breath of fresh air.
I had instant gratification getting a vintage “Gemstone Wax” neon sign working again,
and my motorcycle back on the road.
to use it to build my car. I was constantly stumbling, tripping and losing
things in the crowded garage. With the shed finished and the junk moved out, it
was the proverbial breath of fresh air.
I had instant gratification getting a vintage “Gemstone Wax” neon sign working again,
and my motorcycle back on the road.
Having something fun on the road again is awesome. Our new home is at the base of a range of
hills covered with vineyards and curvy roads.
Getting to drive those curves on something that isn’t a minivan reminded
me how enjoyable it can be to go for a ride/drive.
hills covered with vineyards and curvy roads.
Getting to drive those curves on something that isn’t a minivan reminded
me how enjoyable it can be to go for a ride/drive.
With the shed built I continued decorating the walls of the
garage. I had a large Texaco sign already and saw an advertisement for a 38”
Texaco reproduction sign at Hobby Lobby for $45; I bought it, thinking it would
pair well.
garage. I had a large Texaco sign already and saw an advertisement for a 38”
Texaco reproduction sign at Hobby Lobby for $45; I bought it, thinking it would
pair well.
Several days later a huge box arrived and I opened it only
to find a Roadrunner sign.
Hobby Lobby apologized and said they’d send me a
Texaco sign. Several days later I
received another large box; I opened it to find… a Roadrunner sign. I tried to
get Hobby Lobby to walk into their warehouse and get the signs sorted out. Instead, I received an email saying they were
discontinuing the Texaco sign.
I really wanted the Texaco sign, so I found the same sign on
ebay, from a private seller, for $20 more than Hobby Lobby. Thinking this private seller had the mythical
sign in his hands, I ordered it. Several
days later I received the familiar box, direct from Hobby Lobby, which I opened
to find my third Roadrunner sign.
I gave up on the 38” Texaco sign. It’s just as well: I exchanged one of the Roadrunners at Hobby
Lobby’s local store for an STP sign (they didn’t have the Texaco sign either),
and it is apparent it’s the reproduction sign in the garage; reproduction signs
just don’t look the same.
Lobby’s local store for an STP sign (they didn’t have the Texaco sign either),
and it is apparent it’s the reproduction sign in the garage; reproduction signs
just don’t look the same.
I went up to Washington to pick up an 8’ mid-century sign I
plan to spruce up.
plan to spruce up.
Here’s a design idea, one of many, I’m batting around:
While in Washington I visited
a Yard Bird which, because it had use storing the owner’s helicopter, I think
can count as programmatic architecture.
What
remains of the Yard Bird store is a trip.
Imagine the biggest industrial warehouse store (think Costco) you’ve
ever seen, two stories high, now closed, decaying, and filled with makeshift
walls bordering the stalls of flea market peddlers as far as the eye can see,
with very few customers. I found it
eerie, like the zombie of what was once a thriving market.
I’m now back to working on the Locost Lotus. Man, I hope I can get it done sooner rather
than later. I’m building it to drive,
not because I ever wanted to work on a car for years. I’m three years in and I’m starting to get
depressed about my progress. I can’t
wait to drive it on the roads I’ve been taking my motorcycle on, with my wife or one of the
kids; I think we’ll have a great time.
than later. I’m building it to drive,
not because I ever wanted to work on a car for years. I’m three years in and I’m starting to get
depressed about my progress. I can’t
wait to drive it on the roads I’ve been taking my motorcycle on, with my wife or one of the
kids; I think we’ll have a great time.
Maybe I should submit to that t.v. show where they come to
your house and build your stalled car project.
Problem is, my application would be lame: “Yeah, I sold my yuppie M3 to
help pay for our beautiful house and now all I’m left with is this pile of
metal resembling a Lotus that I’m not prioritizing working on. I’m too cheap to buy another car. Please come build my car so I can have more toys”.
your house and build your stalled car project.
Problem is, my application would be lame: “Yeah, I sold my yuppie M3 to
help pay for our beautiful house and now all I’m left with is this pile of
metal resembling a Lotus that I’m not prioritizing working on. I’m too cheap to buy another car. Please come build my car so I can have more toys”.
Speaking of building things, my dad got another one of his
bike builds into the The One Moto Show.
He built a great looking Kawasaki two-stroke triple, in a Japanese café
racer style. At one point, the night I visited The One Show, I saw an older
Asian man with the biggest smile on his face give my dad a big hearty handshake
after a long inspection of the bike; I think that interaction spoke measures about
the bike my dad built.
Incredibly cool bikes are everywhere at the show. You can tell the people are cool too. I’m surprised I didn’t get thrown out,
definitely felt like I was bringing the cool factor down.
definitely felt like I was bringing the cool factor down.
On the uncool subject, I must be different from most of you. I am tired of turning on the radio to hear
another song about women. Throw in the topic of alcohol and we’ve covered 99
percent of what’s on the radio. I’m
happily married to an attractive woman, and drink an occasional beer, but I have a whole lot of other things
going on in my life. I’ve recommended
Mark Knopfler to you before because he sometimes sings about life, including
racing cars; here’s a great racing song:
another song about women. Throw in the topic of alcohol and we’ve covered 99
percent of what’s on the radio. I’m
happily married to an attractive woman, and drink an occasional beer, but I have a whole lot of other things
going on in my life. I’ve recommended
Mark Knopfler to you before because he sometimes sings about life, including
racing cars; here’s a great racing song:
For those of you that share my faith, I’m cranking this new
David Crowder song whenever it comes on:
David Crowder song whenever it comes on:
Both great songs that probably aren’t on the Top 40. That Crowder song hits me hard.
Speaking of things that are cool, I surprised myself – I’m not currently
lusting after café racer projects. A
buddy just found a nice old Honda, and asked if he could store it in my garage
for a couple days (it was in a barn close to my house).
Speaking of things that are cool, I surprised myself – I’m not currently
lusting after café racer projects. A
buddy just found a nice old Honda, and asked if he could store it in my garage
for a couple days (it was in a barn close to my house).
I wondered if I’d want to own it, seeing it
sitting in my garage. It’s been several days and I still don’t want it. The 1996 XR400R I’ve been riding is always in
a state of disrepair, and what I’m lusting after is a clean, reliable, fast and
fun dual-sport. I’m tired of dealing with
stuff like shifters falling off, carb bowl seals drying out, lights working
intermittently, clutch slip, blown fork seals, noisy loose timing chains,
muffler holes, etc. (all of these things are current issues of my XR).
There is one thing I love about the XR though; I’ve been
riding variants of the XR for almost twenty years so I’m incredibly comfortable
on the bike when it’s working.
riding variants of the XR for almost twenty years so I’m incredibly comfortable
on the bike when it’s working.
I’m not sure what’s wrong with me as I write this. I like to add humor to these but I’ve went
back over this thing many times and I can’t find a strong humor “voice”. If I was a cartoon comedian you could
rightfully throw rotten tomatoes. I’ll leave you with photos of The One Moto Show as
a peace offering.
back over this thing many times and I can’t find a strong humor “voice”. If I was a cartoon comedian you could
rightfully throw rotten tomatoes. I’ll leave you with photos of The One Moto Show as
a peace offering.
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