Motorhead

My family wasn't/isn't into motors. We just like to go. When I was young, we relied on places like Deter Motors and Harry Hjortshoj Standard to keep our vehicles running. We didn't even have a lawnmower by the time I was old enough to pay attention to such things. Our neighbor Harley Baxter mowed our yard - and later, Dick Westbrook. Dad claimed grass allergies. True enough, but the grass at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club didn't seem to bother him. Our yard was pretty big - maybe he just didn't want to spend his valuable weekend hours on such a chore. When we got a boat, it was a sailboat. No motor.

Coolest thing from the late 60's early 70's

At last week's Solid Waste, Contaminated Sites staff meeting I learned of a new museum in Iowa - the former Clinton Engines Factory in Maquoketa. Two DNR staffers had a meeting at the site - Mel Pins described it: a fascinating collection of small, lawn mower, mini-bike, and outboard motor engines this place made from 1950 until the mid-1980s.  The place was purportedly the tenth largest employer in Iowa at one time.   Unfortunately, they went bankrupt, and of the large factory site, only the art-deco style administration building remains (where the museum is housed), along with a sizable groundwater contaminant plume of solvent.

At the staff meeting, we talked about how the former factory is now re-purposed into this museum and may also be used for community meetings. The staffers did say there is still a whiff of gas/oil in the air throughout the building. Those car smells remind me of my time working for Harry Hjorshoj at his gas station. I got my officer manager start there. Along with skills in driving a car on a hoist and picking up cars for service.

If you look at the pics above, you'll see my favorite thing - a minibike! Of course, the Bullocks never had one. It had a motor. I made do with a ten speed Western Flyer. But I "knew people". When I got to junior high, my "group" started hanging out with boys. I wasn't all that keen on the opposite sex yet, in "that" way. But did like the stuff they liked doing! We played football up behind Sue Tyler's house or up at the school practice field.

Lots of times my gang ended up near Sherry Smith and Greg Parker's houses. That is where kids would ride their mini bikes. I don't really even know whose they were. Robin Kautz? No matter. We took turns riding and it was very thrilling! I was 13 and driving a thing with a motor on the streets.

my grandpa - Bubba

Later, in high school, I had a biker boyfriend. Mike McCauley had a Honda 175 dirt bike. Be still my heart. I got busted when my grandpa saw me on Highway 6, riding on the back of his cycle WITH NO HELMET! I started buying some motorcycle magazine - dreaming of the bike I wanted. His mom let me use her street bike - a Honda 200 to get my cycle license. I killed it when I had to slam on the brakes. Forgot to pull in the clutch. Oops. Yet they still gave me the license. Cuz I was that cool!

Time went by and I went on to college and forgot about cycles. I met Paul and became a mom who has a healthy fear of them - too many news reports about accidents. Still - that minibike was fun!