Author Topic: And another from the long-lost list .... (Read 1743 times)

SpyGuy · « **on:** July 07, 2008, 12:51:40 AM »

Yup, still around. I haven't been able to get online much lately, due to a new/old job that has me working 12-hr days or so (5 to 5 and then some ...). Usually by the time I get home and cleaned up and have dinner, it's almost time for me to go to bed, to start the vicious cycle all over again. Witrh the huge jobs we're working on (doing a three-month-long job installing workstations at a hospital, 150 stations per floor ... on six floors), I don't have much time to think about much else. Oh, and falling asleep at the keyboard is becoming a regular occurance ..... So, for now, RA2 has been pushed to the back burner for a little while, as I just don't have as much time as I used to anymore.

At least I'm managing some irresponsible fun when I can, dragging out one of my latest acquisitions:

This is "The Rat," a 47cc pint-sized pocket rocket I bought off a guy from craigslist - his kid didn't want it anymore, so I got it pretty cheap. Bodywork was destroyed, but the engine ran fine, so I've been working on it, tuning it up, and taking it for a quick spin around the block to annoy the neighbors. (Not to mention chasing jackrabbits and quail - woohoo!) There's a bunch of fun little "redneck repair" items on the bike, such as the stock BMX footpegs, the gas tank hose-clamped to the bare frame, wire mesh between the seat and the tank, and the seat mount made from a chopped-down office keyboard track, but ... it runs, and it runs well (even with the Briggs&Stratton lawnmower gas filter and the homemade Altoids box air cleaner). The pullstarter has recently undergone some "old's cool" pinstriping, with the bike's name in white lettering. Ugly? Yeah. Rideable? Yeah. Fun? HELL YEAH!!!

I've been busy, but I haven't forgotten about you guys. I miss working with a bunch of you on different mods, designs, reskins, and the like. As soon as things settle down, I'll dust off the ol' CD and pop 'er back in the drive, and rev up the game again.

kill343gs · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2008, 12:00:23 PM »

Gotta love redneck repairs, but it lacks duct tape...

Welcome back man.

Madiaba · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2008, 12:38:09 PM »

Hey SG, nice to see you around. I'll PM or call you soon.
Love the gas tank:shock:.... hehe. Be careful on the road with that little thing,.. I sold my bike because of too many close calls. BTW: I've a 670 Rotax that would fit right in that frame....

ACAMS · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2008, 12:54:27 PM »

It only needs a 572

Gigafrost · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2008, 06:56:22 AM »

Welcome back Spy, at least glad that you took some time out to take a visit.

SpyGuy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2008, 07:51:22 PM »

Kill: No duct tape yet, but gimme some time ... Oh, yeah, latest addition to the bike: DuPont spraycan muffler system. Real high-tech here, guys ... :P

Mad: A 670 Rotex? Sounds interesting ... there are some guys that have managed to stuff 110cc engines in these little things. I might want to pick that up from you .... The original fairings were all cracked and destroyed, so I yanked them off. Unfortunately, meant that I had to remount the gas tank somehow, sooooo .......

Acams: considering that I could literally park the whole bike on top of a 572, with enough room for at least another bike up there, I kinda don't see that happening, but man, think of the monster torque it'd pull .....

Giga: Had to swing by and say hey, let you guys know I was doing all right. Like a bunch of the members on here, I was hooked on the game to the point where I was ignoring a lot of other important things, and that wasn't good. I just pretty much had to take a couple of steps back, get some things done, and do some things I've wanted to do for a while.

Also on the plus side of these little hot-rods, there's a few guys here in Tucson that are creating a youth group for kids whose fathers are not a part of their lives (ie, deadbeats, abandoned, passed away, etc.), and are bringing them together in a "big brother" type of group using these pocket bikes as a focal point. The boys (8-12-ish) get to learn how to work with tools, learn all about 2-stroke engines, have mentors to help teach them different tricks and tips about the bikes, get to work together as a team, and also get to compete in a semi-formal setting. Each boy is sponsored a bike, with enough spare parts to build another, and the sponsors/mentors pay membership dues to help cover the costs for the kids. (Oh, yeah, and the sponsors get to bring/wrench on/ride their own bikes at any of the events - how cool is that?) I'm not able to sponsor one of the kids right now, but I can volunteer as "pit crew" to help out when and where I can. And no, they will NOT be subject to any "redneck wrenching" - the Rat was built strictly for fun to see how crazy I could get it.

They just had a small track meet this past weekend, but sadly I missed it because I was visiting friends. Trying to find out now when their next meet is ...

Meganerdbomb · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2008, 11:13:57 AM »

Well glad to see that you're back, and if you get the time, you should really check out infinites summer magic. He's making an AI pack of stock remakes, and I know that you did a lot of those in the past.

SpyGuy · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2008, 02:28:29 AM »

Very cool, thanks for the info on II's Summer Magic. One of these days, I really should drag out all my stock remakes, dust them off and get them AI'd, and upload it in a pack for release. I have a large reskin pack for all the stock components, and some of the arenas - I need to get that out there, too.