Homework

Stuff for class, one of my final renderings

We Finally Meet!

On my visit to the NSU / Motorcycle Museum in Hermany.

The last room of the tour housed about 20 different race bikes, one being this beaute!

I'm much more excited then I look.

Nero? Is that you?

The Hand Made Future of Capitalism

FastCoDesign

4 Reasons Why The Future of Capitalism is Home Grown, Small Scale, and Independent.

"Making fewer things of higher quality and utility is important. Reusing and sharing really good stuff is valued. The entire notion of brand is upended in indie capitalism, superseded by the community surrounding the creation of a product or service. Authenticity is the “brand” in many cases."

FastCoDesign recently published an article on the coming boom of locally hand crafted goods, and the roll they'll play in our future economy. Click the image above to view the full article. It's short, sweet, and a good source of inspiration to get out there and create something.


...or get out there and buy something, that's big, square, and has garage doors.

Tools

 This makes me want a shared space even more! I just want to make stuff on a lathe so I can throw it at you guys and when you get mad, I'll say "But look how sweet it looks, stop being so mad."

SNOWJET

Say hello to the Snowjet. My answer -for now- to Tim's winter vehicle theme challenge. Here we've got ourselves an oversized speedboat for frozen lakes. Refer to the small door on the belly for man-size comparison. The wings on the skis are for keeping the feet on the ground at over 200 mph while the massive fuselage wing levels out any bumps that would otherwise jostle the Grey Poupon being served on-board. Day runs to the Northwest Territory are made downright enjoyable in the well appointed cabin, and passengers appreciate the smooth power and confidant whine of the modified Honeywell AGT1500. The only thing louder than the engine in this thing is the paint.

Entertainment Design Class

Hey, just wanted to let you guys know that I was going to start posting the stuff from a class I've been taking over on my blog.  It's an entertainment design class focused on mech design.  Fun stuff.

Blog here- Process

In the mail!

 

I went to visit Veronica in Boston during my visit home last week and even had the chance to stop in the Reebok/Rockport concept store. 50% off is pretty awesome! Rockport, previously known for "shoes for your New Englander father or grandfather" are making some pretty awesome products for guys our age. I thought these would be right up your alley Dave and Ian. However, I can't bring myself to tuck my jeans into them.

Photos From Our Climb Up Ulm Cathedral

Kara and I and a couple friends from work spent last weekend visiting Ulm Cathedral.

Fun Facts:

- The tallest Cathedral in the world at 530ft

- Took 513 years to finish (starting in 1377)

- You can climb to the top, 768 steps up.

- The stairs are not in doors...

The day was foggy, which was wonderful for photos and keeping your paralyzing fear of heights somewhat at bay.

FASTEST Documentary

My heart is still beating fast from the trailer.  I know what I want in my stocking this year.

here

how about a holiday themed contest?

Lets do a holiday draw off! maybe skis,tanktreads, etc only?

Books | Beard

Since I don't plan on buying you guys any Christmas gifts this year, I figured I'd send you a link to a gift that I would buy you, but don't plan to. So, without further adieu, I present to you, the book I'd buy you, but you can go buy for yourself....

Learning to not be stupid

For some odd reason I took an open lane on 75 this morning and decided to air out the ol’ blue bomber Pass-it. I put the needle on a once uncharted section of the speedometer and learned quickly how much sweat my hands can produce in a short amount of time. I thought to myself, “what the hell are you doing Pat? This car is going to fall apart underneath you! It won't even be an admirable story when you have to tell it from a hospital bed." Arriving safely at work - thankfully and rapidly I might add ; ) - I googled, “The dangers of driving at high speeds”. I thought there had to be something more interesting than “crash and die”. Turns out it’s mostly “crash and die”. Butttt, I did find an SAE article on the dangers involved with high performance driving and it was a pretty good read. Maybe I’m going out on a limb but I felt the article was full of good life/career advice too, even if it’s intent is to talk about racing. Here is a link to the article and below is the section I found to be almost biblical.

 8. MOTIVATION.
Once you perform a skill to your own satisfaction you tend to stop looking for improvement. Yet the physiological limits to your performance of the skill may be a great deal higher the upper reaches are virtually limitless, provided there is sufficient motivation to reach them. Have we forgotten the effort required to "get it right?" There is such an emphasis today on instant gratification and being a winner that we often forget the valuable lessons we learn from losing. Remember that the fact of trying something, even if it does not work, often opens doors that would have otherwise remained closed. Small failures lead to incremental improvements. More than any film, bench-racing session or ride a long, not being able to make it through a turn will sear into your brain the importance of doing it right. Discipline yourself to concentrate on what it takes to be where you need to be. On track, focus on the present and save analysis for the paddock. It is the driver's job to learn to do the hard thing easily, gracefully, efficiently. Improvement is there for the taking only if the effort is invested.

Product meets Trans meets Awesome

Fuel Bespoke Shirt - Fo Freeee

So, Karles, the man behind Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles shot me a few messages recently and ended up sending me a free shirt. It's a Large, which is what I usually wear, but it turns out they run small. He's sending me a new XL and said I could keep the Large.

I guess first person to claim it can have it. Just make note that it's probably more of a Medium to us Muricans.

Here it is:

Holluurrr

Rubber side down

Speed Four ready to roll

Hey dudes, this isn't really inspirational but I had a little too much fun over the weekend and thought I would share.  I did my second track day and had a blast with mixed results.  I was able to knock 8 seconds off my previous best for the track.  I also discovered just how hard I could push the bike before it decided to wash out on me at turn 5.  My first lowside was over before I realized what happened and all I was thinking as I rolled after my bike was "Seriously?"  I rolled into a kneeling position and then I stood up and took stock of my extremities and then finding nothing broken walked off the track to the bike and the safety worker standing next to it.

 I'm fine.  I need new gloves and I need to replace some cosmetic stuff on the bike but altogether it wasn't really that bad.  I rode the bike off the track and drove home relatively unscathed with an important lesson in my back pocket and a good time for my second venture on the Fontana Speedway.

Mein Street

A shot I took of the street outside my hotel.

It is most gorgeous here with the prime country side. (german accent.)

I started a(nother) blog for photo uploads and such: Eur-Uploads

...I also still have Das Vault.

Better late then never!

So this will be my first post to the blog.  It is a bit late but I promised Jo at the "Fryday Party" he had that I would having something to post up.  So here she is.  The other last man standing.  This puppy includes a rooftop garden hidden from pedestrians by large 12 foot tall sheets of steel.  Tanks out back hold fuel and water for long trips.  There is a ton a room to live comfortably within the vehicle so outside safety is less of a concern.  Tim, do you mind if I start using your tools and parts of your house to begin constructing this in your backyard?  I'll buy you Tacobell!  

Markus Haub: Camilo Pardo of Deutschland

The ability to create paintings of this caliber is reason enough to buy a projector. Seuper Kewl stuph. The cursive is remarkable; I'm not sure if he masks it off or paints it on afterward.

http://www.formfreu.de/2011/09/27/speedstar-gallery__paintings-of-markus-haub/

Work Space Envy

While we're on the topic of awesome work spaces, check out this one.

Craig Metros, of CCS:

A friend of his, who also works at Ford AU, and built the Much Much Go biek that won the Deus contest. Same work space.:

Potential, eh!

 

I spent my Friday evening playing ice hockey in Ontario, Canada and it was just plain awesome. When I told them I learned how to hockey stop by watching Youtube videos, you would have thought Dane Cook walked into a room full of college freshman who had never heard a crude joke before. They couldn't get enough of my "unfortunate" American upbringing and they gave me some tips, lent me a decent stick that weighed half the weight of my stick, and even gave me a Labatt's to slam down before I stepped on the ice. It was probably the best 60 minutes of hockey I've ever played, eh!

Saturday, as I left to go back to the motherland, I stopped to get poutine, a Canadian delicacy of fries slathered in gravy and melting cheese curds. It was effing scrumpsculescent I would later find out, but they were closed until 2. With an hour and a half to burn, I stopped in a pretty amazing sneaker shop that was way bigger than the two decent shops in Royal Oak/Birmingham and then I drove around Riverside Ave. in Windsor. Obviously, it's beSIDE the RIVER and is comparable to Lakeshore Dr in St.Clair Shores. I went south for about 20 minutes and found this bad ass old Garage. I said to myself, "that place is awesome, the doors would make awesome backdrops for portraits, I should probably take a picture," and so unlike most of the times when I make an excuse and keep driving. I stopped and captured this little snapshot. The more I look at it the more I want this building!!!! It would make such an awesome little custom motorcycle shop, art gallery, comfort food restaurant, brewery, or just a B.A. photo studio. Or all of the above!!! I thought you guys might get a kick out of it and maybe dream up your own use for it. I'm glad I went back and took the shot.

LAST MAN STANDING

Sorry it's a little late!

For Dave!

Not apocalypse related but kick ass none the less!!!

I CAN HAZ GROUND CLEARANCE?!

Because when you run out of ammo you'll need to run some mother****ers over.

Z.A.V. - Zombie Assault Vehicle

While many of you spend your days working or procrastinating from work, I try my hardest to look like I'm working on stuff. Sadly, I have no assignments, no motivation/incentive to ask for any, and not a single ounce of interest in my body towards this place of business. So here is what I accomplished this afternoon at "work". I need a new job, fast!!! I'm becoming the zombie I'm trying to save us from!!! AWD Astro Van = Ultimate Zombie Slayin' Machine!!!

Inspiration | Apocalypse

Friday is almost upon us! If anybody is struggling to get inspired for sketches and such, check this beast out (I think it's one of Tim's old images). We should build one of these!!!

APOCALYPTRUCK

I decided to disregard practicality (as I do) and go the "Stolen Mining Equipment" route for my apocalyptic sketch. Gigantic dump truck converted to independent thievery/pillaging operation?
I think so, Yes.

This puppy's got six ATVs and dirt bikes ready to be launched from above the main fuel tanks. Its got a fully covered and armored obvservation/attack deck on top of the bucket shield. A 50 ton crane welded to the bucket snatches up anything it can wrangle its hooks around, and relocates equipment within APOCALYPTRUCK's bucket. A 10 ton chain hoist has also been mounted to the extended front deck for smaller items such as consumables. Bunks and mess have been built into the front of the bucket and are accessible from the driver control room door through a hole cut in the bucket wall. A multitude of halogen and other found HID lighting illuminates the rig's surrounding area (pictured) when stealth is not desirable. Tire chains remain installed from APOCALYPTRUCK's mining days, although the front access ladders have been removed in favor of side "drawbridge" style lift-able ladders. APOCALYPTRUCK and it's crew roam the globe collecting items of interest and foxy ladies (which while interesting, are not items: I know...). The crew recently acquired a small nuclear reactor and will be attempting its integration with the vehicle.

Fun Stuff, Pat, Thanks!

P.S. art stuff: RSVP fine point black on 8.5 x11 printer paper. Colored in PS.

These guys are good!!! The video production quality is dope! And the Audi, goodness gracious! I wanttttt

Apocalypse Now! (Challenge)

I've been preparing for the apocalypse, it's just over a year away!!!! In the past two nights I've cooked 2 1/2 gallons of turkey chili and 2 gallons of chicken noodle soup. I'm going to learn how to can them in Ball Mason jars so I can store them in the bunker Tim doesn't know he's building in his backyard yet. Two weekends ago I spent my Sunday at a gun range learning how to shoot zombies!! Here is the list of weaponry if any of you are into that sorta thing: a KelTec Sub 2000 (fits in a laptop bag, yikes), a M1 Garand (the rifle my grandfather would have had in WW2), a Highpoint Carbine, and another squirrel shootin' .22 rifle.Handguns and shotguns will come in the next few weeks. I hope to be ready to take out all the zombies when the day of reckoning is upon us!

With that said, I figured I'd throw a little challenge out to y'all. An "Apocalyptical" challenge of epic proportions. In the next week, I'd like all y'all to do even just one apocalypse sketch and maybe gather some cool images of "apocalypse ready" vehicles like the one above. Maybe a motorcycle you've been thinking about, or a sketch of the bunker Tim doesn't know he's building yet, or a recipe for apocalypse food. I don't care what it is, just come up with something cool. Post it on here or email me a scan of it and I'll post it. DUE DATE: By Thursday Oct 6 at midnight! I'll post them up on Friday. Happy Zombie Hunting!!!!

New Camera!

This weekend I bought a (likely stolen) Nikon D40 off Craigslist ....for $220. I talked him down from his listed $260 price.

It didn't come with a charger, or case, but otherwise a complete fully functioning camera. (see, Sketchy)

So, I took pictures of Kara's new bike.

We had trouble getting it to idle the other day, so I'm going to have to take a look at it. Considering the previous owner had no idea how to even check the oil level... I could be in for a problem. We'll see.

I Have Succeeded...

It took a lot of word trickery and implied rationalization, but I finally convinced Kara that she wants a motorcycle. Minutes after i got the 100% decision from her, I jumped on Craigslist, looking for light weight, low cc bikes. I should mention, I also convinced her to let me build it for her over the winter months - where I would supply my handy work while she covered costs. Awesome, I know. About 4.5 hours after the official OK, we were 30 miles north of Chicago, signing over the title to her new 1981 Yamaha SR250.

It's a 297 lb 20hp single cylinder.

Top speed is about 75/80mph.

It runs great. Everything is super clean and well taken care of. It needs nothing from what I can tell so far. The guy only wanted $650 so we jumped all over it. The next step is brainstorming the build. We've got some ideas floating around that I'll be sketching up. I'll post up progress when I've got some.

Here is where I will be drawing much of my inspiration...

DURBAHN: NO COMPROMISE

Thorstan Durbahn

bike builder, inventor, engineer, all around cool guy

I found this guy again after forgetting all about him a few years ago.  I just found the entire article scanned in online that I have at home stashed away somewhere.  This guy makes the most functional motorcycles on the planet.  He'll do whatever it takes to lose a gram here, a gram there, redesign the entire intake system and then build it out of carbon fiber to save weight.  He's amazing and it's a great read, it's a huge inspiration what this guy tackles in his small shop and the way he treats these amazing bikes borders on hilarious.  Many of the process pics have a 30K bike covered in foam dust and notes he writes directly on the bike's frame; also usually a bunch of burger wrappers because he eats off of them while he works.

He designed this side mount fuel tank to keep weight low on the bike

He also fabricated that under mount exhaust himself.  Out of titanium.