1978 Harley Davidson Shovelhead

Here's my favorite pic of Lou's old '78 HD Shovel, unfortunately he doesn't have it anymore. The thing was a freakin' train. I rode it around his neighborhood a few years back and it demanded attention from both passersby and the rider! Love this bike.

Photo credit goes to Lou despite the watermark.

It Snows in Colorado.

Here's a shot I like from a blizzard a few years back. The wind blew so hard and the snow was so fine, that a lot of attics in the area filled up with snow! Now that I know that I make sure I check for snow inside  after a good storm. Nice pic for the last day of the world as we know it.

Yes, it snows in Colorado. Like a beast. Treacherous and colder than you can imagine. Get a shovel, thermal underwear, and a snow blower. Now. That is a 3 1/2 foot drift in the foreground on the south side  of the building.

1982 Toyota Supra

There are a group of cultists out there that like these cars; I'm one of them. The Supra was simply a well built beast with a dual overhead cam straight six. What a great motor!

1982 Celica Supra mk2

I had the pleasure of living with this one for a few years. It was fun, quick enough to be a cop magnet, and funky enough for me to have had a car crush on it. I drove it to Montana a couple times during the few short "no speed limit" years. Pegging the 85 MPH speedometer between Billings and Bozeman was pretty cool.

Celica Supra

I had headers on it, a 2 1/4 inch exhaust and we punched out the catalytic converter. I picked up the over-sized Prime wheels through Ace Auto Sales in Boulder back when I used to run their Detail Shop. One of the mechanics and I had to modify the front fender flares to fit the meaty tires on it.

Supra Mark2

The good; a healthy engine with power, uber-adjustable seats, great cornering, independent suspension, and a limited slip differential.

The bad; vague power steering without much road feedback, poorly designed lock mechanisms, the weird paint job - I didn't do it, it was that way when I got it, and don't drive it in the snow. 

Photos were taken with my old 35mm Pentax ME SE in Longmont Colorado near Haystack Mountain.

Denver Street Scenes

Some interesting shots of the many buildings, facades and scenes seen around the beautiful Mile-High City.

 



D & F Tower

Mustang GT 350

I found this Ford Mustang GT 350 sitting outside Perfection Auto Body in Longmont, Colorado on the way home from the SID Inc. co-location. It just got out of the shop from a complete detail and they were doing some paint matching and other work when I saw it from across the street.  It is going up for sale at the Barrett Jackson Auction in January.

I didn't have time to look at the inside, but through the windows it looks excellent. I was on two wheels that day and had to beat the rain! If you look carefully you can spot my BMW R1200C across the way. I'll hazard a guess that it will bring around $30K on auction day.

I like the wonky angle on this shot. Pics on the iPhone are always an adventure.

An overcast day doesn't really bring out the Black and Gold like it should.

Ford GT40 in Estes Park Colorado

I hate it when I get in a hurry. I snapped a few pics of this Ford GT40 club in Estes Park. I got in a rush and didn't get the greatest pics with the iPhone. Crapshots. One of the rules of photography is SLOW DOWN... Gotta remember that.

Slow down and GT40 just don't mix I guess.

Anyway, I went camping for a long weekend with the family and ran across this flock of rare birds at Saint Malo Church just outside of Estes Park. 

Feast your eyes.

Soaking in the Colorado autumn sun.

Check out the knock-off wheels

  

Driving back to Estes Park.

St. Malo Church, Estes Park, Colorado

The church is very pretty too.

You are being watched... Mountain Garter Snake in the twigs.

Denver From the Museum

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a view of the Denver Skyline from the Leprino Family Atrium of the Denver Museum of Natural History. I was just hanging out that summer day waiting for my daughter to finish her class there. One of the best views in Denver.

Here are a couple more shots taken in November 2012. They finished the fountain! Also an interior of the strangely intriguing Leprino Family Atrium.

Orange Harley Panhead

Off to the local Starbucks in Lakewood one morning, and who rolls up but a guy on an unbelievably nice old Harley Davidson Panhead.  Toolkit, correct HD Saddlebags, Buddy seat, fishtail flex pipes- and ORANGE. Gotta respect a daily driver out in the winter!

 

Beautiful condition and, the gorgeous old Panhead started up first kick !

1970 Datsun 240Z

 Another chapter in my ownership of 6 cylinder vehicles! This 1970 Datsun 240Z was totally stock except for the "Prime" Wheels. One of the cars I'd always wanted to own. It lived with me for a few years before moving on to a new home for a complete restore.

It was a good driver, comfortable, pretty fast and handled well. I even drove it in the snow a few times and thanks to the 50/50-ish weight distribution it did great. The mileage was fair and it had pretty good power for an oldie.  The only downsides I can remember were trying to keep the dual carburetors balanced and the nightmarish headlights. Yea, I could have changed them, but I didn't!

1970 240Z - HS30 00084

Stock SU Carbs

Mint Interior

Found by Colorado Auto and Parts Salvage Yard

What if a Hot Rod got shrunk? I found this machine sitting outside Colorado Auto and Parts one day in Sheridan Colorado. It's something like a 1957 Chevy El Camino two-door Chopper Coupe. Looks like they chopped the top and knocked a few feet out of the middle! It is quite strange, but the workmanship seemed to be high quality. I didn't find the owner of the Hot Rod; he must have been in the boneyard looking for parts for his next creation. 

 

Yellow Iron at work in Lakewood

 At the corner of Alameda and Wadsworth in Lakewood, Colorado. Shots of the demolition of the big round building on the corner that was once a Geico office. A skilled operator on the backhoe; he was working fast with not much room for error. Pretty impressive!

demolition, Volvo, backhoe, asbestos removal, truck, construction, dirt, Belmar, Villa Italia,

Lakewood, Alemeda ,Wadsworth, heavy equipment, yellow iron

Northern Colorado October Sunrise

Once in a Blue Moon? How about a Green Sunrise?
Every once in a great while we get a green sunrise out on the plains. I finally captured one on "film". In the center of the photo are flocks of geese creating what looks like pixelation. I can't seem to find a good explanation for the green sunrise phenomenon. If anyone has an idea what causes this, post it in the comments! Taken in Northern Colorado with my old Nikon Coolpix 5400.

Happiness is a Shovelhead

Here is a pic from early in 2000 taken at Phil Howell's shop on Federal Blvd in Denver.

That's me next to my almost-redone Shovel. 

A word about Phil Howell -

Phil Howell is gone now. He is sure not forgotten. Phil was a great guy- great sense of humor, possibly the best HD motor mechanic in the region. Phil had a great shop on Federal where he sold parts, built bikes, did repairs, and modifications to bikes of all kinds. Phil raced Harleys, built race motors, bikes, and knew his stuff.  Just a fantastic guy, he is missed by the entire community in Denver.

Phil died a very untimely death a couple of years ago. I am sure he is riding around heaven on a rigid panhead and smiling.

 Thanks for everything, Phil. God Bless You.