Chapter 126

7/6/2006

Ch 126 Virgil's Fastest Indian                                               Tinkering                           

Rented "The World's Fastest Indian" this week. The movie's (real) character was a tinkerer extraordinaire who modified his 50 year old motorcycle to set a (still standing) world land speed record at the age of about 70. For anyone who knew Dad, you'll get a kick out of the movie as there are many similarities.

Here in Feb '71 Dad is just being neighborly using the oxy-acetylene torch to cut and form a piece of steel to rebuild Pete Van's plow to his John Deere tractor as it was a heavy snow year. You can make out the aluminum tail section and frame of his home made powered rotary gyrocopter to the left of his head. Got on the typical insulated red & black hunting pants. He shot 2 deer the year he died at 79. Jack stands in the foreground for his many automotive projects. Work shop is our lower garage that Sis sold off.

This pic was included in Ch 45 but small size didn't really do it justice. Included a larger pic of one of his favorite Harleys   here too Ch 126B.