DDT's stories made me review mine

[solo1]

While I'm not the one that is able to paint a story like Bruce does, I try to bring the reader along with me.  Using words to bring a story alive like Bruce does has been my goal even though I'm not as successful with the technique as he is.

He just gave me an excuse to take another look at my stories.  While DDT doesn't need to emphasize his stories with pictures,  back when this story took place, I had no camera and there were no smart phones.  For me, that worked anyway because nothing distracted me from riding. 

Since I no longer ride, old memories have to serve.  Try this on for size.



                                   LUCAS THE PRINCE vs  THE MOON
.
I remember back in the late '40s, I and my buddies used to ride to North Manchester, Indiana, to
visit Schultz Brothers Gun and Saddle Store.

One night Tom, Gene, Jack, and I left on our 500 Matchless singles for our ride to the store. Actually Gene had a 350 Matchless but he easily stayed with us, although with a little more giddyap.

 It so happened that it was a night of a full moon. Heading west out of Ft Wayne, a light bulb lit up (in our minds). We were starting this trip with half discharged batteries and Lucas generators (The
Prince of Darkness). However, we had a full moon. WHY NOT" The Great Solution! Let's turn off
our headlights and charge our batteries. And we did!

The whole trip to North Manchester (about 50 miles)was made with only the light from the full
moon showing the way. What a dumb but exhilarating experience. The ever changing shadows
and reflections of moonlight as we rode, unspoiled by artificial illumination, was a real
experience. Ghostin' through Collamer Indiana with its moonlit sparkling dammed up stream was an especially deep breath, sigh type of motorcycling rapture.

Arriving at Schultz Bros we took in the sights and smells of the combined leather and firearm
store. Back then, Schultz Bros still employed old time craftsmen who hand made saddles and all
sorts of horse tack. Imagine that out of this world tanned leather aroma multiplied by hundreds of
bridles and other tack with the occasional saddle thrown in. That trip combined for us a lot of the
things that we enjoyed. The night ride with a full moon, the almost soporific quiet sound of those
big singles, the smell of fine leather, watching skilled craftsmen (now long gone),working their
trade, and the browsing among the fine firearms of which Dick Schultz always had a full supply.
 
Leaving Schults Brothers we went on to indulge in hamburgers and thick malted milks at a small restaurant in North Manchester and then returned to Ft. Wayne turning our headlights back on as we neared that busy city. We even had enough power stored in our batteries to make it home with bright headlights  (well almost)

I’ll never forget those old thumpers.  Even though the generators were made by Lucas , the well known “Prince of Darkness”, the  Matchlesses were fitted with impulse magnetos that must’ve spoiled the Lucas reputation as they never failed to make it easy to kick start and run the 500cc singles. We might’ve been without lighting but we always could count on being able to ride.

I’ve owned bikes with up to six cylinders but I still remember the raw power and torque of those British singles. I especially recall the fresh 'gunk' smell as we finished cleaning the not quite leakproof English conglomeration of well oiled parts. The memories go on.

Wayne, Solo1

[Hook#3287]

Great story

No pictures needed.  Your words were more than enough to give the vision I needed to see the moonlit ride.

What an awesome memory. 

Thanks.

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks Wayne, we can always count on you to recall some of the "good" times.  I could almost smell the gun oil and tanned leather.

[Beardo]

I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Please do not hesitate to post more of them. I've read your other stories and enjoyed every one of them.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

"Try this on for size".  It fit pretty good.  Thank you. I wish I had a tenth of the writing ability you and Bruce do. You still add a lot to this little community of ours even if you don't ride anymore. 

[old2soon]

When a tale/story/narrative transports me along or to or with That to me anyway IS a good story. I felt as if I were along on another Matchless single thumper sharin the wind with you 4 on that 100 mile round.  I'e smelled that fresh Gunk smell after washing down an engine. That smell gits rather pungent fer a bit after the first start up with  warm up. Not Bad-just pungent. Thanks Wayne!  RIDE SAFE.

[DDT (12)]

Excellent feedback here for you, Wayne... When your readers profess to hear the sounds, see the sights, and smell the odors... well, your words have power, and your writing skill demonstrates great ability! I agree with Meathead and the others... your contribution continues, even if your riding does not... You have and continue to make a positive difference, and I tip my hat to ya!!!

DDT

[wiggydotcom]

Years ago, when I started reading every Stephen King book I could get my hands on, I was in awe of how he could take me on a visual journey, one where I could see the sights, hear the sounds and be planted right into his stories as if I was watching it unfold in real time. Imagine when they'd make a movie of his books and the movies couldn't even do the books justice.

I'm thankful that you share your talents and ability with us, Wayne. Your stories, including this one are wonderful. Thank you and I hope you continue to entertain us.

We are very fortunate in the VRCC to have you, Bruce and Daniel Meyer who often share their writing skills and entertain those of us whose gifts in life certainly fall outside of the writing category!

[shortleg]

     These stories are always great and remind us how easy
we have it with our newer bikes.
    Back in the 60s I had the proverbial 650 Triumph .
 Well I was out for a night ride along the neighborhood
twisty and like you mentioned the Lucas electrics let me down
and at about 50 or 60  in a curve my headlight went out.
  I have to admit I do not remember if there was a full moon or not.
I do remember having that puckering feeling about the seat of my pants
and the seat cover trying to disappear up my lower body.
  The joke we always remembered was the need to drag a basket behind our
bikes to allow us to catch all the parts that always seemed to vibrate
off from where they were located.

[solo1]

I never had the problem of having parts fall off but I used the whitworth wrenches a lot at the end of a day's ride. 

[shortleg]

  Now that's another thing that used to blow my mind.
   You needed Wentworth, metric and sae wrenches quite a bit of the time.

[Super Santa]

Speaking of those old Matchless thumpers reminded me of the only one I ever rode.

It was much later, probably about 1961, I think that Matchless had purchased the Indian name to keep it alive and was marketing Indians that were just a rebadged Matchless.  I test rode one from a dealer while I was stationed on Guam.  I was thinking that machine was a 600 but I may be mistaken.  I do know it was a thumper.  Good old fashioned kick starter.  Loved the handling of that bike.

Thanks for bringing back the memories.