Balance... now there is an interesting thought.... Never been much good at
that.... I get so focused on something and wear myself out trying to do
it....
I learned several years ago that you can only allow so many things in your
life.... I don't have Ten Projects going at one time.... I focus on ONE
thing at a time... it's all I have the finances to do.... and more
importanly it's all I can do to focus on that one thing....
I am so tempted right now to start the bugeye.... but I really need to do
the little stuff first.... like this air conditioning system and a
Driveway... but again I have to maintain my focus on what we are doing with
the Camaro FIRST... and then when It's done I can Build the Bugeye.
The question is then when is the Camaro Done? For me it's when it's in All
Four Two clubs. Then it will be sold or sit in My garage the rest of my
life.. ( how many cars am I going to own that get a feature article in Hot
Rod )
Keith
----- Original Message -----
From: <ardunbill@webtv.net>
To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2000 10:10 AM
Subject: Fatigue
> Ever since Keith brought this up I have been thinking about it. Even at
> my advanced age I learn more about it every day.
>
> Some time ago I heard about a "mantra" that the instructors teach the
> recruits at our local Police Academy: "I am only one man. I can only
> do what one man can do. But what one man can do, I will do."
>
> I have observed that everyone is a little different in the amount of
> energy and strength they have every day. Exceptional energy is a
> blessing not many have. When that is combined with a brilliant mind a
> person can do Great Things. Such a man was P.E.Irving, the Vincent
> motorcycle designer. At the Vincent factory, he would put in his day's
> work every day. Then at quitting time, his work day would continue
> after a break for supper, and in the quiet of the place, he would work
> undisturbed on the most difficult problems presented, for another six or
> seven hours. And this was his daily routine for many many years.
> Original creative work was his life.
>
> Full-time work to earn a living obviously takes the best part of your
> time and energy. You have to keep some time and attention for family
> and friends. It doesn't leave much for your hobbies. I see no good
> answer to this, except that if you do reserve a little time every day,
> which should be acceptable to those around you, you can eventually
> finish your hobby projects.
>
> In retirement, the situation is much better, if you still have good
> health (which depends on luck as much as trying to take care of yourself
> throughout life). You have the freedom to spend hours a day on your
> hobby. You can do the amount best for you, not too much or little,
> while keeping also the right amount of time for your other obligations.
> So you end the day satisfied with it, and can sleep.
>
> Preparing and taking a speed trials car or bike to a meet is a big job,
> and you want to make a good showing when you get there. This often
> means a team. Elmo Gillette told me the driver of a Bonneville car
> should have no other duties about preparing it, but just concentrate on
> doing the driving job well. This is the ideal, that there is a
> competent team that works in harmony and the vehicle performs up to
> expectations. But teams can also have their own tensions. And
> sometimes there is literally nobody available for a team and people are
> seen to bring their equipment out to the meet and run it solo, or maybe
> with a teammate who helps at the meet.
>
> I found in having to prepare my car and run it largely by myself (except
> for my brother Tom's and Tony Peagler's valued help at meets) that this
> is practical if I take my time and get the car 100% ready at home, and
> test-fired so that I can be confident it is ready to go. I did find
> that the business of hauling the enclosed trailer with a pickup six
> hours to the meet (a new experience) was way more tiring than the usual
> highway cruising. But this can be overcome by stopping every 100 miles
> or so for a short break and refreshment at a fast food joint, and
> perhaps by carrying some oatmeal cookies and Pepsi along to snack on.
> If you run too long by yourself without a break, the exhaustion can
> become downright dangerous, as well as miserable. If you have a
> companion along, of course, you can trade off driving and run longer
> between stops. Yet there is a limit to how much you can do in a day,
> and by 3 o'clock or so you may be getting to the end of it. Don't
> expect to sleep too well the night before a meet, you'll have too much
> on your mind. Eating your usual food at the motel and at the meet will
> help you stay in a good frame of mind (as opposed to eating "crap-food",
> say).
>
> Obviously, your truck and trailer have to be in 100% mechanical
> condition (tires blown up) so that you minimize problems with them, and
> an electric winch for loading and unloading is very helpful. Anything
> involving brute force should be avoided! I found that out the first
> time a bunch of us took my car out for a test-run at the airport, using
> a trailer without a winch.
>
> Just one man's thoughts here, nothing very original I'm sure. Cheers,
> Ardun Bill in the Great Dismal Swamp, Chesapeake, VA
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