Spokane Track turn stations (Volunteers needed)

[jengel451]

Hey all,
As some know, the track is lacking corner stations. The track is purchasing materials to build 9 brand new ones and is looking for volunteers to get these built, bascially we have less than 3 weeks before the first major bike event, and with everything else going on, there's no way they'll be able to get these built in time and on budget.

Needed:
People to help build stations out of wood, if you have tools and know how to swing a hammer etc. We need you.

When:
Saturday May 16th

Please let me know via PM if you can help so we can get an idea of what help we're going to have. More details will be coming soon.

[big_guy01]

Any updates or additional information? Will there be electricity (on site or generators) for power tools? Does SMP already have a set of plans or a design for how they want them built or do we have to figure that out?

[jengel451]

We have plans/drawings. They are securing a location to build them. Assume power will be avail, not sure on air yet.

They'll probably have someone there to oversee this as well.

[big_guy01]

Air tools would sure speed up the process! I think this is doable with enough people to help.

[jengel451]

I'll bring my own compressor if i need to.

[jengel451]

So far, we are looking good. we should also have some guys from the contractor doing the work up there to oversee and help everyone out.

Meeting time is 9am at the track, there will be an event going on, but once we get closer, we'll get the information on how to get into the track so we don't have to pay gate fee's etc.

I think we have 10-12 people from the Motorcycle crowd so far. Very cool.

[Seehorn]

Is there a plan to do some clean up on Saturday because I was out there for a bicycle road-race and there are huge rocks everywhere they tore ground with a dozer? There is a huge pile of dirt and rocks on the outside of turn 4 next to the exit road that would be a huge hazard. I tried to get access to a dozer to smooth out run-out areas, but was unsuccessful.

[jengel451]

10 to 12 people is now down to 5 total, any help is appreciated, more info:

Lumber is being purchased tomorrow for 5 stations, they will try and build one themselves to iron out any kinks in the plans etc. Below is a list of what we need for the remaining 4 stations to be built.

We’ll have one generator already on site, so we’ll need 3 more, if you have them, please bring them. I have pretty much one of everything listed below minus the generator.

Each station will need hammers, 1 or 2 skil saws, a generator to run the saws, a good drill, level, square, measuring tapes pencils, and other basic hand tools as needed. They'll purchase nails bolts etc..

[jengel451]

Bump!!

[big_guy01]

You betcha bump!!

[cee-jay]

So how did this go???

Pics anyone?

[jengel451]

pretty good considering only 7 or 8 people showed up. I'm on pain killers today.

[pscook]

pretty good considering only 7 or 8 people showed up. I'm on pain killers today.

See, now THAT'S how you party. You guys in Spokane really know how to throw down.

[El Cuervo]

Sounds like we owe you some beer...

What do you drink?

[TSweez]

pretty good considering only 7 or 8 people showed up. I'm on pain killers today.
Thank you to all the volunteers, I was going to try and come up from the Tri-Cities for the day but have been tied up trying to get my oil leaks totally dialed so i can hopefullly.....finally.......do my first race this weekend. Hopefullly i can make another day to help out up there.

[big_guy01]

We got all the floors done and two roofs installed on the stations that were there (footers and up rights where already in place) but two more kits have yet to be delivered. Not bad considering how few showed up.

The stations are 8' by 10' with 7' to 8' ceilings. They will have counters in front and benches along the back with partial siding and metal roofing. They will be a major improvement over the old ones (but that wouldn't take much, I guess).:thumbsup:

A big thanks to all the guys who showed up and an even bigger THANKS to Jim for spearheading the whole event. You would not have been able to tell he just had a hip replaced... except for the whining, that is.:razz:

Anyone who wants to bring a hammer can add their own blood, sweat and tears to the stations this weekend as there will likely be plenty left to do. What are you going to do Saturday night anyway since the park doesn't allow alcohol?! :shrug:

[jengel451]

haha, you know, the jacked up thing is my hip reovered faster than the my foot did. crashing and getting old sucks!!!!!

[ewok]

Jim had a hip replacement? Wow he did pretty well. You shoulda said somethin Jengel. I feel sorta bad for making fun of you now. It does explain some things tho.
It was pretty fun, the building was simple, and we kicked the car guys' butts. I think our biggest challenge was calculating 16 inch centers. We did also pioneer some innovative building techniques borne out of necessity.
We even had a power nail gun that shot what appeared to be 16 penny nails. Still we suffered only minor injuries.


ed

[pscook]

We even had a power nail gun that shot what appeared to be 16 penny nails. Still we suffered only minor injuries.


ed

Distance?

[ewok]

sorry phil.
I don't know.
I respectfully refer you to the 16 inch center discussion.
We struggled at times with the tape measures. Did you know the tape droops depending on the width and other physical properties of the tape itself? This can quite often be overcome by having a second person holding the measure at the leading end. Just one of the innovations i referred to in my last post. But why would the manufacturer deliberately sell something that didn't work very well? One of life's enduring mysteries I suppose.

cordially
ed

[pscook]

sorry phil.
I don't know.
I respectfully refer you to the 16 inch center discussion.
We struggled at times with the tape measures. Did you know the tape droops depending on the width and other physical properties of the tape itself? This can quite often be overcome by having a second person holding the measure at the leading end. Just one of the innovations i referred to in my last post. But why would the manufacturer deliberately sell something that didn't work very well? One of life's enduring mysteries I suppose.

cordially
ed

Ed-

You are aware that a motorcycle while in motion remains vertical without any other means of physical support, I assume? And I would then assume that you comprehend the fact that a motorcycle that is not in motion would require physical support to remain upright? How, I wonder, would you believe the statement from above purporting that the manufacturer sold an item that would appear to be operable to the greater humanity, yet is inoperable by by a select few? I then wonder how many casserole dishes are returned after it is discovered that, in fact, no casserole is present upon removing it from the oven? Or how a sheet of cookies placed in said oven may appear to be either a) burned beyond recognition or b) wholly and completely undercooked? Would one then blame the oven manufacturer? Or perhaps the Utility company for not providing proper wattage to operate said oven? Perhaps the river, then, for falling below the mean average level for that particular period.

I digress. Let me ask the question in this fashion- How far away were the car guys, and how close did the nails land to said car guys?

[pscook]

And, let the record show that I have spent the greater sum of my (admittedly) few years on this green orb on either end of a tape measure, while the other end was occupied by either a) a raving lunatic or b) an admitted sociopath that took great pleasure in allowing me to explain the reason that yes, it is in fact a 4' 3-3/4" length of wood when yes, you did specifically ask for a 4' 4-1/2" piece of wood (sorry, Dad, but it was Katy's fault, I swear). So, I am acutely aware of the peculiar follies of operating a measuring tape while under duress of some fashion.

[ewok]

Ed-

You are aware that a motorcycle while in motion remains vertical without any other means of physical support, I assume?

What the hell are you talking about? If you are correct why does a motorcycle require rider?


And I would then assume that you comprehend the fact that a motorcycle that is not in motion would require physical support to remain upright?

Hence the need for a rider. Do you even own a motorcycle?

How, I wonder, would you believe the statement from above purporting that the manufacturer sold an item that would appear to be operable to the greater humanity, yet is inoperable by by a select few?

I just do. That's belief for ya.

I then wonder how many casserole dishes are returned after it is discovered that, in fact, no casserole is present upon removing it from the oven? Or how a sheet of cookies placed in said oven may appear to be either a) burned beyond recognition or b) wholly and completely undercooked? Would one then blame the oven manufacturer? Or perhaps the Utility company for not providing proper wattage to operate said oven? Perhaps the river, then, for falling below the mean average level for that particular period.

You are definitely on to something here. I see a government grant in your future. From a pure legal standpoint I think suing everyone involved and waiting for them to point the finger at each other is the easy way to proceed. As you so accurately stated the important thing is to determine the culprit, not the cause. I forget, are you in charge of U.S. drug policy or the TARP money?

I digress. Let me ask the question in this fashion- How far away were the car guys, and how close did the nails land to said car guys?

Nope. That's the oldest trick in the book. Ask the same question over and over again with a slight variation in an attempt to gain an answer. I am not falling for it, but I'd say around 0 feet.
In truth just 1, count em, 1 car guy showed. We took it easy on him. He may have been on something.

cordially
ed

[NoControl74]

I'm burnt to a crisp, but it was fun. Im very sorry to whoever gets stationed on the back straight. Our innovative building techniques may not exactly up to code...

[ewok]

that is all.

ed

[NoControl74]

He may have been on something.

cordially
ed


a ladder.....

[pscook]

that is all.

ed

Hey, no worries about the quote. Haven't you ever seen a bike freeride down the road/track/trail? I have, and it gets tiring chasing after the damn thing. Which brings us to, yes, I own several. I also race. I am currently the WMRRA referee. I was also Chief Tech last year, and I worked the tech line for the last 6 years. I was also at the track when you had the get off a couple of years ago. I helped your lovely wife pack up your trailer, does she still have the GSXR400 (Is that right? Was that it?)? Oh, and I have a little remote control bike that does well without me sitting on it. If I sat on it it would not do well at all.

No gov't grants for me, I prefer to skim and take graft. Did I mention I was the Ref? Thanks for helping out, all of you. It is greatly appreciated.

[ewok]

I was also at the track when you had the get off a couple of years ago. I helped your lovely wife pack up your trailer, does she still have the GSXR400 (Is that right? Was that it?)? Oh, and I have a little remote control bike that does well without me sitting on it. If I sat on it it would not do well at all.

i know who you are and i was jokin. i know you know that. i also know you helped kevin with the trailer and am forever in your debt. one i can't really repay. you brian lockhart and scott avery always part of the story each time she talks about me being unconscious and how wmrra dudes just jumped in and helped her. so yeah, i owe you. she sold the 400 and still regrets it. predictably thats my fault.

cordially
ed

[pscook]

i know who you are and i was jokin. i know you know that. i also know you helped kevin with the trailer and am forever in your debt. one i can't really repay. you brian lockhart and scott avery always part of the story each time she talks about me being unconscious and how wmrra dudes just jumped in and helped her. so yeah, i owe you. she sold the 400 and still regrets it. predictably thats my fault.

cordially
ed

It's all good, Ed. Sorry, it's been a long day and I thought "there's no way that he doesn't know me. Did he hit his head that hard?"

I have been repaid immensely by you volunteering to build corner stations. And the verbal grenades that you have lobbed into conversations, of course.

And you should know that it's all your fault. Except for the under (or over) baked cookies, blame the salmon. That is as far up the chain that I want to go before retribution comes along (in spades, of course).

[snake]

Sounds like we owe you some beer...

What do you drink?

Who cares what Jim drinks, just bring Black Butte Porter or equal.

[jengel451]

Who cares what Jim drinks, just bring Black Butte Porter or equal.

Says the guy on vacation on the other side of the world.

I'm cheap, PBR baby!