| Being a baby boomer, it hasn't been that long | | | | a motor, but it took the time and skill to |
| ago at least in my mind, that I was a kid and | | | | assemble them. One of the kids down the block |
| I think back to all the things that we had in | | | | came tooling by one day in a go-cart as his |
| the lines of recreation and fun. Boy, I | | | | grandpa had purchased a kit, assembled it and |
| remember waiting for school to get over for | | | | painted it for him. Oh yeah, we were jealous |
| the year so we could get into some summer | | | | and knew we had to come up with something. My |
| time fun.The first thing that comes to mind | | | | one good friend's dad had just bought a new |
| in the lines of early recreation was of | | | | lawn mower and he still had the old one in |
| course the bike. This for all practical | | | | the garage. It was the ole reel type mower. |
| purposes was really the only other form of | | | | It had a Briggs & Stratton 2-1/2 horse power |
| transportation besides walking that we had as | | | | engine with a horizontal shaft which was |
| kids in order to get to where we wanted to | | | | exactly what you needed for a go cart. We |
| go. Do you remember those days? Bikes back | | | | grabbed our hammers and some scrap pieces of |
| then were pretty simple with only one speed | | | | 2x4 and plywood and put together a real |
| and the ole back peddle braking system. They | | | | simple frame.The steering actually was |
| did eventually come out with the 3 speed | | | | nothing more than just a couple of 2x4's |
| which was really exciting for us. Some even | | | | perpendicular to each other with a bolt |
| had the new handle bar brake levers. After | | | | through them and a rope attached to the ends |
| that, about the only other real excitement | | | | of the one with the front tires mounted on |
| was when they introduced the banana seat. | | | | it. You pulled the rope to make the front |
| That was cool as you could ride two people | | | | wheels turn right or left. Very simple indeed |
| much easier and more comfortable. We also put | | | | but it worked. We took the pulley system off |
| the baseball cards on the frame with a | | | | the mower and used it as a way to engage and |
| clothes pin so that the spokes hit it and | | | | power one of the rear wheels. We used |
| made noise. We thought that was awesome. | | | | everything off that mower, tires, engine, |
| Compare that to what's available now a days. | | | | gears and pulleys, belts, chain and |
| I don't even know how many speeds they go up | | | | sprockets. We managed to get a cart up and |
| to anymore. Now you can get the BMX bikes, | | | | running. It didn't look as nice as the other |
| stunt bikes, speed bikes, mountain bikes and | | | | neighbor kids but if was faster which made up |
| touring bikes with a wide variety of | | | | for the looks. We ran this thing for a couple |
| options.The next thing that hit the scene | | | | of good years and had a ball with it. With |
| back in my day was roller skates. They were | | | | that being said, I have to admit that not too |
| made to fit on your shoes with a strap to | | | | long ago I built a frame with steel tubing, |
| hold the back on to your foot and a set of | | | | found a motor, centrifugal clutch and |
| adjustable clamps that one would adjust with | | | | everything else I needed and put together a |
| a special key to clamp to the front of the | | | | pretty nice cart for my son.So what happened |
| shoe. They also had a slot in the middle with | | | | next? The neighbor kid up the street got a |
| a screw that could be loosened to slide the | | | | mini bike from his dad. The go-cart was no |
| front and rear wheels apart to make the | | | | longer cool. I had to have a mini bike. I |
| skates longer or shorter, depending on the | | | | even bought plans for one that you could |
| shoe size. These incredibly enough worked | | | | build, supposedly easy. If you're interested, |
| quite well and we really got some use out of | | | | you can get the story and scoop on my mini |
| them. I also got some scuffed up knees, | | | | bike adventure by simple visiting the website |
| elbows and hands falling on the cement | | | | at the end of this article.What about the |
| sidewalks. It was worth it though.It wasn't | | | | recreational vehicles of now a days? The BIG |
| too long after that when the first skate | | | | thing that comes to mind is the invasion of |
| boards came about. Once we saw these, but we | | | | the scooter. Sure they too originated from |
| didn't have the money to buy one, it didn't | | | | the past. The self-propelled two wheel foot |
| take long to cure that desire ourselves. We | | | | scooter has been around for a while. But, for |
| simple took our old skates apart in the | | | | the newer generation, they have added |
| middle so we had the front wheels and back | | | | electric and gas power to these babies. We |
| separated and grabbed an ole 2x4 laying | | | | bought an electric one for our son and I must |
| around and attached the wheels to it with | | | | say I wish I would of had this option when I |
| some nails or screws. Believe it or not, | | | | was a kid. They are fun.But as time goes on, |
| these homemade boards were loads of fun, but | | | | so does ones desire to find something new. |
| a little more dangerous than the skates | | | | Another of todays big hits to come about is |
| themselves. No, we didn't have helmets back | | | | the 3 and 4 wheelers. There were a lot of |
| then and to this day I don't know how there | | | | accidents and injuries with the instability |
| weren't more serious head injuries, at least | | | | of the 3 wheelers and they have pretty much |
| not in my neighborhood. Have you noticed how | | | | disappeared from the scene due to regulations |
| skateboarding has developed into quite a | | | | and laws. The 4-wheeler, is still going |
| competitive sport? If you have ever seen the | | | | strong and very popular. Yes, my son would |
| X-Games on TV, then you know that the things | | | | like one of these too. I don't know as of |
| people do now a days with skateboards are | | | | this writing, if this is in his future or |
| amazing. They have all the special ramps and | | | | not, lol.Who knows what the future holds in |
| | | | the lines of recreational toys, but with all |
| equipment which they use to really put on | | | | the latest technology and growing electronic |
| quite a show. You have probably heard the | | | | accomplishments, I'm sure they will be quite |
| names Tony Hawk or Bob Bernstein at some | | | | different from anything I have had in the |
| point in time as they are two of the top | | | | past. What have you done or what are you |
| competition skateboarders.As a few years | | | | currently doing in the lines of recreational |
| pasted, it didn't take long before these self | | | | toys and fun?Paul is an average guy who |
| powered forms of transportation were getting | | | | enjoyed many memorable times over the years |
| old. We wanted something that had it's own | | | | and as a kid. He enjoys sharing his stories, |
| power. It was also around this time that some | | | | tips, tricks and helping others. If you have |
| companies started producing go carts. Once we | | | | something to share or would like to learn |
| caught wind of this, everybody wanted to have | | | | more about recreational toys, where to buy |
| one. The ones you could purchase came in two | | | | them or find parts, visit: |
| forms. Already assembled or in a kit that you | | | | |
| had to put together. The kits were less | | | | Paul is an individual who has been on the |
| costly and you could buy them with or without | | | | Internet for a few years now. |