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