THE THUMPERGARAGE PAGE.... 12/12/24
First of all, take note that today's date is divisible by 12 all the way across, that each first numeral is 1/2 of the following numeral, and that the first two sets of numerals when added together equal the last set of two letters ... hmmmmm?
Miscellaneous stuff ...
by FSSNOC 661, Joe and Carol Gilmore - Maryland, or as Carol laughingly says, "Merry Land"...
Joe writes below, who is currently in the membership expired file, but as I found myself commenting the other day, "Once a FSSNOCer, always a FSSNOCer..."
Go, Joe ... (In Red are my comments - #000)
It's been a long time since I weighed-in, Jack---almost 2 years since my FSSNOC membership expired.
First of all---Carol and I were very sorry to hear that you're dealing with health issues. We are praying for the best outcome possible for you.
Thank You, Joe and Carol!! I'm in the Lord's hands, what could be better than that ... and almost weirdly so, I don't think I ever been happier, like I say, weird, eh? - #000.
I still read "Thumper Thursday" every week.
That is so good to hear ... again, Thank You! - #000
I want to let you know that I think that you're doing a much better job of providing advance notice (when & where) for ThumperCafe' events. I will admit to being frustrated over the decades re: I could plan a year ahead for VJMC and BMWMOA events and far ahead for MGNOC events. But I would often be waiting for ThumperCafe' details as late as 1 month before the event. That frustration was 99% of the reason I let my membership lapse.
Thank you for your honest and genuine criticism, Joe. It is much appreciated! Over the years, I've found that the most knowledge gained is often when one hears or goes through something that can feel unpleasant during the journey. - #000.
But now you're doing a great job getting the information out there in plenty of time for the FSSNOC events! I am intrigued by the idea of a C2CTT part deux---this time featuring Scooters.
A C2CST, so to speak...
Deciding to re-join and participate would give myself and Carol a great excuse to visit every dealership within 100 miles that sells scooters! 4-stroke singles, of course.
Speaking of which, we still own our pair of Genuine G400C motorcycles. Considering their origin, they've been great, reliable bikes. Those Honda XR400R engines in them are very maintenance-intensive, though.
Wishing you & Carrie the best through the Christmas season!
Joe & Carol Gilmore (FSSNOC # 661 & 661.5---expired)
(REPLY and VARIOUS VERBIAGE from #000)
Joe and Carol ... We'd love to have you two back with us here at FSSNOC, USA, and I must admit, as you pointed out, that it is likely in my DNA to "Go with the flow", not next years' flow, but the flow of today's moment.
As you may know and I hope you do, I love spontaneity, so much so that I encourage it in others ... to take that unknown turn, to plan your route ahead of time and then with a small level of reckless abandonment go off route at the first opportunity because it just feels better to NOT KNOW what's over that next hill, in fact, that's why I came, that's why motorcycles have a reserve petcock, which many do not have anymore with F.I., but they do light up a little gas pump BUT the allowable distances are as low as 15 miles!
My Royal Enfield Himalayan has a reserve of 1 gallon plus 1 quart, many times in the last 32,000 miles I've ridden as far as 65 miles before discovering gasoline, it's awesome!
All of this is to support one to explore the unknown, not the known. I try NOT to follow someone else's tracks, I prefer to make my own THUMPERTRAX ... (grin - more on that in 2025) ... and many, many riders do not subscribe to this theory, I know. And, admittedly, that has cost the club some members, but we are still here thumping away soon onto 40 years, so who is to say? It is probably true that most folks will reach for their phone/google within 30 seconds of learning of a change in plans or destination, and if that allows them to participate in comfort, so be it, I'm all for it for them. It is undoubtedly the modern way to go from point to point, even to the place to stop for fuel and the place to stop for food ... but it doesn't have to be my way.
I recall with a smile ... back in the day, one time at work in the motorcycle shop, a fellow employee and a friend (who currently is a long term FSSNOC member and a motorcycle shop owner in Granby, Colorado) asked me what I was going to do after work? I replied back, "Wow! Joe ... It's not even noon yet, how am I supposed to know what I'm doing at 6:00PM?"
A few examples (some call it the Gunfighter syndrome ... to make sure one never runs out of bullets) : To this point, I stop to gas up my bike before I put it away from today's ride, upon arriving at my shed, I wipe the bike down. I do my maintenance checks and chain service, etc ... all this so that upon the occasion of an unplanned for text or call, "Hey, Jack ... I'm headed for ______ , can ya' go?" I can say "yes" and I am rarely that guy who has to stop for fuel in anything under 100 miles.
The above said, I do realize that 80% or more of my miles are solo miles, probably because of the lack of notice ... and again, that's okay. We all have our own DNA.
I am sure that the same mindset comes into play when I think of how long ahead notice for an event makes sense. Also, we now seem to live in a precarious business climate, for instance ... I heard that KTM is on the verge of financial collapse, I heard that from several third parties, so I don't know if it is true or not, but over the years I learned that if I planned too far ahead, roads would close for bridge work, cafes would lock their doors, gas stations and convenience stores that were there a year ago are now empty lots, given enough time things would change ... every year is a different scenario with different problems and different rewards ... and I love that, I hope you do too.
So Joe and Carol ... this has been great fun and I hope you'll take it all in that spirit. We, Carrie and I, and for all those who had the pleasure of meeting you two over the years, would love to receive your check and application in tomorrow's mail to correct your current inactive status, and I should put in here that if you'd like to retain that awesome historic #661 club number, procedure is that you would need to pay your dues back to the last renewal date OR you can go with a new membership number, which ever way suits you ... but please know ... I hope you'll continue to expect the unexpected out of FSSNOC, it's been that way for four decades and we have some new stuff on the horizon ... "dern the torpedos, full speed ahead" ... as said by Navy Admiral, David Farragut (Ha! Ha! - I googled that!) These last few sentences all convey an urgency or speed ... and we been talking about scooters, funny! - #000
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(12-04-24) ... HELLO ... HOWDY ... GREETINGS ... ETC ...
FROM THE FOUR-STROKE SINGLE NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB - that would be "FSSNOC", sometimes pronounced "Fizz-Knock", to most of us who communicate with one another at various locations and venues or here on the club website on a regular basis through an email from you/them to us at: [email protected] - and I hope that be you, eh?
However, If by chance, you are new to the site, We welcome you to visit weekly, typically each Thursday evening after you've hopefully dined well and are snuggled in for the night, warm and safe ... and there is no password or hassle to visit, just google FSSNOC.com and it should come right up and after a few weeks, it'll top the list ... give it a try?
Please note that all content on this site is presented without cost to you and is in the interest of entertainment and is not to be considered as advice. - #000
Memberships are available for $100.00 per 12 month term upon paid dues and a supplied USA address to which to mail the items that come with membership.
Our club is about people ... people that share, and/or have shared for nearly forty years, since 1986, a common interest and a genuine appreciation for the Four-Stroke Single cylinder motorcycle ... often referred to on this site and other places as "Thumpers".
Does every member own and ride such a machine? Well, perhaps not 100%, but it is likely close to that, though we do have folks that just enjoy the club or like this website that do not own, ride, etc, etc, the Four-Stroke Single ... and that's okay.
Should you desire to join the club, see the Application Page and you can make that happen, as we said earlier, with a mailed application along with a paid $100 per 12 month term (checks made to FSSNOC INC.) and a supplied current USA mailing address, and ... Yes, it can be a P.O.Box.
Also, to receive the annual FREE club t-shirt, we will need your shirt size, hence the mailing address ... also where FSSNOC members receive Thumper News, our quarterly magazine now in its 157th edition, mailed to that same address each quarter throughout the year.
Okay, enough babble from me ... enjoy the site, tell others about it, come back next Thursday for as long as you wish ... and as we say, "Keep On Thumpin" ... Jack, FSSNOC #000/Director and chief cook and bottle washer. Visit all pages on this site before you motor off into the distance, see navagational aids above ... "Thump Thump"
Now we hear from Mr. Jiggs, #5466 ... with a forward below:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9maF3O-OIKk?si=yiUErodvEaxP_OIV
Invite your friends to visit this site every Thursday evening, it is our gift to the world of motorcycling ... and INVITE them to join FSSNOC. In plain talk, it's how we, our national club, survive, by our annual paid membership dues from FSSNOC members. New members are vital to our continued existence. It is, like our favorite motorcycle, just that simple ... #000.
Please visit the other pages on this site - Keep On Thumpin' - #000
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