I was kind of inspired by another thread to tell a short little tale from my childhood and thought starting another thread would be better. Maybe some of the other folks here could. also share some entertaining stories? Here goes one of mine:
Growing up my father was an diehard snowmobiler and Snowmobile Certification instructor. I had my own 50cc Artic Cat Kitty Cat at 4-years old. As I got older, still in grade school, my father started teaching me to ride our John Deere 340cc Spitfires. Not to big of a sled, but I just wasn't strong enough or big enough to pull that rope to get it started. Dad always had to start it for me, so I didn't go very far or I would be walking back if it died. I can't remember what year, but my dad decided to buy himself the brand new John Deere 440cc Liquifire. (fast and big sled in those days.).
Being the always up to something kid, one weekend my parents decide to go away and leave my older sister to baby sit me and my younger brother. Earlier that week in school we had started learning about leverage/pulleys etc.
Can you see what's coming.......? Lol.... Okay, I said to myself. So, I should be able to, through the use of pulleys be able to start that 440cc monster. Using the rear handle with rope and pulleys between that and the recoil....... It worked! I have this 440cc running, and how is dad ever gonna know if I take her for a spin? Off we go! Everythings going smooooooooth, I knew my sister wouldn't know, to busy doing girly things inside, my brother just starting to talk , gas to refill the tank, no worries, I got this. After my hour or so joy ride, making sure dad would see fresh tracks anywhere near the house I return to put the sled away. Oh *#*#, Everytime dad puts the sleds away he dragged them in the garage backwards so they were ready to start and pull out right away. How am I going to turn this around and put it back? I can't even lift the rear off the ground. Tried using my pulleys, fail.
Well, I guess I'm pulling it in straight and hope he doesn't notice? That's it. He just will think he did that. My parents arrive back after their weekend away, and two days later after work during dinner my dad says to my mom: "So, you like riding my new sled better than yours huh? Do we need to trade your Spitfire in for one?" Mom replies: "No, I like mine." That was all that was said. At that moment, I realized he thought my mom had ridden it. I got away with it! My dad passed back in 2002, but if he is looking down now, I hope he's laughing his arse off. Never told him or my mom about it.
Growing up my father was an diehard snowmobiler and Snowmobile Certification instructor. I had my own 50cc Artic Cat Kitty Cat at 4-years old. As I got older, still in grade school, my father started teaching me to ride our John Deere 340cc Spitfires. Not to big of a sled, but I just wasn't strong enough or big enough to pull that rope to get it started. Dad always had to start it for me, so I didn't go very far or I would be walking back if it died. I can't remember what year, but my dad decided to buy himself the brand new John Deere 440cc Liquifire. (fast and big sled in those days.).
Being the always up to something kid, one weekend my parents decide to go away and leave my older sister to baby sit me and my younger brother. Earlier that week in school we had started learning about leverage/pulleys etc.
Can you see what's coming.......? Lol.... Okay, I said to myself. So, I should be able to, through the use of pulleys be able to start that 440cc monster. Using the rear handle with rope and pulleys between that and the recoil....... It worked! I have this 440cc running, and how is dad ever gonna know if I take her for a spin? Off we go! Everythings going smooooooooth, I knew my sister wouldn't know, to busy doing girly things inside, my brother just starting to talk , gas to refill the tank, no worries, I got this. After my hour or so joy ride, making sure dad would see fresh tracks anywhere near the house I return to put the sled away. Oh *#*#, Everytime dad puts the sleds away he dragged them in the garage backwards so they were ready to start and pull out right away. How am I going to turn this around and put it back? I can't even lift the rear off the ground. Tried using my pulleys, fail.Well, I guess I'm pulling it in straight and hope he doesn't notice? That's it. He just will think he did that. My parents arrive back after their weekend away, and two days later after work during dinner my dad says to my mom: "So, you like riding my new sled better than yours huh? Do we need to trade your Spitfire in for one?" Mom replies: "No, I like mine." That was all that was said. At that moment, I realized he thought my mom had ridden it. I got away with it! My dad passed back in 2002, but if he is looking down now, I hope he's laughing his arse off. Never told him or my mom about it.
