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