Hey I'm a new guy here....mostly a lurker. I have been warmly welcomed but I have to admit I haven't gotten into a pissing contest with anyone. I can tell you I had a really nice phone conversation with Alpha a few months back. Next long layover in Seattle I'm going to look him up. He also offered to get me a Cobra ride in Arizona with some friends of his their.
I used to be paid by Uncle Sam to do some pretty harrowing things with aircraft at night on goggles and very low to the ground....however I was younger and bulletproof back then. Since then I've flown all over the world in a bunch of aircraft as an airline pilot....at the tender age of 54 I decided to get into General Aviation and got into a taildragger capable of landing off airport. Despite my flying experience, I treat this like I'm a newbie....because I am...to this kind of flying. I'm gonna treat my Cobra this way. In my crew brief now, I often tell my first officer....."If you or I get to see how well we can actually fly this airplane, and how good we really are....we're doing something seriously, seriously wrong!"
Its interesting to watch in my old community when some New Guy comes along who regales folks about his flying exploits...because the secret (known only to the old curmudgeons) is that you will never beat the low flying record and live to tell anyone. Most of those braggadocios pilots are actually pretty good once they quit sliding a ruler in their pants....usually because some one came along and told them they were making an ass out of themselves. Their dad probably told them the same thing too....but no man is a prophet in his own house.
Anyway, I'll post pics when I get some. I cheated....got a roller from Unique Automotive and had Susan Parham and Lyle build me an engine. The Weavers and Susan Parham have been an absolute joy to deal with. I was told the body just came out of the paint booth a day or so ago....Its a 289 FIA style and the purists won't like it because it will be in street trim with under car exhaust and a grill....no numbers or stripes (cause I'm neither a race car driver, or pose as one). I plan on driving the ever-loving daylights out of it....gentle, gentle for a long time. If I ever take it to the track....I'm gonna ask for help here and be all ears.
I too have a bike...it's old school kind of ....Springer....I have an old school airplane (Taildragger made of fabric) and now I'll have an old school fun car.