flatlander_48

I'm a mechanical engineer and currently I do machine design and manage projects. In the past I have done computer programming, been a simulation analyst and designed quality assurance programs. Understandably, most of my non-professional interests are technical in nature.

I've been a big motorsports fan since I was a kid. Over the years, I've been to all sorts of events all around the country. This includes Indy cars, F-1, sprint cars, midgets, Silver Crown cars, supermodifieds, dirt modifieds, pavement modifieds, stock cars, Can-Am cars, GTP cars, Trans-Am, Daytona Prototypes, unlimited hydroplanes and F-1 hydroplanes. I helped a friend take care of his pavement modified for a couple of years before he passed away. About the only events that I haven't attended are airplane races, drag races and motorcycle races, but give it time!

I've been an amateur photographer for about 30 years. I moved from 35mm SLR's to digital about 5 years ago.

I'm a traveler at heart and at times I have done a lot of work-related travel. Earlier this year, I just finished working in Taiwan for 4 of the last 5 years. Wherever I happen to be, I always try to check out the local tall structures and go up to the top. The current list is: Sears Tower, Empire State Building, the CN Tower, the Seattle Space Needle, the Eiffel Tower, the Seoul Tower, the Sidney Tower (did the Skywalk there!) and Taipei 101.

Allegheny Jet

I'm an Operations Director for a county MR/DD agency. In May I retired after a 31 year career in public service then went back to work in the same position for three days a week. Prior to that I worked in municipal parks and recreation as a director for over 25 years. I now work three days a week "with flexibility of schedule" and bring home more income with my pension and 60% salary. My wife also recently retired after the current school year after teaching 31 years. We are new at being retired and my going back to work helps a lot with the life style transition.

A large part of my job over the years has been designing and building facilities and public areas. From that experience I have gained the confidence and knowledge needed to design and build two new homes for our family. I also did a substantial amount of the labor during the construction as well as contracting out the other portions of the work. We currrenty live in a house that is much too big for two people. Our plan, 9 years ago, was to build a home that we could live in until our boy's were grown then sale when we retired. We planned to take the capital from the home sale and purchase a home outright to retire in and not have any mortgage. Right now would have been the time to sale and move on according to our plan, but with the ecomomy what it is right now we are going to wait a few more years to put the home on the market.

My other interests are landscaping, gardening and fishing. I love ice fishing as much or more than riding. We also have a family cabin along the Allegheny River in Western PA that we spend a fair amount of time and I fish in the river for smallmouth and walleye. We have a jet boat that let's us travel through the wide and shallow areas. My screen name, Allegheny Jet, is from the fishing forums that I also post on.

snaproll

Most of my activities involve my family, working out, flying, or hanging out at the lake.

I was fortunate and retired early so I've had a good amount of free time. I'm a part time flight instructor and used to be very involved in aerobatic competition (hence the screen name "snaproll"). I run, ride, swim, or lift weights one to three hours every day and am currently training for a marathon in October. My youngest is leaving for college in four weeks and then my wife of 30 years and I become empty nesters. I have some ownership in a software company and am involved there a few hours a week, but for the most part I am able to follow my own interests including developing web sites for non-profits.

smorris 

I have been designing professional pipeworking tools for the Ridge Tool Company (RIDGID) for about 29 years. I had hoped to retire at 55, but the economy postponed that for at least a couple of years.

We are active in our daughters' (12 and 21) sports activities (swimming, cross country, and track.)

I ride vintage and modern scooters for recreation and commuting. I rode motorcycles off and on for about 35 years, but find the scoots more fun. I ride them more than I drive the cars. (we have winter here, and ice and 2-wheels don't play well together.)

I have a 1958 MGA 1500 Roadster that I work on and drive with a local British car club. The youngest daughter loves riding the scoots and in the MG. I also have a Subaru WRX that I use for autocross, but haven't been out for a couple years now. Eldest daughter was getting too close to my times. Scoots and cars can be seen at www.MorrisGarage.com

I've enjoyed photography since I was about eight, and have about a dozen old cameras; anything from my first Brownie, to a few 50s Zeiss to modern digital. I find my photography and my other hobbies mix well. Galleries can be seen at https://smorris.smugmug.com

I read a lot in the winter, and I spend way too much time in front of this computer. I don't watch much TV; SciFi Friday, Formula 1, and Moto GP for the most part is all I watch.

I used to do a lot of woodworking, mostly making things for the shop and yard, but the MG and scoots took over my garage shop space.

cranky old dude

That is one sweet looking "A". I just love the wire wheels. It looks to my old eyes like you've got the painted 72 spoke dunlops...I like them a lot better than the chrome wheels, especially on MG's. It just looks better to me. I guess I'm not big on too much glitter. It looks like the previous owner knew what he was doing as the resto looks great.

So which of your daughters has laid claim to the car?

doctor j

Thank you, kenkayak. We're fortunate to have this group in our area, and I'm fortunate to be able to sing with them.

Road Fan

Choral music - I sing in the local symphony chorus, doing a few concerts a year on our own and with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and sometimes the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.

Opera - love to see live and video/movie theater broadcasts.

Traveling - if I can afford it again.

Advanced engineering research - I have had a great time doing such work in the aerospace, science instrumentation, advanced multimodal transportation, and automotive industries, and would love to do so again.

Teaching/tutoring - Have liked tutoring math and science in teh past, and I'm working on being able to do so again - we'll see what happens with my job application at the local community college.

Food/wine/beer/cooking - too much to talk about!

Fountain pen collecting - a C&V approach to handwriting. A lot of engineering is drawing diagrams, writing equations, and solving them to get a handle on a problem or one of its sub-problems. A fountain pen is a low-stress tool you can use all day if needed, and the lines are easy to see and don't rub out. You do have to think before you write, but isn't that a good thing? Why a collection? Well first they're all different, and second, new ones don't always hold up to daily use like the old ones that were actually made for something beyond style.

Analog audio - just a cheapskate curmudgeon. As an engineer, I don't think digital audio is necessarily superior.

edster63

Retired early, moved to a place on a no gasoline motors allowed lake, maintain the place, kayak, walk my Black Lab Ebony, fish, snowshoe, cross country ski and TEXAS HOLDEM tournaments. Love my poker! Oh yes, I love worshipping the Lord and I have a decent voice so I'm a member of our worship team at my church...............

Chaco

I was in software for 25 years. In December, the bank I worked for the last 7 years had their first layoff in 34 years, and with my good salary, I had a big target on my back. Not too many companies are interested in a 61 year old software engineer, LOL. So I've decided to spend my time on my photography - https://www.tomoscott.com - and helping my kids with their startup businesses.

billydonn

Aside from work, home improvement/carpentry, my custom truck, and flyfishing are my main serious leisure interests. All of them have taken a backseat to cycling this year though. Haven't even had the truck out of the garage this year.

Then there is also cat adoration and maintenance!

smorris 

Youngest has called dibs on both the MG and the WRX. She'll be driving in 4 years, and wants the wagon because she thinks it is fun. I'll be disconnecting the boost to the turbo in that case. Eldest din't much like the extra attention of the MG when I'd pick her up as high school, but wanted to drive it her last day of school. She autocrossed a Miata for a few years, but now has the Mazda3 she's been using hauling stuff back and forth to college.

Yep, the wheels are the Dunlops. Painted wires were factory options. MG didn't have chrome wheels at the time, but they were available as aftermarket then. I got the factory build sheet on mine, and it came with steel wheels, and was Old English White. I wish someone made nice knockoff steelies like the Twin Cam wheels.

The guy really researched and did the car right. The only things not original on it were an MGB radio blanking plate, front disk brakes from a 1600 (which I'm glad he did), and the top frame of the windscreen from a 1600, as it had the center clip to help keep rain out. I added MGB V8 front bushings when I re-did the front suspension. The older ones wear out too quickly. And I put it a Pertronix Ignitor ignition. It fits inside the dizzy and doesn't show. I'd have kept that stock, except hte *** Chinese points get hot and melt the followers too quickly. It got to the point I was carrying around a second plate with the points already adjusted, as I never knew when it would melt. I also added lap belts.