Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 11:58:05 -0700
Reply-To: Donna Skarloken <dskarloken@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Donna Skarloken <dskarloken@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: We went to Mammoth Lakes for a few days too....
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEu+b7CnvfQajkjzwisxA+SOdt3eRsqoe=L-1yo18qyjgVA@mail.gmail.com>
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(1) No power loss on 87 Wolfsburg or Syncro in many trips to the Eastern
Sierra since 1986, but one incident of Vanagon Syndrome in the dead of
winter right around Lone Pine heading north to Bishop - that was my dad's 86
van; there was a recall on something about the gas tank and that recall took
care of Vanagon Syndrome type behavior in that particular van. That 86 ran
like a top and we sure should have kept that one.
(2) In the 80s, in Lee Vining, needed gas for our 73 Thing. Parked and got
an ice cream until large group of bikers finished getting gas.
(3) In my 76 bus, I annoyed two bikers on their way to the now-defunct
rally in Bridgeport when climbing 108 out of Strawberry. I was trying to
maintain rpms so didn't move into the turnout fast enough for their taste.
When we all were stopped at road work near Kennedy Meadows, the leader
chewed out the two stragglers, telling them to shutup and leave me alone,
which they sheepishly did.
(4) I frankly don't have enough power in our Syncro most places to pass a
pack of Harleys, or any other bikes on 395. 395 has been improved over the
years; when first started driving, I was scared most of the time over there
but my dad made me learn. Coming into June Lakes vicinity was hair-raising
(everybody trying to pass, only two lane there), north out of that Mammoth
Lakes basin was another dicey place, where it went to two lane, and of
course Devil's Gate north of Bridgeport - yikes, I'll never forget those
places. Me and our little Thing trying to make speed - no way. Oh, and
then the 12% grade after topping Sonora Pass eastbound, straight down into
Pickle Meadow with just drum brakes - so much fun!
(5) Admittedly some Harley people can be annoying. It is the fantasy that
they become tough when on the Hog. I have not annoyed anyone on 395 in the
heart of the Eastern Sierra yet with my noisy bike, have only had time to
occasionally go to Reno via Rt.88 to the Carson Valley and then northward.
I usually only run with my husband so we are not in a "pack." Older Harleys
tend to be like older VWs, so now I can't get in neutral and need to repair
whatever is going on there. I was told it could be the shift linkage. I
have not even rode it since April.
(6) So to be irreverent when on the Dyna (a type of Hog for those who don't
know Harley models), I usualy wear a John Deere shirt, VW shirt, or
something that has nothing to do with Harleys. Not only that, I can't
afford to pay new price for their clothing anyway and I grow weary of black,
especially when the weather is hot. They do have other colors of clothing,
but black still dominates. So if someone on a Harley is waving at you in
your Vanagon out West, it could be me.
Irreverently yours on a Monday, and apologies to listmembers who have no
idea where 395 or the Eastern Sierra is,
Donna
87 Syncro, 2000 Dyna
On Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 8:16 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 12:52 AM, Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > I also had some cold start/rough idle problems there when cold, along
> with
> > poor power at 9000 ft. I know I don't have my ignition system fully
> dialed
> > in (cold start problem), but I'm thinking the high altitude problem is
> just
> > the way it is.
> > --
> > Cya,
> > Robert
> >
> > '87 & '86 Auto GLs
> >
>
> Talking through my tailpipe here, since I don't know much about
> waterboxer motors..
>
> Could the cold-start issue at altitude be caused by the O2 sensors? Do
> these motors have a good 3 wire sensor to get them up to temperature right
> away? It would seem like your motors were probably much too rich for that
> elevation until they got warmed up enough to 'figure out' and adjust the
> mixture. There really is a significantly lower Oxygen content in the
> atmosphere at 8-9000' elevation, and mornings at that altitude are cool...
>
> The 395 hwy and the Sierras are one of my favorite places. One (minor)
> unfortunate 'downer' about 395 is all the Harleys on weekends in recent
> times...Those are an irritating distraction, the way most of their owners
> make their mufflers so LOUD, and how they travel in 'clots'. It is
> difficult to pass a big bunch of them, 15-50, blatting along in a long
> line,
> all 'stylin ' in their fancy Harley Dealer Duds, pretending they're Dennis
> Hopper, Peter Fonda Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider. Or maybe they identify
> more with Travolta from "Wild Hogs"... "Mainstream Rebels" these guys and
> gals...amusing, but also obnoxiously painful to the ears.
> When you need gas and all the stations in a small town are full of Hardlys
> with inept newbie riders trying to paddle those big heavy hogs around at
> the pumps, they can take forever to get it done and move on.
>
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