The Million Dollar Mustang…

About that million dollar Mustang I mentioned yesterday….okay, here’s the story…

Steve stopped by my desk yesterday and told me about three World War II warbirds that landed here on Brackett Airfield.   “They’re at the other end of the runway,” Steve said.  “You wanna ride over and grab a few photos?”

How can you say no to something like that?  

My Speed Triple...a really pretty motorcycle

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I had to have medical procedure for a leg problem.  It was 7 weeks ago today.  Well, “medical procedure” actually makes it sound pretty easy.  What really happened was about 18 months ago I got tagged by a woman in an SUV in an intersection.  I was on my Triumph Speed Triple.   You can guess who came out on top in that little get-together. 

The docs at County USC did the best they could putting me back together in 2009, but the lower of two fractures in my leg never healed right.   My recent medical procedure, the one they did 7 weeks ago, involved breaking my leg again and using bone grafts and other tricks of the trade to get things to grow back the way they should.   (Where I grew up in New Jersey I knew guys who would break your leg, but you had to borrow money from them first.)   I’m doing really well now.  Things are moving along nicely, and my doctor did a really good job this time.

Back to yesterday…a chance to get back on a California Scooter, a ride a mile or so to the other end of the airstrip, and an opportunity to grab a few shots on a brilliant sunny morning of the aircraft that won the Big One.   I know I’m not supposed to be back on a bike yet (I’m still using a cane), but who would ever know?  It would just be a short trip.  I’m feeling pretty good.  Steve and I can keep a secret.

Getting back on a California Scooter was great.   It was beyond great.  And the aircraft….wow!  

Check out this photo of a B-24 Liberator with our red Classic parked out front.    These are incredible airplanes.   Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego (just 110 miles south of us) designed these magnificent warbirds, and during the production peak, the United States was producing one airplane an hour.  Our production might and the incredible skill of our soldiers won the war for us.  This airplane was one of the ones that participated in those world-shaping events.  Every branch of our military and several of our allies flew B-24 bombers, and they flew in every World War II theatre.  It’s hard not to choke up a bit when thinking about what our parents and their parents did so that we can enjoy the things we enjoy today.

A California Scooter in front of a B-24 Liberator

And the next one…well, here’s that million dollar Mustang I told you about…

Steve Seidner, a CSC Greaser, and that other Mustang...

Oh, were you thinking it was a Mustang motorcycle?   Nope, it’s a North American Aviation P-51.  The one in the photo is the P-51C, the two seater version.   These guys were taking people up for around $3600 an hour.   (For just a little bit more, you can get our version of the Mustang and fly around for as long as you want!)

I wanted to get a photo of an OD green Military Series bike in front of one of these planes (especially the B-24, as the colors hook up pretty well), but the fact is those bikes are flying out of our factory fast.   We didn’t have any left to photograph!   No worries, though…the next Military Series lot is in production, and we’ll have them available soon.   Yep, there will be more Military Series bikes coming your way.

Remember what I said at the start of this blog?  You know, the part about I shouldn’t really be back on a bike yet, but who would find out?   Well, guess who was about to go up for a ride in that P-51C Mustang yesterday?  Wouldn’t you know it…it was my doctor!  Yep.  Small world, ain’t it?  Doc is a cool guy, though.  He kind of just looked at me and shook his head.  It’s a reaction I get a lot…