Born before 1986? Read this...

**Colapop** · 2nd February 2006, 10:48

Yeah Grandad's do rock! My Grandad was a keen golfer and boilermaker, so he made us a set of clubs to use round the yard when we came over. And the used to chase us up the Macrocapa trees when we broke a window in someones house. Sliding down the branches was fun too.

**iwilde** · 2nd February 2006, 10:52

Me and a few mates used to go behide the local dairy (owned by Europeans) and steal the empty coke bottles, go to the next dairy down the road and buy hugh bags of mixed lollies with the bottle money. When we got by the local cop (Jack Orchard?) he kick our arses, scared the shit out of us then watched as our parent kick our arses again! After that we were carefull enough to not get caught, well not for that crime again anyway.

**Charlie** · 2nd February 2006, 10:53

Originally Posted by Scoots Magoo

It's things like that which rile me up. Do you guys think you're superior because you lived in a different time period?

From what I've read this is a thread about stories of growing up, or remembering things how they used to be because they may no longer exist. There is no debate over which generation is more superior. Times change; its a given.
I'm 27 and love to "remember when" in the 80's. I'm sure those here who are my parents age or granparents will remember very different stories of a time BEFORE mine and thought I had it easy, and I love hearing those stories too.
Am sure when mini Magoos are zappingy round on space bikes and message you on virtual reality holograms, you'll smile and recall the simple outdated technology of cell phone, ipods and PS2's and when bikes had wheels.
As equally I'm sure your childhood stories are interesting and differ from the 5yr olds of today.
No one is superior, its just fantastic to hear so many people had memorable and happy childhoods no matter what era they were from. Some kids arent even that lucky.

**Wolf** · 2nd February 2006, 10:54

Originally Posted by Charlie

My grandad use to make our bikes with second hand bike parts. Would tinker in his garage for ages taking all the good parts and assembling them to make 1 good bike. Then just a lick of paint and I was the proudest biker in Jellicoe Street! Grandads ROCK!!!!

Dad used to do similar when he was alive. Back in the day when the dump was an area you drove to and dropped junk at, rather than a money-making exercise for the local council, he used to fossick around the dump and bring home all sorts of stuff that needed only minor repairs or, sometimes, no repairs at all (someone must've just got sick of it).

Now you've got to buy salvageable goods off the dump!

The bikes our three-year-old is learning on are second hand - given to us for nothing. Recently took the brakes off the smaller one and put them on the larger one as he's riding that one now.

**Charlie** · 2nd February 2006, 10:59

Originally Posted by Colapop

Yeah Grandad's do rock! My Grandad was a keen golfer and boilermaker, so he made us a set of clubs to use round the yard when we came over. And the used to chase us up the Macrocapa trees when we broke a window in someones house. Sliding down the branches was fun too.

CUTE - my Grandad made us golf clubs too! And a miniputt course. He'd dig wee holes in his lawn, nail a few holes in the bottom of a tin can and push it in the hole.
Was loads of fun and we were pretty lucky - cause I know how Grandad loves his lawn!

**Colapop** · 2nd February 2006, 11:14

Getting your arse kicked - it's funny coz it's true! Also true what you're saying to SMg, good memories and fun times are always good to share. I remember my Dad tellingme about when he was a young fella. Stories that ranged from shooting rabbits up on Khandallah hill (Top of Madras St) to him and his mates cutting up an A30 and putting a V8 or summat in it. They had fun, we had fun, and hopefully our kids or those that are younger will remember the times that they did things as having had fun.

**iwilde** · 2nd February 2006, 11:36

Talking about V8 conversions, we through a 350 chev into a rusty 1600 Mk1 capri leaving all the 4cyl suspension and brakes. Crazy car, on the following monday my mate went into the post office and told them about the new motor, they stamped the ownership papers on the spot with the new cc rating. No cert, no inspection, no engineers report! BTW the car was rolled at warp 9 cause it didn't go round corners to well.

**scumdog** · 2nd February 2006, 11:56

Originally Posted by iwilde

Talking about V8 conversions, we through a 350 chev into a rusty 1600 Mk1 capri leaving all the 4cyl suspension and brakes. Crazy car, on the following monday my mate went into the post office and told them about the new motor, they stamped the ownership papers on the spot with the new cc rating. No cert, no inspection, no engineers report! BTW the car was rolled at warp 9 cause it didn't go round corners to well.

Guys 'round here did same sort of stuff - 390 Ford in '55 Chev, engine was set back so far the rear 4 cylinders were INSIDE the car, shifter came through the floor about the rear bit of the front seat.
And then there was the 302 Cleveland powered Hillman Hunter ( Herman Grunter) episode, fire killed it before it killed somebody.

**Patrick** · 2nd February 2006, 16:28

Originally Posted by Scoots Magoo

Ex-fucking-actly.

Mr Magoo is dribbling again...wash his mouth out with soap.

**myvice** · 2nd February 2006, 19:20

Got dragged home by the local cop (traffic) when he caught me screaming around the block on a mini bike we had resurrected.
Thought my mum was guna kill me!
If it happened now youth and family would be round and everyone in the street would need counselling!
My son gives me so much shit, love driving along and telling him "I can remember when this was all farm"
We used to disappear for hours, off at 9ish and back at dark.
Now we cant get the kid to leave the house, and if he dose he’s on his bloody cell phone!

Fuck! Sounds like I'm 90! Only 31!
Was it safer back then? Even if it was only 20 years ago there didn’t seem to be the danger that there is now, maybe I'm just more aware?

**Motu** · 2nd February 2006, 19:52

Originally Posted by scumdog

Guys 'round here did same sort of stuff - 390 Ford in '55 Chev, engine was set back so far the rear 4 cylinders were INSIDE the car, shifter came through the floor about the rear bit of the front seat.
And then there was the 302 Cleveland powered Hillman Hunter ( Herman Grunter) episode, fire killed it before it killed somebody.

In the early 70s in my area there was a radical conversion done by a local entity who later became a focal point for us as he made parts for our choppers.He was a rodder and one night the converstion got around to ''wouldn't it be neat to....''And one was to put a V8 into a Fordson....but the consensus was it couldn't be done.''Bet I can'' he said,and the dare was on!

He got an old flathead and bolted it engine/gearbox/diff,no torque tube,like an old rail.He brought the radius rods together in front of the motor,and fitted a trailer coupling to them.Then he put a crossmember behind the cab and fitted a 1 7/8 tow ball to it.The rear spring fitted into the Fordson rear Xmember,the front onto the tow ball !! Hoses snaked through the cab to the Fordson radiator,and a collection of linkages brought the gearlever into the back of the cab.It had a tray fitted,and 6 straight copper pipes came out the rear....and painted flat black waaaaay before that was trendy.

It was around our area for awhile,a mate of mine had it at one stage,and he wheelstood it into the roof of his fathers carport! I wanted to buy it - $150,but my mother wouldn't let me,one of the few times she put her foot down and said no! to me.

I used to have a CA Bedford van - with a Vanguard 6 cyl engine and gearbox,and Cresta diff...my bike hauler.Sheeee it!

**Colapop** · 2nd February 2006, 19:58

Probably the reason why you survived to tell the tale!
I just keep going back to the start of this thread.... and getting home when it was dark. When we lived on the farm I was up before Dad (a builder so up a at sparrow's) on a Saturday and gone til Sunday night during the summer. Had my trusty little Kawa 90 and did some mental k's on that!

**Indiana_Jones** · 3rd February 2006, 00:15

Man I wish I was a teen in the 80's, but no, I was only born in '86 and got stuck with the lame generation lol, ahwell I guess it makes me stand out from the crowd.

and westlife did a cover of uptown girl? ewwwwwwwww *shudders*
I shall have to sing it on my singstar 80s now

-Indy

**Milky** · 3rd February 2006, 02:14

Originally Posted by myvice

Fuck! Sounds like I'm 90! Only 31!
Was it safer back then? Even if it was only 20 years ago there didn’t seem to be the danger that there is now, maybe I'm just more aware?

Haha... I assume you are a parent now, and that probably explains it.