I finally got an engine cover

[5thranger]

In early 1977 I was just completing Military punishment for "Failure to adapt to Military Life". And yes, that is (was) a thing!

It is amazing how many options the military has at their disposal to make one's life miserable.
I won't go into the details of what transgression I made to deserve the following punishment, except to say I embarrassed a full bird colonel (who I reportd to) in front of his commander. He so wanted that first star. And he was alot like that colonel on MASH.

For 10 months including over the winter I had the following assignments (this happened at Petersen AFB east of Colorado Springs. BTW, The winters in the late 70's were extremely cold and snowy:

• I painted the same 80' hallway 12 slightly different shades of pastel yellow. The baseboards had to be a gloss black. Several times the colonel himself showed up to "Instruct me on how to paint properly." After the job was done he would come in to inspect it. He would then proceed to tell me the color was all wrong and supply me with a slightly different shade. It was just different enough to keep me busy doing it all over again.
  
  Over night a floor buffing crew would come through and mar that glossy black baseboard resulting in the colonel pointing out the scuffed baseboard. He'd admonish me "get it right airman", and walk away.
  
  
• I painted (with an assortment of military misfits) the 3 story high hangar doors vertical red / white alternating stripes (as in the US Flag) and topped the peak of the hangar in a deep blue field with 13 stars in a circle with "1776 - 1976" in the center rotated about 45 degrees. The pilots complimented us on how pretty they looked from the air.
  
  
• Come winter things got a lot more fun. There were massive warehouses on base. My job was to shovel all the snow off the loading docks that fronted all the buildings. "Icey Concrete is a safety hazard, keep em clean and dry."
  
  
• When it wasn't snowing I was sent out on the runway where the snow fences ran parallel with the runways with an "Area Beautification Mission". I was to pick up all the trash and paper that blew up against the snow fences. They gave me a pickup truck so I could make as many runs as needed. This seems easy but it was hellish. Unless you live there you have no idea how bad it was. Tumble weeds blow up against the fences up to 10' deep. To get to the trash on the fence I had to move all those dead tumble weeds. Those prickly brittle dead tumble weeks.

This hell didn't stop until he transfered out.

Wow! I hadn't thought about this in years, but the mention of the "Bicentennial" triggered the memories. I still loath that colonel.

Those were not found memories!

I smile now, a little.

Time has a way of softening even the worst memories.

Amazed he didn't have you clean toilets with a toothbrush

Sponsored

 

[shovelhd]

The draft was still going strong in 1971 and didn't end until 1973 I think. I know for sure we had to register and that actually ended in or around 1975 I think.

If I remember correctly, it was the end of October 1975. My birthday was two weeks later, and I was sweating it out.

 

[Big Blue]

The draft was still going strong in 1971 and didn't end until 1973 I think. I know for sure we had to register and that actually ended in or around 1975 I think.

Yeah I'm class of 71 also. Got lucky in the lottery and my number was like 158. My classification was 1H a holding class. Never got reclassified. So I just went on to school. Had two older brothers in the Navy that spent time over there.

 

[OGMix376]

Amazed he didn't have you clean toilets with a toothbrush

My dad made me do that when I was young… I took his truck without asking him….. however I did as my mom if I could use it…. ?… after cleaning the toilet, he asked me what did you learn… I said I learned that the tooth brush is actually pretty good at getting the tight areas clean.. he called me a smart ass and said maybe you’ll have to do it again.. and I did…. A few times till i answered correctly ?

 

[TJC]

Amazed he didn't have you clean toilets with a toothbrush

None of that. They did measure the length of my hair once with a ruler! But it was tough enough. Not so much the tasks, the longevity of it all was far worse. Was beginning to wonder if my entire 4 years was going to be wasted.

It wasn't. I ended with a Top Secret SBI clearance in the NORAD War Room (literally) in Cheyenne Mountain (The eyes and ears of North America), preparing the daily General Staff Exposure Briefings, from there I went to a SAC HQ Bunker doing the same for their General Staff, only for the Nuclear Forces under control of USAF located in the Eastern USA. Back then we had silos in the eastern USA, not to mention Nuclear Bomber wings along the East coast and Northern USA

Amazing how circumstances can change so quickly. Ended up staying for 1 month shy of 6 years to complete my degree while in. They kept me as long as they could without paying me a very very big reenlistment bonus. 23 extra months. Of course I pointed this fact out to them when they went to force my extension. They wanted another 6 years for that education. At 10 years I would have committed to 20 and stayed until retirement.

We both got what we wanted, I got my education, and they got me for 23 months for basically nothing except the education, No 5 digit signing bonus. I think they thought I was going to stay. But I was very upfront and clear about my intent.

 

[TJC]

If I remember correctly, it was the end of October 1975. My birthday was two weeks later, and I was sweating it out.

Mine was in December and I kept waiting for the draft to end before my 18th birthday. Only it didn't so I waited until June to register. I got a nasty gram very quickly from Draft Board (my number was 93A! First 95 go!) demanding an explanation and threatening me to the "fullest extent of the law." I was ordered to show in person and explain myself. Scared the bejesus out of me! In panic I went the the Military enlistment office and met an Army recruiter. I walked in,took a look, turned around and walked right back out the door.

Went back, but this time to the Air Force. I asked for and received a delayed enlistment. Had a guaranteed job as air traffic controller! A week later I presented my enlistment papers to the draft board and walked out. I figured better the Air Force for 4 years than the US Army for 2.

Showed up at basic training with my little guaranteed job card and was politely told it wasn't going to happen. They tagged 50% of my unit as supply clerks, Including me! Finished basic and was sent to Colorado. You can probably see where this is going. I saw this as a breach of contract. My first stop when I arrived was at the Chief of Supply, that full bird colonel I mentioned earlier. It didn't go well....

You know the rest of the story. "Failure to Adapt to Military Life" (break out the paint brush!).

 

[awd.nv]

The VW Golf R weighs 400 pounds more than an equivalent GTI, due to the AWD gear. Be careful what you wish for.

I just hate FWD vehicles with power. We had a 2013 Passat VR6 SEL and loved that thing but HATED the fact that the USA never got AWD. That engine could break the tires loose a little too easy but man, engine sounded nice and the DSG trans shifted fast. Was a nice daily driver. Canada and Mexico had AWD models but I presume the USA they didn't want to take sales from Audi.

 

[shovelhd]

I just hate FWD vehicles with power. We had a 2013 Passat VR6 SEL and loved that thing but HATED the fact that the USA never got AWD. That engine could break the tires loose a little too easy but man, engine sounded nice and the DSG trans shifted fast. Was a nice daily driver. Canada and Mexico had AWD models but I presume the USA they didn't want to take sales from Audi.

It's all about having the right tires, the right traction control, and a disciplined right foot. You give up the first 2 car lengths, then hang on for your life.

 

[Rocketeer61]

I’ve heard of apex o rings and seals for the wankel rotary engine. Is that what you’re talking about?
.i had two Mazda RX7’s one turbo II 10th anniversary edition and naturally aspirated convertible… the convertible top was no good so it stayed down and I just kept it in my parents garage when not driving it?… the turbo 2 I got to take on laguna seca which was awesome.
Always wanted to build a three rotor (I think they call it a 20B) but Mitsubishi finally brought the Evolution over and had to have one so both Mazdas contributed to getting the EVO8

Yes. The apex ring wasn't actually a ring but a sort of scraper-like compression seal that sat at the tip of each rotor apex. As the rotor traveled around a figure 8-shaped combustion chamber the seals acted like conventional rings, hence the name. As for the three rotor, I think I remember seeing one in a homebuilt aircraft. The plane was sitting in someone's garage covered with dust and cardboard boxes and it wasn't for sale due to the oft-quoted fantasy mantra that the owner was "going to fix it up someday." I sometimes wonder which landfill that project is sitting in now.

 

[OGMix376]

Yes. The apex ring wasn't actually a ring but a sort of scraper-like compression seal that sat at the tip of each rotor apex. As the rotor traveled around a figure 8-shaped combustion chamber the seals acted like conventional rings, hence the name. As for the three rotor, I think I remember seeing one in a homebuilt aircraft. The plane was sitting in someone's garage covered with dust and cardboard boxes and it wasn't for sale due to the oft-quoted fantasy mantra that the owner was "going to fix it up someday." I sometimes wonder which landfill that project is sitting in now.

Yup I’ve ruined a few of those apex seals. (My first time trying to rebuild one I made a mistake or two ?.).
power curve on the rotary is sweet when the boost kicked on (if the boost came on?)… but golly the heat management on those motors was mostly praying it’ll cool down..
First time I heard the three rotor motor was actually in real life at a drift competition down in LA area where some speed shop had built one and it was so insane sounding (I recall but it was so long ago it was originally a 20B Mazda cosmos engine from Japan) Mazda has made some mistakes in the past like the Mazdaspeed 6 not being AWD and the RX8 not having a turbo or twin turbo option.. but still a great manufacturer… also since the OP finally got a engine cover… I’m seeing those CX-30’s EVERYWHERE ? in Oakland and SF

 

[awd.nv]

It's all about having the right tires, the right traction control, and a disciplined right foot. You give up the first 2 car lengths, then hang on for your life.

Agree if you're racing but I am just talking about leaving the light with enthusiasm and the tires break or accelerating at a light on a right turn when the road is wet and the traction control light kicks on. Plus I am sure a lot of Mazdaspeed3 were street raced on crappy roads, AWD would instantly help you get out of the hole faster.

Sponsored