Michael Judkin's PPV
Oconomowoc,
WI
Mike sent me this email 15 Nov 2006.
We have a fund raiser golf outing each year on July 4th. There is a "best costume" prize that my foursome has mastered the last 10 years or so. In years past we had gone as Arabs and had a real camel as our golf cart, worn kilts and had a man follow us playing a bag pipe, and rode in on Harley's to mention a couple of the greats. Each year it gets a little more difficult to come up with a winning idea.
Well, back in my childhood we lived next door to the man that owned the local bike shop, his name was Mr. Faust. He had a great idea, and purchased about 10 PPV's and had them for rent in the little town I grew up in (Oconomowoc, WI). As you may recall back in the 70's, people did not have a lot of expendable cash, and the idea sort of flopped. The PPV's were just taking up space in his garage, so he let us neighbor kids use them, and use them we did. Day and night we rode PPV's everywhere, and developed a lot of great memories.
Well, about 6 months ago I started reminiscing (and maybe feeling a little old) and I decided I had to have a PPV again. My wife thought I was crazy, and didn't want me to spend the money on something so foolish. This is where the golf outing comes in. I needed a great reason why I "NEEDED" a PPV. Well due to the incredible gas price hikes we were seeing, I decided that we "NEEDED" the PPV's so we could use them as "people powered" golf carts and boycott oil.
So, I contacted the gentleman in PA that you told me about. He happened to have 3 PPVs and was only willing to sell them as a group. So we made a deal, and off to PA I went. By this time it was July 2nd, and the golf outing only 2 days away. So, I talk a good Friend into helping me out on my quest (at this time I was not only obsessed with the idea, but possessed with the desire to revisit my childhood). We drove non stop 27 hours round trip to pick up the 3 PPVs. We made it back about 7 hours before the golf outing which was just enough time to take a nap and fabricate 4 rolling carts for our golf bags. We rode into the outing in total style and ran away with the prize.
My wife thought I would get rid of them after the outing, but some how I have managed to avoid the conversation and still have all three. As you can see in the picture, my neighbor has sown three canopies. My three kids (10, 8 &6) are having a blast with them not to mention myself. We have been in two parades, and plan on doing more. They are in storage for the winter now, and everyone is already jonzing for a ride. Can't wait for spring.