|
|
|
Welcome! Welcome fellow Cushman comrades! After much aversion to the Internet, I finally have succumbed to the power of the information superhighway. As a Christmas present, my daughter created this little homepage and vowed to maintain it as I share my favorite hobby with the rest of the world. I invite you to peruse the site and check out the pics and history of these historical machines.
My Story Growing up in the late forties and early fifties was one of the neatest eras to be a child. I was one of the lucky few who were a part of this incredible time. Movies all try to create fantasies of what it was to be a kid during this time such as Stand By Me. It was a generation of 20 cent hamburgers, Elvis, Poodle skirts, and flat tops. Born in 1944, I grew up in Beaumont, Texas. We lived in South Park which was middle class suburbia within this developing community. My father, a hardworking disciplinarian, was always one step ahead of me and all my tricks. As a child my friends and I were constantly trying to motorize vehicles of any sort. We were known to build go carts and anything that would get us from point A to point B as quickly as possible. In 1955, at the age of 11, I received my first Simplex Motorbike which had a Briggs & Stratton, 1 1/2 horse engine. I was ecstatic, however the bike lacked any sort of braking system. I can still remember my mother complaining about how many times she had to resole my shoes. As I grew so did my desire for mobility. In 1956 I made a deal with my father. I had found a Cushman Step-Through Highlander 711. That first scooter cost me $50 and was painted black with a paint brush, which I paid back at $10.00 a month. My love affair with Cushmans continued, and at the age of 13, I purchased a 1952 Barrel Spring Eagle. She was a one of a kind and a toy far beyond my wildest dreams. As high school approached and I met my current wife (working at the movie house) I found myself in need of a car. I bought a 51 Chevy my sophomore year and the scooters began to collect dust. I sold the Eagle shortly before I went into the Navy in 1961; however, I never forgot the fond memories I shared with my scooters. After raising a family of three children, starting my own business and watching it thrive, building the house of my dreams, and fishing my life away, I found something missing. I began searching in the Friendswood area (my hometown) for other Cushman comrades and came across a group of boys who still loved the hum of those ol' motor scooters. Currently I am the proud owner of 7 cycles which I display with as much enthusiasm as I did when I was a child. I am a member of the Gulf Coast Cushman Club who is an affiliated member of the Cushman Club of America. We are a group of boys (at heart) who take regular rides around the Texas area, and attend meets on an annual basis. We have become like a family who loves to tinker, rebuild, or ride these awesome bikes. My collection is displayed throughout this website, one that I am very proud of and plan to expand (if my wife doesn't kick me out first)!
The Mustang News Vol. 17 No. 4 2003 Recently, I sent some pictures into a trade mag know as the, The Mustang News. Seems that the editor, Robert Cantrell, like what he saw. I am very excited to say that he featured my 61' Bronco on the cover and some other pics within the quarterly publication! Thank You to Mr. Cantrell for displaying part of my collection, it makes me even more proud. The pictures can be seen below.
|
