vanscottbuilders

Boy I haven't been up and down Rte.219 in a long time. Probably 20 years or more.

I have travelled that road a lot in my past.

Used to have a good friend and racing partner in Mahaffey, which is a little south of Dubois & Punx'y.

If you get to Orchard Park with some time on your hands, you are welcome to visit our shop,

which is a short hour east of Orchard Park on I-90, or I can meet you somewhere for dinner.

On another subject - I am curious - what is a typical mileage rate today for a flat trailer and tractor?

I haven't kept up with current charges, except for the heavy hauls that my uncle's company does.

And that work is all done by the hour.

Poor Kid.

I don't think I would handle it very well, if I were in your shoes, either.

Hope things are getting better, and that you and your family can enjoy a very happy and safe New Year.

Paul Van Scott

Tom,

If you get to Orchard Park again, and have a little time on your hands, give me a call.

It's less than an hour from me.

Paul VS

I know it's not how it should be,but it works great!

I won't tell.

Paul VS

Tom,

What's the switch on your aux shifter?

Paul VS

You're becoming a genuine high tech wizard!!

Paul VS

Tom,

I don't think that restarting the computer will screw anything up.

Cancel and close the defragmenter, shut down and wait to restart for about five minutes.

If you have a high speed internet connection, shut it down at the same time.

I find with my Road Runner connection that it needs to reboot once in a while. No clue as to why.

But it reboots byitself when you restore the power.

If all else fails, you might want to have someone "clean" the hard drive for viruses and bad stuff that

comes from the internet. We have all of our office computers and home computer cleaned every

three months. Makes a big difference. The first clue is when stuff starts slowing down and not

working properly. Just like what you described.

Other than that - Merry Christmas!

Paul VS

Hi Joe,

Happy First Christmas as a family!

Paul VS

I didn't try - Does the video have sound?

I use Freightrain's triplex shifting video to counter Kathy's choice of music!

Works real good.

Paul VS

Looks Cool - and you are way ahead of me by being able to make the video and transmit it via computer!

Paul VS

Tom,

Keep your eye on those 5" stacks.

I might need two - one each for the B-67 and H-63.

Apparently 4" systems are quite difficult to find, although I think

that Watts Mck has a 4" muffler, and I could probably have the 4"

pipe fabricated locally, if originality is a real question.

Thanks,

Paul VS

Paul, while you were flying ass over tea kettle, did your entire life pass before your eyes? Did you remember your army training about how to fall down? My back still hurts every day from 25 years ago. I wasn't even going to get out of the house. We had such an ice storm the night before, and I had already called work to tell them not to expect me. I still had teenagers at home then, and between them and my wife, they had it so rev'ed up by about 9:30 I couldn't stand it. I am going to work I said. That was when my wife informed me that before I went anywhere, I had to go to the store for a gallon of milk a loaf of bread and several other items. Back at home, with a grocery sack in each arm I started across the drive. Whoooop, I didn't have time to think of anything, except why am I hurting so bad. I had two young hounds that had the run of the place, and to top it all off, thinking I was playing both of them piled on top of me. I couldn't beat them off, I couldn't move for 5 min. Needless to say I didn't make it to work that day or a full week either. I have no idea how people are brought up where you live. But here in the south it seems that women are conditioned from birth, to wait until the snow is on the ground to realize they are about out of Milk and bread. If they don't need anything at all, the guy they married can drive anything with wheels, and to prove it he has to go for something. Shucks, get well quick, James

yeah,long as your bones don't start sounding like a hog eating hickory nuts when you walk-then you'd better go to the doctor.

James,

I had both of my dogs with me on leashes.

I must have hit the ground so hard, it scared them both because they didn't come near me for a minute or two!

And I did remember my "fall training" - about one second after I hit.

Hope you feel better.

Paul VS

Tom,

Thanks for checking on those parts for me.

I feel pretty good about getting all of the parts from Mack, although

I'm sure NAPA or Fleetpride would be fine too - it's just that they do not recognize

most of the old Mack part numbers, so you have to take the old part in and

match it up to something.

Fleetpride is relining the brake shoes.

Good to know about "Bebo". There is no question that I will need some parts for one of these trucks.

Been snowing here pretty steady for a couple of days - probably 14 or 15 inches on the ground.

That helps with the falls - cushions the shock!

Paul VS

Several weeks we got our first substantial snow of the season.

Those piles of leaves that I had left in the driveway and in the parking lot went thru the

snowblower just fine. I'm going to remember that for next year!

Paul VS

Tom,

Do you know anything about Tidewater Mack in Virginia?

I'm looking for seals and bushings to put my B-67 rear end together.

Beam Mack (Rochester, NY) told me that Tidewater purchased all of the obsolete inventory

for B Models from Mack a few years ago.

Or do you have any other ideas?

Thanks,

Paul VS

You can see my shop, and you can see my house and - you can see a little mystery -

There is a car in my back yard that isn't mine or my wife's - so naturally, I have used it

as ammunition for years of entertaining conversation. Just exactly who are you seeing, honey,

who drives a large white sedan?

Great Fun.

Paul VS

I like the bulldog heading off into the sunset!

Paul VS

Tom,

I guess none of us are quite as brave as we used to be.

One of my first over the road jobs was pulling bottled spring water in the winter from Old Forge, NY (Adirondack Mountain area)

to Albany, NY for the passenger trains. It was always done at night, so the plows weren't out. And it was with a dry van - so there was

no stopping - or it would freeze.

There were two of us (drivers) native to Upstate New York, so we always drew those runs.

Your story reminds me of those times.

Quite often Saranac Lake, NY is the coldest place in the country. And Barnes Corners, NY quite often sets the snowfall record for a

given year. Both places are in the Adirondack Mountains.

I probably would not consider making those trips today - and I wonder how, as an 18 year old kid prone to driving way too fast, I survived as

long as I did.

And how often I was passed by another truck going like crazy in snowstorms. Nothing but a whiteout for a few seconds. Purely white knuckles.

So I have a pretty good idea of what you are talking about!

Although it sounds like you are pretty good at what you do. Keep it up.

Paul VS

I'm looking for a white Christmas too - Good thought!

Paul VS

I know exactly where you are coming from.

As near as I can tell - and it has been a while since I was on the road full time - there is always a reason not to listen to the CB - maybe because the music's better on the radio, or you like the sound of the diesel, or you just don't want to listen to the jerks!

Some things will probably never change.

Like I said before - we do it because it's fun!

PVS

Early in the 70's - People used to ask me how I liked hauling liquor off the docks in New York.

Had to tell the truth - We do it because it's fun!!

Paul VS

I'm just waiting to stop talking about them, get them finished, and post my own truck pictures for the calendar.

Congratulations on yours!

Paul VS

I like turkey.

Matter of fact, I am cooking one Friday for dinner with some friends who were sick over Thanksgiving.

Barry - you can come too if you want!

Paul VS

Joe,

Congratulations to both you and your wife - who did all the work !!

The best way to post pics is to get the photos to Barry's address at wmsi@alltel.net

Thanks for the update.

Paul Van Scott

GOOD LUCK!!

Paul Van Scott