VincentHill
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posted August 29, 2002 10:59 AM
A Little off Subject! Where do you get your Leathers Cleaned??
When I first started racing, I used Bates Leathers and they cleaned and repaired the suits! Then Patty Peronne who Road Raced herself came along an decided that we "Could" have extra Padding along with the extra layer of leather Bates used in a road race suit! So I bought a road race suit with hip, knee, elbow, forearm, Shoulder and thigh protection! Can you imagine, ALL of that padding in a leather suit?? Before 1980?? The only thing missing was lower back padding of suites nowadays! I sent a message to Bates to see if they will rejuvenate my suite and sew one side of a zipper and a few stripes! and Maybe even add a stretch panel at the seams on both sides under the arms so that I will have enough room for a "Back" Protector "AND" (the extra) me!! Anyone know anyone doing this?? (I know you rich guys just buy and throw away, but I got to wear my 20 year old set of leathers and "Glad" I had them!)
  
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ddpete3
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posted August 29, 2002 11:40 AM
That's right on subject.
You send your leathers across the country to get them cleaned and fixed?
Why not go ask the guys at the local shop if they recommend anyone.
Wormhole uses a local leather woman.
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VincentHill
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posted August 29, 2002 12:44 PM
 Edited By: VincentHill on 29 Aug 2002 13:45
quote:
That's right on subject.
You send your leathers across the country to get them cleaned and fixed?
Why not go ask the guys at the local shop if they recommend anyone.
Wormhole uses a local leather woman.
Thanks for the help! Been there & Done that "TODAY"!! I went to the place where I always had them cleaned and the lady that did leather repair had retired! Went to the second place and no help at all!
BUT!! The good news is that I heard back from Bates! I am sending them the suit tomorrow FedEx! They told me to use Lextol Cleaner & Lextol Conditioner and clean and soften the suite myself! They will sew the Zipper and stripes and if possible, put in a stretch panel on both sides! It will cost me $50 per hour and I may spend $200 or so, but that beats "$1000 or so for new leathers"!! This "Trip" to Maxton is going to cost me over $1,000! Steering Dampener, Leather cleaning & Repair, Entry fee, Motel and travel expense! I even have a few!! Friends than may even show up for Grinns!! Who Knows!! This is almost the same price for getting caught going serious speed on the highway!
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ddpete3
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posted August 29, 2002 01:49 PM
well, go serious speed on Indian Head, and then you'll feel better.
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VincentHill
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posted August 29, 2002 05:59 PM
quote:
well, go serious speed on Indian Head, and then you'll feel better.
Between Old Fort road and Fort Washington Road?????
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ddpete3
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posted August 30, 2002 07:55 AM
I mean the whole stretch from the beltway south.
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VincentHill
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posted August 30, 2002 09:12 AM
quote:
I mean the whole stretch from the beltway south.
TOOO Many Police (even special enforcement) from the intersection with 295 up to Old Fort road! The next 2 intersections are nice then a little farther out toward the Bottoms!! I see you know this area  
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ddpete3
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posted August 30, 2002 09:35 AM
I used to live in Arlington and Reston, and my good friend had a house right off of livingston and indian head. I used to drive to PAX River every week and took Indian Head.
Too many police in a 100 square miles of DC...period.
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VincentHill
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posted August 30, 2002 05:07 PM
quote:
I used to live in Arlington and Reston, and my good friend had a house right off of livingston and indian head. I used to drive to PAX River every week and took Indian Head.
Too many police in a 100 square miles of DC...period.
"AMEN" and too many "Kinds"! DC, Park, Fed Protective, Capitol Hill, Metro Transit, Secret Service, just to name a few!!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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slug
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Out in search of my mind...
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posted August 31, 2002 03:19 AM
i leave my windows up and doors locked when in dc area....
and a section of 6/0 power cable about 14" long under the seat......
  
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VincentHill
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posted September 03, 2002 01:57 PM
Latest on the leathers Bates already has my leathers and due to a miscommunication, they do not work on anyone's leathers but their own! "Z" Custom Leathers not far away from them "WILL" work on anyone's leathers, but are too busy to get it done in the amount of time I need it done in! This now leaves Vanson Leather's on the East Coast in Mass Their Web Site shows that they do "Everything" you would want them to (Make new out of old) for $350.00 plus repair cost, but I do not know if they repair other brand leathers! Hopefully because Patty was a new Englander and no longer is in this business, they will do what I need them to do and later, make a new suit out of my old suit!
Isn't racing fun! Just like the Old days Where no matter how early you started, you needed all of the time you had plus 10%! It was something like this (Lack of Sleeping at Night and the other associated joys of the night) that was the "MAIN" Reason I stopped in the first place!! What made me want to do this?? Have I really lost my mind (After All, I did not remember what I went through)!! I was "Old" when I was Younger and Racing in the AMA! (42 when I stopped and 29 when I started!!) neither age a fountian of youth!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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VincentHill
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posted September 04, 2002 06:40 AM
Just heard from Vanson's and they do "NOT" work on anyone's leathers other than their own! My "NEW" Last Hope is "Barnacle Bill's" in Kentucky! They work on everyone's leather, but can I get it done in time?? Stay Tuned!!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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dougmeyer
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posted September 04, 2002 10:45 AM
Vincent,
As far as cleaning is concerned, I just throw 'em in the washer. Really,
cold water, good detergent. Hang'em in the garage to dry and when they are dry pour on the Lexol and rub it in. Been doing it for 30 years. I had taken my Bates to a local leather repair gal in Chicago in 1975 or so and she told me to do it. Never had a problem. Just DON"T dry them in the sun or with heat.
Think about it- what do you do with a chamois? And besides, cows get wet, no problem there.
Doug
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It's not that I think you're dumb, it's just that so much of what you know isn't true....
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VincentHill
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posted September 04, 2002 12:15 PM
Good one Doug! "Donna" (part Owner of Bates) said use Lextol Cleaner and Lextol Conditioner! I did this and was able to get the leathers in a fairly small Box! Because I now have more to put in the Leathers (Me and a Back Pad, I need "Enlargement" in the Chest and lower Chest (where my first chest slid to) area! Never thought about "Washing" them, but they have been in severe Rain and a Chamois "is" just processed leather!! Mine are only 20 years Old! So I feel much better! Thanks, advice I am keeping!!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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FinalVelocity
Expert Class
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posted September 05, 2002 01:54 PM
Bought Lexol cleaner and conditioner for 12 bucks. Gotta use it this week. Hey Doug you wash your *leathers*? Incredible - I for some reason just could'nt picture leathers going into the washer! Maybe I should try it, eh?
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dougmeyer
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posted September 05, 2002 02:55 PM
I know- everybody thinks that, but it works just fine. I've probably done it 20 times over 4 different sets.
Doug
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It's not that I think you're dumb, it's just that so much of what you know isn't true....
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beansbaxter
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posted November 16, 2002 01:49 AM
How do you store your leathers? I was told not to put my Vanson under plastic cause it will dry out, but I wanted to store it in storage with my bike. Anyway to do it to keep the leather in good condition over time?
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VincentHill
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posted November 16, 2002 06:08 AM
They "MUST" Hang in the air. Not folded up ans sealed! Before I put mine away, I let them hane and dry out for a few weeks! Then using Lextol cleaner , I lightly go over the entire suit and them go over them with the conditioner and let them hang out for a week or so before hanging in my closet!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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ZHooligan
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posted November 16, 2002 09:21 AM
Bean... When you go to the Bike show in December check out the big shoulders hangers. Theyare awesome for leather coats and suits. They will hold a hundred pounds or something like that. But what is even better is they are really wide so the jacket can breath. They cost about $25 but they are worth it.
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To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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beansbaxter
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posted November 16, 2002 09:54 AM
Thanks for the tip on those hangers.
Doug emailed me asking for my mailing address, so hopefully those tickets show up soon for the Bike Show.
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