Page 1 - my current vehicle: 1996 Daihatsu Applause

Page 2 - my old ride: 1988 Honda CM200T TwinStar

Page 3 - pictures I've taken of cars

Page 4 - Lamborghini LM link/POLL RESULTS

Page 5 - Rambling about my dream cars.

Page 6 - La DÜrkopp & other tales of Querétaro

Page 7 - 2006 Models: Cars I Like

Page 8 - 2006 Models: Cars I Disike

Page 9 - The V-6 Page

Page 10 - Abandoned Dodge Coronet 440 - THE SORROW AND THE PROMISE

LA DÜRKOPP & OTHER TALES OF QUERETARO

1. La DÜrkopp:

A few years ago, I was sent to the city of Querétaro in Mexico for a few months for training. I was being trained during the week and roaming around the city on weekends. Querétaro is a beautiful city rich in heritage (Mexico's independence movement started there, and later Emperor Maximilian was defeated, tried and executed there) but eventually I started looking at bikes.

On Avenida Constituyentes there was a tractor dealership called Agromotos S.A. de C.V. that also had a bike dealership on the premises. They sold Suzukis there, but they also had an interesting bike there that looked like it was from the '50s. I rode around on my bicycle one Saturday to find them closed. I took two pictures through the glass and then, thinking the pictures might not come out, I took out pad and pencil and spent the next 45 minutes drawing the bike.

I went back two Saturdays later and found them open. I spoke to a salesman (in English) about the bike and I was allowed to write off the information from the nameplate:

Fabrik: DÜRKOPP ATKIENGESELLSCHAFT, BEILEFELD
Typ: MD 200
Fahrgest: 700114
Hubraum: 198 cc
Eigengew.: 115 kg
Zul. Ges. Gew. 272 kg
Baujahr: 1956

I was not allowed to take any photos inside the showroom, but the salesman was otherwise most helpful.

I have since tinkered with the scan of the original drawing and developed this:

2. Miami Cop Machine:

Of all the interesting things I saw at Miami International Airport while in transit to Mexico City and Quéretaro, the most interesting was just outside: the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle I had ever seen in the metal. It was a FXDP - a Dyna police bike. That's some incentive to join the Miami PD!

3. Pickup Trucks?

Mexicans like pickup trucks but some are too poor to afford one (sort of like me in that regard). No problem. For a little more than the price of a moped you can get a hauler like the one at right. For something a little more heavy-duty, there's the one shown below. BTW, that's not me riding; I didn't have a bike yet. Not a working one, anyway...