And now for . . .

Something Completely Different . . .

In the enduring words of Monty Python. If we can't have some fun here, what's the point? The world has gone mad anyway. Increasingly, I find myself toying with the idea of tuning it all out, and running off to Mexico. For now though, I’d like to talk about something completely different; or at least, approach some of the usual stuff from a very different perspective. I do think you’ll find this interesting, but I hope you’ll indulge me regardless.

I’ve been getting requests for a while to share some of my art here. As you’ll see, I've been focused on other things for the past while (if you read back through my posts all of last year). I'd love nothing more than to be back at my easel full time, creating works of art; which is what I would do in Mexico (where I started my career as an artist back in 1988). Everything is connected of course, so maybe I should share more of my art in these posts. I very much enjoy, for instance, the way Dr. Sasha Latypova always includes a painting on ‘Due Diligence and Art,’ while she’s writing about something entirely different. Another post I look forward to, in this vein, is Karafree (Maybe you’ll consider following both of these?).

One of the works that most influenced my view of the world over the years, and that I would recommend to all artists, is John Ruskin's 1853 book, On Art and Life: You Must Either Make a Tool of the Creature, or a Man of Him. You Cannot Make Both. Perhaps one of the most intriguing titles in literary history, this is a book for everyone really; no one wants to be ‘a Tool’ of course — This must be where that popular 1970s expression originated ;-)

The take away from this work, as the main title suggests, is that art is inseparable from life. Not to say (as those nihilist Dada and Fluxist artists did) that anything is art — this is the surest way to undermine both art and life. Rather, as Ruskin explains, art can enrich the lives of everyone (rich and poor alike); not just through the practice of art (which he encouraged) but through a nurtured appreciation of art. Beauty, the Regionalists maintained, can be found in (almost) all things, and in every aspect of life.

Another book that profoundly shaped my view of the world (and a lot of others back in the 80s) was that 1974 classic, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. A friend gifted me a copy and, appropriately, I read it on a road trip to Mexico — when I first ‘ran off’ to escape the madness, and begin my life as a full time artist. I didn’t ride a bike on my long road trip to San Miguel de Allende, but my old 1978 Grand Prix had character enough. As Pirsig’s book describes, there is a spirit in every vehicle, if you spend enough time with them. He talks about ‘the Buddha, the Godhead’ that resides in the machine; some, of course, talk about a ghost in the machine, and it is very real.

To not acknowledged this spirit is to ‘demean’ it, and an angry spirit might well manifest in some other form; as a kind of gremlin perhaps, if we’re not careful. I find it interesting (to put this in a more contemporary context) that people frequently talk about ‘demons’ in the AI now . . . and who knows? Nothing surprises me anymore. Back in a simpler time though, I had so many adventures out on the road; somehow, I managed to stay on good terms with the spirit in my engine, and I always made it home, safe and sound. ‘Zen’ was the most appropriate accompaniment on this extraordinary journey. I really must share some of my road trip stories sometime.

A comments on the ‘Art and Life’ philosophy here (the above isn't an inscription by Pirsig). As it happens, the person who gave me this book was a writer and a painter too, though he has spent most of his life (since we met on the trading floor of the Toronto Futures Exchange in 1985) fully immersed in the financial world. He still paints and writes intermittently, and despite the distractions last year (that you may look back over here), I continue be productive as well. For your interest, I just completed the following canvas, which I dropped at my gallery in Toronto (Loch) last week.

‘Hidden Cove’ (Blue Heron) Acrylic on Canvas 14” x 26”

In recent years it’s felt as if I’ve been ‘moonlight’ as an artist; there are so many things going on every day (and most evenings), that the only time I can find to paint is late at night. The wee hours are a productive time though, I find. The psychic quiet, when most people have gone to sleep — when the phone doesn't ring and emails need not be responded to — is conducive to creative work. While the world dreams, it feels as if I can channel that creative potential into the miniature worlds taking shape on my easel. I’ll share more in this in the future, but for now, let me continue on this theme of Art and Life, with a some other reminiscences.

Now for something completely different (and yet entirely related).

Speaking of Snowmobiles (inscribed above), I'm heart broken at the moment as Yamaha announced it is getting out of the business; this is the company’s last production year in fact — another Fourth Industrial Revolution casualty, as I see it.

Anyone who knows me will know I'm a little bit of a nut when it comes to snowmobiles, so I hope you don’t consider this sport too redneck — although sometimes this is an accurate characterization. You will find the odd ‘Yahoo’ out there on the trails, but for those who haven’t experienced the joy of snowmobiling, I think the following captures something of the feeling. Yamaha Snowmobiles RIP . . . or rather: Mountain Max 700 RIPS like it's 1999!

Last week, I dropped by Blackstock Motorsports to buy a liter of YAMALUBE two cycle oil. My brother and I purchased our snowmobiles there in 1980 (a couple of little 340 Enticers). They only have a handful of machines in the showroom now (given this is the last season), but there's a great deal to be had on a 2024 SX VENOM, for just $13,500 — tell them Dave sent you ;-) And if you'd like to see the first machine they ever sold, a 1979 Enticer 250, you're in for a treat.

Unfortunately, as an artist, a new snowmobile is a little beyond reach at the moment, but I’m not the only one who doesn’t have discretionary cash for such things these days. The cost, not surprisingly, is one of the reasons Yamaha made the decision to cease production of snowmobiles — this and socialism (apparently)! I'm usually talking about monetary and economic things here, so let me share the following: Economics, from the perspective of a sled head, borderline libertarian, like myself:

Why Yamaha Quit Snowmobiles: ACTUAL REASON

Chart source: IMF.org

Doesn't this just say it all? Remember all the promises of Globalism in the 80s; back in the NAFTA days, when those Global neoliberal policies were being implemented? And dumb ass, bought-and-paid-for politicians still pretend they know what's best for the economy, when globalism’s track record is here (above) for all to see. My niece (and others) rightly describe the Millennials as ‘generation screwed.’ But we’ve all been screwed, to varying degrees, by the ‘plunder capitalists’ (as discussed last time).

The next phase will be turn Millennials and GenXers against and the Baby Boomers (socialism always seems quite reasonable, until they start coming for your stuff). Those billionaires who now run the world are not concerned, they’re all ‘extra-nationals,’ but everyone else — anyone who has worked hard and accumulated a little wealth and a few assets — should be paying close attention.

The politicians’ usual ‘divide and conquer’ strategy is to divert attention from their own shortcomings — ineptitude and/or corruption — as they continue to decimate the western world’s middle-class. We should (none of us) fall for their tricks; rather, we should call out everyone responsible for making such a mess of our economy over the years, and replace them people who understand what happened (and who won’t be corrupted). Instead of Net Zero Carbon, moving forward, we must aim for Net Zero Tolerance of corruption and incompetence.

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I’m tempted to add more charts here, to illustrate my point (in case the IMF graphic above isn’t clear enough), but this is definitely something for something for another time. I’m determined to enjoy this trip down memory lane, and I hope you'll enjoy journeying back in time too. If you're a sled head as well, read on. If this is not really your thing, maybe watch a few more snowmobile videos, and perhaps we’ll win you over :-)

An advertisement for the 1973 Skiroule RTX (built here in Canada). Back when the middle-class (and even their kids) had discretionary cash for pass times such as this.

My first snowmobile was actually a 1972 Skiroule; almost identical to the machine above (though without the gauges and ski shock absorbers). Actually, it belonged to one of my cousins, and when he bought his first Yamaha in 1979, I ‘inherited’ this one. This was the first really modern snowmobile (in terms of its sleek, low profile) because the engine was front mounted; in the ‘pan’ ahead of the track, rather than above the ‘tunnel’ over the track. The muffler was not much larger than a large tomato juice can, so it was LOUD. The top speed when new (I’m told) was 90mph.

I shared some of my stories with the staff at Blackstock Motorsports, as we lamented those bygone days. I suggested I would only need to buy one more snowmobile, since my current one has lasted 45 years, and (almost unbelievably) still runs like new — they don’t build them like they used to. “I plan to be a doing a hundred when I’m a hundred,” I told them, which means I probably will have to buy another machine at some point. My little 1980 Enticer 340 only did 90 kph brand new; though my last run of the season last year, I touch 95km (on the speedometer). perhaps not too outrageous, as you can see here: How Fast Is A Yamaha Enticer???

But still, I quite scared myself; the old girl is a little too old to be doing speeds like this. I had a sneaking suspicion it might be her Swan Song, and it was with great trepidation that I fired her up this season. I’m happy to report though, she was as eager as ever to get out there and charge about in the snow. I can’t resist sharing the following video, as this guys takes the words out of my mouth: The GREATEST Snowmobile of All Time (this is just like the farm country around my own home).

Coincidentally (or not) my neighbour’s father worked for Yamaha Canada during our high school years, and often he would have new models to demo on the weekends. On one occasion, as you’ll see below (left), we got to play on that legendary SRX 440. This new model was capable of 120 mph, which really was scary. I only dare push it to 110mph because the skis were floating at that speed, and I felt I would go airborne.

The above machine was actually demoed by stock car driver, Richard Petty. This was one of those weekends I’ll never forget: ‘flying’ around on this beast was something else. And above right, the first run of 2021, on my own machine.

Part of our remuneration for working on the farm when we were young, back in the day (when Uxbridge was an actual farming town still) was unlimited gas for our snowmobiles; and we took full advantage of this perk of course.

I appreciate this opportunity to share a little of my life (outside the studio and away from my computer screen). I can honestly say, this sport has kept me sane all these years — in my own mind in at least :-) Maybe I seem stuck in the past (I know not everyone will share this passion) but we had so much fun as kids, it should have been illegal (as they used to say), and I feel most fortunate for this. I dare say it was illegal much of the time. . . and it certainly will be in the future, if those United Nations/WEF technocrats have their way. Only the elite will be allowed fun like this, in that Net Zero future of theirs. We’ll have to be satisfied with VR head sets and recreational drugs (to paraphrase Yuval Noah Harari), sitting on the couch in our 15 minute city gulag.

I think I’ll wrap up here, but I’m happy to share snowmobile stories anytime. I’ve been circulating pictures recently with some of the folk we used to ride with, many years ago. And just for fun, let me leave off with a few of these:

I never mentioned what happened to the old Skiroule (some other time . . . it’s a long story) but she lives on too (sort of), notice that ski on the Enticer to the right). Oh, and before I finally sign off here, my brother just showed me the following at dinner last night . . . I see now why snowmobiling might be considered a bit redneck (and no, this isn’t what happened to my last machine):

Jumping With Larry Enticer - Just Gonna Send It

Thanks for reading through my latest rambling post. We’ll return to something a little more serious next time — even though the world’s gone mad.

David