How about combining your interests in MG, teaching and traveling, and work as a traveling independent consultant providing workshops/trainings in different countries? Suppose you announce you will do a 5-day workshop in Vancouver on MG maintenance & repair. I am sure that you could get at least 10-20 guys (and girls) willing to pay $1000-1500 for such a course as it is an excellent investment for any motorbike owner. Students could bring their own bikes. You would have to arrange an actual workshop and course venue but perhaps a dedicated MG dealer like Valley Moto in Chilliwack would be willing to accommodate this (and also sponsor your hotel bill).
Thereafter you do the same in Seattle (at Moto Int), then you fly to the UK, Holland, etc etc. The following year you do an other world tour, and this time you give more advanced courses.
I think that you could make a decent living out of this, at least for a couple of years.
Oz1200Guzzi Don Abbondio
Posts : 6086 Join date : 2014-03-13 Age : 70
Subject: Re: What to do? Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:21 pm
beetle wrote:
Phang wrote:
what's wrong with you?
I'm fully sick.
I reckon fully committed, Mark...
Street L'Innominato
Posts : 3432 Join date : 2013-05-29 Age : 65
Subject: Re: What to do? Mon Jun 22, 2015 10:06 pm
Pete,
If the porn star gig doesn't work out for you, perhaps you could get the Curmudgeon job on Sixty Minutes. Andy Rooney did it brilliantly until just a few weeks before he croaked at 92. That was in 2011. I think they might still be trying to fill his position.
"...his whiny and inquisitive voice and the demeanor of an unmade bed, were part of his appeal."..."I don't know what to do, I try to look nice, I comb my hair, I tie my tie, I put on a jacket, but I draw the line when it comes to trimming my eyebrows. You work with watcha got."..."There are a lotta know-nothing boobs, who don't appreciate the modern art being put up in public places in all our cities, I know this is true, because I'm one of those know-nothing boobs."..."It wouldn't hurt if we could improve certain parts of what we're like and how we behave. Maybe the drug companies could come up with a pill that would cure us of the evil in our nature, things like hate, jealousy, dishonesty, selfishness, and one more thing, but this may be asking too much, I wish there was something we could all take to cure us of stupidity."
1151 Sfregiato
Posts : 453 Join date : 2014-05-23
Subject: Re: What to do? Mon Jun 22, 2015 10:49 pm
A 5 day workshop in Van. and or a Vally Moto gig in Chilliwack.... that's an excellent idea Bioman I'll book my time off now. When is it happening Pete and what are you charging??!
I'd be willing to bet that quite a few other MG owners in the lower mainland would show, possibly even Wa. state. Also wouldn't doubt that many on this site would help get the word out to MG owners and or dealers in their respective areas if you were to accept this global mission. Anyway fwiw, it would certainly be a worthwhile and enjoyable program for many of us.
Btw Pete - One of your earlier posts mentioned George Dockray I believe. In addition to what you have posted about him, he is also currently the organizer / host if you will of the monthly Italian bike meetup on Commercial Dr. in Van.. It held at a place called Calabria Cafe on the last Tuesday of each month. I'm not sure if you know him personally or have met but he would be a good contact for this in the NW if you should seriously consider this. He might even be willing to sponsor this given the number of guzzi owners which show up monthly at the cafe.
Triman023 Tiradritto
Posts : 306 Join date : 2014-06-05 Age : 74
Subject: Re: What to do? Tue Jun 23, 2015 2:24 pm
A manual for the GRiSO written by you would be excellent! There is currently nothing out there to help the Guzzi owner. It would all be in one place. Video tutorials could be extra.
pokeyjoe Don Abbondio
Posts : 127 Join date : 2014-08-22
Subject: Re: What to do? Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:10 pm
Yeah, instead of "Guzziology", make it "Grisology".
Triman023 Tiradritto
Posts : 306 Join date : 2014-06-05 Age : 74
Subject: Re: What to do? Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:19 pm
Indeed! Sell us the book and tutorials separately. Check out 4Aces (http://www.fouracescycle.com) they have video tuorials they sell and they are very helpful.
Street L'Innominato
Posts : 3432 Join date : 2013-05-29 Age : 65
Subject: Re: What to do? Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:26 pm
"GRISOLOGY" by Pete Roper
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
"Guzzi Guys" !! Following-up on the Male Model / Porn Star abuse.... I'm sure most of us have 'accidentally' viewed the Cycle Garden / Guzzi Girls pictures. (and in case you haven't, and want to accidentally see them: Not Really Safe for work
In the interests of fairness and politically-correct equality, Pete should do his own version. Sweaty guy in a stained T-shirt hammering on Guzzi swingarm, and swearing like a trooper.
There's money to be made here. Not much tho....
Daves-i-Know Grignapoco
Posts : 173 Join date : 2015-07-24 Age : 60
Subject: Re: What to do? Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:02 am
I'm still new to this forum, so I wont pretend to have any insight into what you should do with the rest of your life, Peter. Ive made two career changes, one in my twenties and one in my fifties, and I know what its like to have to stop doing something because youre injured or just not physically able. The only thing I have learned is that the only job I can do and feel good about, is one that I am passionate about, and one that helps other people. If you can satisfy both those needs, you'll be happy with whatever you end up choosing.
(Ps- after accidently looking at the Guzzi Girls as jeremyb suggested...er...warned, I do have to agree with him. There may indeed be a future in that business for you Peter. You both seem to really know your way around a bike!)
rboe Tiradritto
Posts : 329 Join date : 2014-04-21
Subject: Re: What to do? Thu Jul 30, 2015 6:58 pm
Start with a blog/video How-To's (typically this will mean a younger side kick - a cute smart female would be ideal (you're not exactly eye candy at your age ). It is amazing that some smucks seem to make a good living off of blogs. Ads I guess.
You'll have to go off all sorts of brands, not just Guzzi as there are not enough Guzzi folks around to be a good blog base.
Then there is the filming of rubber chickens being abused and midget porn; could be a Plan B.
But seriously; younger side kicks have been the norm for years. We had this grizzled old plumber that HAD to have a side kick as he could not get a pipe fitting tighter than finger tight. With a wrench. But he knew his shit.
tocino Nibbio
Posts : 569 Join date : 2014-06-21
Subject: Re: What to do? Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:45 am
rboe wrote:
you're not exactly eye candy at your age ).
C'mon! Haven't you seen his pic in the "Rogues Gallery"? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]