Shone Ave raceway
. The morning bus ride to Frick Junior High was crowded and hurried and didn’t coincide with Gary’s conception of a placid morning journey and the start of his school day. He rode his bike the 35 blocks one morning only to confirm that the downhill ride to Frick was satisfactory, but the return home, having to walk the bike up 73rd avenue and with his paper route delivery, made it too time consuming. Giving discontinuing his morning bus ride more thought, the solution became obvious, it would entail some adjustment to his morning routine, but also would involve a person who dwelled in an autonomous world, set in his ways and not easily moved to change. In essence his solution was conceivable, the only question was asking his dad if he could drop him off at Frick on his way to work. It was done, the question asked, the answer given, tomorrow morning would introduce a new morning presence.
. The young man’s new arrival time at school was 7:20 a.m., Gary discovering the administration office was open, also finding Mr. Tabor, a P E instructor opening the gym early. He soon found arriving at school early has its advantages, he could seat himself in the office and finish uncompleted homework assignments, or faring to the gym, requisitioning a ball to shoot baskets, also soon discovering a former Burckhalter Elementary classmate, Paul Pierre also arrived early, seating himself in the office, the two often comparing homework assignment results. This new arrival arrangement bringing Gary to rethink his morning assessment of Junior High..
. The Tribune paper route pretty much limited any after school activity, Gary striving to complete his delivery by 5:00 or 5:30 at the latest. Each month the Tribune offered incentives for acquiring new subscriptions, those carriers who succeeded in acquiring new subscribers were awarded points toward prizes and often excursions to exciting destinations. Gary succeeding to visit to the museum of natural history and aquarium at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Playland at the Beach, Travis Air Force Base, and many other locations traveling by charter bus with other city carriers. On one occasion the three friends, Hank, Don and Gary and several other buses filled with Tribune carriers having qualified for a trip to the California State Fair in Sacramento. The three having a memorable moment on the Ferris-wheel ride when caught targeting the people below with their Pea Shooters, the concessionaire taking them to task and sternly warning them he would have them expelled if they continued, the Pea Shooters remaining in their pockets for the remainder of the fair.
. One summer month Scotty the district manager posted an unbelievable trip, but it also requiring a much higher number of points, meaning new subscriptions. The excursion was to go by train to the Boardwalk On the Beach at Santa Cruz. The trip included tickets to all the concessions and an off shore ride on the inboard motor powered speed boat, sack lunch meal and snacks on the train. An all-out effort to qualify was enacted, with door to door solicitation. Scotty supplying transportation for a group of the boys to other Oakland neighborhoods in the evening hours. Gary found the concerned effort paying dividends, qualifying for the trip, but soon discovering that with the good news was the bad news. The good news being he qualified, but the bad news, he was the only one from the LW district to achieve a trip. His dad dropping him off on a Saturday morning at the Southern Pacific substation at 73rd and San Leandro Blvd. He could tell by the old engine type locomotive and the number of cars that in all likelihood this wasn’t a normal scheduled train. This was his first time on a regular train, having made many trips on the Electric A train across the Bay Bridge, but was looking forward to the ride itself and a new experience. From his window, he immediately discovered that the passing view revealed a community slighted trash area adjacent to the tracks, but once entering the terrain of the Santa Cruz mountains the scene changed.
. Gary was surprised that the train actually stopped on Beach Street adjacent to the Boardwalk, he and the other Tribune carriers disembarking. The solitary youth, not knowing anyone else deciding to go it alone, spending a somewhat doldrums day, the rides not quite as exciting when by oneself. Having brought his swim trunks, he had a rude awakening when diving into the boardwalk pool, it was salt water, deciding if he wanted to swim in salt water he had the whole pacific ocean before him. Another disappointment was the speed boat ride, advertised as a once in a lifetime thrill ride. Boarding from the pier, the ride paralleled the boardwalk, darting close to the outlying breakers, but maintaining a distance from the beach. The smell of gasoline and oil from the automotive type motor permeated the boat, Gary deciding the only thrill was the spray when the pilot gave it full throttle when making made turn. The late afternoon train ride back to Oakland was hot, for some reason either the air conditioning was turned off, or maybe the aged Pullman cars didn’t have it, Gary deciding even alone the trip it provided another accomplishment.
. Some of the steep hills surrounding the neighborhood like 82nd and 73rd Ave. were such that you had to walked your bicycle up. Shone Ave., the steep street that coursed up the hill by Gary’s and Don Bryant’s house was steep, most riders found it unattainable, walking their bike, but like all young people to prove a point Gary managed to pedal his way up using the side to side, switch-back method. When Life
. Magazine published a story about 50,000 people attending the soap box derby in Akron Ohio, it fueled an idea in the young man’s head. Searching his yard finding 2×4’s, and a 1×12 board, and having only two wheels for the rear, he mounted two of his sisters Nancy’s roller skates on the front 2 by 4 with a steering rope. then mounting a box in front and a seat with a back, that was well braced to support him Don and Hank followed with their own downhill transporter, but with far less inventiveness. Their coaster was basic and simple, consisting of a board , front and rear 2×4’s for mounting the wheels. He couldn’t match their speed, but they couldn’t achieve his antics. When navigating a turn, the skates would slide sideways sending the coaster into a sliding turn, providing a much more convivial ride. . The engagement with the coaster was short-lived,
. Gary being satisfied with the accomplishment. He reasoned: somethings in life can appear equate and mundane, but if you behold a search, the find may prevail, as a promontory achievement.
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Inquisitive Quest 
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