OK Mike.... I've got to ask....

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
To some that might be kind of overboard but again... there's plenty of other forums out there that allow anything and everything, we want this forum to a place where people can come and get information that helps them to reach their goals and be successful in their garage using the products we carry and support on Autogeek.net
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:props: That's one of the things I have appreciated about the Autogeek forum compared to a lot of others out there. It seems that in this day and age, all too often professionalism and maturity get overlooked and cast aside when the internet is used as a communication and collaboration medium.

"It's just a forum/post" is a common excuse I see and hear when pointing out to people that they're being unclear or not appearing to take things seriously, and I'm always glad when I come across people who don't take on this same attitude (which the majority of people here on AGO seem not to). Being professional and helpful will always bring about a better result than immature banter and uncaring/unclear posts.

Let's all never forget that we are in a public space here, and everything we post is visible to anyone who cares to look. Sure, we may go by screen nicknames here, but those "masks" we're hiding behind are still no excuse to do whatever we want with no potential consequences or rewards.
 
Midnight1700 said:
I've been looking at a lot of pictures from many people who has attended this years Detail Fest, envious of them because I couldn't make it.... Anyway, I noticed one commonality between just about every detailer there.............................

JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ONE OF THEM WEAR THE "KNEE LENGTH" STYLE SHORTS! :rulez::rulez:

This must be an un-written code for detailers or maybe even a Federal Law? I don't know? Just curious! :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:
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Well, it was hot out so shrinkage was not an issue. (Think of the famous Seinfeld episode I'm referencing). Therefore, to be fair to Meghan...
 
Mike, I just read your lengthy post about your leg and related issues. I have had 2 knee surgeries and limp around. I can't imagine the paradigm shift you must have had to make years ago. You're a great roll model for people who have lost limbs!!
 
Note the blue text...

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Besides that, ANYTIME you bang the pant side of the artificial leg into anything hard, because the other side is metal, it puts a hole in your pant leg.

So now it's the cost of the pants plus the zipper plus the Seamstress plus patching the pants every time you put a hole in them and when you detail cars, it's real easy to put a hole in your pants when you bang your artificial alloy leg into something like the ground or the car you're working on. Again... $$$
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A few days ago when shooting some new videos I had to get down on my knees with a brand new pair of Jeans on...

Behind the scenes pictures for 2 new TV projects

2GuysBehindScenes015.jpg



Everyone watching saw me carefully get down on my knees and then carefully put my body weight against the aluminum knee so as to not put a hole in the knee of the pants. Just something most people wouldn't think about but if you're the guy replacing a brand new pair of slacks or jeans because they have a tear or hole in the knee... you become a lot more careful.

With shorts you're still careful but that's because you're trying not to scratch or dent the aluminum... kind of too late for that...

Knee
abusedalum02.jpg


Back of aluminum frame
abusedalum01.jpg



:)
 
richy said:
I have had 2 knee surgeries and limp around. I can't imagine the paradigm shift you must have had to make years ago. You're a great roll model for people who have lost limbs!!
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Thank you for the kind words Richy, I would say the hardest part of adjusting was when I returned to college full-time 6-weeks after the accident. You don't get an artificial leg for a few months because they wait till you're muscles atrophy or shrink d because you stop using them. The socket needs a tight fit for good vacuum, so they won't build you anything till some time has gone by.

This meant returning to college missing a leg on crutches. I was 26 and most of the guys were fresh out of high school and because they were young they were also in great shape. I was single as most college kids are but dating, so I had to compete against able bodied guys much younger than myself for the girls that were also younger. Lucky for me I don't mind competition...

Before I lost my leg I had been working out at a gym for about 3 years solid and had also been a distance swimmer, so I was in great shape before the accident and have tried to always stay in shape since then. I don't run or play hoops, but I like to go to the gym and I like to swim. In 1992 I was on the U.S. Paralympics Swim Team and the only person with 5-events including the 200 Meter Freestyle, 400 Meter Freestyle and 1600 Meter Freestyle, plus 100 Meter Butterfly and last man on the relay. I can dig up my times, they would probably surprise most people familiar with competitive swimming.

So if returning to college on crutches for a few months was the hardest thing I had to adjust too... I'd have to say it was a pretty smooth transition...

This was taken in 1988, it's when I went to work for Meguiar's the first time, the dog on the bow of my boat is a Boxer named Crab Bait, (don't ask), my first artificial leg was anodized gold.

MikePhillips.jpg




This was taken a few months before I went to work for Meguiar's the second time, I was a Scoop Operator at a Willamette Industries Paper Pulp Mill, (really fun job), and I was the first disabled person the Mill and Union, brought into the organization as the norm was for people to leave missing a limb or losing their life. A person died at the Mill on average every two years. It was a real challenge as the job was very "Blue Collar", as in very physically strenuous. My nickname at the Mill was "Crash", (don't ask), when I got my Union Card and switched from a White Hard Hat to the Orange Hard Hat you seen in the picture, they put the name Crash on it. LOL (I still have the Hard Hat)

ScoopDriverMike01.jpg



I don't mind working hard, whatever the task...

I really appreciate Max giving me so many opportunities and having a team of co-workers that are just like family.


:)
 
Thanks for sharing that personal info. Too bad I couldn't make it to DF. We have a lot in common. I was a competitive distance freestyle swimmer all through high school and in first year university (until I discovered Fraternities and Beer, LOL). I set some records at the high school level that stood for years. When I first dislocated my left knee almost 31 years ago, I was so upset to miss swimming that the ortho surgeon put a water-proof cast on my leg. (I had to go to the hospital to put the knee back in place). I was back in the pool the next night!! Hopefully you make it up to the Detroit area sometime...
 
richy said:
I was so upset to miss swimming that the ortho surgeon put a water-proof cast on my leg.
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I was told not to get my artificial leg wet... I asked how I was supposed to launch my boat or get it back on the trailer without walking out into the water and they just shrugged... LOL

I actually tried slalom water skiing after I lost my leg as I was really into water skiing all my life, I would tie a chunk of ski rope to my leg and to my ski vest in case I crashed so if it came off it wouldn't sink to the bottom of the lake...

I found jumping wakes and laying down rooster tails was pretty much impossible so I became "Boat Driver", but at least the boat was fun to drive...


:)
 
aerogt01 said:
Do you know what alloy of aluminum that is, Mike?
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I was told a Titanium/Aluminum alloy but can't verify...

The company that builds this unit went out of business and it's the only one of its type that looks cool, or at least Terminator. Chip Foose actually offered to design one for me but at that time I had just met him and didn't want to take advantage of his generosity and kindness... looking back I should have said "yes". He said he had access to all of James Cameron's components from the first Terminator movie.


I have two units and I'll have to learn how to disassemble them and rebuild the hydraulics as the seals wear out from overuse... (my fault).


:)
 
Mike,

My cousin, well I consider him that as he is the cousin of my fiance, lost his legs in Afghanistan right before Thanksgiving. He also lost his eyesight. I can not believe this kids, 21 years old, spirit. He is amazing. I talked to him the day before he was getting his new legs. While they are not as nice as yours, he was thrilled to get them. He was just like a kid going to see Santa. He is always in shorts now because of his new legs. He also plans on staying in the service because he, like I, truly believes in what he does. Amazing kid.

Anyway, as for shorts, I like the longer Levis. LOL.
 
I wonder if one could make a prosthesis like that out of carbon fiber. . . (And I still need a project for my Advanced Composites class. . .)
 
aerogt01 said:
I wonder if one could make a prosthesis like that out of carbon fiber. . . (And I still need a project for my Advanced Composites class. . .)
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That can be done. The framework surrounding the hydraulics, for simplicity, would look wicked out of Carbon Fiber.


Edit: Necro Thread !!!! hahah. Sorry for the ressurection but I got in the thread and had a blast following the story. Wonder if the above ever completed this for his project...
 
Becciasm said:
That can be done. The framework surrounding the hydraulics, for simplicity, would look wicked out of Carbon Fiber.


Edit: Necro Thread !!!! hahah. Sorry for the resurrection but I got in the thread and had a blast following the story. Wonder if the above ever completed this for his project...
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Necro Thread... first time I've ever heard of that term... :laughing:


Necro Thread: Bringing a thread back from the dead.
​

I'd be open to a carbon graphite frame, heck I'd be open to an even better looking aluminum frame aka Terminator.



:xyxthumbs:
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Necro Thread... first time I've ever heard of that term... :laughing:


Necro Thread: Bringing a thread back from the dead.
​
I'd be open to a carbon graphite frame, heck I'd be open to an even better looking aluminum frame aka Terminator.



:xyxthumbs:
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I could design one for you. We'd have to find a place that would manufacture it, but I could produce some CAD sketches and renderings for you in my spare time.. PM me with dimensions if interested. :props:

This would be a wicked project indeed.
 
There is a local snowmobile racer who lost his leg from a racing accident.

Mike Schultz Pillager, Minnesota 2183306268 Mike Schultz Pillager, MN (218) 330-6268

My 6 year old son (Mikey) started racing sleds and was able to watch "Monster" Mike Schultz race and get his autograph. My son isn't really one to be 'star struck', but for some reason he really looks up to Monster Mike and has signed posters in his room from Monster Mike. He thinks it is pretty cool that a guy with an artificial leg can race and perform really well doing it.

Monster Mike Schultz has developed his own leg that works with his activities, as the 'regular' ones didn't work well on snowmobiles or dirt bikes. He has overcome the adversity of losing a leg and turned it into a business of building prosthetics.

Moto Knee Biodapt, Inc. Pillager, MN (218) 330-6268


Randy
 
ZimRandy said:
There is a local snowmobile racer who lost his leg from a racing accident.

Mike Schultz Pillager, Minnesota 2183306268 Mike Schultz Pillager, MN (218) 330-6268

My 6 year old son (Mikey) started racing sleds and was able to watch "Monster" Mike Schultz race and get his autograph. My son isn't really one to be 'star struck', but for some reason he really looks up to Monster Mike and has signed posters in his room from Monster Mike. He thinks it is pretty cool that a guy with an artificial leg can race and perform really well doing it.

Monster Mike Schultz has developed his own leg that works with his activities, as the 'regular' ones didn't work well on snowmobiles or dirt bikes. He has overcome the adversity of losing a leg and turned it into a business of building prosthetics.

Moto Knee Biodapt, Inc. Pillager, MN (218) 330-6268


Randy
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That is Awesome!
 
Nothing wrong with shorts. I like mine right at the knee or slighly above. Some of you folks might find this wierd. But I never wear pants. Never. Okay, I might wear them on a rainy or very cold day. But otherwise 99% of the time you will find me in shorts.
 
I always wear shorts also. I hate the droop look too. The other week was at the store with my daughter and this kid in front of me had his shorts down underwear showing. I was going to tell him "I see his skid marks." LOL
 
I was about to PM you Mike, because I've been wondering and the good old search answered it.. I was guessing military or water sport (thinking shark) because of your location in the country and you have that surfer dude look.
 
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