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Author: Subject: Post photo of Mexican ingenuity!
MitchMan
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[*] posted on 4-13-2011 at 07:13 AM


25 years ago, I used to drive down to Ensenada from Orange County CA to go fishing. Manuel Sussarey fishing dock was well known back then. One time I took a school teacher friend of mine with me. We left at about 3am from OC. Somewhere between TJ and Ensenada, my Datsun 280ZX's generator light went on and soon the engine just quit. We were stranded, in the dark at about 5:15am. My school teacher friend was convinced that we were going to be killed by banditos and started sniveling. Obviously, something electrical went wrong.

About 5 minutes later, a flat bed truck with about 10 worker on it stopped and the driver asked if we needed help. I told him what happened and he had me pop open the hood, after about 3 minutes he said that he had a fresh battery that he could put into my car to get it running (which he did with jumper cables as his battery didn't fit in the normal battery slot) and he said that he could charge my battery while he followed me to the fishing dock as he had a charging device on his truck.

We got going and made it to the Ensenada fishing dock where the truck driver replaced my battery back into my car. He left and refused to take a tip from me for his help. Great samaritan, that guy.

My car running outside, I went into to talk to Manuel Sussarey and I told him the problem with my car and that I wanted to go fishing. Manuel said that the fishing boat had already left the dock.

Then Manuel said this, "I will call the boat by radio and tell them to stop and wait for you and your friend", as Manuel knew an old man who had a runabout that could take us to the waiting fishing boat. Then, Manuel said, "I'll have your car checked out while you and your friend are fishing". I thought about all that for a second or two and said, "OK, let's do it".

Bottom line, my friend and I took that little skiff that Manuel arranged and rode to the fishing boat that was indeed waiting for us. We went fishing, had a great time and caught a bunch of big baracudas, came back and Manuel said the car was fixed. I asked him how much that would cost me and he said, "thirty-five dollars. It was a fusable link that went bad." Un freakin believable!

I will never forget that day, never. That kind of help and accomodation would never, ever happen in the USA. My story may not be an exact representation of Mexican enginuity per se, but to me it reflects the "can do" attitude in spades, as well as their uncanny ability to get things done. I mean, where can you go in the states and get an electrical problem properly analyzed and then fixed for $35 by the guy that runs a fishing dock? Which USA fishing dock owner would call a fishing boat to wait for two more customers? Try that in San Diego, Newport Beach or Santa Monica.

[Edited on 4-13-2011 by MitchMan]
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wessongroup
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[*] posted on 4-13-2011 at 07:39 AM


Really strange how "fixing things" NOB has kinda lost some followers...

Was brought up that you: bought it used, and then used it some more...

My dad always had a back up car in the back yard... our neighbor hated him... for all the "things" he keep behind the house...

Plus, as kids we were embarrassed by his Oklahoma ways... he even had a second washer for parts too....

But, he was never in debt in his life, paid "cash" for everything.. and he saved money too... which was accomplished by living a "modest" life and "fixing" everything himself... our garage was something...

He would ever throw anything away... still had the burner and old plumbing tools for doing molten lead poured over the oakum ... that was my job during construction when in the 4th grade... heat the lead and bring it to him to finish the connection ... it was the plumbing for our house he was building.. yeah, us kids got to dig the septic tank hole too... he said we would like it.... :o

Guess growing up poor has an impact on ya.... it did him .. and me too...

[Edited on 4-13-2011 by wessongroup]




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fixtrauma
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[*] posted on 4-13-2011 at 09:59 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
25 years ago, I used to drive down to Ensenada from Orange County CA to go fishing. Manuel Sussarey fishing dock was well known back then. One time I took a school teacher friend of mine with me. We left at about 3am from OC. Somewhere between TJ and Ensenada, my Datsun 280ZX's generator light went on and soon the engine just quit. We were stranded, in the dark at about 5:15am. My school teacher friend was convinced that we were going to be killed by banditos and started sniveling. Obviously, something electrical went wrong.

About 5 minutes later, a flat bed truck with about 10 worker on it stopped and the driver asked if we needed help. I told him what happened and he had me pop open the hood, after about 3 minutes he said that he had a fresh battery that he could put into my car to get it running (which he did with jumper cables as his battery didn't fit in the normal battery slot) and he said that he could charge my battery while he followed me to the fishing dock as he had a charging device on his truck.

We got going and made it to the Ensenada fishing dock where the truck driver replaced my battery back into my car. He left and refused to take a tip from me for his help. Great samaritan, that guy.

My car running outside, I went into to talk to Manuel Sussarey and I told him the problem with my car and that I wanted to go fishing. Manuel said that the fishing boat had already left the dock.

Then Manuel said this, "I will call the boat by radio and tell them to stop and wait for you and your friend", as Manuel knew an old man who had a runabout that could take us to the waiting fishing boat. Then, Manuel said, "I'll have your car checked out while you and your friend are fishing". I thought about all that for a second or two and said, "OK, let's do it".

Bottom line, my friend and I took that little skiff that Manuel arranged and rode to the fishing boat that was indeed waiting for us. We went fishing, had a great time and caught a bunch of big baracudas, came back and Manuel said the car was fixed. I asked him how much that would cost me and he said, "thirty-five dollars. It was a fusable link that went bad." Un freakin believable!

I will never forget that day, never. That kind of help and accomodation would never, ever happen in the USA. My story may not be an exact representation of Mexican enginuity per se, but to me it reflects the "can do" attitude in spades, as well as their uncanny ability to get things done. I mean, where can you go in the states and get an electrical problem properly analyzed and then fixed for $35 by the guy that runs a fishing dock? Which USA fishing dock owner would call a fishing boat to wait for two more customers? Try that in San Diego, Newport Beach or Santa Monica.

[Edited on 4-13-2011 by MitchMan]



I love that story! :yes: :yes: :yes:


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DENNIS
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[*] posted on 4-13-2011 at 10:26 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
25 years ago, I used to drive down to Ensenada from Orange County CA to go fishing. Manuel Sussarey fishing dock was well known back then.


Must be family to a Dr. Sussarey who is considered the #1 Cardiologist here. He also owns Cardio-Med Hospital.

Thought you might be holding your breath waiting for this tidbit of info. :biggrin:
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marv sherrill
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[*] posted on 4-13-2011 at 06:36 PM


hmmm loking at a mexican ingenuity calendar for 2012....
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deportes
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[*] posted on 5-11-2011 at 04:52 PM


Those pictures are great and one of the reasons I love latin america. Ingenuity!!
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Iflyfish
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[*] posted on 5-12-2011 at 07:35 AM


Mrsfish and I driving out to Muertos, she spots buzzards on cactus, "got to get that shot says Mrsfish" and we pull over so she can take her pics. We start to drive off and it sounds like we have a flat, inspections finds no flat. So I stop in front of a tienda to examine more and find rocks embedded between our rear duallies. In my inimitable fashion I get out the Harley Wrench, a hammer, and start to bang away at the rocks. Soon I had six young boys under there with me watching the gringo have his way with the pietres (I know, can't spell Spanish for merdre), at any rate their grandfather soon comes up to watch and in a very quiet, respectful voice says "excuse me, take air out of tires". Da!!!! I did so and sure enough, rocks gone! Then along comes a huge Dodge 4x4, headed to Patagonia, German couple "Can we help". "You don't happen to have an air compressor do you"? He opens the hood and fills my tires with his air conditioner unit he converted into an air compressor. Noche Buena for the compressor use and Dorado for the consult. Viva Mexico!

Iflyfishincompetantinthingsmechanical
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fixtrauma
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[*] posted on 5-12-2011 at 09:12 AM


That is fantastic!!!
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bajalearner
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[*] posted on 5-12-2011 at 09:59 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Cardon
This was kind of fun to watch til the front rope broke and the pallets started rolling backwards. A quick two-step got everyone out of the way so no one was crushed.

Actually, being that I am familiar with how a pallet jack works, there is hidden ingenuity in this photo. the men are not only steering the pallets, but if the rope breaks, the men can quickly release the hydraulic valve and the pallet will fall a couple inches to the ground.

there are many reasons why I live in Baja, one big reason is the resourcefulness here and the freedom to put ideas into action.
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Ken Bondy
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[*] posted on 5-12-2011 at 10:05 AM






carpe diem!
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24baja
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[*] posted on 5-12-2011 at 07:10 PM


I love the sink at San Borja, it has held up well over the years.

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Doug/Vamonos
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[*] posted on 5-16-2011 at 10:05 AM


Anyone remember this one in Loreto? About ten years ago. Not only was this Ford Pinto running under its own power, but it had another 4-cylinder engine mounted on back, driving a compressor on the roof for the refer in the back seat to keep the icecream cold. Classic.
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Doug/Vamonos
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[*] posted on 5-16-2011 at 10:13 AM


Try again.

Loreto2.jpg - 24kB
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