Mackie will be the man!

Well, the Sierra looks nothing like this picture! There is no snow and nothing before the middle of the month that is at all promising. Oh well, what can we do? If Ulr doesn't want to deliver then we are at his mercy.

Back at the shop we are staying busy. Good customer flow as well as the ever growing list of projects. The latest "for fun" project was dealt with by Mackie. Mackie is our resident high schooler. Every year I look for a kid that is into skiing and has never had a job. If I find the right candidate, I hire them. I loved my first job (at a bike shop). The Owner as great and I learned and matured a lot there. I want to do the same for others. This year it's Mackie. Mackie is the younger brother of Vonnie who worked for me a few years ago. Vonnie called me about adding Mackie to the team. After speaking to his father and Mackie, we did just that. So far he has shown himself to be smart, attentive, and willing to tackle all projects and tasks thrown at him. Even ones that are broad in scope and short on instruction.

One such project is the new tram. Many of you know that we have an old gondola car from Mammoth Mountain hanging from the ceiling at the shop. I like that sort of ambiance in my environment - what can I say? So, last year I bartered for a "G-Scale" tram with a boot customer. G-Scale is a type of model railroad. They are called Garden Trains in England and they are basically large model trains and accessories designed to be used outdoors. This is a two car ski tram with all the detail including a "tramhouse" (cardboard) and "action figures" like G.I. Joe characters.

I put it up with our antique boots with the thought of setting it up at a later date. It's been a summer gone now and I had not yet put up this new toy.Looking for a good project for our newbie, Mackie got the call. Not exactly sure where to set it up, but knowing that a trial set up was in order I gave Mackie a loose plan. I intended to go into more detail as to the steps of concept, drawing, materials list, implementation, refinement etc. but I got called away and John got there first. Any time there is a project, John likes to take part. Ingenious, smart, and experienced, John is a king of fabrication and modification. He and Mackie were hard at it. A huge platform bolted to the stairs and talk of lag bolts on the far wall were the kind of snippets I was overhearing as I scurried around helping customers.

At the end of the day I went over the project with Mackie. Need longer cables, angles seem sensitive, far wall needs platform. He was on top of it. I told him my idea of a simple set up for now, with the final goal of trying to use the tram to bring rental forms from the upstairs to the front counter. That way it is not simply decorative but useful as well. Mackie nodded like he understood.

I looked for longer cable at the hardware store the next morning. No luck. I told Mackie we would have to table the gondola for a bit 'cause I didn't have the longer cable. Mackie nodded like he understood. Shortly after Mackie brought me a ball of cotton string from the shop. He asked me if there was any reason it wouldn't work for the tram. "At least to test it", he added. Why not, I said? A few hours later Mackie asked me to give him a hand. He had strung the tram from the rental area to the front counter using the "kite string". The motor and bullwheel were attached with c-clamps so they could be easily be moved round and adjusted. I helped him adjust the pulley angle and we fired it up. It worked! There are a few bugs to be worked out but we are now about a year ahead of schedule on the tram project!

So I think Mackie will work out ok. Just so long as I can keep him from getting bored. If you are in charge of personnel for a company that will be hiring in about six years, keep track of Mackie. Mackie will be the man!