Talk about a Healthy Wealthy Boomer - Jay Leno’s Garage - 1931 Henderson KJ

You know when I was a kid, my stepfather used to talk about how his dad used to race Indian motorcycles against World War I fighter pilot Eddie Rickenbacker. His name was Jim Lawrence from Longbarn (near Twain Harte, CA). He was apparently quite a machinist and loved to build stuff in his machine shop right there next to his house.

My stepfather told stories about the 32 Model B Ford his dad had sooped up for him with a “shaved head”, a custom designed - and machined from scratch  - electric fuel pump (in the trunk) and custom headers. He said it was the fastest thing around Twain Harte and Modesto and policemen would stop him just to look under the hood to see what made it so fast. He never got tickets because they thought the car was so cool and apparently they loved his dad.

Bear in mind my step dad was a teenager in the late 30’s and I was a teenager in the mid 60’s so the closet thing I ever got to a Henderson 4 cylinder was looking at pictures in a magazine. But my step dad always talked about the old Henderson “Square Fours” and what cool bikes they were.

Doing What You Love Is a Real Secret to Being Successful, Wealthy and Healthy

Work is a joy and it creates tireless energy when you immerse yourself in what you love. The other day I came across something really cool online at nbc.com. It was a video that Jay Leno did about an old 1931 motorcycle. What really stood out to me watching Jay Leno talking - with real admiration for the old scooter - about the super bike of the early 30’s was his obvious love for collecting and all things vehicular. I had heard from a collector friend of mine years earlier, that Jay was a serious collector, but I kind of blew it off and threw that bit of info into the “some rich guy with a lot of toys archive”.

After watching that video, I really got it that Jay Leno is not a car and motorcycle collector, he is a passionate guy and this is his real love and joy in life. It’s appropriate to me that he would be blessed with such success empowering him to get so involved and create such a magnificent collection. He really knows a lot about cars and motorcycles - a whole lot. What could be more fitting as a “caretaker of such quality” than somebody who is so passionate.

Watch the video and see what I mean. First off, you’ll learn more about the Henderson than you ever knew before, but see if you can identify what I saw in Jay’s voice, his tenor and the shear joy of being able to have such a magnificent motorcycle.

Here is a link to that video (please excuse the 15 - or so - second Pontiac commercial):

Jay Leno’s Garage - 1931 Henderson KJ

His passion makes this aspect of his life and his fulfillment have real meaning. To me that is the real secret to being a Healthy Wealthy Boomer. Jay is healthy in a way that may keep him passionate about life for a long time to come.

After all…

“Attention animates,” to quote Guy Finley - no wonder Jay has such a great collection and attracts such amazing vehicles into his life. He continues to focus on what he loves.

Now we just have to get him to lay off the pasta a little.

What a cool video and a great motorcycle.