Wheels

& TRAVEL

© Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

August 31, 2017

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August 31, 2017 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

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Healthy ways to get to school Special to the Surveyor Traffic on roadways increases during the morning and afternoon hours during the school year.

During the morning and mid-afternoon, millions of students make their way to and from school. Safe Routes to School National Partnership estimates that as much as 20 to 30 percent of all morning traffic is generated by parents driving their children to school.

Today, many school-aged children are driven to school by their parents. That not only increases traffic and the opportunities for vehicular accidents, but also contributes to the poor air quality in and around local neighborhoods. The cities of London and Camden in the United Kingdom have already placed bans on driving on some roads around schools to help curb air pollution. The World Health Organization says air pollution is linked to the deaths of three million people around the world each year.

Driving to school may also contribute to the obesity epidemic plaguing the nation’s youth. The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention says the percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s. Roughly one in five school-aged children is obese.

Canada’s Childhood Obesity Foundation notes that childhood overweight and obesity has been steadily climbing. Rates have almost doubled for children between the ages of two and 17. If that trend continues, by 2040, as much as 70 percent of Canadian adults are expected to be overweight or obese.

Families can find healthy ways to transport children to school, and these alternatives can benefit the environment as well.

Walk to school Walking one mile to and from school each day can fulfill around two-thirds of the 60 minutes of the recommended physical activity for children each day. Considering that recess times are being cut and kids are spending more time indoors or on devices instead of playing outside with friends, walking to school provides much-needed exercise.

Young children should be accompanied by an adult chaperone when walking to school. Older children are urged to walk in pairs or

groups to increase safety in numbers. Students should heed traffic signals and stick to routes with access to crosswalks and crossing guards.

Bike to school Bicycling is another great physical activity and an efficient way to get to school. The Wisconsin Department of Health states that, when kids cycle at a moderate effort for one mile, they can burn between 20 and 30 calories depending on the weight of the child.

When biking to school, students should follow the rules of the road and wear the appropriate safety gear, such as helmets.

Carpool Sharing rides to school is another way to cut down on congestion and air pollution. Families can work together to drive students to and from school, sports games and clubs.

Ride the bus In districts that offer school bus service, students can take advantage of this safe mode of transport.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that traveling by school bus is seven times safer than traveling by car or truck. School buses also reduce the number of cars on the road during peak travel times.

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August 31, 2017 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

Unrivaled antique and vintage collection housed right outside of Berthoud

for nearly 40 years, it took the help of salvaged parts, fresh coats of paint, and a strong dose of dedication for Hemberger Not so much as a scratch marred the to restore each and every one to mint and surfaces of the six 1940s and ‘50s era running condition. tractors that formed a puttering procesHemberger’s impressive collection sion down the three-mile stretch from includes Olivers, a brand he so admires North County Road 3 to The Ranch in he bought all five models with the GM Loveland on Aug. 2.

Detroit Diesel engine ever made; a rare The pristine collection of tractors Massey Harris pedal tractor and a Minnewhich make up the majority of the anapolis Moline — the same model that sold tique tractor exhibit lining the entrance for $200,000 at auction last year. of The Ranch each fair season belong to In addition to enlisting his three 81-year-old Duke Hemberger, a Northern children and six grandchildren to drive Colorado resident since 1972. a handful of the vintage machines down A former Nebraska farmer, Hembergthe road to the Larimer County Fair each er originally made the trip out to Coloyear, Hemberger’s tractors have made rado to build the Good Samaritan Society frequent appearances at the National buildings in Loveland and Fort Collins Western Stock Show, Antique Tractor and never got around to going home.

Days, and the Berthoud Day parade over “I stayed here and got into constructhe years, often with his children, grandtion and the crane business,” he said. kids and even great grandkids atop.

“When I sold all that out in 1999 I dediPhotos by John Gardner “I’m a nervous wreck until they get cated my time to restoring all this old A 175-year-old hand-forged European hearse was purchased by Hemberger back,” said Hemberger. “They aren’t used junk.” on a whim at an auction in Brighton 20 years ago for $800. At the time no one, to driving something with a clutch and Over the past 18 years, Hemberger’s including the auctioneer himself, knew what the old cart had been used for. It hand throttles, and the brakes aren’t all collection of “old junk” has grown to wasn’t until years later an online search revealed the original purpose, age and that good on these old tractors.” encompass 20 full-size restored tractors value of the antique.

Nevertheless, the avid collector said he and 57 pedal tractors, all of which he them — I did it all myself.” does it primarily for the kids. At least one repaired, sandblasted and painted himself.

The collection of now pristine tractors came to Tuesday each summer, Hemberger hauls a tractor out “I kind of went half crazy, I got to enjoying it so Hemberger as anything but.

From stuck motors that to Centerra’s Promenade Kids’ Days. Year after year, much,” said Hemberger. “I never let anyone else touch wouldn’t turn over to frames left to rust in fields UNRIVALED continued on page 5

By Katie Harris The Surveyor

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

UNRIVALED cont. from page 4 he’s received by a long line of children, anxious to climb aboard and have their photo taken.

“That’s kind of the reason that I started restoring,” he said. “So that the

kids know what kinds of tractors we had in the old days.”

While many visit Hemberger’s showrooms for the tractors, he just as frequently receives phone calls from people interested in catching a glimpse of some of the other treasures hidden away on the 160-acre farm he still tends

Driven by Hemberger’s hero, Al Uncer, Jr., to win the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) championship in 1990 and the Indianapolis 500 in 1992, this 1990 Indycar is one of Hemberger’s most prized possessions. Its Chevrolet Ilmor built V8 engine, reaching speeds of 262 mph, was condemned in Indy racing the following year due to its speed advantage over competitors.

by himself, such as a 1958 Corvette, a 1957 Bel-Air, a 1929 Model A, and an antique European hearse.

In addition to his drivable collection, the walls of Hemberger’s three showrooms are lined with vintage signs, antique farm toys, a 1930 gasoline pump, an old Maytag motor from the

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washing machine he used to start up for his mother every morning on the farm growing up, and several vintage neon signs, including one of only three such Oliver signs in existence. Recently, one of the trio sold for $12,000.

While Hemberger may never be done collecting, he said his restoring days are over.

“I’m tired of sandblasting and I’m tired of painting,” he said. “It’s all dirty work.”

These days the 81-year-old farmer who still tends to his fields and can often be found lending a neighbor a hand on the one post-1960 tractor he owns, prefers to spend his time talking shop with guests.

“We get a lot of visitors,” said Hemberger. “People go back and tell other people and it spreads by word of mouth.

Hospice groups come out and most of them remember driving tractors like these years ago.”

If the lifelong farmer’s not out in the field or fixing an oil leak on one of the old machines, he’s probably up on the back of a tractor heading to a parade or fair, in which case he’d be hard to miss.

“Oh man, we get a lot of reaction,” Hemberger chuckled. “Everyone’s honking and waving as we parade down the road.”

Out of the 20 full-sized tractors in Hemberger’s collection, the Olivers are his favorite. The avid collector owns all five Oliver models with the GM Detroit Diesel engine ever made.

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August 31, 2017 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

Recognize and avoid buying a lemon

Special to the Surveyor

New or preowned vehicles are significant investments. New cars might be more expensive than preowned models, but according to Edmunds, the average cost of a preowned vehicle is around $16,000.

Preowned vehicles seem and often are consumer-friendly options. However, preowned vehicles always carry some measure of risk. Unless a vehicle is covered by a warranty, consumers take that risk on themselves.

One way for buyers to reduce any anxiety they may have about preowned vehicles is to learn as much as they can about automobiles and spotting potential lemons. Despite the availability of vehicle history reports, some lemons still make it onto used car lots. The following are a handful of ways buyers can protect themselves from buying lemons.

• Research vehicles through reputable sources. Investigate the reliability ratings of certain vehicles on reputable sites such as Edmunds.com, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website (NHTSA.gov) and Kelly Blue Book (kbb. com).

• Ask the right questions. Once you find a vehicle that interests you, ask pointed questions about its condition and features. Relatively new cars with high mileage may raise red flags, so ask

how many owners such vehicles had and if maintenance records are available. Consumer Reports says a high-mileage car used on a long highway commute is better than if the car does many short

trips or stop-and-go driving. Also ask if a vehicle you’re considering has been in an accident or if there are any recalls on the make and model.

• Request a vehicle history report. Ask to see a copy of the vehicle’s history report. Such reports may include information about major ac-

cidents, mileage counts, number of owners, airbag deployment, and many other clues that can shed light on the condition of the vehicle. The report also may included warranty information and whether the car or truck was branded a lemon.

• Conduct a visual inspection.

Look at the vehicle for certain telltale signs of wear and tear that may indicate you should not buy the vehicle. Such indicators may include prematurely worn pedals or a sagging driver’s seat. Check for dents, chipped paint, mismatched body panels, body filler, or sloppy repair work. Inconsistent welds around the hood also may indicate the car has undergone significant repairs.

When looking under the hood, Consumer Reports suggests paying attention to the level of grease and corrosion on the engine, radiator and battery. Check for wet spots that may be indicative of leaks.

Melted wires or blackened areas can be a sign of an engine overheating or even a fire.

• Rely on a trusted mechanic. Ask a mechanic you trust to give the vehicle a thorough, professional inspection. He or she may be able to spot signs of a lemon more readily than amateurs.

Purchasing a car can induce some anxiety.

Research and patience can calm buyers’ nerves and ensure they find the right vehicle at the right price.

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Extended warranty buyers’ guide Special to the Surveyor Upon reaching the checkout counter during the peak of the holiday shopping rush, many consumers are faced with the familiar question of whether or not they would like to purchase an extended warranty on the product they are buying. It is a question worth pondering, and some shoppers do not know if a warranty is a good value or just a waste of money.

Before purchasing a service plan or warranty, various consumer advocacy groups advise consumers take stock of certain factors.

How did you pay?

How shoppers pay for items can affect their warranty options. For example, some credit card companies extend manufacturers’ warranties on certain products or may already include service plans among their card benefits.

Before coughing up more dough, consumers should check the fine print of their card policies to see if they’re already covered for warranties and other things, like

travel insurance and product protection.

Which parts and repairs are covered?

Warranties may be very specific in the problems they address, and consumers may still have out-of-pocket expenses even after purchasing warranties. For example, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission says that consumers may incur shipping costs to send items back to factory or service centers. Some warranties require shoppers pay for labor charges, while others state that items must be packaged in their original boxes. Certain conditions deemed “normal” wear and tear may be excluded from coverage.

What does the store get?

Consumer Reports says that retailers often push hard to get shoppers to buy service plans because they’re a source of additional income for them. On average, stores keep as much as 50 percent or more of what they charge for warranties. That can be even more than they make

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selling the product itself. Shoppers would be wise to keep in mind that, with regard to warranties, retailers may be looking out for their own best interests rather than the consumers’.

Check your insurance policy If a product is damaged or stolen during a fire or another major home or automobile event, an existing insurance policy may already cover the items.

When a warranty can be a good idea It’s often wise to purchase extended warranties when buying previously owned or refurbished products, such as used cars or repaired electronics. A warranty on an older home also may be a good bet.

Many consumer products do not need to be covered by extended warranties. Consumers should give such warranties consideration before they begin shopping to avoid making rushed decisions at the checkout counter.