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June 28, 2003. A record-breaking number of Segwayists gather in Los Angeles for the Griffith Park Glide.

How Many Were There? 14, temporarily beating New York's gathering by two. Here's the pic.
Or is it?

Pictured left to right: David Whiteman, Evelyn of Segway, Linda LaFavor, Ralph Whazisname, Don LaFavor, Carol Kraus, Vero Vysosias, Dick Burke, Janice Burke, Peter iNova, Joseph Chiu, Craig Wazisname (no relation), Jackson Shaw, and in front with the chrome fendered prototype, Don Kraus. The Whazisname brothers are urged to send me corrective updates.

To see this image full size in your computer, open it in a separate page (right button mouse click and choose that option or Mac Ctrl + mouse click for option menu).

This is what I call the digital "eventual" event shot. David Whiteman has been added to the lineup after the fact, having missed the group shot moment. Ah, the power of digital photography. Somebody ought to write an eBook about that. But I digress...

Perhaps the winner of the Coolest Segway should go to Don Kraus. He makes props for Hollywood films and he has made the world's first (as far as anyone knows) chrome plated Segway fenders. Joseph (toybuilder) ogles the result.

Mirror perfect, they're sure to be a hit at the weekly Bob's Glides (Friday evenings always at Toluca Lake Bob's Big Boy, coincident with Classic Car Night) and he assures me that flames and pinstripes are ready to be implemented at the drop of a wallet.

Note also the cool e-Series Segway under Jackson Shaw on the far right of the group shot. He's a trained Segway technician (not an employee of Segway) and has passed the test of repairing a test Seg with no fewer than 14 flaws, hiccups, breaks, errors, omissions, intentional failures and blown parts. Blindfolded! (I added that last part.)

The road trip brought nearly all of the Segs out on a grand tour of Griffith parts. Even more gliders (above) were behind the photographer and over the hill out front.

One of the fun challenges was this cement-work slope. Great traction and intimidating. Janice proves fearless. Was it really that steep? Photoshop sez yes, but it's really less due to the angle of the shot. But not by much.

It was so steep many of us felt like it was a bazillion degrees.

Most tried it and not one of the Segways or riders slipped or had any difficulty at all.

At all!

As the day slid by, a relaxed atmosphere settled over the group. Even some of the Segs themselves snoozed a while (tanning but not burning).

Don and Carol set up for the picnic giving a glimpse of a commonplace scene five years hence.

Gliding on grass isn't as fun as on the street, but it is a challenge. One thing learned: spills on grass come with the bumps, but don't result in lumps. SegPolo is going to need putting green conditions, I predict.

Do NOT pass up that photo opportunity!

Ralph installed a replacement kickstand. David Whiteman attached his new Segway light.

Joseph Chiu built us some toys!

He had his portable key burner on site and used it to make special formula keys for all who wanted them. Now my seg goes 40 mph! Er, make that 4.0 mph. Special Demo Key.

And one by one we drifted back to our homelands, wiser and more experienced.

A great learning experience was had by all. Particularly in experiencing multi-Segway road travel habits / rules / practices and dealing with natural terrain, loose soil, grasslands, problem pavement, tributaries, steep scary slopes, country roads, enraged bears and mountain lions. Kidding about the bears and mountain lions.

Everybody who has a Segway HT has a digital camera, it seems.

Everybody with a digital camera is on the Internet, it seems.

Burning a new key takes somewhere around 0.9 seconds.

You can wash off muddy wheels in a clean creek.

Horses don't fear Segways.

Don is a very popular name for Segway owners.

There's nothing like a picnic to encourage repairing a kickstand.

Single file on the road is best.

Following too close is following TOO close.

Things go better with Segs.