November 2009
1 post
October 2009
12 posts
3 tags
The little car that could...
… drive across the United States - and back.
I returned to my driveway last night, October 7, 2009, with 5,992 miles on the odometer in eight days of driving to and from California from my home in Valley Forge, PA. I had a four-day break at the Triumphest and VTR National meeting in San Luis Obispo, California.
It was a great trip in so many ways. This is indeed a very big, beautiful...
Honey, I'm home...
Just a quick update for my family and friends following my trip blog: I’m home, safe and sound. 14 hours, 805 miles. Insects from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania are today’s additions on the forward facing portions of my car.
Sleep well, all. I will. At least I hope I will when the coffee wears off. And the Red Bull, the Vivarin, the little shots in the red...
Google says...
… it was a journey of 738 miles today, October 6, 2009. It felt like more. From Shamrock in Texas on I40, I am now in Vandalia, Illinois. I left a dreadful motel called the Western Inn, opposite this wonderful old Conoco garage, gas station and convenience extravaganza, now restored.
This iconic building was a key feature of the Mother Road, Route 66.
I left at 4:30 AM this morning,...
Dragging Ass
Here was my shirt for today, October 5, 2009:
Its true that on this trip I have had electrical problems to fix, that I waited for a part and I had a leak (brake fluif). Happily, I haven’t had to touch the carbs. While all true, the accumulated mileage to date, almost 5,000, means I would have to believe the small slice above representing ‘doing things’ with these cars, is up...
A $25 car alarm
I made on of these for my motorcycle years ago. I am at a busy motel and its not easy to see my car. I went to Home Depot nearby and bought this door/window alarm for $25.
The big item gets plugged into a power socket in my motel. That is the receiver. It receives a signal from the middle sized box (the transmitter) when it is separated from the little box, which is a magnet. Move them a...
Headed home
I rolled out of the SLO Vagabond Motel at 6:30, October 4, 2009. It would have been earlier, ideally, but I was late to bed last night after the awards banquet.
The organisers and volunteers have been really terrific. It is amazing what smart people with a passion can organise. They were all warmly thanked at the dinner.
The great and the good were recognised and awarded - all amazing custodians...
Another boo-boo
After a few hours of Funcours on October 3, 2009, wandering around seeing these immaculate, interesting cars, I decided to check my fluids, given that I’m headed back home tomorrow. I am not diverting to Big Sur on the way back, so its about 2950 miles.
My brake fluid in the master cylinder was only half full - that means I’m loosing fluid. I drove to a Sears auto shop near the hotel...
Concours, Funcours, of course
October 3, 2009: I did not get time to visit the ‘off-property’ Concours yesterday. If someone can send me any of their photos, I’ll be glad to add them, credited, to this blog. Like-wise the Le Mans start. I was too busy battling for second place in the Funkhana to get to it.
Here are some phots from todays Funcours, and a shot of the finale of the Concours - the award...
Take a walk around the parking lot
October 2, 2009: Before the Dine-Around yesterday evening, I took a walk around the parking lot at the hotel. Join me to see some of the more notable cars. I wish the photographs were better, but I only have a camera phone with me.
Look for the red Morgan. I hadn’t seen one before. I learn it is a Plus Four Plus. Only 26 were made. It is TR4-powered, like other Morgans of that time.
...
Wiper motor swap-out
October 2, 2009: If you’ve had the chance to read my earlier post, ‘Setting off across a continent’, you’ll know that my wiper motor failed about two hours from home and I drove the next 11 hours in heavy rain.
A call to The Roadster Factory found Dan who arranged to ship a replacement, rebuilt motor to my motel in SLO. It arrived a day earlier than promised, so...
The events begin...
The Autocross took place on October 1, 2009 at a military helipad a few miles from the main hotel. It was a fast track and the faster drivers were coming in around 50 seconds. No matter what time, everyone had fun. Especially this driver and her wonderful car. These pictures are from the morning session, attended by perhaps 100 cars. There was also a second session after lunch.
This is Jane...
A rendezvous
Wednesday, September 30.
I finished my drive north to Montrey and Carmel-By-The-Sea this morning to connect with a group of Trumph enthusiasts that had, among their number, John McCartney. John is from the UK and has driven, up, down, across and through the United States and Canada, raising awareness of, and funds for, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder charities. This last run along the Pacific...
The brothers Grimm
… would have enjoyed I40, going west out of Flagstaff. It was their thing to start all cuddly and cosy, and then drop a tale into the depths of hell. Think of Hansel and Gretal and the gingerbread house. After the delight of finding a house built of candy and cookies, the next thing Hansel knows, he’s in the oven. As was I.
My day began thus.
Tuesday, September 29
This morning, I forgot...
A day of a thousand clicks...
… on the odometer.
Monday 28th September
From a small town between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, I have reached Holbrook Arizona, a few miles east of Flagstaff. I’m 100 miles from the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. Holbrook is not a resort; more a last resort, for road warriors. That is no problem for me as it has been a long, successful day. The Triumph was flawless, and has been since I...
Setting off, across a continent
Sunday 27th September: Well I’m on my way to California, after day two of a four day drive across the US and I thought I could give you an update. This journey began with me arriving home from a funeral in the UK, tired, around 9:30 PM on Friday, so prepping the car and packing were begun at 4 AM Saturday. I set off around 9:30 AM, headed west. I was knackered to begin with and the car had a...
Driving Across America
After an important bereavement, it was clear that driving across the country was much more important that just a road trip; it was now a time to contemplate and celebrate a loved one. What follows are my notes from the road.
At the point of departure, from home:
August 2009
2 posts
The Blog Begins
The web log is about my travels and travails with a little car, a Triumph sports car from England. It was built in 1962, two years after me, and shipped to the US via New York harbour, then sold by a NY car dealer in 1963.
I bought the car when in an armpit-to-knuckles cast on my left arm after a motorcycling accident on SkyLine Drive in Virginia. For me, that was the end of motorcycling and the...