Event Coverage Road Trip Revival: Part 5

[Ryan]

Norm and I left Baltimore pretty early on Sunday morning. If you were in the area, you probably saw us. The smoke pouring from Norm's exhaust was hard to miss, but we motored on anyway partly because I think Norm and I were in denial of sorts. "It's ...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

[williebill]

Think of the poor mosquitos Norm killed.. Climate changing hoodlums

[Hitchhiker]

Wow! he called it! Sounds like you guys had fun....

[stude_trucks]

I love road trip stories like this. I've done the buy an old car long distance sight unseen and get on a plane and drive it back a couple of times, both with my wife before she was my wife. She married me anyway. Both times, we just went and almost literally just jumped in each car and started driving back to CA. Honestly, I'm not sure I did much more than check the oil before heading out and not too sure I even did that either time. Blind optimism does sometimes works out.

My wife is a planner, but that is about all of the planning I'm good for. Both times the Sparks/Reno area caught us with some short lived, fortunately minor car troubles. But both cars ended up being nice cars to own and started off with a memorable trip. I don't have either car any more. But I'm still married, 2 kids now, and still have the memories.

PS, I'd love to have a kick ass sweet looking Riviera like either of those cars. Both great scores. But, in my lame opinon that isn't worth a pile of ant poop, I think Norm got the better car.

[Flowmeister]

Enjoyed the story.
Glad nothing really catastrophic happened,
and you both got home safe.
Gotta say, judging by the reflections in your pictures,
the cars look pretty damn nice!

[Drewfus]

Great story and memories for the future to cherish, however, given the experiences you've previously talked about with Riviera's, I don't think you mentioned if you're excited by what the car re-kindles, or even if you're glad you bought it? Along the way I'm sure you had many WTF am I doing moments, but are you glad you took that leap of faith?

Cool car, great to see it now has a new chapter in it's life.

Cheers,

Drewfus

[rust]

well told story. great cars. this is what its all about!

[shivasdad]

Loved the description of your moment (hour) of bliss. I use that in the vein of Joseph Campbell's meaning of bliss. Namely, the quasi-religious feeling one gets from being in the moment of doing and being what you are. Different for different people, but it's a glorious feeling nonetheless. That you experienced it is great and I appreciate you sharing it with us.

[wally426ci]

Great trip and great story man. Thank you for taking us with you. I hope you guys come back next year! I love NPR, expecially This American Life. I can picture exactly how that felt.

[Model A John]

You're quite a writer! I always enjoy reading your about your adventures.

[outlaw256]

gotta say boss im alot of jealous.i love doing that kinda stuff. done it twice in my life and both were many yrs ago.the wife and i are planning on a 2 lane highway trip from alabama to california in a few months in a ot 67 impala. awe just finished this old girl up and went for a 400 mile test run. scared to death the whole way...lol she drove all of it. but i was worried about the car not her driving.you couldnt have drivin a 10 p nail up my ah hell you know the rest...lol glad you made it back and safe to boot....

[ROBERT JAM]

thanks for sharing your "excellent adventure"----fun

[vivalahotrod]

I need a good road trip....

Viva

[hrm2k]

cool story

[1929rats]

great story! I think everyone should try a cross country jaunt in a car older than them in their lifetime. Ive been lucky enough to do this multiple times. Tenn is a LONG state, Ive driven that rte 40 from end to end buying cars in AZ and bringing them back to Mass when I got out of school....broke down a few times in two different cars, but, those memories last a lifetime and I wouldnt change them for anything...once again, congrats on the 65.

[general gow]

Glad you too got home safe and sound. You had me worried about Norm, I hadn't heard that part of the story yet. Yeesh, that coulda gone bad...

Old cars are an adventure. As of dinner time last night, all 3 of my cars were not road ready. The 54 was loading up and running like crap, and wouldn't accelerate beyond about 40mph. The truck has an electrical gremlin that won't let it start. Short somewhere? And the rambler had a vacuum leak.

I got the 54 sorted with a carb tune and some new plugs. I got the Rambler sorted with some vacuum repairs to the carb. Runs great now. But, when I took it out for a test drive, the master cylinder started hemorrhaging fluid out the back. No brakes on the Rambler.

And, the truck still won't start. At least the '54 is running good again so Becky could get to work. And I'm here writing a book about this while a wait to bum a ride to the parts store...

[seatex]

glad you fella's made it back okay...........................now, about that Thunderbird........

[BLAKE]

Originally Posted by BLAKE

Stress and anxiety aside, it's those mishaps and incidents that make for better stories, after-the-fact... so, in that vein, here's hoping that yours are both minor and hilarious.

This is what I offered back on 9/5 when you announced this Bodacious Boondoggle™... nothing if not prescient.

[Tman]

Great roadtrip tale my friend!

[Malcolm]

Good stuff - glad you guys made it home without any major problems!
You didn't cry when you skinned your knuckles? I mean, afterall, you ARE Cryin' Ryan, right?



Malcolm