Well.. I suppose my small consolation is that here in a few weeks, due to the Fiat buy-in.. my little Dodge will be in the same family as a Ferrari.

Heh..

You folks have it all wrong...

1953 Hudson Hornet, with Twin H-Power!

Now THAT was an awesome car!
Hornet


-ol' 2long

Crazy grandpa car!

Wasn't that the sheriff in the "Cars" movie?

That's what I thought about BC when I saw it! I knew the car from that movie! It was SWEET back IN THE GAP!

Um.. actually it was Doc Hudson in Cars.

I know all the words to that movie.. it's only DS's favoritest movie EVAR..

And yes.. it actually -is- possible to wear out a DVD.

I took my driver's test in a 1938 Buick coup. Very cool.

My first car was a 1968 Chevy Malibu station wagon with a 3-speed column shift and a 307 engine. I paid $100 for it. It looked like crap but it sure could run. Not much of a chick magnet but it was great on camping trips up in the mountains.

The column shift came apart one day while I shifted to second. I had to drive several miles home with the car in permanent second gear. That weekend I installed a floor shift with a big ol' 70’s shift knob. Muuuuuuuch better.

Good times.

Wow Chris... you really don't strike me as the grocery-getter type..

Of course.. I sometimes want to strike myself repeatedly every time I catch the mental image of me in my Peon..

Don't worry, I'm sure the Peon's pleather is easier to get pig snot off of...

I had a DKW (precurser to Audi) with a 4 on the tree- white convertible with a 2 stroke engine, I had to pour oil in the gas tank when filling up....but all the guys liked it! and it was light and easy to push out of my parent's driveway...

Oh, high school was fun.....

When WxH and I were first married - I drove his '67 Pontiac Catalina. Dayum that car could move.

Fox

No pig snot allowed in the Peon... and it's a very no-frills Peon at that.. automatic nothing.. cloth seats.. only options on the whole thing is cruise control, and the stereo system I installed..

Very cool car Foxy..

Have I mentioned lately about my 89 GMC Jimmy I had in High School?

Fox

Awww Foxy.. yanno I luv ya

Yes, but it was definitely based in fact on that car.

There were a lot of "true stories" in "Cars".

I can't believe I'm admitting it, but I cried several times when I first saw it.

Still tear up, 2. My dad had a 49 Hudson Commodore, then a 53 Hornet. I loved the Hornet, but my parents traded it in when the U-joint broke on my mom on her way 2 church (she was the organist, and they were in the lurch until she showed up on foot!). Sadly, they traded it in on a 1962 Ford Econoline (which rather quickly got nicknamed "Econolemon" for good reason). Worst car my family ever owned. Caught fire 3 times and needed a valve job by 30K miles.

My dad switched 2 Mopars after that, though he had a pair of excellent VW Squarebacks thrown in there for good measure (and great mileage). Best car we ever had was a 66 Sportsman van (like the one in Cars).

I'd love 2 find a nice brass-era American LaFrance firetruck chassis with a gigantic 14.5 liter straight-6 and chain drive rear end, converted 2 a 2-seat speedster:
Speedster

Well, ac2ally, I could find one, I just couldn't ever afford one!

-ol' 2long

AWWWW, 2long! You ol' softie you!

So, James,,,,,what's this I'm reading about needing a stop over place in the 'Lu?

I am usually out of town over Memorial weekend, but let's chat. I'm headed to Columbus this afternoon, but next week when we are both posting I'll give you my email.

Have a great weekend!

It's ok bro.. I've shed a few tears over that film myself.


Sweet Bugsy.. don't stay in town just on my account.. I'm sure I could persuade my brother and my SIL to join me in KC at a casino for the night if nothing else. Be more than happy to chat about it.. heck, my plans to go down there aren't even set in stone yet.. I just need to go sometime soon and pick up my dad's old GMC..

2L,

My father bought a brand new Hudson in 49. In those days the Pa turnpike had no speed limit. He was sooooo ticked when the car peaked out at about 85 mph. Ultimately traded it in on a buick. I learned to drive on a 49 Buick 3 speed on the column. No power steering. Those were the days when one needed some serious forearms to drive. IN fact you always tell the truck drivers, no matter how big they were, they all had forearms of a blacksmith.

IN HS my best friend had a 49 Studebaker. Loved the suicide doors. We got into sooooo much trouble with that car.

The neat things about those cars like yours, 2L, is that you could actually work on them.

My parents bought a 66 Buick electra 225 (Duce and a Quarta), with a huge engine. You could actually get into the engine compartment and work on the engine. I am not sure but I really think one could have pulled the hood shut.

Ah! that was when cars were fun.

2L, I suppose your old Ford flatbed is still running right?

JL

That ain't right. Must have been a vacuum leak somewhere.


Did it have a suicide knob? A must have!


My friend's 62 Chevy panel truck was like that. I remember him adjusting the points on a rainy day. stood on the ground next 2 the engine (straight 6), and propped the hood about halfway up so he'd have shelter from the rain. I handed him beers from the safety of the garage.


Ac2ally, it's a panel truck. Doing great, 2. I like 2 drive it 2 work 2 or 3 times/month, just 2 keep the battery charged. It's currently my lowest mileage vehicle, by about 90,000 miles. Odometer shows less than 8,000 miles since it was restored 30 years ago.

-ol' 2long

James,

You know I love ya, honey, but not even a visit from you could keep me from a weekend at the lake! ha! But drop me an email about your plans. bugsmom1115@gmail.com.

So, we've had "Car Talk" all weekend. What's happening in your world?

Not a whole lot, ended up with a weekend pretty much all to myself this past weekend, so I cut loose and got caught up with some of my friends.

Thursday night was a bit rough.. a very dear and once very close friend who I'd lost contact with for various reasons had been calling me up and is having 'relationship problems'.. We've all heard the story before.. there's an ex.. who is siblings with a friend of his WW's... she's not sure what she wants.. he's blindsided.. a mess, trying to scrape himself together. So he came by Thursday night, and we went for a drive.. just chatting.. I really feel for the guy, I thought LIQ was particularly nasty and viscious.. this one I think might be certafiable.. it even spilled over onto my phone, and I put a quick end to that drama. *shudder* I do -not- have to live that way anymore.. I just feel for the guy who is just starting down this terrible journey. Doubt we'll see him here though, but I'm doing my best to be a good friend and at least help him to recognize his options. Seems to be in the water around here though.. kinda scary.. either that or I'm just more sensitive to hearing about it now..

Certainly didn't spend much of the weekend at home. Friday night I went and got an amazing stuffed crust pizza from this take and bake pizza place.. wasn't exactly a Chicago pie.. but close enough to keep this place on my list of food suppliers for 'get togethers' and 'family nights' if/when such things crop up in my immediate or distant future.

Grabbed the pizza and went to the home of one of my best friends, actually the guitar player from a previous band I was in who introduced me origonally to WW. Drank some of his free beer and hung out for a little while. Then I went off and hung out with my current guitar player and another friend of his.. both within the last 3 months dealing either with D-day or plan D.. They seem to be handling things pretty good though, which is a relief.

Saturday I caught a local cover band.. not the normal hear the same song every night type group, with a very lovely (and recently available much to my suprise) lead singer.. and afterwards hopped to the next town over to stop in at a pub that makes probably the best authentic tacos you've never tasted.. a few of those and I went a block and a half to crash at my friend's place.

Sunday was rest/recovery day.. watched a movie, did laundry, and cleaned up the Casa De La Jamesus to be ready for the week.. had practice Sunday night.. breaking in an additional guitfiddle player for our show on the 7th, so had a good rehearsal, and think we're in pretty good shape on that end.


Got the official intent to move notice from WW over the weekend as well. Not sure if I mentioned before.. looks like her plan is to stay in town, so no major triggers there. I'm not thrilled with the school district, nor do I think the house she's getting is a particularly wise investment given several factors, not limited to the water table in that particular area. I'm honestly happy for her though.. even if it's unavoidable for my kids not to be exposed to her lifestyle, and her boyfriend, and eventually their child.. at least this might be the beginning of some stability for them on her end finally.. at least until the inevitable happens.

I've got a daytime job, I'm doin alright.