For most people, cars are mere transportation that will bring them from Point A to Point B. For owners of vintage automobiles — particularly British or Italian ones — there is a certain pride in “just getting there” considering that the functional state of those cars can never be taken for granted. This section chronicles some of my mishaps — er, adventures — with “cars with character.”
For archival purposes, here is the repair log for my departed 1969 MGB. Woah, lots of entries. I figure, if I ever miss Goldie too much, all I have to do is look at this and then I’d feel relieved she is gone. :) So far I have to say I am doing quite well without her. Continue reading »
A couple of nights ago I talked with Goldie’s new owner, Steve Goldenberg. (Yes, he has a very appropriate last name for Goldie. :)) He picked the car up from the transporter in Buffalo, NY on Sunday or Monday, and then drove it to a buddy’s in Toronto en route to home near Montreal, Canada. Total distance he drove: 500 miles! He was “very happy with how she drove” and there were no hiccups aside from having problems turning on the headlights (I think he just didn’t pull the pull-switch all the way out, since it was always working.) Amazing.
So it seems like they are off to a good start. The rest of Steve’s family includes two MGAs (including one parts car) and many, many cats. No, not Jaguars, but furry little things like that resemble this guy. After the Quebec winter has passed, Goldie will be Steve’s daily driver.
, but there's always positive thinking...&title=Sporting Pleasures "Fort Collins isn't quite as warm as this at the moment (photo from June 2006 in Berkeley), but there's always positive thinking...")
“There’s a sports car out there with its top down,” remarked a Fort Collinser to his kid standing behind me inside the diner I was having lunch at. “Someone’s thinking positive…”
Er, yes, that would be me. While I have enjoyed the unusual snowy weather the last few weeks, I’m looking forward to warmer days. In just a couple of days the high temperatures of Fort Collins will be in the mid-50s, which should feel absolutely scorching after weeks in the 20s and 30s. Never mind that when I drove out to lunch, the temperature was still 17 degrees and there’s still some snow on all grassy areas. Continue reading »
Perhaps it was just asking too much of a 37-year-old British roadster not known for reliability in the first place. The warning signs were there shortly after reviving her from eight months of hibernation as she stalled and sputtered — at least until I replaced the spark plug wires with some 15-year-old spares. Yet, in the twenty or so days before and after my Vietnam vacation, Goldie had faithfully shuttled me between family and friends in scorching-hot Stockton and the more-bearable San Francisco Bay Area, racking up 1500 miles in the process. What, then, would be another 1140 miles to go back home in Fort Collins, Colorado?
I pondered this question on my last day in the Bay as I found myself in a position that was familiar at least in the pre-ignition-wire-replacement days of my time in CA: on the side of the road, bonnet up, perusing the artifacts of British under-engineering and looking for something that was “wrong.” Again! Continue reading »
The last time I had driven Goldie was last Thanksgiving — for the Stockton Run for Hunger 5k — almost 8 months ago. Despite sitting outside at my friend Frank’s place (under a car cover) during all that time, she still looked good, cobwebs and all. More amazingly, after cranking over the motor several times with the spark plugs removed (to get oil circulating again), she fired up on the first try. The battery was surprisingly strong, no doubt due in part to the battery cut-off switch I had installed. Continue reading »
