A Fairly Ordinary Day on an Extraordinary Trip

I'm pleased to report that while Day 4 of the Drive Home II adventure included a few notable occurrences in Washington D.C., it contained no mechanical malfunctions or unplanned delays that were my fault – or anyone else’s! Being well spent by our taxing Day 3, the team used part of the morning catching up on administrative work; the exception was our ace mechanic Dale, who tackled the Chrysler 300’s issues by bleeding its brakes in the cold and windy hotel parking lot. Just another reason Dale is a top contender for the Drive Home II MVP Award.

The rest of our day was spent treating folks around the Washington Mall to a good look at the Drive Home II cars and giving Derek ample opportunity for video footage. Along the way there were lots of waves, cheers and requests for me to rev up the throaty engine of the Nomad; and at one point, we heard someone say – “Look, the LeMay Museum, that’s out in Seattle!” (Well, close…)   

Driving the Nomad in D.C. with a tiny White House in the background

Two additional notes of the day included:

·         Bill showing us the long stone staircase used in the final scene of the 1973 movie “The Exorcist.” You remember, it’s the scene where the priest launches himself down several hundred steps to finally release himself of the demon. Oh, you don’t? Well, neither did any of the rest of us, and we were a bit perplexed why Bill would know or care about such trivia. It was also mildly disturbing when he insisted on photos of him recreating the final position of the priest lying at the foot of the staircase while Dale feigned the role of the other priest in the movie giving him his last rites. (Viewer discretion is advised here, but you may find photos of this strange re-enactment in the coming days on Bill’s Blog at:www.blog.hemmings.com.)

      Topping this stop off was a construction worker who saw the cars, pulled in and proceeded to show Bill and Dale an incredible array of classic and antique cars he owned. As Bill remarked afterward; “It’s amazing – car people are everywhere.”

 ·         The second curious moment occurred when the Capitol Police took issue with Derek filming our cars “hatch-up” from the back of the SUV directly in front of the U.S. Capitol. Valerie was at the SUV’s wheel, and – rather than come to her aid -- as soon as we car drivers saw the squad car lights, we high-tailed it around the corner to get as lost as possible in the Mall traffic. Certainly a solid example of lost chivalry here, but to show our concern we found parking places at a safe distance to witness the confrontation and possible incarceration. Two police cars, two motorcycles and six policemen later, Derek and Valerie were politely but sternly advised that filming from moving vehicles in front of the U.S. Capitol is not prudent or acceptable.

The scene just before the Capitol police altercation

Another good team dinner full of stories and laughs, and we’re ready for a rockin’ and very full New Years Eve day and evening tomorrow. In the meantime, Happy New Year from the Drive Home II Team traveling the high-roads and by-roads on the Heritage Run!

PS: For those curious about the Mustang, stay tuned; this is a bit of a cliffhanger. We got word late today that the shop in PA put 6 quarts of transmission fluid in the car and it’s running just fine. No leaks and no idea why it drained itself on the asphalt yesterday in Times Square. We'll be there tomorrow to check it out first-hand. More mysteries to solve, and we’re thinking a transmission exorcism from Dale may be in order…    



 

Patience, Perseverance and Leadership

Dec. 29 was a study of patience, perseverance and team leadership for the Drive Home II road crew. We started early, rolling out of mid-town Manhattan at 5:45 a.m. and crossing over to Brooklyn for a TV segment with the local Fox station at Grand Army Plaza. Dale led the process of unloading the 1917 Crane-Simplex from the trailer near the massive Plaza arch, and David handled the short TV interviews over the next couple of hours at designated time slots.

 In between, we chatted with the TV crew and local police as the rain held off, daybreak came and the city began to wake up. Things were fairly relaxed except for the FDNY fire truck that came screaming down Flatbush Avenue before taking a hard left to careen directly through the middle of the Plaza and within several feet of us and the cars.

That was the first adrenalin rush of the day.

Interviews over, we loaded up and Dale took the truck and trailer to New Jersey to meet up with us later, while the rest of our troop toured the tip of Manhattan and headed uptown. With me at the wheel of the Mustang, I dropped David and his luggage off around 48^th Street, so he could jet back West for his wife Lynda’s art exhibit opening (he’ll rejoin us in Michigan in the coming days). Our caravan proceeded past the Bulgari store on 5^th Ave and Carnegie Hall, and made its way down to Times Square where preparations were being made for New Year’s Eve.  
 

All along the way the cars were getting lots of notice and photos, and Derek was taking full advantage of the scene by sitting in the back of the SUV with the hatch up and video rolling. That’s about the time I noticed the Mustang starting to buck in and out of gear in the stop-and-go traffic, which I reported to the team via walkie-talkie. We then made a beeline to the Lincoln Tunnel to get out of town – and we almost made it.  

About two blocks before the tunnel I reported the Mustang was laboring hard. We pulled over and found transmission fluid was spraying on the asphalt below, so we shut her down to minimize her misery.  

That was the second adrenalin rush of the day, but the team persevered.

Huddling up, the team determined Ashley and I would stay with the Mustang and Valerie, Bill, and Derek would get the other two cars out of Manhattan to meet up with Dale in New Jersey. Ashley and Valerie then jumped into full battle mode by making contacts with ACM Board Member Keith Flickinger’s team at Precision Motor Cars in Allentown, PA and Hagerty Insurance to have the car towed. The plan was for to us to continue the trek through Philly and Washington D.C. and then pick up the (hopefully repaired) Mustang when we went to Allentown on Dec. 31 as part of our regular route. Thanks to Hagerty and Precision, the Mustang was on a tow truck within an hour and secured in Allentown by the end of the day.

 

Everything was clicking into place when Ashley and I got a report that a rock blew one of Dale’s truck tires out and he was in pit crew mode at a rest stop in New Jersey. Shortly thereafter, the car gang reported they had pulled off the freeway because the Nomad was dangerously low on oil, and they were in search of a service station.

That was the third adrenalin rush of the day, and yet the team continued to rally and persevere.

In another hour, with the Mustang safe, tire fixed and engine oiled up, the crew reunited at Molly Pitcher Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike and quickly decided we would forego Philly (really hated to miss that cheesesteak!) and head straight to our hotel in northern Virginia. Three-plus hours later we were skirting Washington D.C. with great views of the Capitol and monuments before we dropped into our Arlington hotel for the night and lots of laughs at a great team dinner.  

That was the day, and what a day it was. Full of twists and turns, and for every one of them the team rallied and responded. Patience, perseverance and leadership – that’s what makes America great, that’s what makes American cars great and that’s what I love about traveling with the Drive Home II team.

More reports of adrenalin rushes tomorrow, hopefully none mechanically-related. In the meantime, remind me to tell you about the time as a 16-year-old I blew out the water pump of my ’66 Ford at midnight in 1974 somewhere around Riverton, WY. I thought about that on Dec. 29 somewhere near Times Square.

"Teamwork" is the word of the day

“Teamwork” is the word of the day. When the unexpected happens despite great planning, good teams come together to make the best of things and create new opportunities.

That’s what the LeMay-ACM Gang did today when, after heading south out of Boston, we had a breakfast of Famous Gray's Ice Cream (black raspberry and coffee chip the biggest sellers) just before a tire blew on the trailer and Dale Wickell had his first chance to come to our rescue. Tire replaced, it was on to Newport, R.I. to get the 1917 Crane-Simplex a little air along the beautiful Newport Ocean Drive.

Famous Gray's Ice Cream - Serving since before David Madeira was born!

Dale Wickell working his magic on our blown trailer tire

After overcoming a bit of navigational dizziness in Newport and pull-starting the Crane, we ventured along what has to be some of the most beautiful coastline in the country. Things were shaping up pretty well as we made it into Jamestown, RI for lunch at Chompmist Charlies and a rendezvous with David’s cousin Holly as well as several enthusiasts who dusted off their 60 Cadillac, 49 Chevy 5-window pickup and 61 Chevy SS to come see us.

The Drive Home II cars along Newport RI Ocean Drive

More opportunity to make the best of things then came again when Bill Hall reported the Chrysler 300G’s brakes were toast. At that point, Dale said he hated to further disappoint us but that the Chrysler’s brake pads were only made for three years and extremely hard to find. Then, with barely a blink, Bill messaged contacts at the national Chrysler 300 Club and – voila – within 20 minutes we received word that a fella a short distance away in Little Compton, RI had a set we could buy.

At that point, Dale cornered a passing car enthusiast to ask if he knew of a garage where we could lift the Chrysler, and – again, voila – our newest friend Robin Foote said he had a garage and hoist we could use. While David and Holly chased down the new pads, the rest of us descended upon Robin’s garage to watch Dale check the front drums (all good there) and adjust the rear ones.

Dale Wickell applies his expertise to the Chrysler's brakes

 Nothing appeared too amiss, so we baled back into the caravan of vehicles and drove about three hours to downtown Manhattan and the Lexington Hotel. (BTW, I was once again bestowed the honor of driving the 57 Nomad and what a kick it was to take it all the way into the Big Apple.) As I write this, a very long day is ending at midnight and we have a 5:30 a.m. departure time for a series of interviews with a local Fox news affiliate in Brooklyn at 6:15 a.m. Oh, and we still have brake problems but there’s no question we’ll figure out a way to overcome them tomorrow.

What a day, and what a team! #pullingtogether  #creatingopportunityfromcalamity  #thelemayacmteamrocks   

PS: About that Hurst T-handle I mentioned yesterday. In the era of my youth, a Hurst shifter was a true status symbol of muscle car-dom. If you couldn’t afford the actual shifter, you settled for the T-handle, a finely machined silver work of art that felt glorious in the palm of your hand – no matter what shifter it was on. And the T-handle was an item so coveted that it was often stolen before your 8-track tape player if you left your doors unlocked. Well, the T-handle still feels glorious and, as silly as it sounds, one of the highlights of the trip so far is my reunion with it.    

 

"Giddy" is the word of the day. It's the feeling you get when you slide behind the giant wheel of a 50s classic made the year you were born and lock your fingers around the shifter's silver machined Hurst T-handle. Giddy.

More about that T-handle later, but what a great start to the adventure last night. Met up with The Heritage Run Gang -- David Madeira, Ashley Bice, Valerie O'Shea, Bill Hall, Dale Wickell and Derek Klein-- in the lobby of the Boston Long Warf Marriott and donned our new America's Car Museum stadium jackets, courtesy of State Farm (Thanks Tamara and Ed!).

Then it was into the parking garage for the drive to the No Name Restaurant down by the water. As a newbie to the team, I was immediately tested with driving the 57 Chevy Nomad that sports a 327, 4-speed and what felt like a fairly high gear ratio that challenged my long forgotten clutching skills. Besides not being able to find reverse ("Push down and to the left," chirps Valerie!) I managed, and I have to say the drive was a rush like I haven't felt since the 70's.

Once at the No Name, owner Jimmy Contos hosted us for a fantastic seafood feed. Jimmy's family has owned the eatery for 99 years, and it was once the favored haunt of a younger David Madeira many decades ago. Joining us for dinner was Bob, a retired car enthusiast, who followed the Drive Home II on Facebook, saw we were going to the No Name and brought out his family (including Grandson Sawyer) for a tour of the cars and a great seafood meal. Bob had quite a background that include service in Viet Nam running a motor pool as well as working alongside a young upstart mechanic named Jay Leno at one point in his career.   

All this in celebration of the American automobile--and memories that are a special part of every family's history. More to come in the days ahead thanks to the efforts of America's Automotive Trust, LeMay-America's Car Museum, the North American International Auto Show and the rest of our great sponsors.

Heading south to Rhode Island and New York today; honk if you see us coming! 

 Behind the wheel and feeling 18 again 

Classic 4-speed with the Hurst shifter -- Old school!

 Stabling the horses  in valet parking 

  Jimmy Contos and the Gang at Boston's famed No Name Restaurant

It all begins Dec. 27 when three stunning red USA-made classics from America's Car Museum roll out of Boston for a 2,150-mile road trip on their way "home" to Detroit for the opening of the North American International Auto Show.

Stay tuned for real time updates as we wind our way across the Northeast and Midwest for 10 days in a '66 Ford Mustang, '61 Chrysler 300G and a '57 Chevy Nomad Wagon, followed by a truck and trailer (and trusty mechanic!) hauling a 1917 Crane-Simplex that was originally owned by John D. Rockefeller.

We'll have plenty of pit stops along the way to connect with car enthusiasts and car clubs -- the whole excursion designed to celebrate the past, present and future of the American automobile, America's Automotive Trust and the North American International Auto Show.