Back at home

[Normspeed]

Finally back in New Mexico after 2 months and 6,000 miles. I had a great trip. Attended the Black Dog Garage annual BBQ, Billetproof Ocala and the Lone Star Roundup, plus a whole bunch of cruise nights and a wooden boat show in Florida. Along the way I hooked up with Young Ed, James Curl, Bloody Knuckles, Grandadeo, and a whole bunch of other old Mopar folks. Almost got to meet Old Daddy but never made it to Tavares to see him.

I caught some bass, saw a space shuttle launch, attended a local fair, went to an auto swap at Daytona Speedway, scored some Bronco trim at a Florida junkyard, and generally had a blast. Also picked up 3 rebuildable B&B carbs, some brake shoes, and a few other pieces/parts at the swaps.

A few things broke along the way but the old P24 didn't let me down. Got a tank of fuel with some water in it, broke a speedometer cable, broke the front sway bar but picked up a replacement off a 54 Dodge that a friend had. Did a few repairs on the teardrop but nothing that a screwdriver and maybe a tin can couldn't fix.

Of course I took a bunch of photos, lots of them are of various Mopars. When I get time I'll post them on photobucket. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites. Great to be home but I would turn around and hit the road tomorrow and do it all again, and the wagon shares my sentiments.

[Normspeed]

So many photos. Looking through them is like being back on the road.

[RobertKB]

Norm, glad you and the '53 (love those '53's) got back safely. It just goes to show how reliable these flatties can be. It will also be good to have you back on the forum full time. As I have stated before, you are now a full time retirement addict. I look forward to seeing the rest of the pictures.

[Grandadeo]

Glad to see you back on line, now answer your phone.

Lee

[greg g]

Glad you and the hounds are back safe and sound. Maybe this fall you can do a northern tour......

[Don Coatney]

Norm;

Glad you had a successful trip. Did you go all the way to MinneDosota to connect with Young Ed? I think you are in competition for the longest road trip. We now have a Norm in First and Last:rolleyes:

[JerryinTx]

Now that is what I call a road trip!!!!! Can't imagine all the thumbs up you must have gotten along the way. How did you decide on what spare parts and band-aids to pack just in case? At the stage I'm at, I still get a little tense about 30 miles.

Norm, I see you're from Deming, NM. My uncle lived there for many years. He and his wife owned and ran the Deming Motel.

[JohnS48plm]

Sounds like you had a great time. It's always fun to drive these old cars on a long trip. Glad you're back safe. JohnS

[Plymouthy Adams]

thats both a lot of time on the road from home and miles on a car of this vintage...glad all went well and you got home safe...talk about memories...you got a trunk load I am sure...

[T120]

Norm,The smiling photo of you with your catch says it all.An inspiration for others particularly retirees to get out there and do stuff while still enjoying good health.

[Normspeed]

Oops, I meant Greg G, not young Ed. I always get confused with those names that have the letter E in them.

Jerry, what a small world. Deming is my newest adopted home, previously it was L.A. but I like NM a lot better.

For breakdowns I brought just a few spares, like a replacement coil, points, condenser, cap and rotor, and the U joints I cut off a used driveshaft that I had. And a set of starter brushes. Also a cellphone and AAA card. Turned out I didn't need them though. The sway bar broke before I left New Mexico and although I did hear a big boing when it snapped I thought it was a front coil spring and didn't discover the break until 3,000 miles later. I carried 1 1/2 gallons of spare gas plus whatever was in the boat tank, something like another gallon. At one point coming home I pulled into a gas stop in the desert in Texas, white knuckled because I had been running on empty for many miles in 100 degree heat. I put 13.8 gallons in my 14 gallon tank. Gas there was $2.44 per and I was glad to pay it!

Young Ed, I did get an invite to visit Minnesota so you might see me up there next year. Some folks that I met live 3-4 hours west of the twin cities, near Battle Lake off highway 78 and 83.

What a great trip it was. So many people smiling, giving me the thumbs-up, tooting their horns as they went by. Every fuel stop, ice stop, etc, someone would come over to ask about the rig and reminisce about something they once owned, or their dad or grandad owned. First question was usually "what year is that?" or "do you really sleep in that little trailer?" I told a couple of folks it was a 1946 Henway towed by a 1953 Anachronism, but I'm afraid no one picked up on that...If someone asked what I do for a living I sometimes told them I am an ambassador representing the year 1953.

The things most commented on were the "<-El Paso-El Crasho->" arrows on the back of the teardrop, the band-aid I stuck on my dented radiator tank, and quite a few folks asked to hear the wolf whistle in action. Two things that went unnoticed were the magnetic slide room control and the framed picture of a Jackalope in the tear. Only one person recognized the Jackalope for what it was. I guess it's a western thing.

James Curl and Bloody Knuckles are great guys and I got to hook up and check out their rides at an open house before the Roundup. BK gave me the cool killer clown that's in the photos. Grandadeo and I convoyed from Fla to TX and that's his 32 roadster in my mirror. We had an adventure in Louisiana trying to locate a state park using the GPS. I forgot to tell the GPS to avoid dirt roads, and that was quite a drive through cajun country backroads.

The Plymouth never lost an ounce of oil pressure, never overheated, and the overdrive worked great, giving me 17 mpg towing a trailer, with a boat on the roof and hundreds of pounds of boating and camping gear in the back. I ran at 65 most of the time, but I did cruise at 70 coming home across Texas. Gotta love old cars!

[RobertKB]

The Plymouth never lost an ounce of oil pressure, never overheated, and the overdrive worked great, giving me 17 mpg towing a trailer, with a boat on the roof and hundreds of pounds of boating and camping gear in the back. I ran at 65 most of the time, but I did cruise at 70 coming home across Texas. Gotta love old cars!

Park that car in the garage, wax it, hug it, and give it a kiss. It's earned it! Congratulations once again on taking an old car on a long and extended trip! These old girls did it when new and if properly maintained can still do it!

[greg g]

17 towing is pretty commendable especially at highway speeds. Did you read up on BK's adventure on the way home?? Had some tranny problems.

[Tony Cipponeri]

Hey Norm, Sounds like you had a great time. Now rest up, cause I want to see you out here for the Vintage Drags at the California Speedway in June. Tony C

[Young Ed]

Young Ed, I did get an invite to visit Minnesota so you might see me up there next year. Some folks that I met live 3-4 hours west of the twin cities, near Battle Lake off highway 78 and 83.

I'm not sure where that is but I'd certainly find out if you make it up this way. Glad you had a great trip.

[Normspeed]

Tony, I hope to break the elusive 20 second quarter mile next time:D

Hey Norm, Sounds like you had a great time. Now rest up, cause I want to see you out here for the Vintage Drags at the California Speedway in June. Tony C

[radioguy7]

Norm, the side view mirror sunset pick is the best by far, it's now set as my desktop background. VERY cool

[Grandadeo]

I forgot to tell the GPS to avoid dirt roads, and that was quite a drive through cajun country backroads.

Hey, what's three miles of gravel and mud road in a fenderless roadster among friends, eh.

Lee