Driving them

[james curl]

I attended the Lone Star Round Up this week end and saw hot rods with flat head Ford V8s and skinny basis tires that came from the four corners of the USA. A model A Ford roadster Pick Up, non fendered, wire wheeled, basis tired and Model A 4 cylinder powered came down from Denver with three other hot rods and they had pictures on the H.A,M.B. to prove it. I was at Reggie's on Thursday eating B B Q when they pulled into Hutto. Most of the drivers were in their late fifties and early sixties, some younger but they all made the trip down to Austin. So there is no excuse not to drive our old cars as they are a lot more comfortable and have better suspension than the traditional hot rod does, and if a flat head Ford can run 70 mph for 2500 miles then our old flat head MoPars should too. No excuses, just drive them.

[greg g]

Just asked you on the other post if you got to the LSR. Got any pictures???

Maybe I will have to add that to the bcket list. Probably be easy to talk Mark A into the trek.

[james curl]

Greg go to the H.A.M.B. site and scroll down to the Lone Star Round Up and open it, many different threads under that location then move on the the H.A.M.B. forum site and check for posters of pictures on the Round Up on about the last 3 0r 4 pages, many photos. This was the biggest and best for cars that I have ever seen and I have only missed one Round Up, most tattooed women that I have ever seen in one place at one time in my entire life.

Edited April 5, 2011 by james curl
addition

[greg g]

Been following the ones on the HAMB, but thought you may have approached some pics from the MOPAR guys perspective.

[james curl]

No, I did not even take my camera,need to charge the batteries anyway before I can use it.

[Al B. Bach]

I agree our cars should be driven but I'm not so sure about 70mph down the interstate. I have not gotten over 60 with my 53 Windsor because it just sounds like it is starting to rap-out a bit too much for comfort. I don't have a tach yet but I have heard that you really don't want to over rev a flat 6 so I may be overly cautious. Besides, 50 to 55 is plenty fast enough on the secondary streets and you get to see a lot more of the country than you do on the interstate at 70. Add to that the fact that I get 4 to 5mpg better at the lower speeds. I'll just use the less traveled roads and plan for a longer drive.

There is a car show coming up in Abilene Kansas that I plan on attending. It will be the first road trip for my car since I got her. It's a realitivly short trip of 100 miles one way but I think it will be a good one. I'm going to work my way up to the longer trips as I feel more comfortable with the old girl.

Carl

[Drdialtone]

I've had my 47 P15 since August. Slowly making sure all is mechanically sound before making a long road trip. I drive her to work occasionally, 55 miles each way. Typically cruise at 55-60 MPH. Two things about that speed: The car seems to run effortlessly on the freeway, and going slower is really pleasurable. The rest of the maniacs blowing by me in their Audis, BMWs and Lexus are completely missing the landscape. I work in high tech ID, so going SLOWER is therapeutic. I respect the car and what it "gives" me. The sound of the flathead six, the huge steering wheel and the view through a split windshield - it gets no better than this if you MUST go to work! I hope to take a trip to Southern Oregon this summer on the back county roads; at a pleasant pace. Good to have something to look forward to!!!

[TodFitch]

...snip... It's a relatively short trip of 100 miles one way but I think it will be a good one. I'm going to work my way up to the longer trips as I feel more comfortable with the old girl.

Carl

That is, in my opinion, the correct way to approach this. 100 miles is within range of a "free" tow home if you have the AAA+ card, so you are just out your time if there is a mechanical problem. And it gives you a feel for how good the condition of the car is before you venture further afield.

[greg g]

Going on a Trip tomorrow. I told a fellow I would help him organize an old car event.

We are trying to combine a open house at his fabrications shop, with a reliability run and a cookout. Trying to interest folks with vehicles 1960 and older to take the tour. Gona try to put a route together through the Tug Hill Plateau and the Adirondack Foothills.

Probably be about 60 to 70 miles long with a luch stop at a 50's themed dinner.

That might be a bit ambitious for a 1st event so we are also looking at a cruise in /fly in combining old cars and old planes, in MAY to kick things off. Depending on available paved area at the airport, perhaps a short autocross style section.

[BobT-47P15]

I,ve run mine up to 70 once or twice, but it,s seemingly pushing

things -- and the steering (with bias plys) is a bit loosey goosey

to me. It did track better with radials I had on it for a while.

The 50-60 range works better in my case.

[Don Coatney]

I am heading out on my first trip of this year Friday. I will cover 7-800 miles on this trip. I have no problem crusing at 70-80 MPH on the freeway as I have my car geared to do so. But I do plan on taking a bunch of back roads on this trip as I will leave early enough to not be pressed for time. I will be meeting up with a bunch of forum members and pictures should be forthcoming.

As a reminder anyone in the southern states looking for some fun should join us at Tim Adams stable on Saturday April 9th for some story telling, lying, tire kickin and good chow.

[Al B. Bach]

That is, in my opinion, the correct way to approach this. 100 miles is within range of a "free" tow home if you have the AAA+ card, so you are just out your time if there is a mechanical problem. And it gives you a feel for how good the condition of the car is before you venture further afield.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I have Good Sam assistance for my motorhome that covers any vehicle I'm in so worst case is that I will have to have it hauled back. I have put well over 1,000 miles on her since I got her a month ago though with very little trouble so I don't expect any problems.

[JBNeal]

Taking the back roads is fun but something I've done 'round my neck of the woods is try to find where the old highways were before replaced by the interstate system or major state highways. I reckon I was inspired by something I saw on PBS years ago when they documented the towns along Route 66 and how the interstate system affected them. A follow-up documentary was done on the Lincoln Highway. Locally, I've traced where US 81 ran before I-35 took it's place as the major highway through the area: just north of where I grew up is an steel truss bridge built in the 20s, and a (barely) 2-lane concrete road with boo-kooz expansion joints...that stretch is a handful to drive on bias-ply tires at 40mph. I also found a good chunk of the highway to the south is in the middle of private property, the only remaining evidence being the odd culvert in a cattle pasture and the remnants of road base in a freshly plowed field. Good times!

[52b3b Joe]

I'm all for driving them!!! Thats what they were made for right???? We put around 1500 miles on the 41 desoto each summer on tours. It will cruise fairly comfortable at 65-70mph all day, but its a fluid drive with a 3.73 rear end, so its handles it well. When my dad bought it had around 35,000 miles on it and now it has almost 60,000.

[greg g]

Luckily here we still have the predecessors to I 81 and I 90. US 11 nd US 20. Both are still complete and well kept. And pass through some failry scenic areas. Still have plenty of services where they pass through the towns.

When we went to the Plymouth meet in NC a few years back, we travelled south on 11 to VA, then picked up US 15 some where in VA.

However, I think the steady speed on the interstates is easier on the car than all the stop and go of the old roads. However cruising along at the speed limit on teh Interstates can get pretty unnerving when most of the traffic is running 10 to 20 over the limit.

[james curl]

In Texas it is not hard to drive rural roads since the state and county maintain them. If you ever saw a Texas road map with all of the secondary roads on it it will confuse you. I carry an Atlas that breaks the state down into areas and show all of the county roads as well as the state and national roads. I seldom drive the interstate unless I an going the 25 miles to Austin or north to Belton. Almost any place can be reached by secondary roads which have average speed limits of 65 or 70 mph. Sometimes it is easier to drive the divided highways than try to miss the semis running the opposite direction at 70 on a two lane road. I have a 90 Dakota 3.55:1rearend installed in my car so the R.P.M.s are not that bad at 65/70 MPH.

Edited April 7, 2011 by james curl

[Young Ed]

When we take an old car to the cabin we regularly drive the old road instead of the 70MPH interstate. In fact I should be doing that this coming sat.

[MarkAubuchon]

Come on, I drove my 47 from Portland to St Louis and Back 5800 miles. Why limmit yourself to a 100 miles. Sounds like everyone agrees driving them is the way to go. Hope to see more people make it either Minnesota in August or Vermont in July.

[Young Ed]

Come on, I drove my 47 from Portland to St Louis and Back 5800 miles. Why limmit yourself to a 100 miles. Sounds like everyone agrees driving them is the way to go. Hope to see more people make it either Minnesota in August or Vermont in July.

Yes come to Minnesota. We're planning a good time! No trophies no judging just tours and a good time.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I know what you mean...last weekend I got mine out and actually make a circle around the block..I figure after sitting the winter in the shop it deserved an extended run...

[Al B. Bach]

Taking the back roads is fun but something I've done 'round my neck of the woods is try to find where the old highways were before replaced by the interstate system or major state highways. I reckon I was inspired by something I saw on PBS years ago when they documented the towns along Route 66 and how the interstate system affected them. A follow-up documentary was done on the Lincoln Highway. Locally, I've traced where US 81 ran before I-35 took it's place as the major highway through the area: just north of where I grew up is an steel truss bridge built in the 20s, and a (barely) 2-lane concrete road with boo-kooz expansion joints...that stretch is a handful to drive on bias-ply tires at 40mph. I also found a good chunk of the highway to the south is in the middle of private property, the only remaining evidence being the odd culvert in a cattle pasture and the remnants of road base in a freshly plowed field. Good times!

"Old 81" as we call it around here is a great road. Lots of history to be seen and, here in Kansas, it's very well maintained. One of the funnest sections is between Wichita and Newton. Years ago they decided to widen it to a 4 lane devided highway. Probably one of the biggest wastes of money given the extremely light trafic but it sure is nice. As a kid we used to go race our cars up it all the time.

[Al B. Bach]

Come on, I drove my 47 from Portland to St Louis and Back 5800 miles. Why limmit yourself to a 100 miles. Sounds like everyone agrees driving them is the way to go. Hope to see more people make it either Minnesota in August or Vermont in July.

I'm limiting myself to 100 miles for a couple reasons. First, I have only had the car for about a month and am not completely sure it is reliable for longer drives. Second is the simple fact that I am unemployed right now and just can't afford the gas for longer trips.

Now don't get me wrong here because I drive it all the time. As I said, I have put well over 1000 miles on it already! If I can find a job and can afford it, I want to drive it to Arizona as soon as possible.