Roadster persons- We took a trip through the killer heat and the
car performed well. Details:
On July 17, we were scheduled to leave to visit family in Kansas,
1100 miles to the south from the shores of Lake Superior. It was
75 degrees F and sunny.
Me: "Dear, shall we take the air-conditioned Escort? It might be hot?"
Her: "Oh, it's so nice here, let's take the Roadster. It'll be fun!"
The trip to Faribault MN was most pleasant, winding through the trees
of the Upper Peninsula and WI, crossing the Mississippi at Wabasha MN.
State Hwy 60 was made especially for roadsters. A bit of late-night
rain required a quick trip to the motel parking lot to put up the top,
and the morning ride started out in a drizzle. Long before Des Moines
the sun appeared (!) and the broiling began. We slathered on the 30+
sunblocker and motored on at 96 degrees, staying off the Interstates.
At the IA-MO line, the temp gauge started to rise, and we stopped at a
roadside park when we smelled hot anti-freeze. Some water from the
nearby creek carried with many trips in a 20 oz Dr Pepper bottle
got things cooled down. The diagnosis was a worn-out pressure cap
After a pause in Manhattan KS to visit and to buy a new pressure cap,
the roadster carried us to Wichita through 100 degree heat. State Hwy
177 is another special roadster road.
The weather back through NE, MO, IA, MN, and WI was likewise hot!!
The little 1600 never missed a beat. Our thanks to the skillful POs
who saved the car from the crusher so that we could have a most
memorable trip.
Karen & Bob Keen
68 1600
Chassell (UP) MI
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