I would like to unnominate Bob Casnterbury from the list, as he"s tired of
hearing about all the bull s--t..... Thanks
----- Original Message -----
From: "BOB KRAMER" <rkramer3@austin.rr.com>
To: <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 9:17 AM
Subject: Re: Waiting for the Ignition to Dry
> I have one of these stories too! I was returning from Daytona Beach during
> spring break, late 70's again accompanied by Barbara when the car died in
> Virginia. Although the car made the NY to FLA trip without problem, the
> muffler fell off on the second stage of the trip to meet Barb in Ft.
> Lauderdale. I had a trunk full of spare parts from my recently deceased
> TR250, so it figured that it would be the muffler. Coat hangers just
didn't
> cut it so I paid the Midas man to fix it right. Anyhow, I left the guy
that
> I drove down with in Daytona (he had a ride home) and Barbara decided to
> drive home with me and waste her plane ticket. The car had died because
the
> fuel pump had come apart where the plunger is attached and spring loaded.
I
> quickly found out that I didn't pack a spare. With dark quickly
approaching
> I was saved by the VHP in the form a TR6 owning trooper with a bright
> flashlight. Somehow we found the missing spring, it was lodged on the
frame
> rail, and reassembled the fuel pump.
> Bob Kramer
> rkramer3@austin.rr.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Herrera" <jrherrera90@hotmail.com>
> To: <fot@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2004 1:39 PM
> Subject: Waiting for the Ignition to Dry
>
>
> > Amici:
> >
> > I can't contribute anything to the thread on speeding tickets; I always
> pay
> > the fine because I'm always guilty. However, the Mazda RX-7 story
reminded
> > me of this short article I wrote for Moss Motoring and a couple of TR
Club
> > newsletters:
> >
> > I was on a solo nine day round-trip tour of the Skyline Drive and Blue
> Ridge
> > Parkway in my TR-3. These roads are actually part of the National Park
> > system. They wind along the scenic Blue Ridge mountain range for 575
miles
> > through Virginia and North Carolina. There are no towns, stop signs, red
> > lights, or trucks; wilderness, challenging curves, and scenic beauty
> abound.
> > The trip is perfect for a sports car.
> >
> > Somewhere on the Parkway, as I drove merrily up a long hill with a
> graceful
> > curve miles from nowhere, a torrential downpour killed the engine. I
> didn't
> > want to stay in the road because the visibility was so bad, but there
was
> no
> > place close by to pull off. The only thing for it was to coast backwards
> > down the hill (it seemed like a mile) until I could get off the road.
Soon
> > the rain stopped. I knew that if I waited long enough, the heat from the
> > engine would evaporate the water from wherever it had done its dirty
work
> > and I could go on my way. (Note to self: order all new ignition parts
upon
> > return.) So I took a photograph and patiently waited.
> >
> > Yes, my car was immobile in a wilderness miles from a telephone or
> > civilization for that matter, but I was not annoyed. There are worse
> things
> > that can happen to a person. Here I was, in a neat car, on a great tour
in
> > beautiful scenery. I had no schedule to meet, so why get upset about an
> > unplanned stop?
> >
> > After a while, a park ranger stopped his Blazer and beckoned to me to
come
> > over. Now here might be a reason for concern. Maybe I had broken some
rule
> > about pulling off the Parkway in an undesignated spot or something. I
> walked
> > up to the window and he spoke.
> >
> > "Well," he said slowly, "I've got a Midget." When he spoke these five
> > words, I knew that he understood my plight, that I would not get in
> trouble,
> > and for that moment we shared that feeling that is hard to explain but
one
> > that is known to owners of old British sports cars who have found
> themselves
> > broken down by the side of the road. There may be some mild irritation
at
> > being inconvenienced, yet the edge is softened by a feeling of
adventure.
> > When driving an old British sports car, breaking down is, after all, to
be
> > tolerated, if not expected. Besides, these adventures are great material
> for
> > car club meeting story swapping, newsletter articles, etc. There is a
bond
> > among fellow owners that comes from mutual shared experience.
> >
> > After an offer of help, none required, the park ranger left me on my own
> > once again. The ignition dried out and I was soon on my way.
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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