Hi all,
You never know when your Healey will make someone's day.
Yesterday I got a cold call from a man in San Diego, CA who said his dad, who
lives in nearby Lafayette, CA, was turning 75 tomorrow, Friday. He said that
his dad continually talks about the great 1956 Austin Healey he owned from
1956 to the mid 1970's, and was wondering if I might be kind enough to give
his dad a nostalgic ride in my Healey as a special birthday treat. Of course
I said sure.
Seems he was thinking several weeks ago about possibly buying his dad an
Austin Healey for his birthday, thinking he might have to spend around $5,000
to $7,000. When he checked the internet an discovered that it would be
$20,000 to $35,000, he abandoned the thought. Several days ago he came across
the San Diego Austin Healey Club website which had a link to the Golden Gate
AH Club and club president, David Nock. Knowing I live next door to Lafayette
in Walnut Creek, David put him in touch with me.
So today Erika the Red & I made a 75 year old former Healey owner's day with a
75 mile Healey ride in warm 75 degree weather around San Ramon Valley's back
roads, with a stop at the British Crown Pub for some warm beer & Healey
reminiscing. He couldn't get over the how great it was to again hear that
raucous, blatting Healey tailpipe symphonics.
As I dropped him off at his home, he sat there for a few minutes reminiscing
as he ran his fingers over the Derrington wood wheel, the odd trafficator
lever, overdrive switch and escutcheon, and chrome grab handle, all the while
admiring the simplicity of the Healey cockpit with its symmetrically arranged
Smiths gauges. There's something about sitting in our primitive roadsters
that seems capable of transporting one back to a more civilized time, like the
1950's, before monster traffic jams, road rage and cup holders.
Aren't these cars great!!!!
Vrooom vrooom,
John
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