What a wonderful thing to do, John. In a world hungry for news about war,
disasters and pork-barrel spending, your story brought a warm feeling into
my mind. I dare say that all of us have a virtual Rolodex full of "I used
to own one of these" stories, but it's rare to hear of someone who has done
more than talk to a former owner. Kudos!
Terry Blubaugh
Diamond Bar, CA '60 BT7
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Soderling" <jsoderling@astound.net>
To: "Cully Tajikistan Anderson" <cullyjul@securenym.net>; "Healey List"
<healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 10:11 PM
Subject: "Go ahead, make my day"
> 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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