They keep us on our toes, these little cars. It's not just a trip to the
store...it's an adventure!
> ----------
> From: Terry L. Thompson[SMTP:tlt@digex.net]
> Reply To: Terry L. Thompson
> Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2000 4:24 PM
> To: spitfires@autox.team.net
> Subject: Perfect Saturday
>
>
> I wake-up to a hazy cloudy day...a slow drizzle. Then I remember "I left
> the top down on the car last night". So I run out of the front door still
> pulling clothes on to get the top up before the rain really starts to come
> down. ( A wet seat never hurt anyone right?)
>
> My plans for the day- included going into the office but first to run to
> the local British parts place and pick-up a new set of points/condenser.
> (Pep Boys carrys a condenser, rotor, plug wires, dizzy cap for the
> spit..but no points!) So I head out on the 15 or so mile trip to the
> British car place after stopping by starbucks for some coffee.
>
> About 8 miles into the drive when I notice that my ignition light is red!
> The temperature needle appears to be moving like a tachometer on a formula
> one car...and immediately realize (due to a past experience) that I've
> lost
> my fan belt. The only problem is, I'm at a stop light in the middle of
> traffic!
>
> After about 20 seconds or so the temp gauge has almost pegged the hot mark
> and steam beggins to pour out from under the hood. (I'm in the middle of
> Route 1 here.) Abandoning all dignity, I put the car into gear and run the
> red light (I'd rather pay a ticket than buy a new engine), to get to the
> side street and turn off the car.
>
> I prop open the hood to see a fountain of hot radiator fluid pouring out
> of
> the over-flow bottle. The belt is in shreds hanging from the crank pulley
> literally by a thread.
>
> Luckily, I carry spare parts in the trunk...(50 to 100 fuses, several
> belts, a few quarts of oil...etc....It's a British car after all). And
> about 5 minutes worth of work and another 10 minutes of allowing the
> electric fan to do it's job...I was on the road to a nearby gas station
> for
> some water.
>
> Exxon cashier "Water? Try the vending machines." ...$1 for 20oz. of
> water?!
> Why you #@$&%! So, $2 in water and I'm on the road again.
>
> When I got to the British car place, I regailed the parts guy with my
> harrowing experience and told him "It's always best to carry a few spare
> parts....Too bad I can't fit a spare engine in the trunk!"
>
> End of story
>
> Terry L. Thompson
> '76 1500 almost Spitting Fire
> Maryland
>
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