Subject: [Fot] Fun TR4 Story on Hagerty today

From: Dave Riddle via Fot <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 09:44:29 -0700

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https://www.hagerty.com/media/driving/the-special-life-of-a-very-special-ca=
r-ch-i-touring-europe-in-65/?utm_source=3DSFMC&utm_medium=3Demail&utm_conte=
nt=3DMED_UN_NA_EML_UN_UN_DailyDriver_Wednesday&hashed_email=3Dc21d719f7a97c=
6e85f22b643b0e05891910305fb8d74c2cb3ef64d52795945ee&dtm_em=3Dc21d719f7a97c6=
e85f22b643b0e05891910305fb8d74c2cb3ef64d52795945ee
The Special Life of a Very Special Car, Ch. I: Touring Europe in '65

It was late and very dark on that chilly September night when I found the e=
ntrance to the N=FCrburgring's front straight. The new German friends who h=
ad welcomed me to the 'Ring and shared their great German beer during (and =
well beyond) the day's six-hour race had told me that, for a single deutsch=
e mark, I could drive a lap of the track before it closed. As I recall, tha=
t was about 25=A2.

As a just-out-of-school, 21-year-old, aspiring racecar driver in his brand-=
new 1966 Triumph TR4A<https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools/triumph/tr4a/=
1966/1966-triumph-tr4a>, how could I resist that temptation? At the end of =
a long day of race-watching and partying, I was tired but (as far as I coul=
d tell) not drunk. Why not enjoy a lap or two of perhaps the world's most c=
hallenging track?

As I waited in my red Triumph, I watched officials collecting money from a =
couple other cars. However, no one noticed me. I took off without paying. W=
ith no race training or experience, just high confidence and dim headlamps,=
 I attacked that slow/fast, up/down, tricky/twisty, super-challenging track=
 as I would any unfamiliar, hilly public two-lane-aggressively enough to ex=
plore the car's agility but leaving margin for error, since I had no idea w=
hat to expect over each crest or around the next bend.

Mash the gas, squeeze the brakes, downshift, corner, exit, upshift through =
long, fast curves, tighter corners, swoopy esses, crest-topping yumps, a co=
uple of tightly banked circles (one was the 'Ring's famed "Karussell"), and=
 a long, long, flat-out straight heading back to the pits.

The TR4A had felt nimble and responsive on the road, and it further impress=
ed on the track. With its engine upgraded from the 1965 TR4's 100 hp to 104=
 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, the car was not seriously fast but it accelera=
ted eagerly through its slick four-speed manual. Steering was quick and res=
ponsive, the brakes strong and linear with no sign of fade, and its handlin=
g surprisingly good thanks partly to a set of Michelin radial tires. I enco=
untered no other traffic and completed that 14.2-mile, 176-turn lap with a =
huge grin on my face and ready for another. Again, the officials didn't not=
ice me, and I took off for a second cost-free lap. Whoopee!

I negotiated that one intact as well, then was approached by an official on=
 my return. Uh-oh. He explained in his best English that they were about to=
 close the track but that I could do one more lap for one deutsche mark. I =
fished the coin out of my pocket, handed it over, and launched down the str=
aight for a third thrilling lap.

It was not entirely incident-free. Sailing down a fast hill, then braking f=
or a left-hander, my foot slipped off the brake. Entering the curve too fas=
t, the Triumph slid sideways into the right-side berm-thankfully not a guar=
drail or a drop-off. I felt a bump and heard a crunch as it scraped the dir=
t bank, then steered myself back on course. I was keenly aware that the car=
 had no seat belts, so any crash would likely have pitched me out.

I was the last car out of the gate before officials swung it closed. Then I=
 drove most of the night over the mountains on my way to Holland, where I i=
ntended to find and (if possible) drive the Zandvoort track, the site of Fo=
rmula 1's Dutch Grands Prix. When I later stopped under a light to check th=
e car for damage, I found just a slight dent and scrape low on its rocker.

I never repaired that minor N=FCrburgring damage. I saw it as a badge of ho=
nor: three thrilling night laps of the 'Ring for the price of one.
Genesis
This big adventure was mostly my father's fault. A farm kid from Nebraska w=
ho had raced hot rods on dirt in his youth, he sometimes took our family to=
 a local quarter-mile asphalt track south of our Cleveland, Ohio, suburb, w=
here we watched some fender-banging "stock" car racing. I instantly fell in=
 love with it and wanted to race as soon as I was old enough and financiall=
y able. Much later, after getting my driver's license at 16, I discovered a=
nother, better local track and got a weekend job there selling beer out of =
a little red wagon. I pulled it around yelling, "Cold beer here!" during br=
eaks in the action, made $1.00 per case ($5.00-7.00 a night), and enjoyed a=
 few myself. (You had to be 18 to legally sell beer in Ohio, but they never=
 checked my ID.)
When my freshman-year college roommate introduced me to sports-car road rac=
ing at the (now long-gone) Meadowdale track north of Chicago-which featured=
 a treacherously rough, steeply banked, 180-degree "Monza Wall" curve-that =
instantly changed my plan. I saw Augie Pabst and other brave shoes compete =
in thundering SCCA C-Modified (think early Can Am) machines and watched fut=
ure famous factory driver Bob Tullius win the D-Production class in a Trium=
ph TR4. After that, I studied up on SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) racin=
g and decided that D-Production would make a good starting point once I was=
 out of school. The class seemed fast enough to be fun but relatively safe =
and, most importantly, the eligible cars were semi-affordable.

In my senior year at Duke in 1965, while plotting which DP car to buy, I ta=
lked a dealer into letting me test drive the three most common models compe=
ting in that class: Triumph TR4, MGB, and Austin Healey 3000. The six-cylin=
der Healey had the most power but felt heavy and somewhat clumsy, and its l=
ow-slung body was known for dragging off its exhaust system. The MGB was li=
ghter and more agile but a bit down on power. So, partially influenced by t=
hat Tullius win I saw at Meadowdale, I settled on the TR4. Its 100-hp 2138-=
cc four felt strong and torquey, and, crucially, its slightly flared fender=
s would allow wider tires under SCCA rules.

Heading for the N=FCrburgring

My dad, bless his kind soul, co-signed a loan for me to buy the Triumph fol=
lowing graduation and arranged for me to pick it up at the UK factory. My p=
lan was to tour Europe in it for three weeks before starting work at Chevro=
let Engineering in Warren, Michigan. As I recall, I paid about $2400 for a =
red U.S.-spec TR4A roadster-the new, updated model with ride-smoothing inde=
pendent rear suspension based upon that of the Triumph 2000 sedan-with an o=
ptional heater and (new at the time) Michelin X radial tires but without av=
ailable overdrive, wire wheels, radio, or seatbelts. Beyond seeing what I c=
ould of Western Europe, one key trip objective was to visit as many Formula=
 1 tracks as I could find. My dad had no clue that I planned to race the ca=
r.

I took delivery at the plant near London on September 1, 1965, and headed t=
o Dover to catch the ferry to Calais, France. It was my first time driving =
on the left side of the road; I had to constantly remind myself to stay lef=
t and drive clockwise around UK roundabouts. Once in France and back on the=
 right side of the road, I aimed for Brussels, Belgium, on my way to German=
y's famed N=FCrburgring. I didn't think to visit Le Mans, probably because =
it was not an F1 track. With very little traveling budget, I stayed in chea=
p (some free) youth "hostels" wherever I could.

Arriving at the 'Ring on a Sunday morning, I found that a six-hour FIA Grou=
p 1 race was about to start. So, I watched the start, which was done Le Man=
s-style, then settled on a convenient corner to take in the race. It wasn't=
 long before a group of friendly young Germans invited me to join them and =
share their excellent beer. After the race, they asked me to stick around f=
or more partying at a local pub. I was planning to head for Amsterdam that =
night but couldn't turn that invitation down. I played my guitar and entert=
ained them with American folk songs, then, finally about to depart for the =
night's trip, they informed me that I could drive the track for a small fee=
.

Hello, Woter!

I found Spa in Belgium but couldn't lap it because it was mostly public roa=
ds. Only the pit-lane wall along the main highway revealed it as part of th=
e famous F1 course. I spent a day and night in Amsterdam, a beautiful city =
with an eye-opening red-light district, where scantily clad women beckoned =
to passing tourists from apartment windows. I walked through the area and w=
atched with interest but did not partake. The next day, I headed for Zandvo=
ort.

Like the N=FCrburgring, that Dutch F1 track was open to anyone for a modest=
 fee. Why did European racetracks do that? Probably to generate extra incom=
e between races by providing track-driving opportunities to European enthus=
iasts and, very importantly, because they didn't have to deal with legal li=
ability and avaricious lawyers as we did even then in the States. If you pa=
id the fee to drive the track in your street or race car, you did so at you=
r own risk. If you crashed your car and maybe injured yourself and/or other=
s, too bad. Not the track officials' problem. Lots of scary non-race crash =
videos from the N=FCrburgring show how often such unfortunate incidents sti=
ll happen.

It was raining the day I drove Zandvoort. Since it was another challenging =
track, I was extra careful. My Michelins gave surprisingly good wet tractio=
n compared to the cheap bias-ply tires I had rolled on all my driving life.=
 The only scary part was the one other car on course at the time: a very fa=
st formula racer doing serious testing. I had to watch my mirrors constantl=
y and be sure to make room every time he came around-at probably twice my s=
peed.

Nearly six decades later, I don't recall where I headed from there. But the=
 next thing that happened dramatically changed my memorable tour in the bes=
t possible way. I was having a tough time communicating in most places in F=
rance, Belgium, and Germany; few people were able or willing to speak Engli=
sh, and my second language was Spanish. Holland was the exception, and I so=
on learned why. Hoping for some English-speaking conversation and company, =
I picked up a young hitchhiker who I took to be either British or American.=
 He turned out to be a Dutch medical student named Woter, who was returning=
 home after a summer of mandatory military service on the Mediterranean. He=
 told me that most educated Dutch were quadrilingual-fluent in French, Germ=
an, and English in addition to their own language.

After some miles of driving and chatting, Woter asked whether he could trav=
el with me for the next two weeks before he was due back in school. He seem=
ed a very likable guy and good company, and his multi-language capability w=
ould come in handy. Sure, why not?

Denmark and Sweden

Woter suggested that we drive to Stockholm, Sweden, where he knew a woman f=
riend. With little understanding of how far that really was (nearly 900 mil=
es), I agreed. The good news: the route took us through much of Denmark and=
 its beautiful Copenhagen capital, where I met a lovely college student and=
 spent the night with her in her girls' dorm room. She insisted that it wou=
ld be no problem, and it wasn't. But I was a tad uncomfortable in the share=
d shower the next morning. The arrangement seemed highly enlightened compar=
ed to the conservative values I grew up with in the States. I was liking en=
lightenment.

The bad news: Sweden, like the UK but unlike the rest of continental Europe=
, still drove on the left. (It changed to the right side two years later, i=
n September, 1967.) So, I was back on the wrong side of the car on the wron=
g side of the road, and Woter became a very useful passenger as he leaned o=
ut of his right-side window to sight up the road and tell me when it was sa=
fe to pass a slower car on a two-lane highway. He even drove a bit when I n=
eeded a rest. He said he was an inexperienced driver, which made me nervous=
, but he did pretty well.

When we finally got to Stockholm, we met Woter's lady friend and enjoyed a =
nice dinner with her and her friend, a sweet and lovely young Swede named L=
ena. But there was no alcohol consumption, due to Sweden's extremely tough =
drunk-driving laws, and no hanky panky or overnight stay. The youth hostel =
down the street would have to do.

On to Berlin

I don't recall whose idea it was or when we decided to risk it, but we head=
ed next to Berlin, some 700 miles from Stockholm, which in those days was s=
till surrounded by Communist East Germany and divided east/west by a heavil=
y fortified wall. Twenty-four years before Reagan's command to "Tear down t=
his wall!" would be fulfilled, driving through oppressed East Germany to fr=
ee West Berlin was a challenge that was definitely not recommended. But we =
were young and adventurous, and Woter spoke fluent German. What could go wr=
ong? At least we would be back on the right side of the road once out of Sw=
eden.

Well, we took a wrong exit off the autobahn while still in East Germany and=
 immediately encountered uniformed guards with serious weapons. Woter patie=
ntly explained our mistake, the guards searched us and the car, then let us=
 turn around and head back to the autobahn.

When we arrived at the border, we had to negotiate double checkpoints, one =
to exit East Germany, a second to enter West Berlin. At both were multiple =
long lines with no signs telling us which to stand in first, second, etc., =
but Woter's German got us through fairly easily. Then first the East German=
, then the West Berlin, guards thoroughly searched our Triumph, even using =
mirrors to check underneath the car for people<https://www.hagerty.com/medi=
a/car-profiles/this-austin-healey-sprite-escaped-east-germany-twice/> (or p=
erhaps weapons).

Once safely inside the city, we explored a bit and took a good look at the =
famous wall that countless East Germans had attempted to cross, most of the=
m quickly shot by guards in the towers that lined it. We did not hear of an=
yone ever trying to cross in the other direction. Then, after a restless ni=
ght in a particularly barren youth hostel, we reversed the process, driving=
 back through the double checkpoints and, eventually, out of East Germany.

Time was not our friend. We had just a couple days to get back to Calais, c=
atch a ferry to Dover, and negotiate traffic to the London airport for me t=
o catch my flight home. With just paper maps in various languages (no GPS t=
hose days), we faced some 600 miles of mostly two-lane driving, much of it =
through mountainous areas, to get to Calais. There would be no overnight st=
ay and no time to explore any of England before I had to jump on the plane,=
 and Woter would have to do his share of the driving while I caught brief r=
olling naps.

We made it ... just barely. And I had to trust Woter, my new, inexperienced=
-driver Dutch friend whom I had known just a couple weeks, to drop me at th=
e airport and get the Triumph (now back on the wrong side of UK roads) to i=
ts departure port for shipment to the States. Then he would have to hitchhi=
ke back across the Channel and to his school in the Netherlands.

I had his contact information, but if he didn't deliver the car when and wh=
ere it needed to be for whatever reason, how could I remotely track him dow=
n from back in the States and recover it? I did feel that I could trust him=
 to get that done, but I worried about the car all the way home and for sev=
eral more days until I got a letter from him and a notice from the shipping=
 company that my now-well-broken-in new Triumph was on its way across the s=
ea. Whew!

<http://www.microworks.net/>
Dave Riddle
Business IT Consulting
Office: 480.610.8234
Cell: 602.692.5276
Website: http://www.microworks.net<http://www.microworks.net/>
<https://partner.microsoft.com/en-US/>[=
[email-masked]]<https://www.clio.com/>[cid:image005.png@01DA22=
A8.A5E5EC90]<https://www.citycommunications.com/>

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nk=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><a href=3D"https=
://www.hagerty.com/media/driving/the-special-life-of-a-very-special-car-ch-=
i-touring-europe-in-65/?utm_source=3DSFMC&amp;utm_medium=3Demail&amp;utm_co=
ntent=3DMED_UN_NA_EML_UN_UN_DailyDriver_Wednesday&amp;hashed_email=3Dc21d71=
9f7a97c6e85f22b643b0e05891910305fb8d74c2cb3ef64d52795945ee&amp;dtm_em=3Dc21=
d719f7a97c6e85f22b643b0e05891910305fb8d74c2cb3ef64d52795945ee">https://www.=
hagerty.com/media/driving/the-special-life-of-a-very-special-car-ch-i-touri=
ng-europe-in-65/?utm_source=3DSFMC&amp;utm_medium=3Demail&amp;utm_content=
=3DMED_UN_NA_EML_UN_UN_DailyDriver_Wednesday&amp;hashed_email=3Dc21d719f7a9=
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<h1 style=3D'margin-top:0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span=
 style=3D'font-family:"Helvetica Neue";color:#090A0B'>The Special Life of a=
 Very Special Car, Ch. I: Touring Europe in &#8217;65<o:p></o:p></span></h1=
><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3Dhas-drop-cap style=3D=
'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'=
><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>It was late and very dark on that chilly Sep=
tember night when I found the entrance to the N=FCrburgring&#8217;s front s=
traight. The new German friends who had welcomed me to the &#8217;Ring and =
shared their great German beer during (and well beyond) the day&#8217;s six=
-hour race had told me that, for a single deutsche mark, I could drive a la=
p of the track before it closed. As I recall, that was about 25=A2.<o:p></o=
:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white=
;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal=
;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-=
asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inhe=
rit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-opti=
cal-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;fo=
nt-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webki=
t-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration=
-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span styl=
e=3D'color:#090A0B'>As a just-out-of-school, 21-year-old, aspiring racecar =
driver in his brand-new&nbsp;<a href=3D"https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-t=
ools/triumph/tr4a/1966/1966-triumph-tr4a" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D'=
color:#007BB3;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>1966 Triumph TR4A</=
span></a>, how could I resist that temptation? At the end of a long day of =
race-watching and partying, I was tired but (as far as I could tell) not dr=
unk. Why not enjoy a lap or two of perhaps the world&#8217;s most challengi=
ng track?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt=
;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-=
ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;f=
ont-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-varia=
nt-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.=
0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-set=
tings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start=
;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initia=
l;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacin=
g:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>As I waited in my red Triumph, I watch=
ed officials collecting money from a couple other cars. However, no one not=
iced me. I took off without paying. With no race training or experience, ju=
st high confidence and dim headlamps, I attacked that slow/fast, up/down, t=
ricky/twisty, super-challenging track as I would any unfamiliar, hilly publ=
ic two-lane&#8212;aggressively enough to explore the car&#8217;s agility bu=
t leaving margin for error, since I had no idea what to expect over each cr=
est or around the next bend.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;ma=
rgin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: in=
herit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant=
-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates:=
 inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.2=
5rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inher=
it;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans:=
 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoratio=
n-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: =
initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Mash the gas, squee=
ze the brakes, downshift, corner, exit, upshift through long, fast curves, =
tighter corners, swoopy esses, crest-topping yumps, a couple of tightly ban=
ked circles (one was the &#8216;Ring&#8217;s famed &#8220;Karussell&#8221;)=
, and a long, long, flat-out straight heading back to the pits.<o:p></o:p><=
/span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;ver=
tical-align:baseline'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>The TR4A had felt nimbl=
e and responsive on the road, and it further impressed on the track. With i=
ts engine upgraded from the 1965 TR4&#8217;s 100 hp to 104 hp and 132 lb-ft=
 of torque, the car was not seriously fast but it accelerated eagerly throu=
gh its slick four-speed manual. Steering was quick and responsive, the brak=
es strong and linear with no sign of fade, and its handling surprisingly go=
od thanks partly to a set of Michelin radial tires. I encountered no other =
traffic and completed that 14.2-mile, 176-turn lap with a huge grin on my f=
ace and ready for another. Again, the officials didn&#8217;t notice me, and=
 I took off for a second cost-free lap. Whoopee!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p st=
yle=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:bas=
eline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps:=
 normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font=
-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: i=
nherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit=
;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-settin=
gs: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width=
: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;tex=
t-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'=
>I negotiated that one intact as well, then was approached by an official o=
n my return.&nbsp;</span><em><span style=3D'font-family:"inherit","serif";c=
olor:#090A0B;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>Uh-oh.</span></em><s=
pan style=3D'color:#090A0B'>&nbsp;He explained in his best English that the=
y were about to close the track but that I could do one more lap for one de=
utsche mark. I fished the coin out of my pocket, handed it over, and launch=
ed down the straight for a third thrilling lap.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p sty=
le=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:base=
line'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>It was not entirely incident-free. Sail=
ing down a fast hill, then braking for a left-hander, my foot slipped off t=
he brake. Entering the curve too fast, the Triumph slid sideways into the r=
ight-side berm&#8212;thankfully not a guardrail or a drop-off. I felt a bum=
p and heard a&nbsp;</span><em><span style=3D'font-family:"inherit","serif";=
color:#090A0B;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>crunch</span></em><=
span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>&nbsp;as it scraped the dirt bank, then steere=
d myself back on course. I was keenly aware that the car had no seat belts,=
 so any crash would likely have pitched me out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p sty=
le=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:base=
line;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: =
normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-=
variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: in=
herit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;=
font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-setting=
s: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width:=
 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text=
-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>=
I was the last car out of the gate before officials swung it closed. Then I=
 drove most of the night over the mountains on my way to Holland, where I i=
ntended to find and (if possible) drive the Zandvoort track, the site of Fo=
rmula 1&#8217;s Dutch Grands Prix. When I later stopped under a light to ch=
eck the car for damage, I found just a slight dent and scrape low on its ro=
cker.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;bac=
kground:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-liga=
tures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-=
variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-p=
osition: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625=
rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-setting=
s: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;wid=
ows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;te=
xt-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0p=
x'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>I never repaired that minor N=FCrburgring =
damage. I saw it as a badge of honor: three thrilling night laps of the &#8=
217;Ring for the price of one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal st=
yle=3D'background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style=3D'font-siz=
e:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#090A0B'>Genesis<o:p><=
/o:p></span></b></p><p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'background:white;vertical=
-align:baseline'><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Rom=
an","serif";color:#090A0B'>This big adventure was mostly my father&#8217;s =
fault. A farm kid from Nebraska who had raced hot rods on dirt in his youth=
, he sometimes took our family to a local quarter-mile asphalt track south =
of our Cleveland, Ohio, suburb, where we watched some fender-banging &#8220=
;stock&#8221; car racing. I instantly fell in love with it and wanted to ra=
ce as soon as I was old enough and financially able. Much later, after gett=
ing my driver&#8217;s license at 16, I discovered another, better local tra=
ck and got a weekend job there selling beer out of a little red wagon. I pu=
lled it around yelling, &#8220;Cold beer here!&#8221; during breaks in the =
action, made $1.00 per case ($5.00&#8211;7.00 a night), and enjoyed a few m=
yself. (You had to be 18 to legally sell beer in Ohio, but they never check=
ed my ID.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'background:wh=
ite;vertical-align:baseline'><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"T=
imes New Roman","serif";color:#090A0B'>When my freshman-year college roomma=
te introduced me to sports-car road racing at the (now long-gone) Meadowdal=
e track north of Chicago&#8212;which featured a treacherously rough, steepl=
y banked, 180-degree &#8220;Monza Wall&#8221; curve&#8212;that instantly ch=
anged my plan. I saw Augie Pabst and other brave shoes compete in thunderin=
g SCCA C-Modified (think early Can Am) machines and watched future famous f=
actory driver Bob Tullius win the D-Production class in a Triumph TR4. Afte=
r that, I studied up on SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) racing and decide=
d that D-Production would make a good starting point once I was out of scho=
ol. The class seemed fast enough to be fun but relatively safe and, most im=
portantly, the eligible cars were semi-affordable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p =
style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:b=
aseline'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>In my senior year at Duke in 1965, w=
hile plotting which DP car to buy, I talked a dealer into letting me test d=
rive the three most common models competing in that class: Triumph TR4, MGB=
, and Austin Healey 3000. The six-cylinder Healey had the most power but fe=
lt heavy and somewhat clumsy, and its low-slung body was known for dragging=
 off its exhaust system. The MGB was lighter and more agile but a bit down =
on power. So, partially influenced by that Tullius win I saw at Meadowdale,=
 I settled on the TR4. Its 100-hp 2138-cc four felt strong and torquey, and=
, crucially, its slightly flared fenders would allow wider tires under SCCA=
 rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;=
background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-l=
igatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;fo=
nt-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-varian=
t-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:2rem;line-height:2.375r=
em;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings=
: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;wido=
ws: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;tex=
t-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px=
'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Heading for the N=FCrburgring<o:p></o:p></s=
pan></h3><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vert=
ical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font=
-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian=
: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;f=
ont-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-s=
izing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-va=
riation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-tex=
t-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-styl=
e: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'=
color:#090A0B'>My dad, bless his kind soul, co-signed a loan for me to buy =
the Triumph following graduation and arranged for me to pick it up at the U=
K factory. My plan was to tour Europe in it for three weeks before starting=
 work at Chevrolet Engineering in Warren, Michigan. As I recall, I paid abo=
ut $2400 for a red U.S.-spec TR4A roadster&#8212;the new, updated model wit=
h ride-smoothing independent rear suspension based upon that of the Triumph=
 2000 sedan&#8212;with an optional heater and (new at the time) Michelin X =
radial tires but without available overdrive, wire wheels, radio, or seatbe=
lts. Beyond seeing what I could of Western Europe, one key trip objective w=
as to visit as many Formula 1 tracks as I could find. My dad had no clue th=
at I planned to race the car.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;m=
argin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style=
=3D'color:#090A0B'>I took delivery at the plant near London on September 1,=
 1965, and headed to Dover to catch the ferry to Calais, France. It was my =
first time driving on the left side of the road; I had to constantly remind=
 myself to stay left and drive clockwise around UK roundabouts. Once in Fra=
nce and back on the right side of the road, I aimed for Brussels, Belgium, =
on my way to Germany&#8217;s famed N=FCrburgring. I didn&#8217;t think to v=
isit Le Mans, probably because it was not an F1 track. With very little tra=
veling budget, I stayed in cheap (some free) youth &#8220;hostels&#8221; wh=
erever I could.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.=
0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-va=
riant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inh=
erit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font=
-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-hei=
ght:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-featu=
re-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align=
:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: =
initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-=
spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Arriving at the &#8217;Ring on a=
 Sunday morning, I found that a six-hour FIA Group 1 race was about to star=
t. So, I watched the start, which was done Le Mans&#8211;style, then settle=
d on a convenient corner to take in the race. It wasn&#8217;t long before a=
 group of friendly young Germans invited me to join them and share their ex=
cellent beer. After the race, they asked me to stick around for more partyi=
ng at a local pub. I was planning to head for Amsterdam that night but coul=
dn&#8217;t turn that invitation down. I played my guitar and entertained th=
em with American folk songs, then, finally about to depart for the night&#8=
217;s trip, they informed me that I could drive the track for a small fee.<=
o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;backgrou=
nd:white;vertical-align:baseline'><strong><span style=3D'color:#090A0B;bord=
er:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>Hello, Woter!</span></strong><span st=
yle=3D'color:#090A0B'><o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-=
bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit=
;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-nume=
ric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inhe=
rit;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;=
line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;fo=
nt-feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;te=
xt-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thi=
ckness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initi=
al;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>I found Spa in Belgium b=
ut couldn&#8217;t lap it because it was mostly public roads. Only the pit-l=
ane wall along the main highway revealed it as part of the famous F1 course=
. I spent a day and night in Amsterdam, a beautiful city with an eye-openin=
g red-light district, where scantily clad women beckoned to passing tourist=
s from apartment windows. I walked through the area and watched with intere=
st but did not partake. The next day, I headed for Zandvoort.<o:p></o:p></s=
pan></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;verti=
cal-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-=
variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian:=
 inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;fo=
nt-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-si=
zing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-var=
iation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text=
-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style=
: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'c=
olor:#090A0B'>Like the N=FCrburgring, that Dutch F1 track was open to anyon=
e for a modest fee. Why did European racetracks do that? Probably to genera=
te extra income between races by providing track-driving opportunities to E=
uropean enthusiasts and, very importantly, because they didn&#8217;t have t=
o deal with legal liability and avaricious lawyers as we did even then in t=
he States. If you paid the fee to drive the track in your street or race ca=
r, you did so at your own risk. If you crashed your car and maybe injured y=
ourself and/or others, too bad. Not the track officials&#8217; problem. Lot=
s of scary non-race crash videos from the N=FCrburgring show how often such=
 unfortunate incidents still happen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margi=
n:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-si=
zing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font=
-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alt=
ernates: inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-=
size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kernin=
g: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;=
orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-d=
ecoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration=
-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>It was rain=
ing the day I drove Zandvoort. Since it was another challenging track, I wa=
s extra careful. My Michelins gave surprisingly good wet traction compared =
to the cheap bias-ply tires I had rolled on all my driving life. The only s=
cary part was the one other car on course at the time: a very fast formula =
racer doing serious testing. I had to watch my mirrors constantly and be su=
re to make room every time he came around&#8212;at probably twice my speed.=
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;backgrou=
nd:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures=
: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-varia=
nt-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-positi=
on: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;f=
ont-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: in=
herit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: =
2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-de=
coration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><s=
pan style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Nearly six decades later, I don&#8217;t recall =
where I headed from there. But the next thing that happened dramatically ch=
anged my memorable tour in the best possible way. I was having a tough time=
 communicating in most places in France, Belgium, and Germany; few people w=
ere able or willing to speak English, and my second language was Spanish. H=
olland was the exception, and I soon learned why. Hoping for some English-s=
peaking conversation and company, I picked up a young hitchhiker who I took=
 to be either British or American. He turned out to be a Dutch medical stud=
ent named Woter, who was returning home after a summer of mandatory militar=
y service on the Mediterranean. He told me that most educated Dutch were qu=
adrilingual&#8212;fluent in French, German, and English in addition to thei=
r own language.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.=
0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-va=
riant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inh=
erit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font=
-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-hei=
ght:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-featu=
re-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align=
:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: =
initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-=
spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>After some miles of driving and =
chatting, Woter asked whether he could travel with me for the next two week=
s before he was due back in school. He seemed a very likable guy and good c=
ompany, and his multi-language capability would come in handy. Sure, why no=
t?<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;backg=
round:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatu=
res: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-va=
riant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-pos=
ition: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:2rem;line-height:2.375rem;fo=
nt-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: inh=
erit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2=
;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-dec=
oration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><sp=
an style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Denmark and Sweden<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p styl=
e=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:basel=
ine'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Woter suggested that we drive to Stockho=
lm, Sweden, where he knew a woman friend. With little understanding of how =
far that really was (nearly 900 miles), I agreed. The good news: the route =
took us through much of Denmark and its beautiful Copenhagen capital, where=
 I met a lovely college student and spent the night with her in her girls&#=
8217; dorm room. She insisted that it would be no problem, and it wasn&#821=
7;t. But I was a tad uncomfortable in the shared shower the next morning. T=
he arrangement seemed highly enlightened compared to the conservative value=
s I grew up with in the States. I was liking enlightenment.<o:p></o:p></spa=
n></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertica=
l-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-va=
riant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: i=
nherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;font=
-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizi=
ng: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-varia=
tion-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-s=
troke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: =
initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'col=
or:#090A0B'>The bad news: Sweden, like the UK but unlike the rest of contin=
ental Europe, still drove on the left. (It changed to the right side two ye=
ars later, in September, 1967.) So, I was back on the wrong side of the car=
 on the wrong side of the road, and Woter became a very useful passenger as=
 he leaned out of his right-side window to sight up the road and tell me wh=
en it was safe to pass a slower car on a two-lane highway. He even drove a =
bit when I needed a rest. He said he was an inexperienced driver, which mad=
e me nervous, but he did pretty well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'marg=
in:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-s=
izing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;fon=
t-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-al=
ternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font=
-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerni=
ng: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit=
;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-=
decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoratio=
n-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>When we fi=
nally got to Stockholm, we met Woter&#8217;s lady friend and enjoyed a nice=
 dinner with her and her friend, a sweet and lovely young Swede named Lena.=
 But there was no alcohol consumption, due to Sweden&#8217;s extremely toug=
h drunk-driving laws, and no hanky panky or overnight stay. The youth hoste=
l down the street would have to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style=3D'margi=
n:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span=
 style=3D'color:#090A0B'>On to Berlin<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style=3D'mar=
gin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-=
sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;fo=
nt-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-a=
lternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;fon=
t-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kern=
ing: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inheri=
t;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text=
-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decorati=
on-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>I don&#82=
17;t recall whose idea it was or when we decided to risk it, but we headed =
next to Berlin, some 700 miles from Stockholm, which in those days was stil=
l surrounded by Communist East Germany and divided east/west by a heavily f=
ortified wall. Twenty-four years before Reagan&#8217;s command to &#8220;Te=
ar down this wall!&#8221; would be fulfilled, driving through oppressed Eas=
t Germany to free West Berlin was a challenge that was definitely not recom=
mended. But we were young and adventurous, and Woter spoke fluent German. W=
hat could go wrong? At least we would be back on the right side of the road=
 once out of Sweden.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bot=
tom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;fo=
nt-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric=
: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit=
;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;lin=
e-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-=
feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-=
align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickn=
ess: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;=
word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Well, we took a wrong exit =
off the autobahn while still in East Germany and immediately encountered un=
iformed guards with serious weapons. Woter patiently explained our mistake,=
 the guards searched us and the car, then let us turn around and head back =
to the autobahn.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:=
.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-v=
ariant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: in=
herit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;fon=
t-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-he=
ight:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feat=
ure-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-alig=
n:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness:=
 initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word=
-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>When we arrived at the border, =
we had to negotiate double checkpoints, one to exit East Germany, a second =
to enter West Berlin. At both were multiple long lines with no signs tellin=
g us which to stand in first, second, etc., but Woter&#8217;s German got us=
 through fairly easily. Then first the East German, then the West Berlin, g=
uards thoroughly searched our Triumph, even using mirrors to check undernea=
th the car&nbsp;<a href=3D"https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/this-=
austin-healey-sprite-escaped-east-germany-twice/" target=3D"_blank"><span s=
tyle=3D'color:#007BB3;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>for people<=
/span></a>&nbsp;(or perhaps weapons).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'marg=
in:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><spa=
n style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Once safely inside the city, we explored a bit an=
d took a good look at the famous wall that countless East Germans had attem=
pted to cross, most of them quickly shot by guards in the towers that lined=
 it. We did not hear of anyone ever trying to cross in the other direction.=
 Then, after a restless night in a particularly barren youth hostel, we rev=
ersed the process, driving back through the double checkpoints and, eventua=
lly, out of East Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margi=
n-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inher=
it;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-nu=
meric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: in=
herit;font-variant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25re=
m;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;=
font-feature-settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;=
text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-t=
hickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: ini=
tial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>Time was not our frien=
d. We had just a couple days to get back to Calais, catch a ferry to Dover,=
 and negotiate traffic to the London airport for me to catch my flight home=
. With just paper maps in various languages (no GPS those days), we faced s=
ome 600 miles of mostly two-lane driving, much of it through mountainous ar=
eas, to get to Calais. There would be no overnight stay and no time to expl=
ore any of England before I had to jump on the plane, and Woter would have =
to do his share of the driving while I caught brief rolling naps.<o:p></o:p=
></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;v=
ertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-variant-ligatures: normal;f=
ont-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-as=
ian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-variant-position: inheri=
t;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:2.0625rem;font-optica=
l-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-settings: inherit;font=
-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-=
text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-s=
tyle: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px'><span style=
=3D'color:#090A0B'>We made it &#8230; just barely. And I had to trust Woter=
, my new, inexperienced-driver Dutch friend whom I had known just a couple =
weeks, to drop me at the airport and get the Triumph (now back on the wrong=
 side of UK roads) to its departure port for shipment to the States. Then h=
e would have to hitchhike back across the Channel and to his school in the =
Netherlands.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.000=
1pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: inherit;font-varia=
nt-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inheri=
t;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-variant-alternates: inherit;font-va=
riant-position: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height=
:2.0625rem;font-optical-sizing: inherit;font-kerning: inherit;font-feature-=
settings: inherit;font-variation-settings: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:st=
art;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: ini=
tial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spa=
cing:0px'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'>I had his contact information, but =
if he didn&#8217;t deliver the car when and where it needed to be for whate=
ver reason, how could I remotely track him down from back in the States and=
 recover it? I did feel that I could trust him to get that done, but I worr=
ied about the car all the way home and for several more days until I got a =
letter from him and a notice from the shipping company that my now-well-bro=
ken-in new Triumph was on its way across the sea. Whew!<o:p></o:p></span></=
p><p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;vertical-al=
ign:baseline'><span style=3D'color:#090A0B'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:=
p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><a href=3D"http://www.microworks.net/"><span sty=
le=3D'color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=3D0 width=3D191 height=
=3D80 id=3D"Picture_x0020_1" src=3D"cid:[email-masked]" alt=
=3DMWLOGO-Signature></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span=
 style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Dave Riddle<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=
=3DMsoNormal>Business IT Consulting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Offi=
ce: 480.610.8234<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Cell: 602.692.5276<o:p>=
</o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>eMail: <a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]=
"><span style=3D'color:blue'>[email-masked]</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><=
p class=3DMsoNormal>Website: <a href=3D"http://www.microworks.net/"><span s=
tyle=3D'color:blue'>http://www.microworks.net</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p c=
lass=3DMsoNormal><a href=3D"https://partner.microsoft.com/en-US/"><span sty=
le=3D'color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=3D0 width=3D150 he=
ight=3D47 id=3D"Picture_x0020_2" src=3D"cid:[email-masked]"=
 alt=3DMicrosoft-Partner-Network></span></a><a href=3D"https://www.acronis.=
com/en-us/"><span style=3D'color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=3D0=
 width=3D150 height=3D63 id=3D"Picture_x0020_3" src=3D"cid:image003.png@01D=
A22A8.A5E5EC90" alt=3D"ace_1_orig"></span></a><a href=3D"https://www.clio.c=
om/"><span style=3D'color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=3D0 width=
=3D200 height=3D61 id=3D"Picture_x0020_4" src=3D"cid:image004.png@01DA22A8.=
A5E5EC90" alt=3DCCCLogo></span></a><a href=3D"https://www.citycommunication=
s.com/"><span style=3D'color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=
=3D0 width=3D137 height=3D40 id=3D"Picture_x0020_5" src=3D"cid:image005.png=
@01DA22A8.A5E5EC90" alt=3D"cityhosted-authorized-dealer_orig"></span></a><o=
:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div></body></html>=

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