Jon:
a neat thing about 50s Morgans (and many other Brit sports cars of the day) is
that they were really easy to push when the Lucas electrics quit. That also
helped those who couldn't find reverse in the old (Jaguar-origin) trans.
Be sure to tell us about your ride at Maxton.
Russ
Jon Wennerberg wrote:
> Okay, Russ, you've sorta set yourself up for this one.
>
> In about 1957 or so my dad hosted a party for everyone at work -- including
> the guy that had a Morgan +4 Drophead Coupe. I was so young that I didn't
> know what all that meant -- still never did follow up on the history, so
> don't ask too many technical questions. Your comments brought it back,
> though - - - I remember that one time Dad and Mom hosted a party for the
> factory folks, and this guy drove his Morgan to our place. It turned cold
> that night, and with no heater and open cutaway doors and so on, Dad told
> him to leave the Morgan at our house and drive home in (whatever) car Dad
> lent him.
>
> We kept the Morgan for a week or two. Let's see -- I rode first-hand
> through a cornfield when Dad overshot the corner on a gravel road, but I
> also learned that a four-wheel drift can do wonders. He drove it out
> without stopping, although my heart may have fluttered a few times.
>
> I remember that there was that funky "push down for reverse" transmission
> lockout. Since Dad had lent out the family car, Mom had to drive the Morgan
> to the grocery store. I was just a kid, but went with to help her. We
> didn't figger out the lockout until a couple of days later, so I helped her
> find a parking spot where we could enter and leave in a forward gear.
>
> I remember Dad taking my grandmother for a ride in the open-sided car, and
> thrilling/scaring the dickens out of her as he showed her what a
> wooden-framed (and VERY STIFF) car could do in a corner.
>
> It had the leather straps on the hood and lots'o'louvers on the top but not
> the side -- or was it the other way?
>
> Ya gotta wonder if this was my first introduction to fast.
>
> Nah, I remember the '53 Desoto "Firedome", the first car my folks bought
> brand-new. Dad used to top-end it on the way out to our vacation place ---
> "It's good to burn out the carbon, he'd say..."
>
> Thanks. It's been fun remembering...
>
> Jon E. Wennerberg
> Seldom Seen Slim Land Speed Racing
> #436 M/PS/G 1340 CC
> 2001: 200.471 mph - 2002 GOAL: 220.554++mph
> Marquette, Michigan 49855
> (That's Way Up North)
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