mgs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: the passing of american mechanics

To: lchrysl@fhs.csu.mcmaster.ca, kmr@pil.net, WSpohn4@aol.com,
Subject: Re: the passing of american mechanics
From: Ajhsys@aol.com
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 17:14:55 EDT
In a message dated 7/6/00 4:42:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
lchrysl@fhs.csu.McMaster.CA writes:

<< Well, we (including my son) drive Hondas as our daily transportation, but 
my
 son has been raised in an LBC household, and has picked up the appreciation
 of doing up a '66 B the right way ( read accurately and thoroughly). You
 ought to hear him "informing and educating" his peers about LBC's when they
 come over and start to give him a rough time about his beloved "B".
 Thank goodness there are a few in the newest generation of drivers who seem
 to truly appreciate the cars for what they are, and will "fly the flag" into
 the future when we are only able to navigate the halls of the old folks home
 in out wheel chairs. >>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Gary Anderson wrote a good article in British Car this month.  I just got it 
yesterday.  It basically said that we need to create that awe in how things 
work, in younger folk, but that we may have some trouble doing it  Moving a 
pedal and watching the linkage all the way to the carb jets is a wonderful 
thing, but these kids are brought up with technology that inhibits do it 
yourselfers.  Repairs are done by replacing computer boards and chips, but 
you never actually SEE the thing work!
 
As I was reading the article, I was thinking about what things will be like 
in the (not too distant) future.  Certainly an electronic link to operate 
electronic fuel injection is going to be more reliable and acurate than 
pulling a wire through a casing and moving a throttle valve in a carb.  We 
will see more and more electronics making new cars more reliable and 
efficient than ever before.  (If we can keep the politicians out of it!)

Now think back to the past.  Go to a museum and look at transportation, or 
any other technology, from 100 years ago.  Some of that is still operable to 
demonstrate how it worked.  Will people be driving LBCs on the street when 
the cars are 100 years old?  Will there still be vintage racing with 100 year 
old MGs, Healeys and Triumphs going at it?

In Star Trek Voyager, one of the crew (Tom Paris) has a big interest in the 
past...'57 Chevies, old radio programs, etc.  It's neat that with all his 
technology he can appreciate a carburetor.  He had to get that from somewhere.

Read Gary's article and see what you think.

Allen Hefner
SCCA Philly Region Rally Steward
'77 Midget
'92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>