[Spridgets] Memorable Road Trips..

David Woerpel dwoerpel at wi.net
Sat Jan 12 22:45:59 MST 2008


Larry Macy wrote:
> Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge parkway. 4 people, 1 Midget, 1 Yamaha  
> motorcycle. Camping all the way. Got rained out in Monticello, after  
> having to swap the alternator in a downpour. 2300 miles, 10 days. Was  
> a blast.
>
> Next most memorable was the BABE Rallye with Rob Valentine. THat was a  
> great ride. The drive home was a killer, again had to replace the alt  
> on the road, but it all worked out in the end. I unnerstan Rob hit a  
> deer 5 miles from home after about 2800 miles in 6 days.
>
> Larry
>   
Congratulations Opa & Nana...Mom and Dad also!!  We're still waiting for 
our first grandchild so send lots of advice!

Your trip reminds me of a 1969 Spring Break Madison WI to Ft. Lauderdale 
run.  I had just gotten a new 1968 MGB the previous summer and was 
wonderfully ignorant of all the negative events that could've occurred.  
A non-stop 22 1/2 hr. drive down via Chattanooga, 300 miles up and down 
the Miami environs coast, and a 27 hour drive home.....hey!  we were 
going UP north!

Actually I got vertigo trying to ascend/descend Lookout Mt. near 
Chattanooga in the infamous fog at night.  A semi passed and signaled 
for me to follow him...saved our hides as there was no where to pull 
off.  I know how John John must have felt before he went in, as I did 
not know what was up and what was down.  We got a few hours rest in a 
park in Chattanooga.   I ended up sleeping with my left leg wrapped over 
the steering column  (the ability of being that flexible has long since 
disappeared).  The "B" never skipped a beat and used only a 1/2 a quart 
of oil!  I changed it when we got down there and again when we got 
back.  I also changed the diff fluid as I figured it may have gotten a 
tad warm at the constant 70mph speeds.
What a trip!  Maybe I should try it in the "A"!  Good memories (most of 
them).  We did meet a Fiat 500 that passed me in a tunnel in Ft. 
Lauderdale.  It suddenly swerved right and scraped down the guard rail 
at 50 mph.  We stopped and here was a guy in the back seat area, 
straddling a 389c.i. engine holding a steering column that had come 
adrift!  I'll never forget what he said, "....guess I shoulda used a 
bolt on the steering shaft instead of a bent NAIL!"  I always wondered 
what became of that guy.
True story!

Dave
59 :{)
59 MGA 1500
05 MCS
Burlington WI
WAY TO GO PACKERS!!!!  The legend grows.


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