Took the 1970 1/2 Falcon out for a spin yesterday. Yipes, I haven't had it out in awhile and what a ride it is. The 4:30 Detroit Locker works real well. Nothing like the chirping of the tires when turning a corner. Pulled out on the main road and gave it some gas. Hang on baby. It jumped for the sky and pulled like a freight train. Grab second gear and I'm pushed back in the seat again. It is worth the price of admission.
I don't think there is anything coming off the assembly line today that gives that kind of ride. The new cars have super charger whine and giga watt stereos. Handling like a slot car and conditioned air blowing in your face as you get into triple digit speeds. A sound tube bringing the sound of the air intake into to interior for you to enjoy. Why didn't they just have a recording in the radio of the air inrush that comes on at a specified engine rpm. Sorry, can't interrupt the i-Pod. Nice billet machined shift knob with the personality of a plum. Shifter throw like a light switch on the kitchen wall.
They lack the feel of 375 hp of Detroit cast iron sitting over the front wheels. The sound of air being sucked through a shaker scoop. The music of solid lifters as your pushed back in the seat hoping your eyeballs enjoy bouncing off the back of your skull. Hand on a piece of aluminum with an "H" and the shift pattern engraved into it. Take that shifter handle off the stick hold it in your hand and you can be arrested in 23 states of having an illegal weapon. But officer it is only the shift knob off my Hurst shifter. Grabbing a gear that is actually grabbing a real gear. There is actual linkage moving to stir the gears in a 39 year old American made transmission. The Detroit Locker making sure that both tires are being stripped of a thousand miles of rubber equally.
How can the sensations of slamming the pedal to the metal and being slammed back in your seat like the Hulk just punched you in the chest be explained. The feel of 375 hp at the end of your foot, ready for you to ask it to respond. A linkage to the carb that tells the motor what to do. No drive by wire here. Your input is moving throttle plates and sucking in enough air to knock the space shuttle off it's glide path. This is something that is being lost on the current generation of car people. Today's folks are adjusting injector curves on a lap top. No need to get dirty changing jets. Just fire up the HP and upload all the latest go fast software.
I can clean my carb with Gibbs. Use it as a starting fluid if needed. Do I put a drop of Gibbs on the hinges of my lap top. Will that help me go faster? Yes, it is a new day. I don't necessarily like it but I have grown to accept it. Think what I may, the forces moving the technology forward are not asking me for permission. Accept it or get out my red scooter from 1954 and roll off into the sunset. Excuse me, I have to put a little Gibbs on the wheels of my scooter. Want it to be a smooth effortless ride into the sunset.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Gibbs saves the day again.
This past Tuesday (9-1-09) was the monthly meeting of the Motor City Galaxie Club. Lead by Chester Towles of Wixom MI. This meeting was to be of interest to many as Chester had secured "Top Hat" John to be the guest speaker. "Top Hat" John AKA John Jos. Jendza III, is a local fellow that does appraisals and is an automotive historian. What makes "Top Hat" the best at what he does is that he lived the history he reports.
Before John took the floor Chester approached me to talk Gibbs. Chester is the owner of Towles Transportation. A trucking company that is equipped to meet all your hauling needs. Chester has a good number of trucks on the road at any time. With trucks comes maintenance and with maintenance comes the need for Gibbs. Chester has been a customer of mine for many years.
Chester had an issue with his drivers dropping trailers on the local roads and freeways in Southeast Michigan. When the temps drop in the winter months the moisture in the fifth wheel grease would freeze and prevent the trailer pin from being locked. Off goes the driver on his job and without warning the trailer drops off the fifth wheel. Chester received a not to friendly call from the Michigan State Police. Seems his rig had created a three mile long back up on a major freeway at rush hour. He was told in no uncertain terms that he could expect a visit from the MSP and DOT inspectors should this happen again.
Chester took a can of Gibbs and sprayed it on the grease. He then worked it in to the grease. Towles Transport has not dropped a trailer in five years.
Last week there was a hot haul waiting to go out. The tractor was in the garage for a ten minute repair before heading out on the road. Chester stops in the garage to see what the hold up was. The mechanic is getting out a cutting torch. That does not bode well for the hot haul. Chet finds out that the latch is stuck on the hood. The mechanic had used some stuff with a number in it's name and he was at his wits end. Where is the Gibbs? The mechanic said that he was out. Chet dashes back to the office and gets a couple cans. He sprayed the hood latch and two minutes later the hood was up and repairs were under way. Gibbs saved the day at Towles Transportation.
"Top Hat" took the floor and had everyone under his spell. One thing that John can do well is tell a tale. What makes his stories so interesting is that he lived what he speaks of. He didn't read it in a book and add his spin to the story. Not John, he was there and tasted it as it happened. His stories of Woodward cruising could go on for hours. He always welcomes questions from the group. It was very enlightening to hear his take on insurance companies and the need for an appraisal. Understanding full well that is what he does. He talked about the various types of insurance for covering your classic car. The one thing that I took away from John's talk was to read your policy. It can be as exciting as watching paint dry. Remember this, no matter what your friendly agent may say the policy is the legal document.
I spent some time going over my policy and noticed that it is plain as day, the car must be garaged at the address on the policy. Which in my case is my home. I got in touch with the company, agent had said I was good, to check. My cars are kept in two locations. The company had the addresses and necessary data. All is good.
John mentioned that should you say your car is in your garage, under lock and key, and something happens at a rented storage facility. It doesn't look good for the home team. Another pearl of "Top Hat" wisdom was to make sure your insurance company has a copy of your appraisal. Seems one of our local hot shoes didn't bother to send it to his company. Unfortunately for him a young driver got confused over the meaning of 'STOP' and blasted his beautiful car into a pile of twisted metal. No one was hurt fortunately. He contacted his company and I think you know how the rest of the story goes.
It was a great meeting, as usual, with good friends and fantastic Galaxie stories.
Before John took the floor Chester approached me to talk Gibbs. Chester is the owner of Towles Transportation. A trucking company that is equipped to meet all your hauling needs. Chester has a good number of trucks on the road at any time. With trucks comes maintenance and with maintenance comes the need for Gibbs. Chester has been a customer of mine for many years.
Chester had an issue with his drivers dropping trailers on the local roads and freeways in Southeast Michigan. When the temps drop in the winter months the moisture in the fifth wheel grease would freeze and prevent the trailer pin from being locked. Off goes the driver on his job and without warning the trailer drops off the fifth wheel. Chester received a not to friendly call from the Michigan State Police. Seems his rig had created a three mile long back up on a major freeway at rush hour. He was told in no uncertain terms that he could expect a visit from the MSP and DOT inspectors should this happen again.
Chester took a can of Gibbs and sprayed it on the grease. He then worked it in to the grease. Towles Transport has not dropped a trailer in five years.
Last week there was a hot haul waiting to go out. The tractor was in the garage for a ten minute repair before heading out on the road. Chester stops in the garage to see what the hold up was. The mechanic is getting out a cutting torch. That does not bode well for the hot haul. Chet finds out that the latch is stuck on the hood. The mechanic had used some stuff with a number in it's name and he was at his wits end. Where is the Gibbs? The mechanic said that he was out. Chet dashes back to the office and gets a couple cans. He sprayed the hood latch and two minutes later the hood was up and repairs were under way. Gibbs saved the day at Towles Transportation.
"Top Hat" took the floor and had everyone under his spell. One thing that John can do well is tell a tale. What makes his stories so interesting is that he lived what he speaks of. He didn't read it in a book and add his spin to the story. Not John, he was there and tasted it as it happened. His stories of Woodward cruising could go on for hours. He always welcomes questions from the group. It was very enlightening to hear his take on insurance companies and the need for an appraisal. Understanding full well that is what he does. He talked about the various types of insurance for covering your classic car. The one thing that I took away from John's talk was to read your policy. It can be as exciting as watching paint dry. Remember this, no matter what your friendly agent may say the policy is the legal document.
I spent some time going over my policy and noticed that it is plain as day, the car must be garaged at the address on the policy. Which in my case is my home. I got in touch with the company, agent had said I was good, to check. My cars are kept in two locations. The company had the addresses and necessary data. All is good.
John mentioned that should you say your car is in your garage, under lock and key, and something happens at a rented storage facility. It doesn't look good for the home team. Another pearl of "Top Hat" wisdom was to make sure your insurance company has a copy of your appraisal. Seems one of our local hot shoes didn't bother to send it to his company. Unfortunately for him a young driver got confused over the meaning of 'STOP' and blasted his beautiful car into a pile of twisted metal. No one was hurt fortunately. He contacted his company and I think you know how the rest of the story goes.
It was a great meeting, as usual, with good friends and fantastic Galaxie stories.
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