Rolling Along

If you followed me on Facebook today you read that Pete planned a surprise day where I had no idea when we left the house where we were going or what we were doing; started out at our favorite breakfast restaurant, Plain Folks Café.  From there we headed north to just outside Yellow Springs (home of Antioch College) where Young’s Dairy Farm is located.  Turns out they were hosting a Vintage Truck show.  From there we drove 40 minutes south to Lebanon (my hometown) where an antique car show was going on along with their annual Lebanon Blues Fest.

 

Regarding the car/truck shows, there was a time when I did not particularly enjoy such events, but these days I do.  Most of the show participants I really don’t relate to at all.  Some click my interest just because they are beautiful…like a truck or car with a big, old fashioned grill.  I have a particular fondness for 1955-57 Chevys…they are classics for my generation.  But beyond that, some just bring back wonderful memories that are always fun to relive.

Take for instance, between the two shows there was only one entry for a classic VW Combi.  Ahhhh, love that vehicle!!  It was in fact, the first car I ever drove.  The second new vehicle I ever purchased.  And the first vehicle I ever wrecked!

Dad had one that he used to run errands with when we had Hallsted’s Grocery Store in Pinellas Park, Florida.  It was particularly useful for picking up fresh produce at wholesale markets in Tampa.  One day I drove over with him.  The loading dock at this particular market was set up for receiving semi trucks, so the dock was at about the level of the top of the front window of the Combi.  An employee asked Dad to move it to another slot so that a larger truck could pull in where we were.  I was about 14, Dad handed me the keys and told me to move it.  I knew how to drive it.  Dad had been teaching me how to shift, etc in the parking lot of the store.  So, quite surprised, I grabbed the keys and jumped in started her up, put her in gear, moved her to the designated slot, and managed to push in the clutch instead of the brake as I approached the dock!!  Slammed into it hard!!!  Dad was not happy.  But it did stop!!!!

Also drove my 1973 Combi to Alaska, from Cincinnati to Fairbanks, up the Alcan Highway in June 1973.  That was an adventure.  Poor car was brand new, 12 days later, by the time it arrived in Fairbanks, you would never have guessed it was less than 6 weeks old.

At the end of the Alcan Highway!!!

A Sparkling MG

My brother, Jim, was always really tough on cars early on.  His first car was a Chevy around ‘56 or ’57.  He blew that one up pretty quickly.  From there he went through a series of cars, the only one of which I really remember was an MGB…what a cool car….much like the one pictured here.  My best memory of that car was riding in the back slot over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.  I know lots of people who hate traveling over that bridge.  Me, I jumped in the back and off we went.  It was a very unique way to see the bridge, the bay and all that blue sky!!!

A few years later, when Jim was married, he and Sharon lost their first child, Lisa at the age of 5 due to a birth defect.  At that time Sharon was driving a GTO and I remember how she swore she would never sell that car cause Lisa had loved it so much. 

Really gorgeous!!!

Just Lovin' the Name

The Studebaker goes back even further.  Our family moved to Florida in 1957 from Ohio.  Back then Dad had a real thing for Studebakers…the only brand of car he would buy.  So we moved to Florida in a Studebaker Station Wagon, pulling a UHaul trailer behind with all our family belongings.

And finally there is the VW Bug.  I have owned 2; a 1968 model that I moved back to Ohio in.  Everything I owned in that car including a sewing machine and my golf clubs.  My second Bug was the newly remodeled version, a 2004 Convertible; loved them both.

Can I have it....PLEASSSSSEEEEE!!!!

So the day was well spent….a beautiful summer day, spending time with my honey and roaming down memory lane!!!!