What Was I Thinking

Browniepetersen

The 36 Hudson "Stratton Sport Saloon" is in the final detail stages and I am in the process of driving her around so she can get used to me, and I can get used to driving with the steering on the Left side of the car or right side of the car. I get so mixed up?

I decided yesterday was a good day for that first shakedown drive. Up to now it has been a short drive to the shops that did the interior, or where we could get it up on a hoist to check and change oil (remove pan) and a front end allignment--mechanical stuff. I pulled the gas tank when the car was down to the frame so when I reinstalled it I put in five gallons of gas. Somewhere along the line I added some more but I do not remember how much. Is I headed out on the drive there was a bit of a storm to the West; but, I only planned on a fifty mile drive so I should be back in time to miss the storm. The weather girl said light rain? I learned two great lessons:

1. Never trust shop gas.

2. Do not waist your time with the weather channel girl. She may look nice but she seldom gets it right.

I was less than five miles from home when I heard the first miss. The carb, supplied with a new rebuild from Walt, was running great. The car was moving right along and everything sounded "top drawer..." Including air rushing in just about everywhere (you gotta love these wooden built custom cars?). The car missed again and I decided to turn around and head home. Failure--she stopped! I did some mental gymnastics and decided first on my list was "Out of gas!" As I waited, once again for my wife to come to the rescue--she is a real trooper when it comes to saving my sorry b--! She arrived, gave me the magic fuel and the 36 came back to life!!

I recon that this is a good time to make a run for the gas station. Just as I pull in to the station there is a bright flash of light followed immediately by a clap of loud, long thunder and the sky opens up. Henny Penny was right... The sky had to be falling, or at liest leaking in a hugh manor. I ran inside (My lovely wife headed home)to wait for the storm to pass--somewhat. After about a half hour I started up the car and headed the few miles home. The rain had transitioned to snow and the flakes were about the size of a silver dollor. The Hudson purred on--somewhat mocking me for my ability to make dumb decisions. Even at fifty miles per hour as I pulled into the driveway there was two inches of snow on the ground. I think this is what we call a January blizzard? January in April?

Lesson learned: When it is springtime in Utah--Head for California for the Palm trees and warm weather... See ya all in San Diego!

bent metal

You tell a great story. I can imagine the whole thing. Would of liked to have seen a picture of your car driving through a light snow like that.:)

hudsontech

In my next life I want to be a weather forcaster - it's the only job, outside of government employment, where you can be wrong 98% of the time and not get fired!!!

I am of the opinion weather girls are chosen for looks, not brains. I know, I know - that's sexist. You think I care after 73 years on this tired old world. Back-in-the-day we called it the way we saw it and nobody sued us!!! It was called "having an opinion".


Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN