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Geoff

She has travelled down the West Coast of the South Island, and now at Lake Wanaka.   One hub cap has gone AWOL, can anyone find a spare? It is specific for the 1930 Hudson, although an Essex one would fit. 

Geoff

Well, she's  been all over the steepest roads in the country, and looks like she's on her way back here!

ken1962

yep we tend to forget that vintage cars pre 1940's were built to endure much more than us Sunday drivers pussy foot now days. Was talking to an old chap 2 weeks ago who retired last year travelled thru the Australian desert interior using his much loved Ford Model A, Travelled 4wd tracks no modern car could handle and really enjoyed taking the car thru scrubland camping in the bush. Never had a problem other than a few flat tyres or bogged in deep sand once or twice
Said a few SUV car owners couldn't believe a vintage car could travel tracks reserved for 4WD's when they were camping and his model A would pop up and put them to shame :-)

RichardD

My friend, Herman Zapp, has almost completed a world trip in his 1928 Graham w/wooden wheels. Went thru NZ and Argt. several years ago. Entered Ethiopia yesterday. So, we are sure Heidi will make it.

>>>>  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2300179/Herman-Candelaria-Zapp-Couple-traveling-world-13-years-multinational-children-signs-stopping.html

His Facebook {follow trip}>>> link won't post--just type 'Herman Zapp' into Facebook search. 

ESSX28-1

Found a spare 1930 Hudson Hub cap for her & a couple of rear wheels as backups.
Just been on a 30 minute drive through a violent rainstorm at night (to look at them) with & she doesn't waste any time!! Coming back after the storm was another 30 mins in the dry but it didn't seem anywhere near as fast without the rain.

Jon B

I'm just an observer (so don't know the complete story) but it appears to me that when Heidi's gotten into trouble it's when well-meaning mechanics have attempted a "fix" using more modern parts.  Of course, in a desperate situation you have to use the tools at hand, but in most of these cases the ill-fitting modern part caused even more damage than originally experienced.  True, an original replacement part would have been of an outdated technology but reliable, and would have lasted thousands of miles.  As Ken says, these cars were actually driven back in the day, and -- when they were maintained well -- served their owners well over all sorts of terrain.

ken1962

cheers Ken

ken1962

Great work Dave giving Heidi a hand finding some wheels. The Hudson really looks tired and its got only a third of the way around the world so far with 2/3rds to go ......cheers Ken

Geoff

She lost all her keys whilst here.  Went to a fuel stop, and couldn't use her card.  Left the  keys in the cap, and left the cap on the running board, and when she got to the next fuel stop found the cap was gone.  I checked at the police station next day, and the keys had been handed in, but no cap.  One key was broken off, so that was obviously the  cap key.  I have forwarded them on to her next sop, in the North Island.  Dave Young  found her a hup cap and two spare wheels.   I knew the keys were hers, as one of them had "Made in Germany"!  They were a bit battered, as probably run over a few times.    It will be a miracle if she  finishes without further mishaps.  The H8 is highly modified, but all basic Hudson mechanicals.  

ernie28

I met Heidi this afternoon and gave her the keys back - she was most grateful. The wheels will be worked on tomorrow by our local spoke expert.

Just before she got to town, the front exhaust pipe parted company with the manifold. It looks like it has had a few other previous repair attempts so one more thing for her to get remedied tomorrow. A local garage owner has offered to help her with that.

On Saturday our local HET area are holding a lunch and afternoon run ending with a garage raid so I have invited her to join us if she is still in the area. Hopefully she can - a hugely vibrant lady for her age and some very interesting tales to tell.

Jon B

I am hopeful that we (in the U.S.) can learn Heidi's itinerary before she arrives here, so that we can arrange to have various Hudson groups and chapters meet her as she drives through their area.  (I believe she intends to arrive on the West Coast, then proceed counter-clockwise around the perimeter of the "Lower 48" states until she reaches the West Coast again.)

I'm sure she would appreciate having the company of people who know Hudsons, as she proceeds on her way.  And, in case of any further mechanical failures,  the expertise and spare parts of various members along her route, will be invaluable to her.

She is indeed fortunate to have encountered the good will and assistance of so many Hudson enthusiasts in Australia and New Zealand, so far!

ESSX28-1

I thought she planned to land in L A & head north to Vancouver but best to ask her directly. Once in North America she will gain flexibility as there will be no need to make shipping schedule connections.

Geoff

 I'm not surprised the exhaust pipe broke away from the manifold, it had only been bronze welded. This is not suitable for exhaust systems, it goes too brittle and will inevitably break.

ken1962

Hi Geoff,

I think that Heidi would prefer driving or borrowing either of the 2 Hispano Suizas after the latest Hudson Breakdown :-)  - beautiful cars but much too expensive  to use on a world trip I'd say - Is it true that the white one is formally the Persian Emperor's royal auto?

cheers Ken

ken1962

No need to answer Geoff - just googled it and confirmed its true.

"The American-built 1934 Duesenberg once owned by Hollywood actress Carole Lombard will have some competition for attention for the next two months at the Warbirds and Wheels Museum at Wanaka Airport.

The museum has on loan from its Wanaka owner (who prefers to remain anonymous) the 1931, V12 Hispano-Suiza once owned by the Shah of Persia"

Next time I visit New Zealand will certainly visit this car museum cheers Ken

ESSX28-1

Saw this Hispano-Suiza while it was being repaired by it's then owner Dave W of Bristol Motors. The story that he told was that the car had never gone properly & that the engine had internal problems that several mechanics in several countries had failed to cure!! Neil who worked for Bristol Motors correctly diagnosed & corrected the problem & so thew car ran properly for the first time in it's life. Dave also told the interesting tale of how the car came to New Zealand from Iran. This was about 7 years ago & I'm pleased to see that it's still motoring. It's a very impressive car but I suspect that the Hudson is the better car for Heidi's trip. She certainly does not 'baby' it along. Sorry to be so wordy.

ken1962

Hi Dave,

I'm really jealous of Heidi now that she got to play around with that Hispano-Suiza 1931 last week-end

Lucky sod :-) what a stunning car to have a joy ride in - it must be worth millions us mere mortals could only dream of owning. Our HET club had a club run a few weeks ago to a garage in Como that housed the fourth oldest car in the world a 1891 Panard (working and actually still used - 2hp motor) and a 1936 Mercedes SSK previously owned by Prof Heinkel (Luftwaffe Bomber Designer) currently valued by them at US$13.5 million. 

cheers Ken

ken1962

hehe, I liked what Heidi said "The Hudson didn't like playing 2nd fiddle to the Hispano so it broke its distributor rotor - which is rare to break"

Geoff

Well, she has reached the very Northern tip of the country, Cape Reinga, and is now heading South again.  She is one determined lady!